Laptop of the Year 2021: LG Gram 17

Despite an ongoing global chip shortage, we’ve seen a huge range of new laptops in 2021. Almost every major manufacturer has launched multiple models this year, with a capable new device available at every price point.

That makes the process of choosing just one incredibly difficult – it’s no wonder our chart has 15 entries, all of which excel in multiple key areas.

You don’t need to spend over £1,000/$1,000 to get a great laptop, but there are some superb devices at this premium price point. The outstanding option here is the five-starLG Gram 17, which more than merits the award of best laptop of the year.

The Gram 17 nails the fundamentals of a great laptop. It has a stunning, high-resolution display with slim bezels, excellent performance from Intel’s latest chips and battery life that rivals any laptop you can buy. There’s also an impressive range of ports, while the trackpad and speakers – key weaknesses of the2020 model– have been upgraded to become selling points.

What’s arguably even more impressive is that no design compromises have been made to get there. The Gram 17 still has a sleek, premium design that you’d normally associate with much smaller devices. It doesn’t feel bulky at all, and weighs in at just 1.35kg.

It’s worth emphasising how rare any five-star review is on Tech Advisor, especially for a laptop. To get top marks, products must do more than just tick all the boxes. They have to feel special, offering something you won’t find elsewhere. If you don’t mind a slightly spongy keyboard and occasional antivirus pop-ups, the LG Gram 17 certainly delivers.

If you’re interested in picking one up, the LG Gram 17 is available at the following retailers right now:

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It was an extremely close call between the Gram 17 andHuawei’s MateBook 14s. The latter currently sits top of our best laptop chart, reflecting its position as the best laptop for most people.

It doesn’t have the same wow factor as LG’s offering, but still delivers everything you’d expect from a flagship laptop in 2021. We’re talking solid performance, a stunning high-res 90Hz display, great ports and decent battery life. Huawei has also fixed the main pain point of earlier MateBook laptops, moving the 720p webcam back above the display. If you can look beyond a rather underwhelming design, this is a truly excellent laptop.

However, we can’t ignore what Apple has been doing with its laptops. The introduction ofApple’s own M1 chipshas reinvigorated the company’s MacBook range, none more so than the new14in and 16in MacBook Pros. We haven’t reviewed them yet ourselves, but on paper we’re hugely impressed by the balance of ports and power, and ourcolleagues at Macworldthink it’s the new professional’s choice – and they would know.

Check out the rest of theTech Advisor Awards for 2021.