LG Gram 2018 release date, specs news: Latest ultra-slim laptops boast full day battery life

The 2016 15-inch LG Gram Ultra-Slim laptop with Intel Core i7 processorLG website

LG is about to unveil the next lineup of Gram laptops next year. Weeks before the big unveiling day, the South Korean tech giant has already offered the public the first look at the refreshed laptops, namely the 13.3-inch, 14-inch, and 15-inch models. The 2018 Gram series is expected to preserve the ultra-thin design, but this time, LG claims that users can enjoy a full day of battery life with just a one-time charge.

As reported by The Verge, the LG Gram 2018 laptops are announced to have much bigger battery capacities compared to their predecessors. The new 13.3-inch Gram model is claimed to have a battery life that can last up to 22.5 hours, while the 14-inch Gram can be used continuously up to 21.5 hours. Meanwhile, the larger 15-inch variant can is usable for 19 hours. This extended battery life is attributed to the battery increase to 72Wh from 60Wh of the 2017 Gram laptops.

Still, The Verge made a precaution that LG's full day battery life claim might not be exact. The online publication noted that LG also introduced the 2017 14-inch Gram laptop with 23 hours of battery capacity, only to find out that this claim was based on an old benchmark, outdated by almost ten years. As for LG's yet another extended battery life claim on the 2018 Gram laptops, the estimates are now based on the updated 2014 MobileMark version.

The LG Gram 2018 laptops are expected to deliver the same ultra-slim form factor of the first Gram model back in 2014. That said, there will be some slight improvements in terms of design, like the reduced bezels around the screen that will make the exterior size look smaller. For one, the slimmer bezels of the new 14-inch Gram laptop will have the same dimensions as a conventional 13-inch laptop. 

The internal hardware specs of the LG Gram 2018 models include the latest Intel 8th-generation i5 and i7 processors, a solid state drive (SSD) storage, plus a reserved slot for a secondary SSD drive. Other reports show that the upcoming LG Gram laptops are protected by nano carbon magnesium full metal alloy covering. With this material, these laptops are guaranteed to pass a strict durability test. The laptops will receive touchscreen panels, fingerprint readers, and USB Thunderbolt 3 support. 

The LG Gram 2018 laptops will be launched at the Consumers Electronics Show (CES) 2018, which will start on Tuesday, Jan. 9.