LG StanbyMe Go transportable briefcase TV evaluate: an excessive amount of enjoyable

Possibly it’s as a result of I’m a toddler of the 1980s, however LG’s StanbyMe Go transportable briefcase TV offers me severe Cloak & Dagger vibes (we’re speaking the Dabney Coleman basic, not the newer Marvel collection). It seems to be just like the type of briefcase that might maintain secret recordsdata or some type of specialised hacking system. It’s received cool issue oozing out of it.

However the necessary query right here is: What do you’ve got left when the cool issue wears off? In any case, when you’ve already stunned all your pals with what it’s, what’s left is what it might truly do. What can — and perhaps extra necessary, what can’t — the LG StanbyMe Go do?

Video evaluate

Living proof

The LG StanbyMe Go — sure, that’s StanbyMe, not StandByMe — weighs 28 kilos. That’s not nothing for one thing you’re meant to lug round. It’s not going to present you a tough time toting it out of your automobile to a picnic desk, or throughout the parking zone to your buddy’s tailgate. However except you’re an actual hardcore hiker, you’re not going to wanna take this factor backpacking.

I think a lot of the StanbyMe Go’s weight could be attributed to its lithium-ion battery pack, however I reckon a few of it could be as a result of case. The metallic doesn’t really feel tremendous heavy, but it surely does really feel sturdy. This case isn’t only for present; it’s designed to guard the TV and batteries inside, and I get the sensation it can. As a lot as I’d prefer to have a spare StanbyMe Go round that I might abuse by swinging hammers at it and dropping it from growing altitudes, I don’t. That job stays open to anybody with a spare $1,200 and no emotional attachments to chill tech.

Talking of lithium-ion batteries and altitude, the StanbyMe Go looks as if precisely the type of gadget that’s going to trigger you hassle in the event you take it on a airplane. Possibly it’s OK to neglect that you simply packed a few little digicam battery cells in your checked baggage (editor’s word: It’s not!), however think about answering for this factor after it goes by way of the checked baggage scanner. I suppose you may deal with it as carry-on baggage. However do you really need extra of the TSA’s consideration in your life? As a result of that is going to get that for you. I assure it. Apart from, except you’re flying top quality, this isn’t becoming within the overhead bin or below the seat in entrance of you.

So, the place might you are taking it? We’ll get to that in a second. Let’s get by way of the remainder of the necessary specs first.

And what’s within the briefcase?

The StanbyMe Go expenses off a regular two-prong energy cable. These are straightforward and cheap to switch in the event you occur to lose it.

Flip the 2 latches, open up the case, and also you’ll be greeted with the show mendacity flat on the underside stage. Behind that’s the speaker system — and a bit reminder that Dolby Atmos is a model now, and never the title of a particular audio expertise. However we are going to speak about that audio quickly.

Elevate the TV panel and also you’ll discover that it has a exceptional vary of movement. You’ll be able to place it up excessive, settle it down low, and if you wish to watch vertical movies, you possibly can merely rotate it.

The display screen itself is a 1080p LCD touchscreen. So, sure, you possibly can management it like a large pill. However, additionally, LG features a magic-motion distant with the equipment so you need to use it like the tv it’s.

As a result of this is a TV proper? I’ve been calling it that for some time. I’ve seen others name it that. However, is it? Actually?

Technically, no it’s not. It doesn’t have a TV tuner built-in. So in the event you needed to submit up within the parking zone and erect an antenna for the needs of knocking down your native broadcast stations, that isn’t taking place.

That’s the solely factor that stops this from being thought of a TV — and that’s by the Federal Communications Fee’s (FCC) definition, not my very own. Except for the dearth of a tuner, this behaves like an LG TV. And that features LG’s webOS system and all of the apps and performance that include it, identical to LG’s TVs you can’t carry with you. You’ll be able to stream Netflix, use Apple AirPlay, play saved media, and even join units through HDMI. And sure, that features recreation consoles.

Battery life

LG claims the StanbyMe Go, identical to the unique StanbyMe, will final on battery energy for as much as three hours. That needs to be a purple flag to you by now. Any time one thing with a battery is claimed to final “as much as” any specific time, you must most likely simply instantly reduce that down by about 30%. On its finest day, in Eco mode and low-power mode, you’ll certainly doubtless get about three hours. Nonetheless, you most likely usually are not going to wish to use it that approach. To get the very best brightness from this TV, you’ll wish to run it in a high-power mode, which can reduce down the battery life. So that you would possibly wish to have some backup energy obtainable for longer viewing periods. May I like to recommend certainly one of our favourite transportable energy stations?

Efficiency

Now, we come to what I believe often is the most beneficial portion of this evaluate: How vibrant does it get?

Earlier than I get into telling you what number of nits this factor can put out after which explaining what that truly means for you, let me make you conscious of the so-called “Out of doors TV market” and what’s happening with that complete factor.

My expertise with having fun with TV open air, particularly on outside TVs, stretches again a good distance. It began with my first SunBriteTV 11 years in the past — I actually put that factor by way of the wringer. A bit over a yr later, I attempted out one other SunBriteTV. Extra just lately, I skilled the beast that’s the Samsung Terrace. Alongside the way in which, I’ve carried out loads of RV-ing, throughout which I’ve examined loads of non-outdoor TVs, in addition to outdoor-specific fashions made for RVers from the likes of Furrion.

I’ve seen ’em all. And even these TVs that declare to be good for full solar? Effectively, they’re seen, that’s true. However in addition they are insanely costly. There are indoor TVs that may get as vibrant as some outside TVs, however these super-expensive issues put all the cash into processing and nothing into weatherproofing and dustproofing.

True outside TVs are on their very own very particular, often very costly, stage. I level that out as a result of the StanbyMe Go could be very a lot not an out of doors TV. It’s a transportable TV that may go open air, and I truly want that. That is far more versatile and helpful to me than a hard and fast, at all times open air TV.

However this additionally means it’s worthwhile to take care to guard the StanbyMe Go — and mood your expectations a bit. Take it to the seashore? Positive, however be ready to hoover out the sand. Taking it tenting? Cool, simply don’t put it subsequent to the cooler and anticipate it to deal with a spilled soda. Taking it tailgating? Awesomesauce — except that sauce is BBQ sauce, through which case, not so superior for this TV.

Usually talking, you’re going to need shade for this TV, both made by nature or offered by you. With out shade, you’re gonna must juice up this TV, and that brightness-goosing goes to hit the battery.

This transportable TV — in vivid mode, with all energy saving disabled — can put out about 500 nits full-screen. Matter of reality, that’s as vibrant because it will get for HDR highlights, too. To get that type of brightness, although, you need to know find out how to flip off all power saving, which I missed whereas capturing the tailgating scene in our video. The TV is just not as vibrant as it might truly get in that section.

Towards the top of our video, we get a greater shot, although on a barely darker day, and it’s a higher illustration of what the Stanbyme G0 at its brightest seems to be like open air, except it’s a cloudless day with full solar. So whereas 500 nits is nice inside — that’s not sufficient punch to place up a lot of an out of doors struggle towards the brightest object in our photo voltaic system.

With a cover — be that the 10-by-10 pop-up sort or the stand-of-Douglas-fir-type — you’re going see this TV simply positive. For about 2 hours or so. Which leads me to my subsequent level.

If you happen to’re going to tailgate with this factor or wish to watch it for any important period of time within the automobile or whereas tenting, and so forth., I recommend having some backup energy alongside so to energy it instantly or cost it again up. Or perhaps you possibly can simply cost it off your EV or out of your automobile in the event you’re driving.

The onboard battery will get you thru most films or just a few episodes of your favourite present. And in the event you’re in a dim or darkish setting, go forward and activate low-power mode and you will get by way of most films that aren’t made by Peter Jackson. However for prolonged enjoyable, you’ll want some energy.

I must also point out that the StanbyMe Go’s onboard sound system is completely respectable. It’s loads loud for in-car listening, watching in a lodge, tenting in a quiet place, and even chill tailgating. For extra raucous environments, I’d recommend utilizing a bigger exterior speaker both through Bluetooth or utilizing the aux-out port.

Backside line

Look, this factor is simply enjoyable. I find it irresistible. I’ve had a blast enjoying round with the StanbyMe Go. I believe a very powerful factor so that you can know is that even on an overcast day, it’s nonetheless vibrant sufficient outdoors to problem this and most LCD TVs for visibility. Plan to search out it and your self some shade for the very best outside enjoyment. In any other case, there’s no cause you possibly can’t take the StanbyMe Go anyplace you need leisure.

The subsequent necessary factor so that you can know is that it prices $1,200. It’d come again down after a number of months however, nicely, I’m undecided LG goes to make (or promote) a ton of these items, so this is perhaps a type of occasions you’re higher off getting one soonish in the event you really need one.

And in the event you do get one? Can we begin an Instagram hashtag and present our StanbyMe’s within the craziest locations internationally? That’s about the one factor I can think about that might make the StanBy Me Go anymore extra enjoyable than it already is.

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