The LG StanbyME 2 has a truly insane price, but I want it anyway

Summary

LG StanbyME 2 offers improved resolution and a new portable design for $1,300.
The smart TV has a 27-inch QHD display and a battery that can last up to 4 hours.
The LG StandbyME 2 runs on webOS, and supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

If you’ve always wanted a TV you can carry around, use as a tablet, or hang on your wall like a picture, then LG’s StanbyME 2 might catch your interest. Announced at CES 2025, LG has officially released the StanbyME 2, its new portable touchscreen smart TV, in the US for $1,300. It is the successor to the original StanbyME TV, which LG launched in 2023 for $1,000. So, is the LG StanbyME 2 worth the extra $300? Let’s find out.

The LG StanbyME 2 is a 27-inch smart TV with a 60Hz refresh rate and a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution (QHD). This is a big upgrade from the original StanbyME, which had a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution.

What makes LG’s StanbyME 2 TV so unique is its versatility. It comes with a rolling stand that you can attach and detach from the TV, instead of being fixed to its stand like the original model. So, if you want to roll it around your house, you can, but you can also detach it and use it wirelessly, like a tablet, anywhere you like. However, it weighs 9.5 lbs, so it isn’t exactly the most portable device.

“Building on the versatile design of the original StanbyME, the new model adds even greater flexibility by being fully detachable from its wheeled docking stand,” LG said in a press release. “With enhanced portability and upgraded resolution, the StanbyME 2 is designed to suit diverse lifestyles and personal preferences — offering an immersive entertainment experience, whether at home or on the move.”

Brand: LG
Display Size: 27-inch
Operating System: WebOS
Display Resolution: 2560 x 1440 (QHD)
Connectivity: USB-C
Refresh rate: 60Hz

This rolling TV was made for TikTok

The StanbyME may not be poised to be your primary TV but it does offer a ton of innovative uses.

The LG StanbyME 2 has four hours of battery life

Of course, for it to work wirelessly, the LG StanbyME 2 relies on a built-in battery. LG says the battery can last up to 4 hours without needing a charge, which is a slight upgrade from the original StanbyME’s three-and-a-half-hour battery life. You can recharge the LG StanbyME 2 using its docking stand or a USB-C cable and an external charger. You can also recharge it with a portable power bank if you’re on the go, but the power bank must have a minimum 65W power supply.

The LG StanbyME 2 runs on webOS TV, so it features all the smart TV features you’d expect today, including access to your favorite streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, or Prime Video. It also supports TV Mirroring, allowing you to display content from your phone, tablet, or PC on it. LG is promising five years of software updates for the StanbyME 2, so the product will be supported until 2030. Additionally, it supports Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision for “cinematic picture and sound.”

So, if you want to take the LG StanbyME 2 out of the house for camping or a backyard movie night, you can. Another interesting use for the device is its ability to be carried around and hung with a strap. At CES 2025, LG showed the StanbyME 2 being used as a clock or to display art in your home. However, with a four-hour battery life, I’m not sure how practical it will be for that. What’s disappointing is that the strap isn’t included with the StanbyME 2, only a folio cover, according to LG’s product page. $1,300 and you can’t even include the carrying strap? Come on, LG. I don’t see the strap available yet on LG’s site, so it’s unclear what its cost will be.

There’s no doubt that the LG StanbyME 2 is a cool product. You can roll it around your house, hang it up like decor, or take it on adventures like it’s a giant tablet. But at $1,300, a $300 increase from the original, I’m not sure if all its upgrades justify the price hike. Still, I have to admit, I want it anyway due to how unique it is. The LG StanbyME 2 is now available in the US, along with Canada, Vietnam, and Singapore. In August, it will become available in the UK, Germany, France, and Spain.