SunBriteTV Quantum SunBriteTV Solis Series 55" 4K HDR Smart Full Sun Review

The SunBriteTV Solis is a beast of an outdoor TV. Its 1500-nit screen is genuinely viewable in direct sunlight, and it's a surprisingly good gaming TV. Audio is weak, so plan for a soundbar. If you need a TV for a bright patio, it's worth the premium.

The SunBriteTV Solis Series is a TV that laughs at the sun. It's built for one job: delivering a watchable picture in the middle of a bright, sunny day. With a 1500-nit anti-glare screen and a weatherproof IP55-rated frame, this is a dedicated outdoor TV, not a regular set you're trying to use on the patio.

Inside, you get a 4K LCD panel, webOS smart platform, and a solid set of ports including three HDMI 2.1 inputs. It's a purpose-built machine, and in our database, it scores in the 98th percentile for picture quality and connectivity among outdoor TVs. Just don't expect to move it around much.

The headline is the brightness. At 1500 nits, this screen cuts through glare like a champ. Picture quality lands in the 98th percentile for its category, and HDR support is solid. Gaming performance is surprisingly good too, hitting the 95th percentile with a 120Hz refresh rate and low input lag. The lowlight? The audio. The 16W speakers are just okay, scoring in the 68th percentile. You'll probably want a soundbar, especially outside where ambient noise is a factor.

Here's the thing: outdoor TVs are expensive. Prices for the Solis 55" range from about $1700 to $3000 depending on the vendor, so shop around. For that money, you're paying for the specialized brightness and rugged build. Compared to trying to use a regular TV outside (which we don't recommend), it's absolutely worth it. Compared to other luxury patio upgrades, it's a solid entertainment investment if you watch a lot of sports or movies al fresco.

The main competitor is SunBriteTV's own Veranda 3. It uses a Quantum Dot panel with Dolby Vision and runs Android TV, but it's only 1000 nits bright. The Solis wins on pure brightness for the sunniest spots. Against indoor champs like the LG OLED or Samsung Neo QLED, there's no contest for dark room performance, but those TVs would be useless in direct sun. The Solis exists in its own niche. If you need maximum brightness and weatherproofing, this is your pick. If you have a covered patio and want better HDR, the Veranda 3 might be the move.

If your TV will be in a fully covered, shaded area, you might get away with a brighter indoor model or SunBrite's own Veranda 3. Also, skip this if you need to move the TV around frequently. At over 49 pounds, it's a permanent fixture. And if your primary viewing is in a dark media room, an OLED will give you a vastly better picture for the same money.

Buy the SunBriteTV Solis if you have a sunny backyard, patio, or pool area and you're tired of squinting at a tablet. It's for the dedicated outdoor entertainer who wants a permanent, weatherproof setup. The gaming features are a great bonus if you want to hook up a console outside. Just budget for a separate sound system.