Last year, SunBriteTV demonstrated that it could make a downright affordable weatherproof 4K TV with its Veranda Series.
It shares the same resilience against dust, water, and extreme temperatures as the company's much more expensive Signature Series.
With the Veranda series, in exchange for affordability, you lose the ability to view the screen comfortably in direct sunlight.
The company has updated the Veranda Series, improving both color and contrast while leaving everything else largely untouched.
The new Veranda Series offers a better picture than its predecessor at the same price ($1,499 for the 43-inch SB-V-43-4KHDR-BL model we tested), and is available in models up to 75 inches.
If you want a TV you can safely mount outside, and you can keep it in the shade, the Veranda Series is your best bet, and our Editors' Choice.
Editors' Note: This review is based on tests performed on the Veranda Series SB-V-45-4KHDR-BL, the 43-inch model in the series.
Apart from the screen-size difference, the 55-inch $1,999 Veranda Series SB-V-55-4KHDR-BL is identical in features, and we expect similar performance.
Weatherproof Design
Since SunBriteTV's first priority is weather resistance, it doesn't bother to make its TVs very stylish.
There's only so much you can do in the design department while maintaining protection against water, dust, and extreme temperatures, so the new Veranda Series employs a very plain design, in line with the rest of SunBriteTV's lineup.
The body of the TV is a powder-coated black metal, with a flat, glossy bezel on the front surrounding the screen.
The frame is fairly wide, measuring 0.8 inches on the top and sides and 1.2 inches on the bottom, with the bottom bezel holding the SunBriteTV logo, the remote sensor, and a power LED.
All of the TV's ports sit behind a metal door on the back, which stays in place with three thumbscrews.
The door is protected with foam around the edges to ensure water and dust don't get into the compartment.
Component video and 3.5mm audio inputs, an antenna/cable connector, optical and analog audio outputs, a USB 3.0 port, and a connector for a second infrared receiver sit facing left in the compartment.
Three HDMI ports, a VGA input, and an Ethernet port (only for integrating into a control system, not for streaming services) sit facing down in the compartment.
The heavy, weather-proof power cable is affixed to the bottom of the back of the TV, outside of the compartment.
The case also conceals two downward-firing 20-watt speaker drivers.
This isn't notable for most TVs, but it's unique among SunBriteTV sets; the partial-shade Signature Series doesn't have any speakers, and the direct-sunlight Pro Series come with separate soundbars that can be attached to the screens.
Like the previous model, the 2018 Veranda Series doesn't come with a stand.
It can work with any VESA mount, but if you want to set it up on a table you'll need to get the optional table stand, which is another $75 for the 43-inch model or $105 for larger TVs.
The remote is just as efficiently unassuming as the TV.
It's a flat, 7.6-inch black wand with a silver-colored top panel covered in round membrane buttons.
The membrane buttons are hard to identify without looking at the remote, but they, along with the battery compartment (which takes two AAA batteries) that screws shut, ensure that the remote can handle rain and dirt as well as the TV itself can.
A wide selection of controls are present, including a number pad and navigation buttons.
No playback controls are on the remote, since the TV doesn't have any streaming services on its own.
You can play media files on a USB drive through the TV, however, using the direction pad to control playback.
The TV also features a built-in tuner for use with an antenna, giving the number pad and channel up and down buttons some use.
The remote is functional for navigating the TV's very barebones menu system to adjust settings, and it fulfills its promise of being weatherproof, but the many same-feeling round membrane buttons make navigating menus feel like a chore of staring down at your thumb to make sure you're pressing a direction and not Back or Exit.
Like all SunBriteTV sets, the Veranda Series is designed to be used outside, with extensive weatherproofing against moisture and extreme temperatures.
The TV doesn't have a formal IP rating against dust or water ingress like smaller waterproof devices, but SunBriteTV guarantees it against rain, snow, dust, salt, and insects, with its aluminum case and screw-shut port bay.
The TV can function in temperatures from -24 degrees to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and can withstand temperatures up to 140 degrees (powered off) without damage.
Performance
The SunBriteTV Veranda Series is an ultra high-definition (UHD, or 4K) TV that supports high dynamic range (HDR) content in HDR10.
It doesn't support Dolby Vision.
We test TVs using a Klein K-10A colorimeter, a Murideo SIX-G test pattern generator, and SpectraCal's CalMAN software using testing methodology based on Imaging Science Foundation's calibration methods.
In the Movie picture mode with the backlight set to maximum, dynamic contrast set to high, and adaptive backlight set to low, the Veranda shows a peak brightness of 347.39cd/m2 on a full-field test pattern, and a black level of 0.07cd/m2.
This results in a solid 4,963:1 contrast ratio, beating out the 2017 Veranda with a markedly brighter panel (up from 288.37cd/m2 peak brightness and a 3,605:1 contrast ratio).
It's still less than half as bright as the Signature Series (785.45cd/m2), but keep in mind it's is designed to be used in full shade while the later is usable in partial sunlight.
The Signature Series is also significantly more expensive, and has a poorer 0.14cd/m2 black level for an only slightly better 5,610:1 contrast ratio.
The above chart shows DCI-P3 color levels as boxes and measured color levels as dots.
Out of the box, in Movie mode with color temperature set to the Warm preset, the Veranda Series shows solid color performance.
Whites run just slightly cool and greens and reds don't hit the P3 color space, but the colors remain balanced and don't skew noticeably.
The BBC's Planet Earth II on Ultra HD Blu-ray looks very good on the 2018 Veranda Series, and shows off the panel's solid brightness and color gamut.
The greens of foliage and blues of the water in the "Islands" episode look vivid and natural, with strong performance in bright, sunny scenes.
Fine textures like fur and tree bark looked a bit smudged using default settings, but disabling noise reduction sharpens up the details very nicely.
The Great Gatsby shows the Veranda Series' relative weakness with black levels.
In the high-contrast party scenes, shadows and highlights tend to overwhelm details.
The contours of black suits get lost in muddiness, along with (to a much lesser extent) the edges of bright white lights and balloons.
Flesh tones look natural, though, and the few bright colors present in the scene like orange feathers pop out.
The red in Deadpool's costume in Deadpool looks vivid and natural as well, showing the Veranda Series' solid color performance.
The shadow details in the burning lab fight later in the movie can be seen clearly, but the limited contrast comes through in the opposite direction with the highlights of the flames getting blown out into a mostly yellow flicker, muddling the contours of the fire.
Input lag is the amount of time between when a TV receives a signal and the screen updates.
In Movie mode, the Veranda Series shows a very poor input lag of 136.2 milliseconds.
In Game mode, which improves input lag while sacrificing some picture quality, that number drops to a still-disappointing 62.5ms.
We consider around 20ms to be very good for playing video games, so the Veranda Series doesn't qualify as one of our best TVs for gaming.
An Excellent All-Weather TV
The 2018 SunBriteTV Veranda Series improves on the 2017 line with a brighter panel, a wider color gamut, and HDR support.
It's pretty pricey for its size, but that's the premium you pay for a weatherproof TV, and it's less than half the price of the brighter Signature Series.
If you need a TV that's viewable in sunlight, you need to spend the extra money for the Signature Series (and if it needs to be usable in really bright direct sunlight, you're currently limited to the 1080p Pro Series).
If you just want a good porch or patio TV you can watch in the shade, this is your best bet.
If weatherproofing isn't a priority, you can get a larger TV with a much better picture for less money with options like the TCL 6-Series and the Vizio P-Series.
These models offer much brighter pictures, wider color gamuts, and better ergonomics and connected features.
But they won't survive a night out in the rain like the Veranda Series can.
SunBriteTV Veranda Series SB-V-55-4KHDR-BL
Pros
Protected against dirt, water, and extreme temperatures.
Slightly brighter panel with wider color range than previous model.
Relatively affordable.
The Bottom Line
The SunBriteTV Veranda Series continues to offer the best value for weatherproof 4K TVs, as long as you don't need to watch in direct sunlight.
Last year, SunBriteTV demonstrated that it could make a downright affordable weatherproof 4K TV with its Veranda Series.
It shares the same resilience against dust, water, and extreme temperatures as the company's much more expensive Signature Series.
With the Veranda series, in exchange for affordability, you lose the ability to view the screen comfortably in direct sunlight.
The company has updated the Veranda Series, improving both color and contrast while leaving everything else largely untouched.
The new Veranda Series offers a better picture than its predecessor at the same price ($1,499 for the 43-inch SB-V-43-4KHDR-BL model we tested), and is available in models up to 75 inches.
If you want a TV you can safely mount outside, and you can keep it in the shade, the Veranda Series is your best bet, and our Editors' Choice.
Editors' Note: This review is based on tests performed on the Veranda Series SB-V-45-4KHDR-BL, the 43-inch model in the series.
Apart from the screen-size difference, the 55-inch $1,999 Veranda Series SB-V-55-4KHDR-BL is identical in features, and we expect similar performance.
Weatherproof Design
Since SunBriteTV's first priority is weather resistance, it doesn't bother to make its TVs very stylish.
There's only so much you can do in the design department while maintaining protection against water, dust, and extreme temperatures, so the new Veranda Series employs a very plain design, in line with the rest of SunBriteTV's lineup.
The body of the TV is a powder-coated black metal, with a flat, glossy bezel on the front surrounding the screen.
The frame is fairly wide, measuring 0.8 inches on the top and sides and 1.2 inches on the bottom, with the bottom bezel holding the SunBriteTV logo, the remote sensor, and a power LED.
All of the TV's ports sit behind a metal door on the back, which stays in place with three thumbscrews.
The door is protected with foam around the edges to ensure water and dust don't get into the compartment.
Component video and 3.5mm audio inputs, an antenna/cable connector, optical and analog audio outputs, a USB 3.0 port, and a connector for a second infrared receiver sit facing left in the compartment.
Three HDMI ports, a VGA input, and an Ethernet port (only for integrating into a control system, not for streaming services) sit facing down in the compartment.
The heavy, weather-proof power cable is affixed to the bottom of the back of the TV, outside of the compartment.
The case also conceals two downward-firing 20-watt speaker drivers.
This isn't notable for most TVs, but it's unique among SunBriteTV sets; the partial-shade Signature Series doesn't have any speakers, and the direct-sunlight Pro Series come with separate soundbars that can be attached to the screens.
Like the previous model, the 2018 Veranda Series doesn't come with a stand.
It can work with any VESA mount, but if you want to set it up on a table you'll need to get the optional table stand, which is another $75 for the 43-inch model or $105 for larger TVs.
The remote is just as efficiently unassuming as the TV.
It's a flat, 7.6-inch black wand with a silver-colored top panel covered in round membrane buttons.
The membrane buttons are hard to identify without looking at the remote, but they, along with the battery compartment (which takes two AAA batteries) that screws shut, ensure that the remote can handle rain and dirt as well as the TV itself can.
A wide selection of controls are present, including a number pad and navigation buttons.
No playback controls are on the remote, since the TV doesn't have any streaming services on its own.
You can play media files on a USB drive through the TV, however, using the direction pad to control playback.
The TV also features a built-in tuner for use with an antenna, giving the number pad and channel up and down buttons some use.
The remote is functional for navigating the TV's very barebones menu system to adjust settings, and it fulfills its promise of being weatherproof, but the many same-feeling round membrane buttons make navigating menus feel like a chore of staring down at your thumb to make sure you're pressing a direction and not Back or Exit.
Like all SunBriteTV sets, the Veranda Series is designed to be used outside, with extensive weatherproofing against moisture and extreme temperatures.
The TV doesn't have a formal IP rating against dust or water ingress like smaller waterproof devices, but SunBriteTV guarantees it against rain, snow, dust, salt, and insects, with its aluminum case and screw-shut port bay.
The TV can function in temperatures from -24 degrees to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and can withstand temperatures up to 140 degrees (powered off) without damage.
Performance
The SunBriteTV Veranda Series is an ultra high-definition (UHD, or 4K) TV that supports high dynamic range (HDR) content in HDR10.
It doesn't support Dolby Vision.
We test TVs using a Klein K-10A colorimeter, a Murideo SIX-G test pattern generator, and SpectraCal's CalMAN software using testing methodology based on Imaging Science Foundation's calibration methods.
In the Movie picture mode with the backlight set to maximum, dynamic contrast set to high, and adaptive backlight set to low, the Veranda shows a peak brightness of 347.39cd/m2 on a full-field test pattern, and a black level of 0.07cd/m2.
This results in a solid 4,963:1 contrast ratio, beating out the 2017 Veranda with a markedly brighter panel (up from 288.37cd/m2 peak brightness and a 3,605:1 contrast ratio).
It's still less than half as bright as the Signature Series (785.45cd/m2), but keep in mind it's is designed to be used in full shade while the later is usable in partial sunlight.
The Signature Series is also significantly more expensive, and has a poorer 0.14cd/m2 black level for an only slightly better 5,610:1 contrast ratio.
The above chart shows DCI-P3 color levels as boxes and measured color levels as dots.
Out of the box, in Movie mode with color temperature set to the Warm preset, the Veranda Series shows solid color performance.
Whites run just slightly cool and greens and reds don't hit the P3 color space, but the colors remain balanced and don't skew noticeably.
The BBC's Planet Earth II on Ultra HD Blu-ray looks very good on the 2018 Veranda Series, and shows off the panel's solid brightness and color gamut.
The greens of foliage and blues of the water in the "Islands" episode look vivid and natural, with strong performance in bright, sunny scenes.
Fine textures like fur and tree bark looked a bit smudged using default settings, but disabling noise reduction sharpens up the details very nicely.
The Great Gatsby shows the Veranda Series' relative weakness with black levels.
In the high-contrast party scenes, shadows and highlights tend to overwhelm details.
The contours of black suits get lost in muddiness, along with (to a much lesser extent) the edges of bright white lights and balloons.
Flesh tones look natural, though, and the few bright colors present in the scene like orange feathers pop out.
The red in Deadpool's costume in Deadpool looks vivid and natural as well, showing the Veranda Series' solid color performance.
The shadow details in the burning lab fight later in the movie can be seen clearly, but the limited contrast comes through in the opposite direction with the highlights of the flames getting blown out into a mostly yellow flicker, muddling the contours of the fire.
Input lag is the amount of time between when a TV receives a signal and the screen updates.
In Movie mode, the Veranda Series shows a very poor input lag of 136.2 milliseconds.
In Game mode, which improves input lag while sacrificing some picture quality, that number drops to a still-disappointing 62.5ms.
We consider around 20ms to be very good for playing video games, so the Veranda Series doesn't qualify as one of our best TVs for gaming.
An Excellent All-Weather TV
The 2018 SunBriteTV Veranda Series improves on the 2017 line with a brighter panel, a wider color gamut, and HDR support.
It's pretty pricey for its size, but that's the premium you pay for a weatherproof TV, and it's less than half the price of the brighter Signature Series.
If you need a TV that's viewable in sunlight, you need to spend the extra money for the Signature Series (and if it needs to be usable in really bright direct sunlight, you're currently limited to the 1080p Pro Series).
If you just want a good porch or patio TV you can watch in the shade, this is your best bet.
If weatherproofing isn't a priority, you can get a larger TV with a much better picture for less money with options like the TCL 6-Series and the Vizio P-Series.
These models offer much brighter pictures, wider color gamuts, and better ergonomics and connected features.
But they won't survive a night out in the rain like the Veranda Series can.
SunBriteTV Veranda Series SB-V-55-4KHDR-BL
Pros
Protected against dirt, water, and extreme temperatures.
Slightly brighter panel with wider color range than previous model.
Relatively affordable.
The Bottom Line
The SunBriteTV Veranda Series continues to offer the best value for weatherproof 4K TVs, as long as you don't need to watch in direct sunlight.
