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| Backlight bleeding or clouding is very noticeable on our Gram Book 15 test unit |
For years, the LG Gram series has been synonymous with one thing: extreme portability. These are the featherweight champions of the laptop world, prized by frequent flyers and road warriors who refuse to compromise on screen size. However, LG’s latest release, the LG Gram Book 15, is a departure from that legacy.
Priced at an attractive $800 USD, the Gram Book isn't trying to be the lightest or the most powerful. Instead, it aims to bring the LG badge to a more budget-conscious audience. But as our deep-dive into the specifications reveals, the corners cut to achieve this price point are so deep that they significantly impact the core user experience. If you are a student, a home user, or someone who occasionally edits photos or streams video, you may want to look elsewhere.
The Display Dilemma: A Dealbreaker for Media Lovers
The most significant compromise on the LG Gram Book 15 is, without a doubt, its display. In an era where even budget smartphones offer vibrant, high-contrast screens, the 15.6-inch IPS panel on the Gram Book feels stuck in the past.
Let’s look at the numbers. According to detailed display analysis, the panel (model LG Philips LP156WFD-SPR1) struggles in almost every measurable category.
- Color Coverage is Shallow: The Gram Book covers a meager 56.9% of the sRGB color space and just 37.9% of Display P3. For context, even entry-level multimedia laptops often hover around 90-100% sRGB. This means colors will look washed out and lifeless. If you’re editing a vacation photo or watching a movie with rich cinematography, the image will lack the depth and vibrancy intended by the creator.
- Contrast is Terrible: With a contrast ratio of just 424:1, blacks appear gray and the image lacks punch. A good IPS panel usually targets 1000:1 or higher. The poor contrast, combined with noticeable backlight bleeding on the test unit, makes for a dull viewing experience, especially in dimly lit rooms.
- Ghosting and Response Times: The black-to-white response time clocks in at a sluggish 26.6 ms. This is high enough to cause noticeable ghosting during fast-paced scenes or even just when scrolling through a long document.
To put this in perspective, the LG Gram Book is being outclassed by almost every competitor in its price range. The Asus VivoBook S15, for example, offers an OLED panel with near-perfect color accuracy (100% sRGB) and a 120 Hz refresh rate, making the LG’s 60 Hz IPS screen look like a relic.
Beyond the Screen: The Silver Linings
It’s not all bad news. If you can look past the dim, washed-out display, the internal hardware tells a different story. The LG Gram Book is powered by Intel's efficient Core U-series CPU. This processor choice brings two major benefits to the table:
- Exceptional Battery Life: The low-power CPU means the laptop sips energy, allowing users to get through a full workday or a long day of classes on a single charge.
- Silent Operation: In our testing, the cooling system rarely needed to spin up. For most productivity tasks like word processing, spreadsheet management, and browsing, the laptop remains completely silent.
This makes the Gram Book a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde device. It offers the stamina and quiet operation of a premium ultrabook, but pairs it with a display that feels like it belongs on a $300 Chromebook.
How It Stacks Up Against the Competition
The sub-$1000 laptop market is fiercely competitive. Shoppers today have high expectations, and LG seems to have missed the mark on what matters most: the visual experience.
Here is how the LG Gram Book 15 stacks up against some of the heavy hitters:
- Asus VivoBook S15 (K5504): This is the direct competitor that highlights the Gram Book's biggest flaw. With its stunning 2880x1620 OLED display, it offers infinite contrast and perfect colors. While it might cost a bit more, the visual upgrade is monumental.
- Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Series: Lenovo consistently packs high-quality IPS panels into its mid-range devices. Even the IdeaPad Slim 3, which sits in a similar budget tier, offers better color accuracy (over 90% sRGB) and contrast than the LG.
- HP Envy x360 15: For those who want a 2-in-1 form factor, the Envy x360 offers a solid IPS display with much better contrast (1837:1) than the LG, making it a superior choice for media consumption.
For a deeper dive into the raw data and benchmark comparisons, you can check out the full technical review at LaptopsCheck. This detailed analysis provides a comprehensive look at how the Gram Book's components perform under stress.
Read the full LG Gram Book 15 review here
The Verdict: Who is this for?
The LG Gram Book 15U55T is a confusing product. It carries the "Gram" heritage, which implies premium portability, but it is built down to a price. The chassis feels decent, the performance for daily tasks is smooth thanks to the efficient CPU, and the battery life is excellent.
However, the display is a fundamental component of a laptop. It is the window through which you interact with the entire system. By skimping on this, LG has created a laptop that feels compromised from the moment you turn it on.
You should consider the LG Gram Book if:
- Battery life is your absolute #1 priority.
- You only use your laptop for text-based work (coding, writing, data entry) in well-lit environments.
- You absolutely need the LG brand name on a strict $800 budget.
You should look elsewhere if:
- You watch Netflix, YouTube, or any streaming service.
- You dabble in photo or video editing.
- You want a screen that looks vibrant and modern.
For the same price, or just a little more, competitors like Asus and Lenovo are offering screens that are vastly superior. Unless your needs are extremely specific, the Gram Book 15’s display is a dealbreaker that its otherwise solid performance simply cannot overcome.