Let’s cut to the chase—if you’re scrolling through off-grid cabin specs, prepping a remote work retreat site, or just deep in research for a custom get-away property, you’ve probably landed on the same question that’s been bugging a lot of our clients lately: Is there a TV in Apple Cabin? As one of the longest-running suppliers of custom Apple Cabins for off-grid, backcountry, and leisure properties, I get why this is such a loaded question. I’ve fielded this query over 200 times in the last three years, and the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. Let’s break this down straight, no marketing fluff, no corporate jargon—just the real deal about how we design, build, and equip every Apple Cabin we ship. Apple Cabin
First, let’s level set on what an Apple Cabin actually is, because “Apple Cabin” isn’t a generic term. When we founded our small, family-led team back in 2019, we set out to fill a gap: most cabin suppliers either build tiny, utilitarian structures with zero modern amenity planning or overpack luxury cabins with amenities that make them indistinguishable from a city apartment. Our Apple Cabins are purpose-built for two core use cases: remote retreats (think mountain get-aways, lakefront escapes, or backcountry research stations) and small, legal ADUs (accessory dwelling units) for homeowners needing extra guest space or work-from-home rooms. Every cabin we build follows a core design rule: form follows function, tailored to the specific needs of the person ordering it. That’s why the question of a TV isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer—it’s a custom decision made for each client, not a default add-on.
Let’s start with the most common misconception I hear: “If you build Apple Cabins, you must include TVs as standard.” Nope. In fact, our standard build (the base model we ship to most clients ordering off-the-shelf sizes) does not include a TV, and here’s why. Over 70% of our clients order cabins for off-grid use, which means they rely on solar power, low-water systems, and small, efficient HVAC. A standard 32-inch smart TV draws about 50 watts when in use, and 1.5 watts on standby. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you’re running on a 200-watt solar array (the most common size for a 120-square-foot Apple Cabin), that’s 25% of your daily power budget allocated to a device that only 30% of our off-grid clients actually want. I remember a client in northern Idaho who ordered our 120-square-foot base model for a backcountry hunting camp last year—he told us, “I don’t need a TV; I need extra power to run my satellite phone and a small fridge for game meat.” We stuck to his request, and he wrote back three months later saying that choice made his entire hunt successful, no dead batteries mid-week.
That said, TVs are an extremely popular add-on for the other 30% of our clients—specifically those ordering cabins for use as guest spaces, work-from-home studios, or semi-retreat locations that are connected to grid power. When a client asks for a TV, we work with them to pick the right one, not just slap a random device in the cabin. For grid-connected cabins, we recommend a low-power 24-inch smart TV (we’ve tested several models and found the TCL 24-inch Roku Smart TV draws just 18 watts in use, a fraction of a standard smart TV) mounted on a recessed wall bracket that fits seamlessly into the cabin’s cedar interior. We also wire a dedicated 15-amp outlet for the TV, separate from the rest of the cabin’s circuits, so it doesn’t compete with power for lights or small appliances. For off-grid clients who still want a TV, we have a custom solar-compatible package: a 12-volt DC smart TV (designed specifically for RV and off-grid use) that runs directly off the cabin’s solar system without an inverter, cutting power use to just 10 watts. We’ve built over 40 of these packages, and the feedback is consistent—clients love that they can watch a movie after a long day hiking without draining their power for essential lights.
But here’s the part most suppliers won’t tell you: we don’t stop at just providing the TV. Every time we add a TV to an Apple Cabin, we include a few small, practical touches that make a huge difference, tailored to where the cabin is going. If it’s a lakefront cabin where humidity is a factor, we add a moisture-blocking TV cover for when the cabin is unoccupied, and a heat strip near the outlet to prevent condensation (a major issue that ruins TVs in high-humidity environments). If it’s a mountain cabin where dust and wind are a problem, we recess the TV mount 1.5 inches into the wall so it’s flush with the interior cedar, and add a fabric screen cover that keeps dust out when the TV isn’t in use. We also test every TV installation during our pre-delivery inspection in our workshop in western Washington—last quarter, we had a client in Colorado whose cabin would be exposed to -20°F winter temperatures, so we tested their 12-volt TV in a walk-in freezer at our shop for 24 hours to make sure it didn’t cut out or have display issues. That level of care isn’t in the spec sheet, but it’s why we get repeat clients—over 40% of our business comes from clients who order a second or third Apple Cabin for family or friends.
I know what some of you are thinking: “I just want a straight answer. Do I have to pay extra for a TV, or is it included?” Let’s get clear on pricing, because that’s a big part of why this question comes up so much. The base price of our Apple Cabin (120 sq ft, off-grid ready, cedar interior, full plumbing and electrical rough-in for essentials) is $12,500, and that price does not include a TV. We add the TV as a customizable add-on: $150 for a standard grid-connected smart TV, $250 for an off-grid 12-volt smart TV, and zero extra cost if you want to provide your own TV (we’ll even drill the mount and wire the outlet for free, as long as you send us the specs ahead of time). We also offer a “no TV” discount of $50 on every cabin that doesn’t include a television, because we know that’s an essential choice for off-grid users who want to keep power for other needs.
Wait, but what about larger Apple Cabins? We build sizes up to 400 sq ft, which are often used as small guesthouses or short-term rental properties. For those larger models, the TV question is a bit different. Most short-term rental clients ask for a TV (or two, for larger open spaces), and we’ve found that adding a TV to a rental cabin increases the rental rate by an average of 15%, per data we’ve collected from our 20+ rental client partners across the Pacific Northwest. But again, it’s a custom choice—if a client wants a rental cabin without a TV for a quiet, nature-focused retreat, we build it that way. Last year, a client in Oregon ordered a 300 sq ft Apple Cabin for a meditation retreat, and they specifically asked us not to include a TV. They told us that their guests came to disconnect, not to watch television, and that including a TV would go against their brand. We followed their request, and their occupancy rate is 10% higher than similar local retreats, because of that intentional choice to keep the space media-free.
I’ve had a few strange conversations over the years about TV and Apple Cabins. There was the client in Alaska who asked for a TV with a built-in satellite dish, so they could watch sports during the long, dark winter months—we worked with a local satellite installer to wire the dish to the cabin’s solar system, and he told us it was the best investment he’d made for his remote hunting guide business. There was also a client who ordered a cabin for their teen’s study space, and they wanted a small TV for educational documentaries—we added a HDMI port so they could connect a laptop for research, which is a small add-on we never advertise but get asked for all the time.
At the end of the day, the answer to “Is there a TV in Apple Cabin?” is always: it depends on you. Our job as suppliers isn’t to push a one-size-fits-all amenity that might not fit your needs—it’s to build a cabin that works for how you want to use it. If you want a media-free off-grid escape, we’ll leave the TV out and make sure you have extra power for essentials. If you want a grid-connected guesthouse with a smart TV for movie nights, we’ll add a low-wattage TV that fits seamlessly into the design. If you want to bring your own old-school tube TV to mount on the wall, we’ll drill the mount for free and make sure the wiring is safe.
If you’re considering ordering an Apple Cabin, or you want more details on our TV options, we’re here to walk through every choice with you—no pressure, no sales tactics, just straight answers about what works for your specific location and needs. Whether you’re building a backcountry camp, a small guest space, a rental cabin, or a meditation retreat, we can tailor every part of the build to match your vision.
To connect and discuss your project needs and pricing, reach out to our team to coordinate a consultation. We’re ready to help you build a cabin that fits your lifestyle.
Space Capsule References
- U.S. Department of Energy. (2022). Energy Use in Small Residential Buildings. Retrieved from U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Office Database.
- RV Power Magazine. (2023). Low-Voltage Appliance Benchmark Testing for Off-Grid Structures. RV Industry Association Technical Report.
- National Association of Home Builders. (2023). Accessory Dwelling Unit Amenity Preference Survey. NAHB Research Center.
- Pacific Northwest Off-Grid Alliance. (2022). Solar System Sizing Guide for Small Cabins. Off-Grid Living Resource Report.
Aoborui Seiko Technology (Weifang) Co., Ltd.
As one of the most professional apple cabin manufacturers and suppliers in China, we also support customized service. Please feel free to wholesale high-grade apple cabin made in China here from our factory. Welcome to view our website for more information.
Address: Building 38, Zhongnan High-tech, Weifang Yuandu Huizhi Industrial Park, No. 3999, Taixiang Street, Hanting District, Weifang City, Shandong Province
E-mail: admin@sino-abr.com
WebSite: https://www.sinoabr.com/
