The ASUS Zenbook S 13 offers better performance for engineering tasks and 3D/machine learning applications, along with a higher quality OLED screen, more storage, and more RAM that favors multitasking and demanding workloads. Conversely, the LG Gram 16 boasts a larger screen, but with an IPS panel and less color accuracy than the Zenbook, yet stands out with its longer battery life and lighter weight, enhancing portability and general-use suitability. The Zenbook is more expensive compared to the LG Gram, which might better suit budget considerations. Each has their unique features; the Zenbook is more performance-oriented while the LG Gram is geared towards those valuing longer usage and ease of carrying. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook S 13
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Best in class portability
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the LG Gram 16
Excellent battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.6/10
7.8/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
365.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
15.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for general use, while the LG Gram 16 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 stands out for general use due to its higher RAM and superior OLED screen, providing exceptional multitasking capabilities and visual quality, although it comes with a higher price tag and slightly less battery life compared to the LG Gram 16. While the LG Gram 16 offers longer battery life and a larger screen size for an immersive experience, making it lightweight considering its size, it does have less RAM and storage which could limit performance for more demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for engineering and design, while the LG Gram 16 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13, with a robust CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality GPU, ensures smooth operation for demanding engineering applications and crisp visuals for design work, but its compact size may compromise keyboard comfort and speaker volume. The LG Gram 16, while still offering a capable CPU and sufficient RAM, prioritizes a larger screen for detailed work and portability, with a tradeoff in GPU performance, which may affect graphics-intensive tasks.
Content Creation
8.5/10
7.8/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for content creation, while the LG Gram 16 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Screen Quality
8.1/10
7.3/10
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen than the LG Gram 16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 excels in screen quality for general use and engineering due to its high-resolution display, bright panel, and wide color gamut, ensuring crisp images and vibrant colors necessary for detailed work. The LG Gram 16 also offers a solid display with sufficient resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and design projects, but it may lack the color depth that the Zenbook provides. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as they do not prioritize high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and a responsive experience in fast-paced visuals.
Battery
11.0 Hours
15.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 hours of battery life. The LG Gram 16 has 15 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Best in Class
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2.2 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has best in class portability, while the LG Gram 16 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6/10
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and LG Gram 16 both have good build quality, though the ASUS Zenbook S 13 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and LG Gram 16 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is preferred for gaming and 3D applications due to its superior screen quality with a high brightness level and more vibrant colors, contributing to a more immersive visual experience. While both laptops feature integrated graphics that are capable for lighter gaming and 3D tasks, the LG Gram 16 has a larger screen which may be better for productivity, but its color vibrancy and brightness are lower compared to the ASUS, making it less ideal for gaming and 3D content where visual details are crucial.
Software Development
8.3/10
7.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook S 13 to be very good for software development, while the LG Gram 16 is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Cost
$1,400
$1,450
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the LG Gram 16 costs $1,450.
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How the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the LG Gram 16 compare to other laptops
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 is the slimmest OLED ultrabook worldwide struggles with annoying fans. The new Zenbook S 13 leaves us with mixed feelings, particularly since last year's model was so good. Asus has completely reworked the device, making the laptop noticeably slimmer. The result also looks good and the case makes a great impression, particularly also in terms of the stability. The new plasma ceramic surface feels great, and there are no problems with fingerprints. In addition, it now includes some of the known connections such as an HDMI port and a regular USB-A connection, which is a good achievement in such a slim device."
"The LG Gram 16 is a lightweight device with stability issues. The LG Gram 16Z90Q with a Core i7-1260P is made with portability in mind and places less of a focus on users with high demands on performance. The compact and light chassis is particularly practical when you are on the go. The device is not only comfortably small and lightweight, it also boasts a great battery life. When connected to mains, on the other hand, the 16-inch device is rather disappointing. The standard cooling mode causes extreme volatility in terms of CPU, SSD and iGPU performance. The meager stability of the chassis may also put off some potential buyers."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the LG Gram 16
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About LG
LG is a South Korean conglomerate company. While LG is mainly known for various products outside of technology, LG also develops laptops. Within the laptop industry, they are known for their thin-and-light Gram series, as well as their value-oriented Ultra series. LG laptops offer very thin and light laptops with phenomenal battery life, and are often on sale.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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