- Hey, guys, this is Austin.
- Hey, guys, this is Austin.

The LG Gram was one of my favorite laptops in 2017
The LG Gram was one of my favorite laptops in 2017

but now it's back for 2018 with a brand new edition.
but now it's back for 2018 with a brand new edition.

Huge shout out to LG for not only sponsoring this video
Huge shout out to LG for not only sponsoring this video

but also for hooking us up with the very first
but also for hooking us up with the very first

2018 Gram outside of LG.
2018 Gram outside of LG.

Yes, this is a sponsored video.
Yes, this is a sponsored video.

However, if you guys have been watching the channel for
However, if you guys have been watching the channel for

a while, you'll know that I really, really like the Gram.
a while, you'll know that I really, really like the Gram.

This is my 2017 LG Gram.
This is my 2017 LG Gram.

If you caught my video I did last year,
If you caught my video I did last year,

there is a lot that I like about this laptop.
there is a lot that I like about this laptop.

However, there were a few things
However, there were a few things

that I wasn't such a huge fan of
that I wasn't such a huge fan of

and that's pretty much what the 2018 Gram is all about.
and that's pretty much what the 2018 Gram is all about.

The Gram is still available in 13, 14,
The Gram is still available in 13, 14,

as well as 15 inch varieties.
as well as 15 inch varieties.

This is the maxed out 15 inch version,
This is the maxed out 15 inch version,

which LG sent mostly so I could take a look
which LG sent mostly so I could take a look

at some of the higher end features that you
at some of the higher end features that you

actually can get with the Gram now.
actually can get with the Gram now.

Pop open the box and the first thing
Pop open the box and the first thing

we see is the Gram itself.
we see is the Gram itself.

(laughing) Wow.
(laughing) Wow.

After using the 13 for about a year now,
After using the 13 for about a year now,

the 15 looks enormous but it's still pretty light weight,
the 15 looks enormous but it's still pretty light weight,

especially considering how big the laptop is.
especially considering how big the laptop is.

We're also going to get a USBC to ethernet adapter.
We're also going to get a USBC to ethernet adapter.

Like the previous Gram this is helpful,
Like the previous Gram this is helpful,

although it is only 10/100 ethernet.
although it is only 10/100 ethernet.

It's not going to be crazy fast but nice to have in the box.
It's not going to be crazy fast but nice to have in the box.

Then we get the power adapter.
Then we get the power adapter.

One of the nice things is that,
One of the nice things is that,

even though this is the standard barrel plug,
even though this is the standard barrel plug,

you actually can use USBC on the Gram to charge it.
you actually can use USBC on the Gram to charge it.

Especially if you have one of the LG USBC monitors
Especially if you have one of the LG USBC monitors

or pretty much any other USBC charger,
or pretty much any other USBC charger,

you can plug it in that way.
you can plug it in that way.

For such a big laptop,
For such a big laptop,

it always surprises me at how light this is.
it always surprises me at how light this is.

I think that's actually where the Gram name comes from.
I think that's actually where the Gram name comes from.

It weighs just over a kilogram.
It weighs just over a kilogram.

Even though it kind of looks like plastic,
Even though it kind of looks like plastic,

it's actually a magnesium alloy.
it's actually a magnesium alloy.

According to LG, it's actually survived
According to LG, it's actually survived

a lot of different durability testing,
a lot of different durability testing,

although I'm not exactly going to drop test
although I'm not exactly going to drop test

my shiny new, one of a kind laptop to test.
my shiny new, one of a kind laptop to test.

I'll just take their word for it.
I'll just take their word for it.

I'm not drop testing the laptop, Ken.
I'm not drop testing the laptop, Ken.

Take a closer look inside the laptop
Take a closer look inside the laptop

and you'll see that two of the biggest features
and you'll see that two of the biggest features

have their own wonderful stickers on board.
have their own wonderful stickers on board.

In case you're curious about your new laptop,
In case you're curious about your new laptop,

this guy not only has the new 8th Gen Core processors
this guy not only has the new 8th Gen Core processors

but it also has an upgrade to a full Thunderbolt 3 port.
but it also has an upgrade to a full Thunderbolt 3 port.

In addition to doubling as a USBC port,
In addition to doubling as a USBC port,

the Thunderbolt 3 port also does support
the Thunderbolt 3 port also does support

power, data, as well as something like
power, data, as well as something like

a 5K monitor or even an external GPU.
a 5K monitor or even an external GPU.

You should keep in mind that not all
You should keep in mind that not all

of the new Grams will have Thunderbolt 3.
of the new Grams will have Thunderbolt 3.

Some will just have standard USBC,
Some will just have standard USBC,

but this is a really nice thing to see.
but this is a really nice thing to see.

You're also getting the power plug, a USB 3.0 port,
You're also getting the power plug, a USB 3.0 port,

as well as a full size HDMI.
as well as a full size HDMI.

On the other side, at least on the 15 inch version,
On the other side, at least on the 15 inch version,

you're going to be getting two more USB 3.0 ports,
you're going to be getting two more USB 3.0 ports,

a headphone jack, as well as microSD.
a headphone jack, as well as microSD.

One of the biggest upgrades for the Gram
One of the biggest upgrades for the Gram

is the brand new Quad Core processors.
is the brand new Quad Core processors.

Inside this guy, we're getting a Core i7-8550U,
Inside this guy, we're getting a Core i7-8550U,

16 gigabits of RAM, as well as one terabit of SSD storage.
16 gigabits of RAM, as well as one terabit of SSD storage.

Don't get me wrong, the old Gram wasn't exactly slow,
Don't get me wrong, the old Gram wasn't exactly slow,

but moving up to a Quad Core processor
but moving up to a Quad Core processor

makes a big difference, even in normal day to day use,
makes a big difference, even in normal day to day use,

especially when you get into heavier tasks
especially when you get into heavier tasks

such as light video editing or gaming.
such as light video editing or gaming.

This guy also now has dual channel memory,
This guy also now has dual channel memory,

which is going to free up a lot of additional memory
which is going to free up a lot of additional memory

bandwidth, especially when it comes to gaming.
bandwidth, especially when it comes to gaming.

You probably shouldn't pick up the LG Gram
You probably shouldn't pick up the LG Gram

as a gaming computer, but the UHD 620 graphics are okay
as a gaming computer, but the UHD 620 graphics are okay

for some light gaming, such as Rocket League.
for some light gaming, such as Rocket League.

Here we're playing at 720 p
Here we're playing at 720 p

and that was terrible on performance settings.
and that was terrible on performance settings.

You know what, we'll just call that intentional.
You know what, we'll just call that intentional.

Remove a few screws from the bottom
Remove a few screws from the bottom

and you get access to everything inside the laptop.
and you get access to everything inside the laptop.

You might very well void your warranty like this
You might very well void your warranty like this

but there's actually some interesting stuff in here,
but there's actually some interesting stuff in here,

including not only access to our memory,
including not only access to our memory,

we also have dual SSD slots.
we also have dual SSD slots.

Most Grams will ship with one of these SSD slots empty.
Most Grams will ship with one of these SSD slots empty.

However, because we have the one terabit version,
However, because we have the one terabit version,

this is going to be populated with a pair of 500 gig drives.
this is going to be populated with a pair of 500 gig drives.

It's really nice to be able to see that
It's really nice to be able to see that

not only can you upgrade your memory but you can also
not only can you upgrade your memory but you can also

add an additional SSD down the road.
add an additional SSD down the road.

You know what, I've got to give LG a shout out here.
You know what, I've got to give LG a shout out here.

This is a really easy to work on laptop.
This is a really easy to work on laptop.

Even though they might not necessarily want you
Even though they might not necessarily want you

to get inside of here, everything is logically laid out.
to get inside of here, everything is logically laid out.

You can get at your memory, you can get at your SSDs,
You can get at your memory, you can get at your SSDs,

the battery is pretty much right front and center.
the battery is pretty much right front and center.

They did a really good job of making this very friendly
They did a really good job of making this very friendly

if you do need to get in here to, say, repair something.
if you do need to get in here to, say, repair something.

Battery life has been one of the big strong suits
Battery life has been one of the big strong suits

of the Gram and that continues this year.
of the Gram and that continues this year.

We're going from a 60 watt hour to a 72 watt hour battery,
We're going from a 60 watt hour to a 72 watt hour battery,

which brings battery life from 18 hours up to
which brings battery life from 18 hours up to

supposedly 22 and a half according to LG.
supposedly 22 and a half according to LG.

Keep in mind that that is with the 13 inch model.
Keep in mind that that is with the 13 inch model.

The 15 does lose a little bit off the top
The 15 does lose a little bit off the top

and you also have to consider that
and you also have to consider that

even though that does have that bigger battery it's going
even though that does have that bigger battery it's going

to be slightly offset by the more powerful processor.
to be slightly offset by the more powerful processor.

That being said, this guy is going to last you
That being said, this guy is going to last you

a very, very long time off the battery.
a very, very long time off the battery.

Regardless of whether you pick up
Regardless of whether you pick up

the 13, 14, or 15 inch version of the Gram,
the 13, 14, or 15 inch version of the Gram,

you're going to be getting a 1080 p IPS panel.
you're going to be getting a 1080 p IPS panel.

That resolution might not be anything crazy,
That resolution might not be anything crazy,

but it's plenty sharp even on the 15 inch model.
but it's plenty sharp even on the 15 inch model.

Color is nice and vibrant,
Color is nice and vibrant,

you're getting good viewing angles, decent brightness,
you're getting good viewing angles, decent brightness,

and importantly some of the best contrast
and importantly some of the best contrast

I've ever tried on a laptop.
I've ever tried on a laptop.

One of the more annoying things with the original Gram
One of the more annoying things with the original Gram

was the placement of the webcam.
was the placement of the webcam.

It's below the screen and gives a great view
It's below the screen and gives a great view

of the inside of your nose.
of the inside of your nose.

Thankfully, LG has addressed this with the new Gram
Thankfully, LG has addressed this with the new Gram

when they moved the webcam up top above the screen.
when they moved the webcam up top above the screen.

You know, like every other laptop ever.
You know, like every other laptop ever.

Another small but welcome improvement
Another small but welcome improvement

is with the fingerprint sensor.
is with the fingerprint sensor.

Before, it was on the touch pad.
Before, it was on the touch pad.

While it really wasn't that big of a deal,
While it really wasn't that big of a deal,

it could get in the way sometimes.
it could get in the way sometimes.

However, thankfully for the 2018 model they've moved it back
However, thankfully for the 2018 model they've moved it back

to a much more sensible location of the power button.
to a much more sensible location of the power button.

I've gotta give LG props.
I've gotta give LG props.

It really does feel like they were
It really does feel like they were

listening to the feedback from the 2017 model
listening to the feedback from the 2017 model

and rolled a lot of that into tweaking the new 2018 edition.
and rolled a lot of that into tweaking the new 2018 edition.

If I may make one suggestion for the 2019 LG Gram,
If I may make one suggestion for the 2019 LG Gram,

how about a dedicated GPU option?
how about a dedicated GPU option?

If you guys wanna know more, feel free to check this guy out
If you guys wanna know more, feel free to check this guy out

at the link in the description.
at the link in the description.

I'm curious, what do you think about the 2018 LG Gram?
I'm curious, what do you think about the 2018 LG Gram?

Let me know in the comments below
Let me know in the comments below

and I will catch you in the next one.
and I will catch you in the next one.