LG's StanbyME Go is easily the most Inspector device I've reviewed. It's a 27-inch touchscreen TV built into (and protected by) a large military-grade case, complete with a built-in sound system, HDMI connectivity, and the same webOS software that runs on the company's regular TVs.
In theory, you can take it anywhere, but at 28 pounds, the StanbyME Go It's far from a lightweight and it's a stretch to call it very portable. Road trips are no problem, but I never dared take this on a flight. On one hand, I didn't want to deal with TSA scrutiny for this device that looks like a Mission Impossible shore up. But the case is too wide to meet carry-on requirements on most airlines.
But it's… it's incredibly unique. And that's what has resonated with me these past few months testing the terribly named StanbyME Go. You can take this briefcase to the television; you can bring it camping; If you are traveling somewhere, it can be a mobile gaming and entertainment solution for you or your kids. Some friends told me they would be willing to use something like this instead of a projector in rooms where a permanent TV wouldn't be welcome. When it comes time to pick it up, that excitement often dies down.
Aside from its weight, the biggest thing going against the StanbyME Go is the $1,200 LG asks for what, at the end of the day, is a pretty unremarkable 27-inch LCD panel. It's a 1080p display with regular viewing angles and a maximum brightness of 500 nits. That's more than fine for indoor viewing, and I also find it suitable for most outdoor uses, as long as you're not in direct sunlight. (The anti-reflective coating on the screen helps a lot in this case.) But if you judge this by the screen specs alone, paying $1,200 for it would be crazy. I'd go crazy for a 4K OLED version of the StanbyME Go, although that would probably skyrocket its price to $2,000. The specific nature of this product is inherently part of why it is more expensive than many would prefer.
The supposed support for Dolby Vision HDR is ridiculous, considering the limited brightness of this display. The same goes for the four-channel “Dolby Atmos” speaker system, although I was surprised by its fullness, as the audio comes from drivers unconventionally integrated into the side of a briefcase. And even though the speakers are placed behind The screen when raised, the sound remains clear. Just don't expect much in the way of immersion or immersive trickery here. If you need a more punchy sound when tailgating, you can always pair a large Bluetooth speaker.
To view any value in StanbyME Go, you must attempt and appreciate the sum of its parts. That average screen is attached to a very sturdy articulated arm that allows the screen to be used in three different ways. It can be placed horizontally for touchscreen games, like chess, or to play music through your phone's speakers. Lift the screen and you can place it in landscape or portrait orientation; the latter can be useful if you want to mirror your phone and scroll through your TikTok feed, or perhaps give a presentation on the go. I rarely bothered with portrait mode, but the versatility is nice.
StanbyME Go is smart enough to automatically turn off your screen and turn off every time you close the case. The tough outer shell is pretty tough (LG claims it's passed 11 different durability tests) and while I never intentionally attempted to subject LG's review unit to my own torture test, it certainly took a few knocks during my weeks of testing and even had a Minor drop while the case was open with the screen facing up. He survived all of that without problems. But harshness only goes so far; The StanbyME Go does not offer water resistance, so be careful if you will be using it by the pool or near a lake when camping. That's a big differentiator between this, a TV that can be used outdoors, and actual “outdoor TVs” that can withstand the elements and shine bright enough to combat the sun, for a lot more money than the StanbyME Go.
There's a dedicated remote control holder inside the case, and if you remove it, there's a section underneath to store the power cord when you don't need it. The power input is covered by a protective flap, and there's another one that protects the HDMI/eARC port, the USB-A port (for media on external drives), and a switch that can turn off the battery to conserve power when you're not using the device. TV for a while. LG says the StanbyME Go will average about three hours of battery life. In my experience, you can gain an extra hour by turning on webOS's power-saving features, but it usually comes at the expense of brightness, which isn't impressive to begin with.
In fact wearing This briefcase-style TV looks like any of the other LG models. All standard picture and sound modes are present. But most LG devices lack a touch screen. Don't have the remote control at hand? You can navigate with smartphone-like gestures: swipe up from the bottom of the screen to go home or down to quickly access brightness and volume controls.
LG includes a handful of very simple games like the aforementioned chess and bar games like photo hunt. But the novelty of these wears off quickly, so you'll want to plug in a console to enjoy the real experience. Of course, this means that you will need to provide force for any HDMI device you are using, which can be tricky while traveling and especially outdoors. A portable power station would be very convenient in these situations.
All the popular streaming apps are accounted for in the LG store, but if you want to watch them from a cabin or tent while camping, you'll usually find yourself tethered to your phone to connect to the Internet.
I have a soft spot in my heart for strange devices, which rarely appear nowadays. Most big tech brands play it too safe and only release products with widespread appeal. From that point of view, I congratulate LG for doing something not only little different but far from the common. If the StanbyME Go cost a few hundred dollars less, I might recommend it for reasons beyond the uniqueness factor. It is heavy but carefully designed. It's one of those attention-grabbing devices that people will ask you questions about every time they see you using it.
But the TV included in this case is simply average, and even less so when you consider the price. My hope is that the StanbyME Go doesn't turn out to be so niche that LG never tries it a second time. Because this first attempt is unique and often simply fun. But at $1,200, the simple reality is that most people are better off with a more traditional tablet or portable monitor until LG finds the right formula (and price).
Photography by Chris Welch/The Verge
