Beach canopies should have a structural frame that is made of aluminum.
This is due to the large size of this type of canopy, and you want it to be easily portable to and from your car to the beach. Typical weights can range from about 10 lbs for a small canopy, to about 30 lbs, for a larger version.
Depending on the occasion, whether you are simply entertaining guests, or using it for yourself as a lazy beach shade, a model with an adjustable height should be your goal. Many types available have snap locks to allow easy adjusting if required.
As with most of the shelters sold nowadays, the fabric used will provide 99% UV protection. Do not buy anything less, as even the cheaper models have this as a minimum.
For easy positioning on the beach, you should look for a model with anchoring spikes, and additional pegs to maintain the stability of the frame. To assist with further stability, the top of the tent should also have venting areas. This will serve two purposes. It is to assist any strong wind from catching and lifting the whole structure, and also to keep the beach temperature cool in summer, by allow hot air to vent through the gap near the top of the tent.
A good measure of the quality of the shelters will be to check how many years of warranty is provided by the vendor. Generally, most companies will offer 3 year guarantee. It is worth taking up any extended warranty if your family has a high use of these beach shelters in extreme conditions.
A final and sometimes overlooked feature with beach shelters, is that it should be able to be installed with only one person. Some older versions required two or more people to align the poles. Nowadays, the newer types require no heavy lifting or positioning, many with single action snap open functionality. The same applies for uninstalling the structure. Look for models with a quick release, which will not pinch you, and suddenly collapse if you are not careful. The release mechanism should be slow and cushioned, to prevent any accidents.