Samsung The Terrace Samsung QN65LST7TAF 65-Inch Class The Terrace 4K Review

The Samsung Terrace is a brilliant outdoor TV, but a terrible value for anywhere else. Its 2000-nit brightness and IP55 weather resistance make it the best screen for sunny patios. You'll need separate speakers, though, and the $4000 price is a huge commitment. Only buy this if you're building a permanent outdoor entertainment zone.

So you want a TV for your patio, pool deck, or backyard? That's a whole different ballgame from picking a living room screen. The Samsung Terrace is built specifically for that challenge. It's not just a regular TV shoved outside, it's engineered to survive the elements and look good doing it. With an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance, it can handle rain, splashes, and sun without needing you to panic and run for a tarp.

This 65-inch QLED is designed for people who want to watch the game, host a movie night, or just have some ambient entertainment in an outdoor space. It's a luxury product, no doubt, but it solves a real problem for anyone with a covered patio or outdoor kitchen. The big question is whether its outdoor performance justifies the premium over just buying a cheaper indoor TV and hoping it lasts.

What makes it interesting is that brightness. At 2000 nits, it's one of the brightest TVs we've ever tested. That's not just for show, it's the key to fighting sunlight glare. Indoor TVs look washed out outside, but the Terrace's picture quality score is in the absolute best right now category because it can actually hold its own against the sun.

Let's talk about that picture. The 2000-nit peak brightness is the headline spec, and in our testing, it delivers. That score puts its picture quality at the top of the charts. In bright daylight, colors stay vibrant and details don't get lost. The anti-glare coating and wide viewing angle mean you and your guests can see a great picture from most spots around the patio, not just dead center. It's a strong performer for outdoor viewing, which is its entire job.

For other uses, it's solid but not exceptional. The 120Hz refresh rate is good for smooth sports and gaming, landing it in the well above average range for gaming performance. Its HDR support is about average, which is fine for streaming movies outside. The audio, however, is a weak spot. At the 31st percentile, the built-in speakers are underwhelming. You'll likely want to pair it with a separate outdoor sound system for a better experience. The connectivity is middle of the pack with three HDMI ports, which is enough for a streaming box and a game console, but you won't have a ton of extra ports.

This is where the Terrace gets tricky. At $4000, it's not competing with $1000 living room TVs. You're paying for a specialized tool. The price-to-performance ratio is high if your only performance metric is 'looking great outdoors.' For that specific job, it's arguably the best tool available. But if you're just looking for a big TV and thinking you might occasionally move it outside, this is a terrible value.

Compared to its direct competitors, like high-end outdoor models from SunBrite or Peerless-AV, the Terrace's pricing is in line, but it offers Samsung's superior smart TV platform and QLED picture tech. You're buying the brand's top outdoor engineering. It's not a value purchase, it's a premium purchase for a niche need.

The most direct competitor isn't another living room TV, but a dedicated outdoor TV from a brand like SunBrite. Those are often more rugged but might have weaker smart features or lower brightness. If you're considering just using a regular TV outside, the LG OLED C5 or a Samsung Neo QLED like the QN800D are fantastic indoor TVs. But they have zero weather resistance, and their brightness, while good indoors, will struggle outside. An OLED like the C5 would look dim and washed out on a sunny patio, and risking a $3000 TV in the rain is a bad idea.

For a more budget-conscious outdoor option, you could look at a weatherproof enclosure for a standard TV. That adds bulk and complexity, but saves money. The Terrace is the integrated, elegant solution. The trade-off is simple: other TVs are cheaper and might be better indoors, but they aren't built to live outside. The Terrace is built to live outside, but you pay a lot for that privilege.

Skip this TV if you don't have a permanent outdoor setup. Its low portability score means it's not for people who want to move a TV between their garage and backyard. Also, if you're just looking for a fantastic 65-inch TV for your living room, this is a bad buy. You're paying for weatherproofing you won't use. Instead, look at the LG OLED C5 for incredible picture quality indoors, or the Samsung QN800D Neo QLED for bright, vibrant colors. If you want outdoor entertainment but can't spend $4000, consider a high-brightness projector or a cheaper TV paired with a weatherproof enclosure.

If you have a dedicated, semi-protected outdoor space like a covered patio or pool cabana, and you want a permanent, high-quality entertainment setup, the Samsung Terrace is a fantastic choice. It's the easiest, most polished way to get a great picture outside without worrying about the weather. For that use case, we recommend it.

However, if you're just looking for a great 65-inch TV for your living room, or if you need something you can move between indoor and outdoor spaces, skip this immediately. Its value is terrible for indoor use, and its portability score is low. Look at the LG C5 OLED for stunning indoor picture quality, or a Samsung Neo QLED for bright, vibrant indoor viewing at a much lower price.