Samsung, LG to compete for global portable TV market

Left: LG Electronics Inc.’s “StanbyME Go,” a portable TV. Right: Samsung Electronics Co.’s second-generation home projector, the “The Freestyle.” [Courtesy of LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics]

Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc., the two leading players in the global TV industry, have embarked on a consecutive pursuit of the global portable TV market, a move to overcome economic uncertainties by venturing beyond traditional living room TVs and into the realm of second-screen markets.

According to industry sources on Wednesday, Samsung Electronics recently initiated pre-sales for its second-generation home projector, the “The Freestyle,” with a primary focus on the North American market. The Freestyle projector can rotate up to 180 degrees, allowing users to enjoy a 100-inch screen. Its “Auto Screen Setting” feature automatically adjusts the screen’s horizontal and vertical proportions, as well as focus, making it easy to use.

In response, LG Electronics announced on the same day that it will sequentially launch the “StanbyME Go,” a portable TV suitable for outdoor use, in North America and Europe. This product follows the positive consumer response it received in the Korean market. Starting this month in North America, StandbyME Go will be released in major European countries including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain from the following month.

StandbyME Go represents what’s known as a “lifestyle screen,” allowing users to enjoy content not only in indoor spaces but also outdoors, in locations such as parks or camping sites.