LG StanbyMe Deep Dive Review (in 2024)

Summary

The LG Standby Me is a 27-inch touchscreen TV with a battery life of 3 hours, designed for portability and versatility. It runs on webOS, offering popular apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime, but with limited touchscreen functionality in some apps. The device is well-suited for casual users and content sharing, with the ability to mirror other LG screens. However, it falls short with outdated tech, poor app support, and subpar speakers. Best for small spaces or as a secondary display, but may not outperform an iPad or laptop at the same price point.

Takeaways

• 📺 The LG Standby Me is a 27-inch touchscreen TV with a matte finish and adjustable stand, weighing 35 lbs and featuring a battery life of about 3 hours.
• 🔄 It has a unique form factor, being able to rotate into portrait mode and adjust in various ways, making it adaptable to different scenarios.
• 🎮 The device comes with four pre-installed games designed for touchscreen interaction and supports multiplayer split-screen gaming.
• 🔌 It includes ports for USB media and HDMI, as well as an NFC tag for quick actions and an on-screen remote for additional control options.
• 📱 The Standby Me runs on LG's webOS, offering access to popular entertainment apps, although not all apps are optimized for the touchscreen.
• 👎 Some apps, like Apple TV, do not work well with the touchscreen, and the overall performance can be laggy, suggesting uneven app optimization.
• 🏠 The device is well-suited for users with space constraints, as it can serve multiple purposes in different rooms without the need for multiple devices.
• 🔗 It offers room-to-room connectivity, allowing it to mirror or be mirrored on other LG screens, which is useful for moving content between rooms.
• 🤔 The Standby Me struggles to find its niche in a market saturated with smart TVs, monitors, laptops, and tablets, each offering more specialized features.
• 💰 At $4.99, it competes with more powerful devices like iPads and laptops, making it a harder sell for consumers seeking high performance or extensive app support.
• 🔍 The browser app included feels slow and clunky, and the device's overall performance seems outdated compared to current tech standards.

Q & A

What is the LG Standby Me?

The LG Standby Me is a 27-inch touchscreen smart TV powered by webOS, designed to be portable and adaptable to various scenarios with its adjustable stand and wheels.

How much does the LG Standby Me weigh and what is its battery life?

The LG Standby Me weighs approximately 35 pounds and has a battery life of about 3 hours, taking 4 hours to charge.

What are the unique physical features of the LG Standby Me?

The LG Standby Me features a 27-inch 1080p touchscreen with a 60 Hz refresh rate, a matte finish for better daylight viewing, and the ability to rotate into portrait mode and adjust in various directions.

How does the LG Standby Me handle controls?

It comes with an LG remote for navigation, touch controls on the screen that work well with some apps but not all, and an on-screen remote for certain apps. There are also physical controls on the back for power and volume.

What kind of apps come pre-installed on the LG Standby Me?

The LG Standby Me comes pre-loaded with popular entertainment apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV, and the built-in LG Channels app.

How does the LG Standby Me perform as a gaming device?

It comes with four pre-installed games designed to work well with the touchscreen, offering multiplayer split-screen functionality, making it suitable for casual gaming.

What are some of the limitations of the LG Standby Me's touchscreen?

The touchscreen does not work in all apps, including some stock apps, and can be laggy or unresponsive in others, suggesting inconsistent optimization by app developers.

How does the LG Standby Me integrate with other LG products?

As an LG screen, it offers an integrated experience with the home dashboard, showing connected LG products and their status, and supports room-to-room connectivity for mirroring to other LG screens.

What are some scenarios where the LG Standby Me could be a better option than a tablet?

The LG Standby Me could be ideal for small spaces like condos, where it can serve as a TV and be moved around easily, or for situations requiring a larger screen than a tablet offers, such as corporate events or content sharing.

What are some of the performance issues with the LG Standby Me?

The device has slow load times, delays when swiping between pages, and a browser that feels clunky and slow, indicating that the technology might be a few years outdated.

How does the LG Standby Me handle audio output?

The speakers are located on the back of the screen, which can lead to less than optimal sound unless a separate speaker is used to enhance the audio experience.

Outlines

00:00

📺 Versatile LG Standby Me TV Review

The LG Standby Me is a unique, portable 27-inch touchscreen TV powered by webOS, designed for specific user needs. It features an adjustable stand with wheels, weighing 35 lbs, and a battery life of 3 hours. The device offers a 1080p touch screen with a 60Hz refresh rate, matte finish for better daylight viewing, and the ability to rotate into portrait mode. It also includes basic controls, an LG remote, and an on-screen remote for navigation. The Standby Me is equipped with pre-loaded entertainment apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime but has limited app support for its touchscreen. It's marketed as a lifestyle product adaptable to various scenarios, including gaming with pre-installed multiplayer games and casual web browsing through its webOS app store. However, it falls short in areas such as app optimization and performance, making it a niche product.

05:02

🔍 Evaluating the LG Standby Me's Place in the Market

The LG Standby Me finds its niche as a portable entertainment device, suitable for small spaces or for those who value content sharing. While it offers a large screen compared to tablets, it faces competition from devices like iPads that provide higher resolution, better refresh rates, and more app support. The Standby Me's limitations include its inability to fully utilize the touchscreen in all apps, slow browser performance, and outdated tech feel. Additionally, the device's sound quality is subpar due to rear-facing speakers, though this can be improved with external speakers. Despite its shortcomings, it could appeal to a specific audience looking for a lifestyle display for various activities, but its $4,999 price tag and 3-hour battery life may deter potential buyers seeking more versatile or higher-performance devices.

Keywords

💡LG Standby Me

The 'LG Standby Me' is a portable, battery-powered smart screen developed by LG Electronics. It is a central theme of the video, representing an innovative product designed for versatility and mobility. The script discusses its features, such as the adjustable stand, touchscreen, and battery life, which are integral to understanding the product's purpose and potential use cases.

💡WebOS

WebOS is the operating system powering the LG Standby Me, providing access to apps, settings, and other functionalities. It is a key concept in the video as it determines the user interface and the compatibility with various apps, which is crucial for evaluating the device's utility and user experience.

💡Touchscreen

The 'Touchscreen' is a defining feature of the LG Standby Me, allowing for interactive control of the device. The video discusses the performance of the touchscreen in different apps and its responsiveness, which is essential for assessing the device's ease of use and functionality.

💡Battery Life

The 'Battery Life' of approximately 3 hours is a critical aspect of the LG Standby Me's portability and usability. The script mentions this as a limitation, affecting how and where the device can be used without access to a power source.

💡Adjustable Stand

The 'Adjustable Stand' with wheels is a key feature of the LG Standby Me, enabling it to be moved around the home with ease. The video emphasizes its importance for the device's portability and the ability to adapt to various home environments.

💡Entertainment Device

The LG Standby Me is described as an 'Entertainment Device,' pre-loaded with popular apps for streaming services. This keyword highlights the device's intended use for media consumption, which is a significant part of the video's discussion on its suitability for different user needs.

💡Gaming

The video mentions 'Gaming' as one of the use cases for the LG Standby Me, with pre-installed games designed to work well with the device's screen. This keyword is important for understanding the device's capabilities for casual gaming and its appeal to a specific user base.

💡App Store

The 'App Store' mentioned in the script refers to LG's own webOS app store, not the Play Store. This distinction is crucial for understanding the limitations of the device's software ecosystem and the availability of apps for the user.

💡Casting

The term 'Casting' is used in the script to describe the ability to mirror or display content from other devices onto the LG Standby Me. This feature is important for evaluating the device's versatility in different scenarios, such as home gyms or corporate events.

💡Portability

The 'Portability' of the LG Standby Me is a key point in the video, with its 35 lb weight and wheeled stand allowing it to be moved around. The script discusses how this feature fits into various lifestyles and the potential advantages over other devices like tablets.

💡Niche Audience

The 'Niche Audience' refers to a specific group of users who may find the LG Standby Me particularly useful due to its unique features. The video suggests that while the device has broad capabilities, it may cater best to users with particular needs or preferences.

Highlights

The LG Standby Me is a 27-inch touchscreen TV with a battery life of about 3 hours and a 4-hour charging time.

Weighing 35 lbs, the device is portable with its adjustable stand and wheelbase, making it suitable for moving around the home.

The screen has a 1080p resolution with a 60 Hz refresh rate, matte finish for daylight viewing, and the ability to rotate into portrait mode.

The device includes an LG remote for navigation and on-screen controls for power and volume.

The touchscreen works well with stock apps but has limited functionality with some third-party apps.

Ports for USB media and HDMI are available, along with an NFC tag for quick actions via the LG app.

The Standby Me runs on LG's webOS with access to standard apps, settings, and a mobile device widget.

Pre-loaded entertainment apps include Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV, and LG Channels.

Most entertainment apps do not work with the touchscreen, and some require an on-screen remote for navigation.

Four pre-installed games are designed for the touchscreen, offering multiplayer split-screen functionality.

The device's browser app is basic and may feel slow for some users.

The LG Standby Me has its own webOS app store, but it lacks the depth of the Play Store.

The device is best suited for casual users, while power users may prefer computers, tablets, or TVs for more functionality.

The Standby Me can integrate with other LG products in the home dashboard and offers room-to-room connectivity.

The device can be used as a TV, a gaming screen, and for content sharing, making it versatile for various scenarios.

The Standby Me is a niche product that may appeal to those with small living spaces or those who need a portable entertainment solution.

The device's sound quality is less than optimal due to speakers being located on the back of the screen.

The LG Standby Me is marketed as a lifestyle display for various activities but may not outperform an iPad or laptop at the same price point.

The device's performance is somewhat outdated, with slow load times and delays that may not satisfy tech-savvy users.

Transcripts

this is the LG standby me an LG TV

screen powered by web OS on an

adjustable stand with a wheelbase making

it perfect for moving around your

home over my time with this product I've

come to realize that it's really great

for very specific needs and then misses

the mark on a couple of others it's sort

of like this is an experimental product

that LG made with a specific user base

in mind or just added a lot of features

with no clear Direction in mind so from

that perspective let's talk about what

it does who it's for and specific use

cases around that and then where it

actually falls short use the chapters to

jump to a specific section so let's

start with what it can do physically the

standby me looks great with a 27in

touchscreen it's got speakers on the

back of that screen that's adjustable in

any direction it's attached to a stand

with wheels in the base which you'll

want to use because this thing weighs a

whopping 35 lb and I'm assuming a lot of

that weight has to do with the battery

in here which lasts about 3 hours and

takes 4 hours to charge now why that

battery is powering a 27in 1080p

touchcreen which has a refresh rate of

60 HZ a matte finish which helps when

viewing in daylight and it's also able

to rotate into portrait mode raise and

lower swivel left and right in front to

back to adapt to whatever you're doing

it's clear here that LG was building a

lifestyle product to adapt to any

scenario which really lets you use this

thing in whatever way that you want and

with that there's a bunch of different

ways to control this thing it comes with

the LG remote which is not motion

controlled like some of their remotes

for their TVs but it is great for simple

navigation when watching LG channels or

other media apps then there's controls

on the back of the device for power and

volume then there's also the touchcreen

which either works perfectly on stock

apps or on some select apps doesn't work

at all and then it leads to this sort of

on-screen remote it's a little bit

bizarre but more on that later on the

back there's also ports for USB media or

an HDMI to hook up anything that you

want and then there's also an NFC tag

which you can configure to do a number

of actions just by Tapp your phone and

then using the LG app so by now you

might sort of get what the tech is but

you don't really understand how it works

or what it's actually for fair so this

is a rollable smart touchcreen that bag

description is taken right from LG among

others like Best Buy that call it a

smart TV it's sort of an in between of

all of those descriptions it kind of

does a little more than just a standard

lgtv but less than what you would expect

from say a tablet or another touchscreen

device so first it's a screen powered by

LG's web OS here you have all of your

apps you have access to settings and

search your LG dashboard a screen saver

option a mobile device widget all of

your different inputs pretty standard

stuff for web OS now second it's an

entertainment device and with that it's

going to come pre-loaded with some

popular entertainment apps like Netflix

Amazon Prime Disney Apple TV and even

the built-in LG channels app and that's

going to have a TV guide and live

channels for you to watch with even more

apps depending on what region that

you're in now surprisingly most of these

apps don't actually work with the

touchcreen at all you've got Apple TV

that just flat out can't use the

touchcreen and it makes you use the

remote or it pulls up an on-screen

remote which is unexpected not that

useful and even if you can use the

touchscreen on some of the apps it is

really laggy to accept that input and I

find that the remote is actually a much

better experience anyway what's actually

weirder is that like other apps like

YouTube actually work really well with

the touchcreen which makes me think that

the developers of other third party apps

just aren't doing anything to optimize

the touchcreen here and like come on

Apple your Apple TV app works on a bunch

of different touch screens of a bunch of

different sizes you can't tell me that

this can't work with a touchcreen but

that touchcreen is going to be much

better suited to our third point which

is gaming the standby me comes with four

games pre-installed that are built to

work well with this screen animal hit

which is a game where you try to guess

the right animals and the Order of those

animals there's card match which is a

simple card matching game nothing crazy

there there's hidden catch which is a

Spot the Difference sort of game then

there's a classic chess game and all of

these games have multiplayer split

screen built in which is perfect for the

Casual Gamer there's also a browser app

which feels a little slow but it's good

enough for casual

browsing there's also an app store by

the way which is worth mentioning it

isn't the Play Store it is LG's own web

OS app store it's got some headlines but

most other apps aside from the ones that

come pre-installed aren't very very

in-depth uh and not a very substantial

reason to buy The Stand By Me in my

opinion I actually didn't use any of

them for a long period of time instead

the apps that are actually built in here

are the ones that are going to be for

the Casual user and for that this works

great if you're a power user you are

going to be reaching more for your

computer your tablet or a TV screen this

kind of does just the base level of what

any of those could do third it's an LG

screen and with that you're going to get

a very integrated experience in the home

dashboard you're going to see all of

your connected LG products and then

their status it's got room to room

connectivity so you can mirror this

device to another LG screen or vice

versa which is great for watching

something in the living room and then

rolling this into the other room while

I'm cooking so now you're caught up on

what the LG standby me can do but that

doesn't really answer your question of

where this fits into your Tech lineup in

a world where you have so many devices

in your home from Smart TVs to monitors

and laptops to iPads to phones it's hard

to understand where this actually fits

in it's similar to all those things sure

but somehow in its own product category

as well and if you're in the market for

an entertainment device that you can

move around your home why wouldn't you

just opt for an iPad or a tablet on a

stand something like that see an iPad at

a similar price point can have a much

better resolution display better refresh

rate more responsive touchscreen many

more supported apps potentially better

integration with your existing products

depending on what you're using so where

does the standby me become a better

option well if you have a small place

like a condo this could be perfect for

having one device to replace your TV and

then shifts around with you it could be

a TV in the living room move it into the

dining room in the corner just casting

audio as an accent piece in the kitchen

used for recipes in your home gym

instructing your workout it's also great

for people who are big on content

sharing if you do a lot of casting from

your screen it's also really great for

corporate events to display a banner or

a survey or product info and although

sure it's less portable than an iPad I

mean it's 30 lb less minimum it's still

portable enough to move around your

house and still enjoy a much larger

screen than another tablet would get you

so where does this thing miss the mark

using this thing as a TV with the remote

works great as an entertainment device

this makes a lot of sense even playing

the select few built-in games Works

awesome but other than that I found that

the standby me tries to do a lot of

things and doesn't really Master any of

them so here's six problems that I have

with the standby me you can cast your

phone screen to this thing but it

doesn't take advantage of the touchreen

screen this isn't LG's fault as AirPlay

doesn't really allow you to control the

iOS device that's casting but regardless

of fault it limits the way that you can

interact with this device if it's really

just for mirroring it's actually more

useful to airplay a Mac where you can

extend as a second display and then

continue to control it through your Mac

next there's a limited selection of apps

and the ones that are supported aren't

very in- depth and aren't fully

supported it's not the full Play Store

and it has select web OS apps I

primarily just used the stock apps it

came with didn't stray too far outside

of that next touchcreen doesn't work in

all apps and this includes the stock

ones that it comes with I really

expected everything to take full

advantage of that touchcreen but instead

when touching the screen in some apps

that remote pops up from the side and

then on some apps that do work with a

touchcreen the scrolling just isn't as

intuitive or it's delayed which again I

thought was systemwide then I found some

apps actually worked really well with it

so that does come down to the developer

and the optimization some people just

aren't optim iing their apps for this

thing the browser feels clunky it's a

basic web browser you can add bookmarks

and links to the home screen but Pages

still load really slow and in a lot of

cases I found it a downgrade from

looking at sites on my phone performan

is lackluster this sort of extends

throughout the device with slow load

times delays when swiping between pages

and it sort of feels like the tech is

just a few years outdated I wonder if

further optimization will make this

better but it's clear that this is a

lifestyle device and it isn't meant to

be that best performing product that's

out there and then finally if you were

just using this thing as a floating TV

with a remote the speakers are on the

back so they're not really facing you

leading to an allaround less than

optimal sound the good news is that you

can get a speaker with this thing that

will make it way better but it's a shame

it doesn't come with it so LG markets

this thing as sort of a lifestyle

display a screen made for movies Sports

workouts studying working cooking gaming

relaxing binging for life and I don't

think that they're wrong about any of

those things sure this has the ability

to watch content play games cast your

screen use as a mirror or second display

leveraging a touchscreen and a remote to

enjoy content however you want it it's

clear that this is going to make a very

Niche audience very happy but for the

price of $4.99 a battery life of 3 hours

and Tech that feels somewhat outdated I

can't see how this Tech is better than

an iPad or a laptop at the same price

point