Buzz
Weighing just 1.1 kg, this model from South Korea is lighter than typical 13 and 14-inch laptops.
1. The LG Gram 2018 - 15-inch laptop, unbelievably lightweight, with a full day's battery life
Weighing only 1.1 kg, this model from South Korea is sleeker than conventional 13 and 14-inch laptops.
While most 15-inch laptops usually weigh between 1.7 to 2 kg, the 2018 LG Gram 15-inch version is just 1.1 kg. Remarkably, Apple's MacBook Pro 15-inch, known for its sleek design, is even heavier than LG's product by 700 grams.
Using a large yet super-light laptop makes a noticeable difference compared to a conventional heavy one, especially for those who are constantly on the move and carry their laptops every day. It's as simple as needing only one hand instead of two to pull it out of a bag or lift it off a desk. With Gram, convenience is evident in its 2018 design. Despite being compact and lightweight, it still features all the common connection ports for regular computer users, without any compromise. On both sides are two USB-C ports, compact like on smartphones, along with 3 traditional large-sized USB 3.0 ports.
The USB-C port on the left side can output 4K resolution images and doubles as a laptop battery charging port. If you don't have the charger with you, you can use a Power Delivery-compatible portable battery to charge the laptop. Additionally, the laptop comes with a standard HDMI port, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. Users can even use the RJ45 network cable port with the included adapter.
The 15-inch Gram 2018 model is over 1/3 lighter than conventional 15-inch laptops, providing a one-handed feel or easily fitting into a lightweight backpack.
However, within the product group under 30 million VND, the LG Gram lacks distinctive external features. The overall design of the new 2018 Gram looks similar to the last year's model. The small detail distinguishing it is the new 'gram' logo placed at the center, replacing the LG logo at the corner as before.
In compensation, there have been significant internal improvements, noticeable when in use. Firstly, the webcam is no longer under the screen as in the previous generation but has been moved to the top edge like most laptops, restoring a natural camera angle for photos and videos. The fingerprint sensor has also been added, integrated into the power key at the right corner of the keyboard. Similar to smartphones, Gram users now only need to touch their finger for less than a second to unlock the device, with processing speed faster and more responsive than the MacBook Pro's Touch ID.
The 15-inch version of Gram 2018 in Vietnam comes in two colors: gray and white. This is a rare laptop series still using a bright white color, looking stylish and more suitable for female users. The gray color gives the laptop a robust appearance, with a matte finish that minimizes fingerprint and sweat marks.
If you only look at or touch the outer shell of the Gram for the first time, it gives the impression of plastic, not as cool as metal. But in reality, the machine has a casing made of Magnesium-Carbon alloy. Compared to aluminum, it creates a less rigid feel, but in return, besides being lightweight, it has a higher durability rating. With long-term use, Magnesium-Carbon also helps reduce dents and dings upon impact.
The new generation Gram 2018 is also a rare thin and light laptop on the market that meets 7 U.S. military MIL-STD 810G standards for heat and cold resistance, low pressure, shock resistance, or resistance to salt spray. According to the manufacturer, the new model is also 20% sturdier than the last year's generation.
Light and thin, yet overall good finishing quality. This is evident when the hinge opens the screen smoothly, securely, and can be lifted with just one finger. The chiclet-style keyboard is large, includes a numeric keypad, and has LED backlighting for comfortable typing and use in low-light conditions. The touchpad on the Gram 2018 is also commendable for its sensitivity, supporting various multi-touch gestures, but unfortunately, its size is not proportionate to the 15-inch laptop's body.
With the same 15-inch screen size, LG Gram (on the right) is lighter than MacBook Pro 15 by 700 grams.
The Gram's display isn't outstanding in terms of quality, but with a 15-inch size and weighing just over 1 kg, it becomes an advantage. In this weight class on the market, laptop buyers typically only have a few options in the 12 and 13-inch range.
The Gram 2018 display uses an IPS panel and supports up to 96% of the sRGB color range, showcasing vibrant colors with good viewing angles, catering to entertainment needs like watching movies and playing games without complaints. Even under harsh sunlight, this display performs well, though it lacks the outdoor Daylight Mode feature found in the predecessor version. However, the manufacturer still integrates the Reader Mode for book reading, helping filter blue light and soothing the eyes during extended computer use.
Like most 15-inch laptops in the 30 to 40 million VND range, the Gram 2018 has a Full HD screen resolution. Therefore, if you've used a MacBook Pro, you'll notice that the LG model's display is not as smooth. However, it compensates with double the battery life compared to Apple's laptop.
Compared to the previous version, LG's 15-inch laptop has upgraded its battery from 60 Wh to 72 Wh, a 20% increase, without changing the size and weight of the device. In theory, the Gram 2018 15-inch version's battery life is claimed to be up to 19 hours, while the MacBook Pro 15 offers 10 hours. In reality, the difference in battery usage between the two models is double. While the MacBook's battery can last for 5 continuous hours from 8 am to 1 pm, the lightweight Windows laptop can operate continuously from 8 am to 6 pm under the same settings and usage intensity. In balanced performance settings, the Gram 2018 15-inch version can handle a full day of office work, browsing, and document editing.
Even with a full day's use, the battery on this lightweight 15-inch laptop only takes 3 hours to fully charge with the included accessory. In case of necessity, users can also use certain types of phone power banks that support Power Delivery to charge through the USB-C port on the left side.
Trading off the advantages of design and long battery life in the Gram 2018 are its not overly powerful configuration and high price. Priced at 37 million VND by LG, users now have Windows laptop options with Core i7 chips and dedicated graphics at a similar cost. Meanwhile, the model from South Korea is equipped with the 8th generation i5 U8250 chip with 4 cores, a base clock of 1.6 GHz, and Turbo Boost support up to 3.4 GHz, along with 8 GB DDR4 RAM and a 512 GB SSD.
In general, the Gram 2018 15-inch is a unique laptop on the market, designed to be compact and lightweight despite its large screen and long battery life. Although expensive, the product doesn't focus on high specifications but optimizes for common needs and extended battery usage. In the Windows laptop segment, the price and configuration of LG's model fall between mid-range and high-end machines, with few rivals for comparison.
Overall Review:
Pros:
Compact design at 1.1 kg, lighter than typical 13-inch laptops
15.6-inch IPS display
Magnesium-Carbon alloy body meets U.S. military MIL-STD810 durability standards
All-day battery, 3-hour charge, USB-C PD charging support
Multiple connection ports
Cons:
Alloy body looks like plastic, not as sturdy as aluminum
High price compared to the configuration
Simple design
