Samsung The Terrace outdoor QLED TV review

What does this mean? Find out how we rate products.

The Terrace is Samsung’s first outdoor all-weather QLED TV. Intended for garden patios, verandas and poolside, it’s the first screen to take Samsung’s patented display technologies and connected Tizen smarts out of their normal living room environment.

Inside CI was recently invited to take a closer look at The Terrace, at a media preview at The Four Seasons hotel in London.

The Terrace is actually the hero product in a wider range of ambitious lifestyle screen solutions from the brand, SKUs which lens themselves uniquely to custom installation.

Joining The Terrace is The Wall, the brand’s modular Micro LED screen innovation; the chic interiors-centric The Frame series (available in screen sizes from 32- to 75-inches), and the novel vertical Sero.

Samsung’s other CI centric solution is The Premiere, an Ultra Short Throw projector range.

Also on display during The Terrace briefing, there are two DLP models in The Premiere range, the LSP7T, capable of casting a 120-inch image, and the flagship LSP9T, which boasts a triple laser light engine, and is able to project 130-inches.

The LSP9T is actually the world’s first HDR10+ certified projector, and is rated at 2,800 ANSI lumens, which makes it eminently suitable for use in rooms with high ambient light. To aid installation, we noted a 15 point test pattern, which should allow for a highly precise and accurate picture.

The LSP9T also has a 4.2ch 40W sound system built-in and features the brand’s Acoustic Beam technology for a wide, expansive soundstage. The model even has Filmmaker Mode, a first for a projector. The LSP7T and LSP9T sell for £3,999 and £6,999 respectively.

Samsung The Terrace: Design and Features
Available in 55-, 65- and 75-inch screen sizes, The Terrace is a 4K QLED smart TV that’s IP55 certified and weatherproof. As you might expect from the manufacturer, design and finish are of a high order. The Terrace is just 6cm deep, and has a distinctive black steel frame; the panel features bespoke anti-glare display technology.

Usability is good. The Terrace is built around a no-compromise Tizen smart portal, no different from its residential cousins. Streaming support is class-leading, and includes Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV and NOW, amongst others.

Connectivity is also good.There are three HDMIs on board, plus USB and a digital optical audio output. All ports are located behind a Gore-Tex lined panel. In all likelihood, users will most likely stream content over Wi-Fi from the Tizen smart platform. Bluetooth is also available, for those that want to stream audio direct to the set.

Naturally, The Terrace supports Control4 and other automation protocols, so system integration should be straightforward.

Samsung The Terrace: Picture and sound quality
Samsung has an enviable reputation when it comes to high brightness viewing in the home, and that’s taken to a new level here. This outdoor QLED HDR TV features a proprietary anti-reflective absorbent layer that enables images to be clearly viewable even in bright daylight. The set will adjust its brightness dynamically during the day, using a sensor located bottom right of the bezel.

We viewed the screen in afternoon sunlight, through dusk and well into the evening. In sunlight, its pictures looked colour rich and clear. Content was easily viewed from a distance. However, as the ambient light faded, the screen really began to pop. Brightness is rated at 2000 nits.

All the colour vibrancy and high contrast that characterises Samsung’s QLED models has been retained here. It’s pictures are extraordinarily dynamic. You can imagine the set as the centrepiece of a sports-themed garden party, its hyper-real greens juxtaposed against actual lawns.

When it comes to audio, The Terrace employs Samsung’s OTS Lite sound system, with downward firing drivers. In isolation, this would be perfectly acceptable. However, its obvious partner is The Terrace soundbar. Cosmetically matched to the screen, The Terrace soundbar is also IP55 rated, and comes strongly recommended.

When outdoors, we found this sound system upgrade transformative. The Terrace soundbar features a forward facing, seven speaker array and has 210w of amplification available. It was more than powerful enough to entertain in our large outdoor audition space. Its presentation is clear and fulsome. The Terrace soundbar retails for £999.

Samsung The Terrace: Verdict
The Terrace is a hugely impressive outdoors TV. Samsung has brought its signature QLED picture performance into a whole new area with spectacular success, and looks certain to disrupt this particular market segment.

The Terrace is well made and finished, and appears to have all connectivity options covered; while hardwired TV sources will be requested by users, Wi-Fi is likely to be the default for most content.

When it comes to audio, we would advise The Terrace be partnered with its matching soundbar, which is both elegant and sonically effective.

The Terrace is available in 55-, 65-, and 75- screen sizes,and retails for £3,999, £4,999 and £6,499 respectively. The Terrace soundar sells for £999. Samsung's lifestyle display solutions are available through Habitech.

For more news stories about Habitech's products and services, visit our resource page here.