After introducing its latest Gram series of ultra-thin laptops, LG refreshed the line by bringing on even thinner designs. Since releasing in 2017, there have been a total of 6 models in three sizes, all under 2.4 pounds. The 13, 14, and 15-inch models all provide more custom properties for the consumer, both in screen size and the ability to be more portable than ever. Specifically impressive is the LG Gram 15, and at exactly 15.6 inches, and 2.4 pounds, is one of the lightest 15.6-inchers ever made.

Dubbed the LG Gram 15Z970, extreme portability can come with some considerable trade offs, so it is important to discuss both the qualities and compromises that come with an ultra-thin ultraportable with such a big name behind it. Starting with the Gram 15’s design, the news is mostly good. The Gram 15 is made out of magnesium alloy, a very strong and sturdy metal. However, the laptop feels more like a simple, lightweight device, but with a nearly-flimsy vibe. Flimsy, eh? That’s never a good vibe when your new laptop is as thin as heck (dimensions include 14.1 x 9.0 x 0.6 inches). Well, actually, LG says this is more of purposely engineered tactic in order to protect its internals- a way to allow for shock absorption and flexibility in the case of a drop. Could this machine stand a drop to its bottom base?

How did LG pull off such a large display into the 14-inch frame of the Gram 15? The bezels are incredibly thin, just as the Gram 13, and the 15.6-inch full HD IPS touchscreen is surely lovely, as it takes up the entirety of the device once you open it up (hint: more room on an ultraportable is key). Onward, the Gram 15 sports a large keyboard with chiclet-style keys, no issues regarding flex, and uses its extra space to fit a numeric pad on the right. However, the short key travel may annoy you. Its touchpad doesn’t offer the fingerprint reader seen on the Gram 13, however, it seems responsive, and adaptable to the user via fine-tuning multitouch gestures/taps. There are 2 USB 3.0s, 1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0 Type-C, a microSD card slot, HDMI output, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, and Ethernet.

Internal hardware is, yes, Intel at its finest- the Core i7-7500U, seen in almost every big-named ultraportable I review today (except for the Snapdragon chipset sneaking into PCs quickly this year). Along with that, there’s integrated Intel HD Graphics 620, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The battery, a 60Wh, lasts for up to 11 or 12 hours. This is a lot compared to pretty much anything today (anything not featuring the “Always Connected PC” title behind it, that is).

Sadly, folks could be more impressed with the classiness of the Gram 15, as many ultraportables are so refined, you can't look away. Put it up against the likes of others in its class- the MacBook, the Zenbook, or the XPS 13 9360, and the competition seems to have a stronger and more tough construct. On the contrary, benchmark tests show the LG Gram 15.6 with a higher CPU performance than the XPS 13 by quite a bit (not to mention the Gram’s i7-7500U runs at 2.7GHz/ 3.5GHz Turbo, and the XPS 13’s i7-7Y75 1.3GHz falls short of the powerful potential LG forged).

As an update, there’s actually about to be a full refresh of all 13, 14, and 15 models, as they will become fitted with Intel’s new 8th gen Core CPU processors. As we wait for those, this particular LG Gram model is still one of the lightest, thinnest out there with a 15.6-inch display, and thankfully comes well equip with components, and strong performance.