LG LG 14" gram 14Z90S-V Laptop (Obsidian Black) Review

The LG gram 14Z90S-V is an ultra-lightweight 14-inch laptop that's easy to carry but offers only average specs for its premium price. It's best for frequent travelers who prioritize weight above all else, but most users will find better value elsewhere.

If you're hunting for a featherweight Windows laptop that can handle a day's work, the LG gram 14Z90S-V is a name you'll see a lot. It's a 14-inch ultraportable notebook with a magnesium alloy body, weighing just 1.12kg. Inside, you get Intel's Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The price floats between $1886 and $2150, putting it squarely in the premium ultraportable category. People searching for 'lightweight laptop' or 'LG gram review' are usually looking for a machine that's easy to carry but still has enough power for office tasks, web browsing, and maybe some light photo editing.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a solid performer. Our database puts its CPU score in the 71st percentile, which means it's well above average for this class. You'll get smooth performance for everyday multitasking, and it can handle heavier workloads like spreadsheets or coding without much fuss. The integrated Intel Arc graphics are about average (63rd percentile), so you can expect decent video playback and light graphical work, but this is definitely not a gaming rig. Our tests show it's a standout for portability (79th percentile) and compactness (86th percentile), which is the gram's whole raison d'être. The 72Wh battery should give you a full workday, though we haven't run our own endurance tests on this specific model.

This gram sits in a tricky price bracket. At $1886 to $2150, it's asking a premium for its portability. You're paying for the lightweight magnesium build and the brand's reputation in this niche, not for top-tier specs. The 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM are standard fare at this price, and the screen is a basic 60Hz IPS panel. If you find it at the lower end of that range, it's a more compelling deal. But at the top end, you're entering the territory of machines with better screens, more storage, or dedicated graphics.

The gram's main fight is with other premium ultraportables. The Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Gen) is a direct competitor with a similar focus on build quality and portability, often with a better screen. The ASUS ProArt PX13 is a more powerful alternative if you need some graphical muscle, thanks to its RTX 4050, but it's also a Copilot+ PC which changes the AI workflow. And then there's the elephant in the room: the Apple MacBook Pro 14" with M4. It's more expensive, but it delivers best-in-class performance, battery life, and a stunning screen. The gram wins only if absolute lightness is your number one, non-negotiable priority.

Skip this laptop if you do any gaming, serious photo/video editing, or need a laptop that will last for years without issues (given its low reliability score). Also skip if you want a stunning display for media consumption. In those cases, consider alternatives like the ASUS ProArt for creators, a Lenovo Legion for gamers, or a MacBook Air for a more balanced premium ultraportable.

Should you buy this LG gram? Only if you have a very specific need. If you travel constantly and every gram (pun intended) in your bag matters, this laptop's lightweight build is genuinely impressive. But for most people, that single strength isn't enough. The middling screen, average storage, and concerning reliability score in our data make it a risky proposition at this price. You can find laptops that are nearly as light but offer more for your money, or you can find laptops that are a bit heavier but are much better all-around machines. We'd say skip this unless portability is your sole, overriding concern.