Samsung made a surprise announcement today with the launch of a new line of outdoor TVs called The Terrace. This outdoor TV brings the quality of Samsung's QLED displays and full-featured Smart TV platform outdoors, along with a sleek exterior weatherproof design and optional outdoor sound bar. The Terrace is the first outdoor 4K TV by a major TV manufacturer and positions Samsung to compete with specialty manufacturers like SunBriteTV and Evervue. [The Terrace will be available in three sizes, ranging from 55" to 75", with the smallest model starting at $3,499. Amazon sells the 65-inch model for $4,949 and the 75-inch for $6,740. BestBuy is also offering the 75-inch model for $4,999, a steep discount from the MSRP of $6,499.

Samsung also plans to offer an accessory all-weather soundbar for use with the TV, although no price has been announced as of this writing.

Each set boasts the 4K resolution and quantum dot enhancements found in Samsung's flagship 4K QLED TV, as well as Samsung's Quantum processor. However, features such as Adaptive Brightness and Full Array Backlight with Local Dimming are especially important here, as viewing on a patio or deck requires compensation for sunlight and ambient brightness.

Terraces designed for outdoor viewing will boost the brightness of Samsung's QLED panels to 2,000 nits and utilize anti-reflective technology to reduce reflectivity to 2% for crisp viewing even under bright sunlight, the company claims. Adaptive display technology also senses the amount of light around the TV and adjusts appropriately for day or night conditions.

The Terrace is built to handle the dust and water that usually kills conventional TVs when installed outdoors, and even a splash from a hose shouldn't be a problem for this outdoor set, as it has an IP55 rating. The remote control is IP56 rated, so everything should be fine except for being submerged in a pool.

Unlike many outdoor TVs we have reviewed in the past, the Terrace should look quite clean and sleek. The display will be framed by a slim 10mm (0.39") bezel and will be only 59mm (2.32") deep. The finish is a matte black that Samsung calls Titan Black, and if press photos are any indication, it should be much more stylish than the rugged paint and liner coatings used by other outdoor manufacturers.

Samsung has also added some smart new features to its outdoor TVs to make setup and use as easy as possible.

The biggest addition is HDBaseT, a new connectivity standard that allows the TV's power cable to carry ultra-high-definition video, audio, and Ethernet along with 100 watts of power. Think of this as powerline networking applied to home theater, where all the devices in the living room can be connected to an outdoor TV without having to bundle separate cables. Since all data and power is sent over a single cable, this one-cable solution should greatly simplify the wiring requirements for outdoor TVs.

The set also supports RS232 and IP control, although these features are more useful for professional installers than for the average end user.

The Terrace is also a fully equipped QLED TV, comparable in many ways to Samsung's Q series TVs. Namely, each TV features Samsung's Tizen smart TV software, including Ambient Mode+, a robust ecosystem of apps and content, compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Home smart speakers, and Samsung's own Bixby voice assistant It has.

Each TV boasts 20 watts of stereo speakers, but the Terrace TV can also be used with the included soundbar, the Terrace HW-LST70T All Weather Soundbar.

Similarly stylish and built to complement outdoor sets with the IP-55's rugged design, the soundbar includes a mounting kit for TV mounting and a wall kit for traditional installation. The Terrace Soundbar connects via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, simplifies setup and installation, and features a distortion cancellation design optimized for outdoor use.

Inside, a wide-range tweeter widens the listening sweet spot, while a 210W woofer reproduces deep, rich bass. The soundbar also has a dedicated center channel speaker that reproduces clearer dialogue than standard stereo soundbars.