Samsung Notebook 9 Pen vs LG Gram 2-In-1: Comparison Review Of Specs, Features

Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) unveiled an all-new premium 2-in-1 PC the same day crosstown rival LG Electronics (066570.KS) announced its new “gram” branded devices, including a 2-in-1 convertible laptop. Here’s a comparison review on Samsung’s Notebook 9 Pen and LG’s gram 2-in-1 to give consumers an idea on which device is better suited to their needs.

Display

Samsung’s Notebook 9 Pen comes in two variants: one with a 13.3-inch display and another with a 15-inch display. Both have full HD screens. The South Korean tech giant has yet to disclose the screen resolutions and other display specs for each model.

On the other hand, the LG gram 2-in-1 is only available in one model that comes with a 14-inch display. The 16:9 screen is a 1920x1080 Full HD Touch IPS Display that is covered in Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection.

Design

The new Notebook 9 Pen devices are reiterations of last year’s models. They are still built with an all-metal and aluminum frame, but the edge-to-edge diamond cut metal finish gives them a more premium feel. Samsung also made an effort to give consumers new color options: a vibrant Ocean Blue and pristine Platinum White.

LG’s gram 2-in-1 is an all-new product that is set to make its debut at the upcoming CES 2019. The company promises a versatile on-the-go computing solution that can deliver high quality experience in both laptop and tablet modes. Though the device looks no different from other 2-in-1s on the market, LG is proud of its unique 360-degree hinge that has maximum versatility. The LG gram 2-in-1 is only available in Dark Silver color.

Performance

Both the 13.3-inch and 15-inch models of the Notebook 9 Pen are powered by Intel’s eighth-generation Core i7 processor. The 13.3-inch variant houses Intel UHD Graphics, while the 15-inch variant has the NVIDIA GeForce MX150 (2GB) GPU. They don’t differ in terms of memory, since both have 16GB RAM and 512GB storage space.

Meanwhile, the LG gram 2-in-1 is equipped with Intel’s eighth-generation Intel Core Processor and Intel UHD Graphics. LG is offering more storage options with its device. Users can choose between 6GB RAM/256GB storage and 16GB RAM/512GB storage configurations. The one with the bigger storage capacities, however, should perform better when multi-tasking.

Miscellaneous

The standout feature of the Notebook 9 Pen laptops is none other than the S Pen stylus that comes with each of them. Samsung says the new S Pen has two times reduced latency than the one from the previous model, so it feels like actually writing on paper using a pen. The new S Pen also has three different pen tips, so users can choose one that matches their needs for a certain activity.

AKG stereo speakers with ThunderAmp, HD IR Camera, facial and fingerprint recognition technologies, as well as backlit keyboard come as standard on both models of the Samsung Notebook 9 Pen. Both also have two Thunderbolt 3 ports and one straight USB-C port, a big upgrade compared to last year’s models.

The LG gram 2-in-1 also does not lag behind in terms of offering a creativity platform for users. It has its own digital stylus, aptly called the LG Stylus Pen, which is a Wacom AS 2.0 Pen with 4,096 pressure levels and tilt detection. LG says its Stylus Pen provides a natural, precise drawing experience.

Other bells and whistles include the backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader and the DTS Headphone X technology that offers an immersive surround sound by realistically simulating the 11.1 channel array in movie theaters. It’s also worth noting that the LG gram 2-in-1 has the US MIL-STD-810G certification for durability, which means it can withstand accidental drops.

Release Date

The upgraded Samsung Notebook 9 Pen devices are already scheduled to hit the Korean market on Dec. 14. They are then expected to come to the U.S., China, Brazil and Hong Kong in early 2019.

As for the LG gram 2-in-1, the device isn’t debuting on the market before the year ends. LG will be formally introducing the convertible laptop at CES 2019 in Las Vegas in the second week of January.

More information about the official prices and release dates of the Notebook 9 Pen and the LG gram 2-in-1 will be announced soon.