The LG Gram Style, a new addition to LG’s Gram laptop lineup, aims to impress with its modern design and cutting-edge components. Its standout feature is a glass palm rest concealing a haptic touchpad, reminiscent of the Dell XPS 13 Plus, but with the added flair of LED framing lights. The shimmering, color-shifting finish on the palm rest and lid adds to its unique aesthetic. However, does its performance match its striking appearance?
Design and Build: A Modern Marvel with Minor Drawbacks
The Gram Style’s iridescent coating, shifting between hues like pink and blue under different lighting conditions, is undeniably captivating. This dynamic effect, difficult to capture in photos, sets it apart from any other laptop on the market. The sleek, minimalist design, coupled with the glass palm rest and illuminated haptic touchpad, creates a futuristic feel. While aesthetically surpassing even the Dell XPS 13 Plus, the Gram Style does have some build quality concerns.
LG Gram Style front angled view showcasing the display and keyboard deck.
Constructed from magnesium alloy, the Gram Style achieves the thinness and lightness characteristic of the Gram series. At 0.63 inches thick and 2.76 pounds, it’s significantly lighter than competitors like the Dell XPS 15 (0.71 inches, 4.23 pounds) and even rivals the MacBook Pro 16 in thinness. However, this lightness comes at the cost of rigidity. The lid and chassis exhibit some flex, which, although not affecting the display, raises concerns about durability despite its MIL-STD 810H certification. It lacks the solid feel of premium laptops like the XPS 15 and MacBook Pro.
LG Gram Style top down view with a pink color shift.
The keyboard offers well-spaced keys and comfortable keycaps, providing a snappy typing experience. However, the haptic touchpad, despite its guiding LED lights, falls short. The click requires excessive force and produces more noise than tactile feedback, resulting in an artificial feel compared to other haptic touchpads, including Apple’s Force Touch.
LG Gram Style top down view displaying the keyboard and palm rest.
Performance: Underwhelming Power
The Gram Style features Intel’s 28-watt Core i7-1360P processor, a 12-core, 16-thread CPU that has generally performed well in other laptops. Disappointingly, the Gram Style’s benchmark results fall below expectations, lagging behind other laptops with the same processor, especially in CPU-intensive tasks like Handbrake video encoding. Its Cinebench R23 single-core scores are notably low, even trailing behind the LG UltraPC 17 with its older and less powerful Core i7-1260U. Gaming performance is also underwhelming, with 3DMark Time Spy scores well below the average for Intel Iris Xe graphics.
Battery Life: Shorter Than Expected
Despite the Gram series’ reputation for long battery life, the Gram Style disappoints. Achieving only 8.5 hours in web browsing and under 9.5 hours in video playback tests, it falls short of competitors, potentially failing to last a full workday. The compact charger, however, is a welcome convenience.
Display: A Visual Delight
The Gram Style’s 16-inch 3K OLED display, with its vibrant colors, deep blacks, and smooth 120Hz refresh rate, is a highlight. Color accuracy is excellent, with a DeltaE of 0.70, and brightness peaks at 423 nits. While excellent OLED displays are becoming more common, the Gram Style’s screen remains a strong point, offering a superb visual experience for content creators and media consumers.
LG Gran Style front view displaying the screen.
Conclusion: A Fashionable Laptop with Performance Compromises
The LG Gram Style undeniably achieves its goal of being a visually striking, modern laptop. Its iridescent design and innovative haptic touchpad are unique and appealing. However, its subpar performance, disappointing battery life, and high price tag hold it back. While its aesthetic appeal is undeniable, the Gram Style ultimately prioritizes style over substance, making it a difficult recommendation for users seeking a balance of form and function.
