LG Gram 16 (2022) review: Eye on you

The new LG Gram 16 (2022) is just as sleek and portable as last year's version. It has the same design, but refreshed with the latest PC hardware. But what's more significant are the new tricks added by LG. Dubbed LG Glance, this suite of software features uses the all-seeing webcam to detect your presence and attention to, among other things, lock the laptop, pause media playback, and even move windows between the laptop screen and an external monitor.

Quick specs

16-inch 2,560 x 1,600-pixel IPS display
Intel Core i7-1260P processor with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD
Around 1.2kg
80 watt-hour battery

LG revamped the Gram's design last year with a switch to a 16:10 screen. So it's no surprise that the South Korean firm has retained the same minimalist design for the 2022 edition. It simply means that the LG Gram 16 is still one of the most portable ultrabooks in the market. Despite its 16-inch size, this laptop weighs a mere 1.2kg. This is thanks to a matte magnesium alloy body that seems a bit prone to fingerprint smudges. The display still doesn't support touch, but it now has an anti-glare layer and is less reflective. Like its predecessor, I could open the lid with one hand while resting the notebook on my other hand. It also has a decent number of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4, HDMI and two USB-A ports.

New to the 2022 edition is the Mirametrix-powered LG Glance. These software features, also found in some Lenovo laptops, use the webcam to detect your presence. For example, the laptop can automatically lock the screen or dim the display if the webcam doesn't see any user. Some cool uses include showing a notification and blurring the screen when someone is detected peeking over your shoulder. You can also move windows or the mouse pointer between the laptop display and a second screen by turning your head and shifting your glance. But this can be tricky to pull off. You need to be at the right height and position in front of the notebook. While I'll probably just use a couple of these features myself, I can see how they can be easily integrated into one's daily routine to enhance the user experience.

Like the 2021 model, the Gram 16 doesn't have a physical shutter for the webcam, which can also unlock the laptop via facial recognition. However, you can disable the webcam (and the microphone) easily via a keyboard shortcut (Fn+F4). Personally, I prefer to use the fingerprint sensor (built into the power button). Hardware-wise, the Gram comes with the new 12th-gen Intel Core processors. Coupled with the latest high-speed SSD, the laptop feels swift and responsive. It's not great for gaming, though. You can run some casual games like Hades, but at lower resolutions and settings. LG actually sells a Gram 16 model with an Nvidia graphics chip in some markets, but the Singapore models only come with the integrated Intel Xe graphics.

The 10hr 40min battery life on last year's Gram 16 was impressive. Thankfully, LG has kept the same 80 watt-hour battery capacity on the new model. Unsurprisingly, I got around the same uptime (10.5hr) in my usual video-loop battery test at maximum brightness. With its faster hardware and useful eye and gaze tracking features, the LG Gram 16 (2022) improves on its predecessor, while retaining the sleek and lightweight form. Get it now from Lazada and Shopee starting from S$2,399 for the Core i5 version and S$2,599 for the Core i7 model.

Note: Review unit provided by LG.

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