LG has given its latest 2021 Gram laptops a makeover. Notably, a switch to 16:10 displays that let users see more of a Webpage or document. There's also a new 16-inch model, which I have been testing for over a week now. This all-black version looks clean and suitably modern with its minimal frills and a matte textured magnesium alloy chassis.
Quick specs
- 16-inch 2,560 x 1,600-pixel IPS display
- Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor with 16GB system memory
- 1.2kg
- 80 watt-hour battery
Of course, the main appeal of the Gram laptops has been their weight, or rather their lack of. The 16-inch Gram clocks in at just under 1.2kg, which is incredibly light for its size. You really have to hold it to appreciate its portability. The icing on top: I could open the lid with one hand while resting the notebook on my other hand.
Just don't ask me why LG came up with a 16-inch version when it is still producing a 17-inch model. I'm sure no one cares about an extra inch. Personally, the 16-inch screen, which is surrounded by narrow bezels looks crisp and bright. Colours look vivid, too, with LG saying the display supports 99% of the DCI-P3 wide colour gamut.
Like the Huawei MateBook 14, you can log in to your Windows account on the Gram 16 from cold boot by simply pressing the power button, which integrates a fingerprint sensor. There's also an option in the LG Control Center software to automatically boot up the laptop when you open the lid. Personally, I'd close the lid to put the notebook to sleep instead — it takes just a second or two for this Intel Evo certified PC to wake up. And its 80 watt-hour battery lasts quite a while. It clocked 10hr 40min in my usual video-loop battery test, which is very impressive for a 16-inch model.
Is the Gram 16 perfect? Not quite. I would have liked a privacy shutter for the Web camera. The keyboard is mostly good with nice key travel and resistance, but the space bar is shorter than expected. The matte chassis looks pretty but needs some maintenance for fingerprints and other smudges. The laptop is also not cheap at S$2,299 for my Core i7 review set from LG's official Lazada and Shopee stores. But if you are shopping for a modern big-screen premium laptop, the Gram 16 should definitely be on your shortlist.
Note: Review unit provided by LG.
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