We have the LG Gram 16 (2022), an ultra-portable laptop boasting a 17-inch display. While some may find its display size a tad large for its footprint, it’s undeniably lightweight. In this review, we’ll assess its design, build quality, display, hinge, keyboard, ports, performance, and battery life to determine if it justifies its price tag.
Read Also: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2020) Review
Specifications and Price
| Display | 16.0″ PS LCCD (non-Touch) WQXGA (2560 x 1600) 360 nits: DCI-P3 99% (Typical, min 95%) |
| CPU | Intel 12th Gen Core i7-1260P |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Memory | Up to 32 GB LPDDR5 (Dual Channel, 5200MHz) |
| Storage | 1TB NVME Gen 4 M.2 (2280) Dual SSD slots |
| Battery | 80 Wh Li-on |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, 802.11ax, 2×2, Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Audio | Stereo Speaker 1.5Wx2 |
| Webcam | FHD IR with Dual Mic (face recognition) |
| Dimensions and Weight | 13.96 x 9.53 x0.66 354.5 x 242.1 x 16.8mm dimensions, 1.99KG Weight |
| Price | $1,249.00 |
The LG Gram 16 (2022) is equipped with a 12th-gen Intel Core i7 1260p processor, complemented by a 16-inch anti-glare IPS display. It now features a full HD IR webcam, enabling face recognition login via Windows Hello. This laptop supports LP DDR5 RAM and faster Gen 4 NVMe storage, with two accessible slots for user upgrades. Additionally, it offers the Privacy Guard Privacy Alert smart feature, along with support for Wi-Fi 6E, enhancing your overall computing experience.
Design and Build Quality
Inside the box, you’ll find the Gram 16 itself, along with a 65-watt USB Type-C power adapter, an extension cord, and some warranty documents. Holding the LG Gram product in your hands, you can’t help but be amazed by how thin and light it is, especially for a 16-inch laptop. In fact, this particular model, now with a 17-inch display, weighs only 1.19 kilograms or 2.64 pounds. This remarkable lightweight design is achieved using a special lightweight alloy that’s both metal and extremely durable. It has undergone rigorous military-grade testing and earned a military-grade rating of 810G, signifying its ability to endure tough conditions and keep functioning reliably.
Ports and Connections
On the left side of Gram 16, you’ll find a well-rounded selection of ports, including an HDMI port, followed by two full-function USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports that support data transfer, charging, and display functions. There’s also a 3.5-millimeter combo microphone and headphone jack.
Moving over to the right side, you’ll find a convenient Micro SD card reader, two additional USB ports, which are always a welcome sight, and finally, a Kensington Lockport. Overall, the port selection on this laptop is quite impressive.
User Upgradeability on the LG Gram 16 (2022)
In terms of user upgradeability, the RAM is soldered onto the motherboard. My review unit is equipped with 32 gigabytes of LP DDR5 RAM, operating in dual-channel mode. Other configurations offer 16 gigabytes of RAM, but you can upgrade to 32 gigabytes, as my review unit has. However, the storage is user-upgradeable with two SSD slots available. My review unit features two terabytes of SSD storage, and the read and write speeds are impressive, thanks to Gen 4 technology.
Regarding wireless connectivity, Gram 16 is equipped with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1. It’s important to note that the combo card for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is soldered onto the motherboard, so it cannot be replaced or upgraded later. However, both the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functions work seamlessly on this laptop.
Display and Picture Quality
The Gram 16 features a 16-inch IPS display with a resolution of 2560 by 1600. It’s a non-touch display with an anti-glare coating, which is especially beneficial for productivity users as it helps reduce glare and reflections. The display has a 16:10 aspect ratio, which is great for productivity as it allows you to see more content on the screen, reducing the need for constant scrolling during web browsing.
The specifications for this IPS display are impressive, with a claimed brightness of 350 nits. In actual measurements, it surpassed that with 362 nits. The display offers deep blacks, excellent contrast, and a low Delta E score of 0.99, indicating color accuracy.
The Gram 16 also boasts excellent color gamut coverage and color accuracy, making it an excellent choice for content creators. Whether you’re working in Lightroom, Photoshop, or video editing, this display is well-suited for such tasks.
It’s also great for media consumption, providing an enjoyable experience when watching content on platforms like Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube.
While there are no options for an OLED or a higher refresh rate display, the 60Hz QHD+ resolution display with 2560 by 1600 strikes a good balance between battery life and high-resolution display quality. Overall, this model is highly recommended.
Speakers Audio Quality
The LG’s Gram 16 features downward-facing speakers that deliver a pretty good audio experience. While I found the volume to be decent, I wouldn’t mind a bit more of it. The mid-range tones were solid, and the bass was passable, resulting in an overall good sound quality. In summary, this 16-inch ultra-portable laptop offers a pretty good audio experience.
Webcam IR Camera
The Gram 16 (2022) is equipped with a nice camera that offers 1080p resolution, an improvement over the standard 720p. Moreover, it features an infrared (IR) camera, which allows for convenient face recognition login through Windows Hello. The setup process is straightforward, and since its setup, it has been working flawlessly. It’s worth noting that there is no fingerprint scanner, so you’ll primarily rely on Windows Hello for secure and convenient facial recognition login. Of course, you always have the option to log in using your passcode or password, but Windows Hello adds a layer of convenience and security to the authentication process.
Hinges, Keyboard and Touchpad
Regarding the hinges, you can effortlessly open the lid with just one finger. While there wasn’t significant screen wobble, there was a slight amount noticeable when typing, although it’s not a major concern.
As for the keyboard itself, it offers a satisfying tactile feel, good key travel, and excellent comfort for typing, whether it’s composing emails or documents. The keys are well-spaced, and I never felt like my fingers were at risk of bottoming out.
Notably, the inclusion of a numeric keypad is a welcome addition, particularly for tasks like working on Excel spreadsheets. The keyboard also features a multi-stage backlighting system, making it convenient to work in low-light or dimly lit environments. The white backlighting against the dark black keys provides a high contrast, making the keys easily visible.
Additionally, the laptop boasts a well-sized Precision touchpad that’s highly responsive for tasks such as two-finger scrolling, and it performs as expected for all your navigation needs.
Performance and Gaming
| PCMARK 10 | 5,098 |
| GEEKBENCH 5 (Single-Core) | 1,639 |
| GEEKBENCH 5 (Multi-Core) | 7,372 |
| CINEBENCH R20 | 2,124 |
| CINEBENCH R15 | 923 cb | 98.41 fps |
| CINEBENH R23 | Single-Core 1,532, Multi-core 8,291 |
| 3DMARK Fire Strike | 3,713 |
| 3DMARK Time Spy | 1,422 |
In terms of performance, the LG Gram 16 (2022) is powered by the Intel Core i7-1260p, a 12-core processor from Intel that consists of eight efficiency cores and four high-performance cores. The “P” in the processor name indicates a focus on performance. There’s been a noticeable year-over-year increase in CPU performance, as well as GPU performance, although the GPU improvement is not as significant. This laptop features the same Intel Iris XE graphics with 96 execution units as last year’s model. The most notable performance boost comes in the form of multi-core performance, which is more than double that of the previous year’s model.
| HP Envy 16 (Core i9-12900H) | 1,894 |
| Dell XPS 9520 (Core i7-12700H) | 1,809 |
| Dell XPS 17 9720 (Core i7-12700H) | 1,780 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad 16P (Ryzen 9 6900HX) | 1,569 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Pro) | 1,534 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Pro) | 1,534 |
| LG Gram 16 (Core i7-1260P) | 1,52 |
| HP Envy 16 (Core i9-12900H) | 12,422 |
| Dell XPS 9520 (Core i7-12700H) | 12,053 |
| Dell XPS 17 9720 (Core i7-12700H) | 16,536 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad 16p (Ryzen 9 6900HX) | 12,362 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Pro) | 12,390 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Pro) | 12,402 |
| LG Gram 16 (Core i7-1260P) | 9,261 |
When compared to other 16-inch laptops equipped with discrete GPUs, the Gram 16 (2022) offers significantly better multi-core and single-core performance, as indicated by the numbers provided above. However, it’s worth noting that LG does offer the Gram 16 with an optional discrete GPU, specifically the Nvidia RTX 2050. It’s important to clarify that this laptop is not designed as a dedicated gaming machine; it primarily serves as an ultra-portable laptop with integrated Iris XE Graphics, which are not optimized for heavy gaming performance.
That said, by adjusting some in-game settings, you can achieve playable frame rates for certain titles, depending on their demands. Additionally, if you’re looking for enhanced gaming capabilities, you have the option to connect an external GPU (eGPU) thanks to the two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports available on this laptop. This provides flexibility for users who want to enjoy gaming without the constraints of integrated graphics.
Thermals, Fan Noise and Surface Temps
During the Prime 95 stress test, the Gram 16 experiences a core temperature that reaches approximately 91-92 degrees Celsius before power throttling kicks in. This power throttling helps maintain a temperature of around 80-81 degrees Celsius by lowering the clock speeds to prevent overheating. As a result, some thermal throttling is observed, which is not unexpected for an ultra-portable 16-inch laptop under heavy load.
In terms of fan noise in performance mode, it registers at about 45-46 decibels. This level of noise is noticeable but not overly loud or distracting, which is considered good for user comfort.
Regarding surface temperatures, the laptop remains relatively cool, with a few hot spots but, for the most part, maintaining cooler temperatures.
Battery Life on the LG Gram 16
The Gram 16 is equipped with an 80-watt-hour battery, and its battery life is excellent. During a continuous web surfing test conducted over Wi-Fi at 115 nits of brightness, the laptop achieved a battery life of over 14 and a half hours. In practical terms, this translates to approximately 11 to 12 hours of real-world mixed usage. The included 65-watt USB-C power adapter is capable of providing a full charge in just a little over an hour and a half, which is quite impressive.
Pros and Cons
The Gram 16 (2022) is an impressive ultraportable laptop, primarily due to its spacious 16-inch IPS display with a QHD+ resolution. It offers exceptional lightweight thanks to the use of a magnesium alloy, making it highly portable. The laptop excels in battery life, with a runtime of over 14 and a half hours in a continuous web surfing test.
The inclusion of faster DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 4 storage, which is user-upgradeable, adds to its appeal. Having two Thunderbolt 4 ports provides versatility for connectivity. The laptop features a full HD webcam (1080p) with good video and audio quality from the array microphones. The double CPU performance improvement over the previous year, thanks to the 12th Gen Core i7 1260p processor, is a notable advantage.
However, there are some drawbacks to consider. The RAM is soldered, which is common for ultraportable laptops in 2022. Additionally, the laptop can get relatively expensive, especially without the option of a discrete GPU. Although there is an option for the Nvidia RTX 2050, the model reviewed is equipped with integrated Iris XE Graphics.
Final Thoughts
The LG Gram 16 stands out for its exceptional lightweight design, thanks to the use of a magnesium alloy. It’s worth noting that this choice of materials may result in a bit of flex, which is more noticeable compared to aluminum. However, this trade-off allows for the laptop’s impressively light build. It’s important to clarify that while there is some flex, it doesn’t feel cheap; it’s a characteristic of the lightweight construction. The laptop features a 2560 by 1600 QHD+ display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, delivering a gorgeous visual experience.
In terms of ports, the LG Gram 16 offers a comprehensive selection, including two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, a microSD card reader, and HDMI. This variety of ports ensures versatile connectivity. Additionally, the option to configure the laptop with an Nvidia RTX 2050 discrete GPU provides flexibility for users who require more graphics power.
The laptop’s battery life, driven by an 80-watt-hour battery, is impressive, achieving over 14 and a half hours in a continuous web surfing test. This translates to approximately 11 to 12 hours of real-world mixed usage, making it suitable for extended productivity on the go.
It seems like you're quite impressed with the LG Gram 16 (2022), especially if you're in the market for an ultra-portable laptop with a roomy 16-inch display. Your recommendation is clear: you highly recommend the LG Gram 16.
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Design9
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Display10
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Hardware9
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Performance8
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Keyboard9
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Touchpad9
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Thermals / fan Noise8
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Battery10
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Audio7
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Ports10
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Webcam / mics9
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Price point8
