We’re big fans of LG’s StanbyME line of TVs, whose portability makes them ideal for moving around in smaller apartments and living spaces. Problem is, the previous models have both topped out at 27 inches, which is pretty small for a modern TV. If you’ve been holding out for something bigger, maybe the LG StanbyME 2 Max will be more to your liking.
Like previous StanbyME models, the TV is designed to be moved around, coming in a portable profile that makes it easy to carry in hand for moving around the house. Heck, they even have an integrated battery, making it possible to use them outdoors, if you’re willing to lug around a 27-inch screen. Unlike them, though, this one has a bigger 4K display for an even clearer, sharper, and more immersive viewing experience.
The LG StanbyME 2 Max takes on a similar design as the non-Max version. That means, you get a touchscreen TV without the integrated briefcase from the original model. You can use it on its own, either by setting it flat on a table like a giant tablet or relying on the built-in kickstand to keep it upright. At this size, though, you’ll probably want to keep it mounted on the included floor stand, which holds it at an ideal viewing height, making it a viable TV for use anywhere in the house. The stand, by the way, comes with wheels at the bottom, making it easy to move around from room to room.
For this iteration, LG went with a bigger 32-inch screen, which should make it more suited as a living room TV. Even better, they beefed up the native resolution from QHD (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) to 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160 pixels), allowing you to enjoy much sharper images. Other notable details about the screen include a 60Hz refresh rate (that means you can use it as a gaming TV), HDR support (Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG), and Dolby Atmos audio for more immersive three-dimensional sound. According to the outfit, it comes with LG’s AI Sound Pro, which can upmix any audio playing through the TV into a virtual 11.1.2 surround sound.
The LG StanbyME 2 Max isn’t just bigger and sharper than the portable TV’s previous iterations, it also comes with the outfit’s Alpha 8 AI processor, the same one used in many of the outfit’s newer TVs. That means, it comes with all sorts of software tech from LG, including AI Pictur Pro (adds depth and detail for more lifelike images) and enhanced upscaling of non-4K content
In case you want to use it in a room with no power outlets, you can rely on the integrated battery to keep it running for up to 4.5 hours between charges. Sure, that’s not a very long time, but that’s enough time to let you finish even a very long movie, making it very useful around the house. Other features include the ability to rotate 90 degrees for watching vertical videos, built-in webOS software with preloaded apps and games, a two-channel speaker system, voice commands with far-field voice recognition, a smattering of AI features for improving both video and audio, and a magnetic snap-on remote that can attach to the sides of the TV, so it’s always nearby.
The LG StanbyME 2 Max is available now, priced at $1,299.99.
