LG has launched its Gram laptops in the US. These are ultra-thin and light designs which are likened, by some, to the iconic MacBook Air laptops. The 13- and 14-inch LG Gram laptops, like the Air, eschew trends in the 2-in-1 arena by presenting a simple, premium device which concentrates on providing a traditional laptop experience and eschews stuff like touch screens and RealSense cameras.
LG Electronics USA VP of marketing David VanderWaal said of the newly launched laptops "We recognize this is an extremely competitive category, and are confident consumers will respond well to this product that combines powerful performance with lightweight design." Microsoft responded to the US launch with one of its own VPs of marketing, Peter Han, saying he was thrilled by the LG Gram premium devices launch and "LG delivers sound and display innovation in a sleek, lightweight device that brings to life some of the exciting new features in Windows 10, including Cortana and Microsoft Edge."
The basic specifications of the new LG Gram laptops available are as follows:
- LG gram 13 – 13-inch model in white with Intel Core i5-5200U, 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage Model 13Z950-A.AA3WU1. Weight: 2.16 pounds (980g). Suggested price: $899
- LG gram 14– 14-inch model in gold with Intel Core i5-5200U, 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage Model 14Z950-A.AA3GU1. Weight: 2.16 pounds (980g). Suggested price: $999
- LG gram 14– 14-inch model in gold with Intel Core i7-5500U, 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage 14Z950-A Model 14Z950-A.AA4GU1. Weight: 2.16 pounds (980g). Suggested price: $1,399
All the models above feature a 1920x1080 IPS display, regardless of physical screen size. Screen bezels are as small as 4.4mm at the sides. The screen offers a low blue light reader mode. A 1.3M/HD webcam is embedded in the upper screen bezel. Propelling the pixels is the integrated Intel HD Graphics 5500 processor.
An unspectacular battery life of approx 7.5 hours is claimed for the laptops and they feature the following common connectivity/ports; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless, 2x USB 3.0, a micro-USB and micro-SD slot, a built-in HDMI port
To remain rigid and strong despite their slimness (half inch / 12.5mm thick), they are constructed from magnesium alloy. Please note that, as distributed by the Microsoft Store these are 'signature edition' devices "free of installed junkware". Amazon is stocking them too.
