The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is significantly more expensive than the LG Gram 16, but it offers better performance for tasks like engineering and 3D/machine learning due to its powerful Apple M1 Pro chip. Its Mini LED screen has higher brightness and more color coverage which is beneficial for creative professionals, along with a higher screen refresh rate, which can provide smoother visuals. With a solid build and impressive sound quality, it's a great choice if you need strong performance and build quality is a priority for you and you're less concerned about budget. The MacBook also has superior keyboard and webcam quality.
On the other hand, the LG Gram 16 is lighter and has a longer battery life, making it more suitable for portability. It's more affordable and still provides enough power for general use and lighter engineering tasks, courtesy of its Intel processor and Iris Xe graphics. It features a larger screen size for more expansive viewing but trade-offs come in the form of lower brightness and color coverage compared to the MacBook Pro. If you prioritize long work sessions away from power outlets and need a lighter device for everyday tasks, the LG Gram 16 could be the more practical choice. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the LG Gram 16
The LG Gram 16 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
7.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
15.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the LG Gram 16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) with its robust CPU, quality screen including higher brightness and a wide array of colors, topped with optimal keyboard and speaker function, edges out as very good for general use; though heavier and pricier, it maintains good portability and excellent battery life. On the other hand, the lighter LG Gram 16, also with a strong CPU and ample screen quality, offers greater portability and longer battery life at a lower price, sacrificing some speaker and keyboard quality along with a less vibrant display.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.5/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the LG Gram 16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is preferred for engineering and design because its CPU and GPU are particularly powerful and it boasts a high-quality Mini LED screen, which is essential for precise visual work. While the LG Gram 16 offers decent performance for similar tasks with its Intel processor and integrated graphics, as well as a high-quality IPS screen, it excels in portability given its lighter weight and lower operating noise, making it a good choice for those who value mobility.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.8/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) 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
9.2/10
7.3/10
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the LG Gram 16 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro's high resolution and brightness contribute to its excellent screen quality, making it ideal for both everyday use and detailed engineering or design work where precise color representation is key. For the LG Gram 16, a good resolution and brightness level make it suitable for general tasks and professional design, but it falls short for gaming and 3D applications due to a lower refresh rate which can limit smooth visual performance. Both models are not optimal for 3D because they lack the high refresh rates needed for fluid motion and fast-paced visuals.
Battery
13.5 Hours
15.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the LG Gram 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$1,450
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has a price of $1,905 and the LG Gram 16 costs $1,450.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and LG Gram 16 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's superior GPU and higher screen refresh rate make it well-suited for 3D applications, whereas the LG Gram 16, despite having a fair GPU, falls short in providing an optimal gaming and 3D experience due to its lower refresh rate. However, the LG Gram 16 may offer a broader range of compatible games owing to its Windows platform, which is friendlier to gaming compared to the MacBook's MacOS, which doesn't support many popular games.
Software Development
8.3/10
7.9/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and LG Gram 16 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the LG Gram 16 compare to other laptops
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
"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 Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the LG Gram 16
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.