When you’re trying to work on the go, there’s a spate of things that could go wrong: an uncomfortable seat, limited access to power, tired shoulders from carrying baggage, being out of touch with family and friends. The 13.3″ LG Gram 13Z980-A.AAS7U1 laptop launches an honest endeavor to free you from problems like these.
This lightweight computer weighs an astonishingly low 2.13 pounds and delivers an above-par battery life of 18 hours (!). It is priced at a rather dear $1,399.00. Let’s analyze in-depth this latest offering from LG and see how far it succeeds in becoming an everyday companion you can rely on.
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More Strength, Less Bulk
In bygone days, it was the hefty who wielded enormous power. They were in high demand everywhere — from the wrestling ring to day-to-day life. But in the laptop marketplace, technological innovation has made it possible to pack immense power and resilience in little bulk. The latest LG Gram is a triumph of lightweight construction, weighing just over 2 lbs (2.13 lbs) and measuring 12 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches. The screen size is reasonably large at 13.3 inches. Despite these numbers, the body is so compact that carrying this laptop with you is a breeze.
The feather-light physique derives its robustness from the metal alloy construction — an amalgam of nano carbon and magnesium, premium grade. This metal skeleton is much stronger (albeit lighter) than the shell you find in several other laptops.
If you have a mobile lifestyle and need to carry your laptop along on travels, the LG Gram Z980 can be an able candidate. After all, what could be a better testament for a mobile laptop than a report card of seven military-grade tests (MIL-STD-810), cleared with distinction?
Real Strength Comes From Within
In the territory of processing strength, the LG Gram 13Z980-A.AAS7U1 displays tremendous maturity. Cognizant of how genuine power comes from the core, this laptop is fitted with an eighth-generation Intel Core i7 processor (i7-8550U) running at 1.8 GHz. It offers an 8GB RAM (DDR4) and 256GB of storage (SSD). The memory is dual-channel.
The performance you get is smooth and efficient; the response times quick enough to let you work comfortably on the move. It runs a highly productive operating system too — Windows 10 Home — which comes packed with useful tools for multitasking and enhanced security.
But that’s not the best part.
The standout feature of the LG Gram Z980 is its truly astounding battery life of 18 hours, no less! The 72Wh lithium battery complies with MobileMark 2014 — an industry-wide standard of performance initiated by the Business Applications Performance Corporation. This configuration delivers a backup that lasts you throughout your workday and beyond, and then some more. It’s perhaps the most comforting feature of the LG Gram, especially when you’re working outside the confines of your home/office and have sporadic access to a power source.
It should be noted, however, that the battery life might vary a little depending on your usage, configuration, and the power management settings in operation.
Display & Graphics
The 13.3” LG Gram has a full High-Definition, touchscreen display. It has a dedicated Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphics coprocessor, which brings you sharp and meticulous imagery. The supported color gamut is also expansive, so you get a realistic picture quality. Additionally, the display is In-Plane Switching compliant. This facilitates distortion-free viewing irrespective of the viewing angle.
Talking of the screen resolution, the LCD display of this laptop supports a maximum of 1920 x 1080 pixels. However, it is fairly comfortable to plug-in to a higher-definition display through the inbuilt HDMI port. Think: delivering work presentations or screen sharing with your colleagues.
Interestingly, the display is also designed to enhance the portability of the device: the touchscreen is fluid, but the screen panel is skinny. The overall viewing experience is definitely pleasant for multiple purposes — sharing pictures or playing videos, for instance.
Accessibility & Connectivity
As is imperative for any machine that cares to the mobile milieu, the LG Gram 13Z980-A.AAS7U1 also excels in ease of use. All you need to bring the computer to life is the push of a single button (thanks to the suave fingerprint reader). There is a fully backlit keyboard making it possible to keep going even in conditions of inadequate lighting. The touchpad on this one is also commendable, supporting multi-touch (up to four fingers). Guess what this translates into? Glitch-free access from cramped public transport!
Especially notable in the LG Gram Z980 is its unique webcam placement. The High Definition webcam is placed on the top bezel. This, coupled with DTS Headphone:X, enlivens a thrilling video calling — and listening — experience. In fact, you get an auditory gift of 11.1-channel surround sound.
There is ample device support to connect to everything you need: three USB 3.0 ports including a super-fast Type-C one. The Type-C port is commendable for its speed of data transfer (incredibly fast!). You can also use it for high-power charging. For wireless connectivity, the laptop supports Bluetooth 4.1 and 802.11.ac.
The Million Dollar Question
Well, actually a $1,399.00-question: is the LG Gram 13Z980-A.AAS7U1 worth its keep?
To recapitulate, the LG Gram boasts of stellar processing power and battery life you’re unlikely to find in many of its contemporaries. It also has good-quality graphics, packed in a close-packed body so light you could potentially carry it without feeling a thing. This laptop is also handy to use, offering backlighting, a responsive touchpad, and plenty of USB ports for your devices and collaborative ventures.
Specs of LG Gram 13Z980-A.AAS7U1 |
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Processor | Intel Core i7-8550U |
Graphics | Intel UHD 620 |
RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
Storage | 256GB SSD |
Display | 13.3-inch FHD IPS Touch |