Skip to main content

SunBriteTV cuts the fat, tames the heat with next-gen weatherproof LED HDTVs

When nice warm weather beckons you outdoors, it’s hard to leave the TV – especially when there’s a big game on. You could wheel a display outside, or permanently put this next-generation SunBriteTV Signature Series 32-incher on your deck or patio (there’s also a 46-inch version, SB-4760HD). SunBriteTV has been making weatherproof television sets since 2004 (mostly for the commercial market, but home consumers as well), but what makes the new SB-3270HD interesting is that it’s more in line with what’s in your living room than what’s traditionally been made for outdoors. That means a slimmer, brighter LED screen with improved heat management.

The 3270HD has a profile that’s 50-percent slimmer than the previous SunBriteTV model. To achieve this, the company developed a new cooling system that uses heatsinks and four tiny fans at the top to draw heat away from the LED. Tom Dixon, SunBrite’s VP of marketing, told us that with the old LCD design, heat was the biggest problem, requiring big vents and a big box for air circulation, not to mention that LCD panels are solar collectors. Moving to a 450-NIT, high-haze LED panel also allows the TV to be brighter, with improved viewing angles. A matte finish helps cut down on reflectivity. As DT’s A/V editor Caleb Denison points out in his review of the older SB-5560HD, that model suffered from high-energy consumption, which is something SunBriteTV obviously knew it had to fix.

The 3270HD is encased in a powder-coated aluminum that’s stronger, lighter, and more durable; the powder coating protects the TV against corrosion. The TV can withstand freezing temperatures down to minus-24-degrees Fahrenheit, and desert-like heat of up to 130 degrees. It’s also sealed for water tightness, and all the connections are in a memory-foam-sealed compartment that allows cables to exit while keeping moisture out. Ports include two HDMI, VGA, component, S-video, Digital Audio out, Toslink, and RCA. No need to add a sound system, as there’s a built-in speaker with a 20-watt amp.

SunBriteTV gave us an early demo in March, and the weather could not have been more perfect. Before we got to see the the 3270HD, which was set up on an outdoor rooftop desk in New York City, the TV had sat outside overnight – turned on – enduring freezing temperatures, cold wind, rain, snow – as bad as winter gets in this city. Yet, the display functioned normally like any TV would (except that it’s outside). We flipped through channels with the rather cluttered remote without noticing any performance hesitation or notable issues to speak of. We were probably more concerned about staying warm, but, if you ever need to watch TV out in the tundra, this TV is it.

The TV is a typical design, nothing particularly eye-catching. We thought the sealed compartment could have looked a little neater, but SunBriteTV does have a new optional wireless HD transmitter system ($595) that cuts the cords completely, up to 100 feet. Viewing angles were good until we got to the extreme left or right of the screen, but, from our brief time spent with the TV, the image quality was quite bright (although the brightness was probably toned down to match the overcast sky). SunBriteTV used an ordinary floor-stand mount.

sunbritetv-sb3270hd-5
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A 32-inch screen size isn’t particularly large these days, and it seemed dwarfed by the tall buildings surrounding us; the 46-inch model was not demoed, but SunBrite TV says larger sizes are in the works. The TV comes in black, silver, and white.

Like its predecessors, the 3270HD is not cheap. For the weatherproof protection and outdoor usability, it’ll cost you $1,500; the 46-inch model costs $2,895. We’re talking about a 32-inch TV without any fancy design or smart/networking attributes. But if you are building a nice outdoor area where a TV plays an important role, the weather-resistant attributes of SunBriteTV’s new LED model makes it a prime candidate.

In case you were wondering how much beating can a SunBriteTV take, watch Denison torture one, below.

Les Shu
Former Digital Trends Contributor
I am formerly a senior editor at Digital Trends. I bring with me more than a decade of tech and lifestyle journalism…
One of our favorite 75-inch 4K TVs is 34% off at Amazon
Hisense U8G 4K ULED HDR TV

Is it time to upgrade your TV? If you're planning to get a massive display for your living room, look no further than the 75-inch Hisense U8 Series ULED 4K TV. From its original price of $1,950, it's down to $1,290 from Amazon following a 34% discount. It's still not cheap by any means, but if you want nothing but the best for your home entertainment needs, this is the kind of purchase from TV deals that you should be willing to make. We're not sure how much time is remaining before the $660 in savings disappears though, so you better hurry with the transaction if you're interested in this 4K TV.

Why you should buy the 75-inch Hisense U8 Series ULED 4K TV
Hisense is one of the best TV brands, and it uses its mini-LED QLED technology, which it calls ULED, in its premium models like the Hisense U8 Series ULED 4K TV -- one of our best TVs. You'll be enjoying excellent contrast and vivid colors, for image quality that challenges those from the best models of Samsung, Sony, and LG. The 4KT V also supports Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos, which combine to create a truly cinematic experience in the comfort of your own living room while you're watching streaming shows through the Google TV platform.

Read more
Ends tonight: Save $400 on the 50-inch Samsung Frame TV
Samsung's 65-inch Class 'The Frame' QLED 4K Smart TV displaying a famous oil painting.

If you want a unique TV to place in your living room or anywhere else around your home, you should check out Samsung's The Frame QLED 4K TV. It's a top-performance screen, a conversation starter, and as of right now, the 50-inch model is $400 off from Best Buy for a lowered price of $900 from $1,300. This opportunity at savings ends tonight though, so if you're interested in taking advantage of one of the most interesting TV deals we've recently seen, there's no time to waste -- add it to your cart and check out as soon as you can.

Why you should buy the 50-inch Samsung The Frame QLED 4K TV
Samsung, one of the best TV brands, knocks it out of the park in terms of performance and design with The Frame QLED 4K TV. It features the most advanced display technology that's found in the best TVs, including 4K Ultra HD resolution that promises sharp and lifelike details, Quantum HDR that delivers an even wider range of color and contrast, and Samsung's Tizen platform that enables access to all of the popular streaming services. It's also a QLED TV, which offers higher brightness, a longer life span, no risk of screen burn-in, and a lower cost on a price-per-inch of screen size basis compared to OLED TVs, according to our QLED versus OLED comparison.

Read more
This 65-inch Samsung OLED TV is $500 off for a limited time
The Samsung S90C in a living room environment.

Best Buy has one of the better TV deals currently around if you're looking for a high-end OLED TV for less. Over at the popular retailer, you can buy the Samsung 65-inch S90C OLED TV for $1,600 thereby saving $500 off the usual price of $2,100. This is a well-sized TV for most living rooms while also packing all the essential features you need to enjoy a great visual experience while you game or watch a movie. If you're tempted but not entirely sure, read on while we take you through what the TV offers.

Why you should buy the Samsung 65-inch S90C OLED TV
Samsung is one of the best TV brands you can buy from at the moment with its S90C OLED TV a particular highlight. As the name suggests, you get OLED technology which is a great starting point for any high-end TV. It means you get a panel with self-lit pixels so that each pixel can be illuminated independently of each other. That ensures you can enjoy deep blacks and vibrant colors all on one scene without any quality being compromised. HDR OLED goes one step further by analyzing each scene so you get richer and more accurate colors than regular OLED. The TV is also Pantone validated so that you get colors looking just how they should.

Read more