LG’s StanbyME Go is well probably the most Inspector Gadget factor I’ve ever reviewed. It’s a 27-inch touchscreen TV that’s constructed into (and guarded by) a big military-grade briefcase — full with an built-in sound system, HDMI connectivity, and the identical webOS software program that runs on the corporate’s common TVs.
Theoretically, you’ll be able to deliver it wherever, however at 28 kilos, the StanbyME Go is much from a light-weight load, and it’s a stretch to name it very moveable. Street journeys are not any challenge, however I by no means acquired daring sufficient to deliver this factor on a flight. For one, I didn’t need to cope with TSA scrutiny over this gadget that appears like a Mission Unattainable prop. However the briefcase is simply too huge to fulfill the carry-on necessities at most airways, regardless.
But it surely’s… it’s distinctive as hell. And that’s what has resonated with me over these final couple months of testing the terribly-named StanbyME Go. You’ll be able to take this briefcase TV tailgating; you’ll be able to deliver it tenting; for those who’re touring someplace, it may be a cellular leisure and gaming answer for your self or the children. I’ve had buddies say they’d be open to utilizing one thing like this in lieu of a projector in rooms the place a everlasting TV could be unwelcome. When it comes time to raise it up, that pleasure typically dampens.
Other than its heft, the most important factor going towards the StanbyME Go is the $1,200 that LG is asking for what, on the finish of the day, is a reasonably unremarkable 27-inch LCD panel. It’s a 1080p display screen with so-so viewing angles and a peak brightness of 500 nits. That’s greater than positive for indoor viewing, and I’ve additionally discovered it satisfactory for many out of doors utilization as long as you’re not in direct daylight. (The show’s anti-reflective coating helps out right here large time.) However for those who’re judging this factor by show specs alone, paying $1,200 for it could be lunacy. I might go wild for a 4K OLED model of the StanbyME Go, although that may probably rocket its worth up into $2,000 territory. The nicheness of this product is inherently a part of why it’s costlier than many would like.
The claimed Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR help is laughable, contemplating this show’s restricted brightness. The identical goes for the four-channel “Dolby Atmos” speaker system, although I used to be shocked by its fullness because the audio is coming from drivers unconventionally constructed into one facet of a briefcase. And even if the audio system are positioned behind the display screen when it’s raised, the sound stays clear. Simply don’t anticipate a lot in the way in which of immersion or encompass trickery right here. In case you want extra impactful sound when tailgating, you’ll be able to at all times pair up a big Bluetooth speaker.
To see any worth within the StanbyME Go, you’ve acquired to strive and respect the sum of its components. That common display screen is connected to a really sturdy articulating arm that lets the show be utilized in three alternative ways. It could actually lay flat for touchscreen video games like chess or when taking part in music on the audio system out of your telephone. Pull the display screen up and you’ll place it in both panorama or portrait orientations; the latter will be helpful if you wish to mirror your telephone and scroll by your TikTok feed — or possibly give a presentation on the highway. I hardly ever bothered with vertical mode, however the versatility is good.
The StanbyME Go is wise sufficient to mechanically flip off its show and energy down at any time when the briefcase is latched. The laborious outer shell is loads powerful — LG claims it has handed 11 totally different sturdiness checks — and whereas I by no means deliberately tried to place LG’s overview unit by my very own torture check, it definitely took a number of bumps throughout my weeks of testing and even had a minor fall whereas the case was open with the display screen up. It survived all that with no points. However the ruggedness solely goes up to now; the StanbyME Go doesn’t supply any water resistance, so watch out for those who’ll be utilizing it poolside or close to a lake when tenting. That’s a giant differentiator between this, a TV that can be utilized outdoor, and precise “out of doors TVs” that may stand up to the weather and get vivid sufficient to fight the solar — for rather more cash than the StanbyME Go.
There’s a devoted cradle for the distant contained in the case, and for those who pop that off, there’s a piece beneath for storing the ability cable everytime you don’t want it. The ability enter is roofed by a protecting flap, and there’s one other that guards the HDMI/eARC port, USB-A port (for media on exterior drives) and a change that may flip off the battery to protect juice if you gained’t be utilizing the TV for some time. LG says the StanbyME Go will common round three hours of battery life. In my expertise, you’ll be able to eke out an additional hour for those who activate webOS’s energy-saving options, however these often come on the expense of brightness, which isn’t spectacular to start with.
Truly utilizing this briefcase TV feels just like any of LG’s different fashions. All the usual image and sound modes are current. However most LG units lack a touchscreen. Don’t have the distant useful? You’ll be able to navigate round with smartphone-like gestures: swipe up from the underside of the display screen to go house or swipe down for the highest for fast entry to brightness and quantity controls.
LG features a handful of quite simple video games just like the aforementioned chess and bar video games like picture hunt. However the novelty of these fades quick, so that you’ll need to plug in a console for the true factor. After all, this implies you’ll want to supply energy for no matter HDMI gadgets you’re utilizing, which may get difficult on the go and particularly outdoors. A conveyable energy station would show tremendous handy in these conditions.
All the favored streaming apps are accounted for in LG’s retailer, however if you wish to watch them from a cabin or tent whereas tenting, you’ll end up routinely tethering to your telephone for an web connection.
I’ve acquired a gentle spot in my coronary heart for bizarre devices, which have a tendency to return alongside hardly ever these days. Most large tech manufacturers play their arms too safely and solely launch merchandise with mainstream enchantment. From that viewpoint, I commend LG for doing one thing not only a little totally different however up to now off the crushed path. If the StanbyME Go value a number of hundred {dollars} much less, I’d be capable to advocate it for causes past the individuality issue. It’s weighty however thoughtfully designed. It’s a type of attention-grabbing gadgets that individuals will ask questions on at any time when they see you utilizing it.
However the TV that’s packed into this briefcase is merely common — and fewer so when you think about the worth. My hope is that the StanbyME Go gained’t show so area of interest that LG by no means offers it a second try. As a result of this primary strive is exclusive and infrequently simply plain enjoyable. However at $1,200, the straightforward actuality is that most individuals are higher off with a extra conventional pill or moveable monitor till LG nails the correct components (and worth).
Pictures by Chris Welch / The Verge