LG’s Gram range has recently been revamped with a new new lineup of 14-inch, 15-inch, 16-inch and 17-inch notebooks, as well as 16-inch and 14-inch 2-in-1 models. LG’s Gram line is designed for those looking for a powerful, lightweight notebook with good autonomy.
In this review, we are going to tell you about the LG Gram 16 Z90Q, which features a 16-inch screen and weighs only 1.199 kg and has an ultra-thin design. Despite this, LG has managed to design a case that is rugged enough to pass MIL-STD 810G tests and has a clean, unobtrusive design.
The main new features of this generation are a significant increase in overall performance with 12th generation Intel Core 7 hardware, the introduction of a matte anti-glare display and the addition of more powerful speakers along with a few other improvements.
We have additionally tested it with the 16-inch Gram +view monitor which is sold separately and can be used as a second screen. It simply connects via a USB cable to the notebook. This is the same 16-inch IPS display as the 16Z90Q laptop. As we will see throughout the review, the use of this second display is ideal for multitasking as it increases productivity and saves you time.
Next, we are going to tell you about our experience with the LG Gram 16 Z90Q and what opinion we have about its performance.
LG Gram 16 2022 Z90Q review
- It is incredibly light
- IPS display with anti-glare filter
- Fast for everyday tasks
- Runs quietly and smoothly
- LG Glance security software
- MicroSD card slot
- Battery life
- Good keyboard and trackpad
- Backlit keyboard
- Finishing in which the footprints are very marked.
- Integrated speakers with poor bass
- Nano carbon and magnesium chassis (metal-based nanocomposite), resistant to shock, pressure, humidity and corrosion according to the military durability standard STD-MIL 810G (according to 7 of the resistance tests it establishes).
- Operating System Windows 11 Pro Edition (64bit)
- Intel® Core™ i7-1260P processor (3.4GHz, Turbo up to 4.70GHz), Smart Cache 18MB, 20W
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics Card
- RAM (depending on version): 32GB LPDDR5x (Dual Channel 5200MHz), integrated on board / 16 GB
- Storage (depending on version): 2 x 1TB M.2 (NVMe Gen.4) SSD / 1 x 1TB SSD / 1 x 512GB SSD
- 16-inch display with 16:10 aspect ratio
- Resolution: WQXGA (2560 x 1600px)
- IPS panel
- Anti-glare display
- 99% DCI-P3 color coverage
- Brightness up to 350 nits
- Contrast: 1200:1
- Up to 13 hours battery life / 22 hours video playback time
- 4-cell, 80Wh (10336mAh) Lithium-Polymer battery
- Network Interface – Wireless: Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX211 (802.11ax, Bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz ; Max. speed 2.4Gbps)
- Network Interface – LAN 10/100/Gigabit with RJ45 adapter (not included)
- Network Interface – Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.1
- Expansion Slot – UFS / MicroSD 3.0 slot type UHS-I, 104 MByte/s
- Connections: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 (Type-A) ports
- 2 x USB 4 Gen3x2 (Type-C) with fast charging (P.S.: 15 W***), Display Port, integrated Thunderbolt 4
- Webcam: FHD camera with IR sensor and dual MEMS microphone
- Built-in high quality 2 x 1.5 W stereo speakers (with DTS X Ultra)
- HD audio DAC with headphone output (immersive 3D audio, even without headphones) with DTS: X Ultra equalization
- Security: HDD Security, TPM Encryption, Slim Kensington-Lock
- Safe Mode (Webcam and microphone disconnect hotkey)
- Dimensions laptop Gram 16Z90Q: 354.5 x 242.1 x 16.8 mm
- Dimensions additional screen Gram + View: 360 x 245.5 x 8.3 mm
- Weight: (device) 1,199g
References LG Gram 16 2022:
16Z90Q-G.AP7BB (32GB RAM, 2TB SSD black color)
16Z90Q-G.AD78B (32GB RAM, 1TB SSD black color)
16Z90Q-G.AA76B (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD silver color)
16Z90Q-G.AP75B (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD black color)
16Z90Q-G.AA74B (16GB RAM, 512 GB SSD white color)
LG Gram 16 2022 Design
One of the great advantages of this laptop is undoubtedly that it is extremely light and is one of the key points that will make many decide for this model instead of another of the competition. It is clear that there are other very interesting points in this LG Gram 16, but its lightness is one of the strongest points it has.
The feeling when you pick it up is really incredible because you do not expect it to weigh so little considering that we are talking about a 16-inch laptop and it is as light as much smaller ultrabooks. We are talking about it weighing only 1.190 kg and to achieve something like this, the brand uses magnesium alloys for the construction of this laptop, which are more flexible although the downside is that they do not give the feeling of being as resistant as high quality aluminum constructions.
Now, the truth is that we are talking about a laptop that although at first glance may seem fragile, the chassis is made of nano carbon and magnesium alloy resulting in a team that is very robust. This material is lightweight and flexible and is resistant to shock, pressure, humidity and corrosion according to the military standard of durability STD-MIL 810G. LG has subjected this model to a seven-level military durability test that is capable of performing in even the harshest conditions.
Design LG Gram 16Z90Q 2022
Compared to its predecessor, the 2022 Gram 16 looks a bit better finished, offers better stability on the desk thanks to larger footrests and has a matte screen. The thickness when folded is minimal at only 1.8 cm and this allows you to carry it in a briefcase along with the Gram +view screen which is also extremely thin.
Thickness of the ultralight laptop LG Gram 16 2022
It’s design is somewhat sober, without any element that draws attention, which is really an advantage if you are looking for a discreet equipment.
The Gram 16’s keyboard is full-sized, with appropriately spaced keys and a slightly narrower NumPad area, combined with a spacious glass clickpad. The backlit keyboard has a separate numeric keypad to the right of the main QWERTY keys. There is a full-size backlit keyboard with a separate numeric keypad, whose keys are slightly narrower.
Gram 16Z90Q Laptop Keyboard
LG offers in its Smart Assistance Control app the possibility to control the key timeout settings, being able to choose between different timeout intervals or choose the option to leave the illumination always on. Once the time has elapsed, simply slide the clickpad to reactivate the illumination.
Connectivity
This Gram 16 Z90Q series incorporates two USB-C ports and two USB-A 3.2 ports. Next to them we have a MicroSD card reader, an HDMI 2.0 port and a 3.5 mm jack. In turn, it has WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, but does not include NFC.
Connections laptop LG Gram 16 2022
Display
The LG Gram 16 has a high-resolution (2560 x 1600 pixels) 16-inch 16:10 aspect ratio display with a pixel density of 189 pixels per inch. For the 2022 models, LG has also implemented a matte display with a good quality IPS panel.
This panel is similar to the 2021 Gram 16 in terms of brightness, contrast and color. The maximum brightness is around 350 nits, which is more than enough for indoors although outdoors, it may fall a bit short. Colors are vivid and it is capable of reproducing a wide color palette with 99% coverage of the DCI-P3 color spectrum and 140% of the sRGB standard. This makes it very suitable for everyday use and for possible color-accurate creative work.
IPS screen for laptop Gram 16Z90Q
The refresh rate is 60 Hz with a GtG response time of about 40 ms, so it’s not ideal for gaming. Still you can run games that don’t demand a lot of graphics power without any problems. For more assiduous gamers, there are laptops more focused on this use, as the Gram line is not aimed at this type of user.
The additional screen Gram +view (16MQ70) which is sold separately, has the same features as the monitor itself. It has the same resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and the IPS panel with anti-glare display with 99% coverage of the DCI-P3 spectrum.
Additional screen Gram +view
Connects via USB-C to the laptop without the need to be connected to power, as the monitor transmits power to it. This Gram +view screen can be placed in portrait or landscape orientation next to the laptop, which can be changed with OnScreen Control to seamlessly integrate the new LG gram 2022 with new features while remaining compatible with other devices.
LG Gram 16 with Gram +View screen
It is a portable monitor that can provide a wider view in a perfect combination with the Gram 16 to increase your productivity. You can customize the workspace by splitting the screen or adjusting the monitor’s basic settings, my video mode and various functions with the OnScreen Control software. You can create your own work environment wherever you are and use the automatic rotation mode that provides both horizontal and vertical display for improved productivity.
LG Gram 16 Z90Q with Gram + View laptop display
You can enjoy everything you need to work thanks to its reduced weight of only 670 g (990 grams with the case). Even if you carry gram+view with LG gram 16, the whole set weighs less than 2 kg.
Sound
Although the speakers offer acceptable sound, they don’t quite reach the level of the display. Two speakers of 1.5W power each are included and are located at the bottom. They can be easily covered if the notebook is used on the lap, so it is worth bearing this in mind.
Audio quality is decent for an ultrabook, and over last year’s model is slightly improved. They now reach more than 85 dB at head height, so the maximum volume reached is high, but the sound is quite flat, missing some more bass. At volumes above 80%, small vibrations occur, so it is better to use them at volumes lower than this level, something that will be normal since it offers enough volume.
It supports DTS:X Ultra which seeks to provide a more immersive sound with both the speakers and a headset you plug in. From the DTS:X Ultra control panel you can choose between several sound modes, depending on what you visualize and you can make a more precise adjustment thanks to an equalizer by frequency bands.
So, as with the vast majority of laptops, the best option is always to use PC speakers or headphones if you can.
Autonomy
The LG Gram 16 2022 comes with a powerful 80 Wh battery that according to the brand reaches up to 16.5 hours of use. This is the maximum figure, but the actual duration depends on how you use it. With varied use of browsing, multimedia and with a screen brightness of around 50%, it gave us an autonomy of around 12 hours, which is a pretty good figure. If the use is more intensive, this figure will be logically reduced.
The Intel Core i7-1260P processor helps achieve this good efficiency and helps it achieve around 10% more autonomy than the 2021 model, having the same 80 watt-hour battery.
LG accompanies its laptop with a compact and lightweight 65W charger that connects via USB-C. The time it takes for a full charge is about 1.5 hours if you charge it off.
Operating system and extras
The operating system that includes the LG Gram 16Z90Q is Windows 11 Pro Edition (64bit). There are a number of pre-installed applications, which are quite interesting such as LG Glance by Mirametrix. This is an innovative artificial intelligence software solution that enhances security and improves the user experience.
Using the built-in webcam and infrared camera, LG Glance by Mirametrix, automatically locks the screen if the user moves away from the laptop, or alerts the user and hides the content if it detects someone looking over their shoulder at the screen. What it does to protect the privacy of what you are seeing on the screen, is to blur the content when it detects there is another person trying to see what you are working on. Also, when it detects that you are looking away, the screen blurs and returns to display properly when you look at the screen again.
It also has other smart features such as Smart Player that pauses videos in your absence. a posture alert, which detects when you are not sitting properly or an eye relaxation feature that alerts you to look 20 feet away for 20 seconds after 20 minutes of continuous work.
The camera has also been upgraded from the previous Gram 16 model and is now a higher quality, higher resolution FHD camera. The 2021 version, was only HD Ready, so this update is appreciated as it is becoming more and more common to make video calls. We talk about this webcam is better than the camera of a normal laptop and has a more than acceptable quality generating a fairly limited noise in poorly lit environments.
A control panel allows you to control these functions in detail, and we found them all to work very well.
LG offers three power profiles to choose from in the LG Smart Assistant Control app, which has been redesigned from the previous app. It gives access to many useful settings for the keyboard, display, battery or updates.
Performance
LG equips the Gram 16 2022 with a 2.10 GHz 12th generation Intel Core i7-1260P 2.10 GHz processor, 32 GB of RAM and two 1 TB SSDs in the most powerful version (16Z90Q-G.AP7BB). There is also a version with less storage memory that incorporates a 1 TB SSD hard drive (16Z90Q-G.AD78B), as well as another with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage (16Z90Q-G.AP75B).
Our test version is the standard configuration of the 2022 LG Gram 16 16Z90Q, with a 12th generation Intel Alder Lake Core i7-1260P processor + Iris Xe integrated graphics, 32 GB of LPDDR5-5200 memory and a fast 2TB SSD.
The 12th generation Intel Core P Alder Lake processor. The Core i7-1260P is a hybrid design with 4 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores, as well as 16 combined threads. This implementation provides the CPU with 15-20W of continuous power under a demanding load, a lower figure than most other portable Core P designs with their maximum performance profiles.
LG Gram 16 2022 and Gram +view
Our configuration also comes with 32 GB of LPDDR5-5200 memory, which is soldered to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded. LG offers 16GB and 32GB configurations to suit the user’s needs. LPDDR5X memory enables faster processing for greater work efficiency and better multitasking capabilities. For memory, LG has opted for a premium PCIe-Gen4 drive from Samsung PM9A1. Inside, there are two M.2 2280 slots.
Compared to the previous generation Gram, which was based on an 11th generation Core i7-1165G7 processor, this 2022 model represents a big step up in terms of CPU performance and is more or less on par with GPU capabilities. The faster CPU is noticeable both during everyday use and multitasking as well as during an occasional heavy load and LG indicates that the Gram 16 2022 is 40% more powerful.
During the test period we found no performance issues for common workloads, but the integrated GPU (Iris Xe Graphics) could struggle for graphics intensive tasks.
The LG Gram 16, like other Gram laptops, is designed primarily for everyday work and multitasking, not for demanding tasks. Here’s what you can expect in terms of performance and internal temperatures for everyday activities. To be fair, it has to be said that this 2022 variant is significantly faster than the previous generation in multitasking and performs better when more demands are placed on the CPU. So, for Photoshop or other photo editing software or some programming software, it works quite well. Just don’t expect it to compete with the capabilities of more powerful ultraportable laptops.
LG Gram 16 ultralight notebook performance with video games
In daily use and multitasking, everything is fine, the fan stays idle in light use and barely spikes in multitasking, and the internal and external temperatures are cool.
Inside are the SSD slots, everything else is soldered in. You’ll also notice the large amount of unused space in this 16-inch case, which is because LG shares the internal design between its 14-inch, 16-inch, and 17-inch models. I would have appreciated even bigger speakers or a better cooling system, though undoubtedly, that would have added a bit of weight.
With the LG Smart Assistant software you can also select up to four different cooling modes: High, Normal, Low and Quiet, which affect fan speed and power consumption.
LG Gram 16 2022 opinion
The LG Gram 16Z90Q 2022 is tremendously lightweight, making it extremely portable for a 16-inch laptop. In this regard, it is unrivaled and is the lightest and most portable option currently on the market.
Also useful is its MIL-STD 810G certification, which, despite its fragile appearance, offers good resistance to pressure and small drops. The integrated IPS screen lacks a bit of brightness when used outdoors, but otherwise it is very good, showing a very good color palette and what we like most, is that it reflects very little.
If you add the LG Gram+ view portable monitor with LG Gram+, you will have a second screen that will improve your productivity. This second screen is highly recommended if you use several applications for work purposes and you need to have several windows open or to view stock charts, etc. It will certainly help you visualize them all at a glance and save a lot of time.
The security features are very interesting and will allow you to work in shared environments with more people so that you can enjoy privacy and prying eyes cannot see what you are working on. The wide variety of settings you have to customize these functions to your liking is also appreciated.
It is true that it is not the most powerful laptop on the market, but in our opinion, the LG Gram 16 2022, meets more than enough for everyday tasks and multitasking and we have had no problem working with it.
Therefore, the LG Gram 16 2022 has impressed us especially for its extreme lightness that allows you to take it with you anywhere, but also for its splendid IPS screen with great definition, vivid colors from any angle and its anti-glare filter that allows use in very bright environments and its good autonomy.
See LG Gram 16Z90Q laptop price
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