Best LG Laptops 2020

Lg gram 17 2020
Lg gram 17 2020 (Image credit: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central)

LG's gram series and its new Ultra PC high-performance laptops are high-end devices, among the very best Windows laptops available today, that appeal to just about anyone, especially those who want to travel light. These laptops range in size, format, and hardware options, so we've laid out here the best options for a variety of uses. These are the best LG laptops available now.

Best Overall: LG gram 17

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Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central)

LG gram 17 (17Z90N)

Nothing quite like it

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent 16:10 2K display
+
Lighter than it seems
+
Generous port selection
+
Long battery life
+
10th Gen Intel Core CPUs

Reasons to avoid

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No dedicated GPU
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17 inches might be too much for some

LG has outfitted its 17-inch gram laptops with a display with 16:10 aspect ratio, allowing for more screen real estate than the traditional 16:9. It has a crisp 2560x1600 resolution, non-touch IPS panel, and glossy finish that is downplayed by upward of 400 nits of brightness. Color accuracy measures 99% sRGB, 75% AdobeRGB, and 78% DCI-P3 for a vibrant picture.

The magnesium-alloy body (which has undergone MIL-STD 810G testing to ensure durability) measures just 0.7 inches (17.8mm) thin and weighs in at about 2.98 pounds (1.35kg). For a 17-inch laptop, those specs are quite impressive. Packed inside is up to a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 processor (CPU) with Intel Iris Plus Graphics, 1TB of speedy M.2 PCIe storage, and 16GB of dual-channel DDR4 RAM. Altogether, this is enough power to handle most standard tasks without getting into anything intensive or too specialized.

Wi-Fi 6 is included for speedy wireless internet, a fingerprint reader allows for logins through Windows Hello, and the keyboard includes a full number pad for productivity. Ports include Thunderbolt 3, three USB-A 3.1, HDMI 1.4, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The 80Wh battery should nab you between eight and 10 hours of life from a charge.

Runner-Up: LG gram 15

Source: LG (Image credit: Source: LG)

LG gram 15 (15Z90N)

Smaller form, great features

Reasons to buy

+
10th Gen Intel Core CPUs
+
Colorful touch display available
+
More compact form factor
+
Generous port selection
+
Durable, lightweight body

Reasons to avoid

-
No dedicated GPU
-
16:9 aspect ratio not as nice as 16:10

The gram 17 is a lot of laptop, and understandably some people might want to cap the size at 15.6 inches. That's right where the gram 15 sits. It has a more traditional 16:9 display with 1920x1080 (FHD) resolution, but it still brings excellent color reproduction and brightness. If you need a touch display but don't want to opt for a convertible, this is also the way to go.

A lot of the same features make an appearance here, including fingerprint reader, Wi-Fi 6, MIL-STD 810G durability testing, and long battery life. The gram 15 also has an 80Wh battery that should get you up to somewhere in the eight- or 10-hour range from a charge. The laptop measures just 0.7 inches (17.8mm) thin and weighs in at about 2.5 pounds (1.13kg).

For performance hardware, get up to a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and 1TB of M.2 PCIe NVMe storage space. Ports include three USB-A 3.1, HDMI, Thunderbolt 3, a microSD card reader, and 3.5mm audio jack.

Best Convertible: LG gram 14 2-in-1

Source: LG (Image credit: Source: LG)

LG gram 14 2-in-1 (14T90N)

Excellent inking

Reasons to buy

+
Slick, durable convertible
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Active pen included for inking
+
Decent port selection
+
10th Gen Intel Core CPUs
+
Compact form factor

Reasons to avoid

-
16:9 aspect ratio
-
You will pay more for the convertible function

Not only is the gram lineup available as a clamshell notebook, but it's also available as a 14-inch convertible with inking abilities. You still get a body made of a magnesium alloy, and it has undergone MIL-STD 810G durability testing, but the lid and display can rotate 360 degrees for tent, stand, and tablet modes. It measures just 0.7 inches (17.8mm) thin and weighs in at about 2.53 pounds (1.15kg).

The 16:9 touch display has a 1920x1080 (FHD) resolution, with IPS panel and glossy finish. An LG Stylus Pen is included, delivering 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt detection for an altogether natural inking experience. Otherwise, you can use the backlit keyboard (sans number pad) and Precision touchpad for input. Ports include Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, two USB-A 3.1, 3.5mm audio, and microSD card reader.

Performance hardware includes up to a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10510U CPU, 16GB of dual-channel DDR4 RAM, and 1TB of M.2 PCIe NVMe storage. Wi-Fi 6 is here for blazing wireless speeds, and a fingerprint reader adds some security. The sizable 72Wh battery delivers decent battery life for around eight hours. If you like the idea of a 14-inch form factor but don't need the convertible feature, check out the standard LG gram 14.

Best Performance: LG Ultra PC 17

LG Ultra PC 17

Source: LG (Image credit: Source: LG)

LG Ultra PC 17 (17U70N)

Dedicated GPU for more power

Reasons to buy

+
Competitively priced
+
Includes Ethernet port
+
Dedicated NVIDIA GPU
+
Wi-Fi 6
+
Display with 16:10 aspect ratio

Reasons to avoid

-
Fewer features than the gram 17
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Battery life not as good

Recently added to LG's repertoire is the Ultra PC series. These laptops resemble the gram lineup and indeed still have a relatively thin and light build at 0.8-inches (20.3mm) thin and 4.3 pounds (1.95kg). The difference? The chassis is made of aluminum for a more rigid, premium feel.

The 17-inch display has a 16:10 aspect ratio and a 2560x1600 resolution, with excellent color and contrast. But backing it up is a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU with 4GB of VRAM. Combined with up to an Intel Core i7-10510U CPU, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and 1TB of M.2 PCIe NVMe storage, this is a laptop cut out to handle specialized work and even some gaming.

Ports include HDMI, two USB-A 3.1, 3.5mm audio, USB-C 3.1, USB-A 2.0, and Ethernet. Oddly enough, there doesn't seem to be Thunderbolt 3 support for the USB-C port. The 72Wh battery should last for most of a workday, and Wi-Fi 6 is available for fast, reliable wireless speeds.

Bottom line

LG's lineup of laptops delivers quality products that are just a bit out of the ordinary. Some inhabit our collection of the overall best Windows laptops where you'll find more options, but right here is where you'll find the best from LG. And at the top of the pile is the LG gram 17. It has a beautiful non-touch display with high resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio, allowing for plenty of scrip screen real estate.

The laptop is light and thin, yet it packs performance hardware (though without dedicated GPU) and a sizable battery that will last upwards of 10 hours from a charge. There are plenty of ports for easy connectivity, a fingerprint reader adds security, and Wi-Fi 6 is available for fast, reliable wireless internet.

Cale Hunt
Contributor

Cale Hunt brings to Windows Central more than eight years of experience writing about laptops, PCs, accessories, games, and beyond.