LG Gram Book 15 Review: Budget Laptop With Disappointing Display Quality

The LG Gram Book 15 cuts corners to hit an $800 price point, but its subpar IPS display with poor contrast, slow response times, and shallow colors makes it a tough sell against better alternatives.

LG's Gram series has built a reputation for lightweight, portable laptops with excellent displays. However, the new Gram Book 15 takes a different approach, targeting budget-conscious buyers at $800 USD. Unfortunately, this cost-cutting strategy results in one of the worst IPS displays we've seen in the Gram lineup.

Display Performance Falls Short

The Gram Book 15's display struggles across multiple metrics when compared to both its premium siblings and competing budget laptops:

Key Display Issues:

Limited 60Hz refresh rate - Standard for budget laptops but feels dated
Poor contrast ratio under 500:1 - Makes blacks appear gray and reduces overall image depth
Slow response times - 26.6ms black-to-white transitions cause noticeable ghosting during video playback
Shallow color reproduction - Only 56.9% sRGB coverage, making colors appear washed out
Noticeable backlight bleeding - Particularly evident on our test unit

How It Compares

When benchmarked against competitors in the sub-$1000 range, the Gram Book 15's display performance is notably inferior:

Laptop Model	Contrast Ratio	sRGB Coverage	Response Time
LG Gram Book 15	424:1	56.9%	26.6ms
Asus VivoBook S15	513:1	92.8%	31.6ms
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3	1837:1	63.7%	32ms
HP Envy x360 15	18,520:1	100%	21.6ms

Even the premium LG Gram SuperSlim with its OLED panel (164% sRGB, 99.8% P3) highlights how far the budget model falls short.

Beyond the Display

While the display is disappointing, the Gram Book 15 isn't without merits:

Strengths:

Excellent battery life - Thanks to the efficient Core U-series CPU
Whisper-quiet operation - No fan noise even under load
Lightweight design - Maintains the Gram series' portability focus
Solid build quality - Despite the budget positioning

Weaknesses:

Mediocre keyboard - Lacks the premium feel of higher-end models
Limited port selection - Fewer connectivity options than competitors
Average webcam quality - 720p resolution with poor low-light performance

Better Alternatives Exist

For similar or slightly higher prices, several alternatives offer superior overall experiences:

Asus VivoBook S15 - Offers better display quality, more ports, and comparable performance

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 series - Provides superior build quality and display options, including OLED variants

HP Envy x360 15 - Delivers excellent display quality with touch support and 2-in-1 versatility

Who Should Consider It?

The Gram Book 15 might appeal to:

Users who prioritize battery life and quiet operation over display quality
Those who primarily use their laptop for text-based work and web browsing
Buyers who can overlook display shortcomings for the Gram series' portability

However, for anyone who watches videos, edits photos, or values visual quality, the display issues are likely to be a dealbreaker.

Final Verdict

The LG Gram Book 15 represents a missed opportunity. While the budget positioning is understandable, the display quality is so poor that it undermines the entire user experience. In a market segment where competitors like the Asus VivoBook and Lenovo IdeaPad offer significantly better displays at similar price points, the Gram Book 15 struggles to justify its existence.

If LG had simply equipped this model with a decent IPS panel, it could have been a compelling budget option. As it stands, the display shortcomings are too significant to overlook, making it difficult to recommend over the numerous superior alternatives available.