The affordable LG gram Book 15 for 2026 certainly does some things that the MacBook Neo doesn't, but overall, it's probably not the right choice if you can stomach macOS. Apple's laptop simply delivers a higher-quality experience. Regardless, this is still a solid option for students and casual Windows 11 users who don't want to overspend.
Pros
- Upgradeable SSDs (two M.2 slots)
- Up to 32GB RAM from the factory
- More ports, including HDMI
- Relatively thin and light for a 15-inch device
- Attractive starting price
Cons
- Plastic chassis
- Inferior display
- Inferior webcam
- Not as powerful or efficient
Apple's MacBook Neo gets a lot right, and if you're interested in macOS, it's the right choice. It falls short of the LG gram Book in a few key areas, like port selection, memory and storage options, and a lack of touch functionality on the display, but otherwise, it's a whole lot of laptop for a low price.
Pros
- More powerful and efficient
- Sleek and lightweight aluminum chassis
- Attractive starting price
- High-quality display
- 1080p webcam
Cons
- Fewer ports
- No more than 8GB RAM
- Storage isn't upgradeable
- No touch display functionality
LG quietly makes some truly thin, light, and premium laptops that, unfortunately, often go unnoticed by mainstream buyers. The company recently launched an updated gram Book 15 for 2026, and its $699 starting price caught my eye.
That's dangerously close to the MacBook Neo's baseline $599, and at the time of writing, the LG gram Book 15 is actually discounted by $100 to line it up nicely with Apple's massively popular notebook. I doubt that was a coincidence.
So, how does the LG gram Book 15 compare to the MacBook Neo? Let's find out.
LG gram Book 15 vs. MacBook Neo: Specifications
LG gram Book 15 (2026) |
Apple MacBook Neo |
|
|---|---|---|
CPU |
Intel Core Ultra 5 115U |
Apple A18 Pro (6-core) |
RAM |
8GB, 16GB, 32GB DDR5-5600 (upgradeable) |
8GB LPDDR5 |
GPU |
Intel Graphics (3-core) |
5-core |
NPU |
11 TOPS |
16-core (35 TOPS) |
Storage |
512GB, 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD (Upgradeable) |
256GB, 512GB |
Camera |
HD (720p) |
1080p |
Speakers |
Dual speakers, Dolby Atmos |
Dual speakers, Dolby Atmos |
Display |
15.6 inches, 1920x1080 (FHD), 16:9 aspect ratio, 60Hz refresh rate, touch, 300 nits, anti-glare |
13 inches, 2408x1506 (219 PPI), 16:10 aspect ratio, 60Hz refresh rate, non-touch, 500 nits, Dolby Vision |
Ports |
One USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1), one USB-A 2.0, two USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), HDMI, 3.5mm audio |
One USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), USB-C 2.0, 3.5mm audio |
Wireless |
Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6 |
Battery |
51Wh |
36.5Wh |
Dimensions |
14.2 x 9.4 x 0.74-0.76 inches (360.68mm x 238.76mm x 18.79-19.3mm) |
11.71 x 8.12 x 0.50 inches (297.5mm x 206.4mm x 12.7mm) |
Weight |
3.74 pounds (1.69kg) |
2.7 pounds (1.23kg) |
Colors |
Black |
Silver, Blush, Citrus, Indigo |
What does the LG gram Book 15 get right?
LG's gram Book 15 has the right $699 ($599 on sale) starting price to turn some heads, but is it actually worth that much?
For some, definitely. LG created this laptop as a lightweight daily driver for those who mainly focus on productivity, email, browsing, and streaming. There's really no sense spending thousands on a laptop if that's all you plan to use it for, which is exactly where the gram Book fits in.
The use of an Intel Core Ultra 5 115U is a tad confusing, especially considering the last generation of gram Book used a newer Core Ultra Series 2 chip, but with eight cores and a Turbo frequency up to 4.2GHz, it certainly has the juice to multitask.
The baseline model comes with 8GB of RAM, the same as the Neo, but it has twice as much storage (512GB) compared to the introductory MacBook model. LG also offers 16GB and 32GB memory configs, something that Apple refuses to do with the Neo.
A gram Book 15 with 32GB of DDR5 currently costs $799 after a $300 discount, which is quite a decent offer if you know you can't live without 8GB.
Better yet, the gram Book has two M.2 SSD slots inside, and they're accessible after purchase for upgrades. Everything inside the Neo is locked down.
Port selection also falls in favor of the gram Book. It has one USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1), one USB-A 2.0, two USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), HDMI, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
The MacBook Neo offers just one USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), one USB-C 2.0, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Wi-Fi 6E comes with the Neo, while the gram Book falls back to Wi-Fi 6. Is that a difference noticeable by the average user? Absolutely not.
The LG gram Book 15 has a 51Wh battery capacity that easily bests the 36.5Wh option in the Neo. That's a significant jump, and despite Intel's chip not being as efficient as the Apple A18 Pro, battery life should ultimately compare decently.
The audio setup in both laptops involves dual speakers with Dolby Atmos tuning. In general, there's not a lot of difference, although speakers installed in an aluminum chassis often sound better than those encased in plastic.
TL;DR: The LG gram Book 15 is a capable laptop with superior RAM and storage options, more ports, and an attractive price that compares to the MacBook Neo.
What does the MacBook Neo get right?
Apple's MacBook Neo is built from a solid chunk of aluminum, whereas the gram Book uses a plastic chassis with a metallic finish. If you prefer a more rigid feel, Apple is the way to go.
The MacBook Neo is also considerably lighter and smaller than the gram Book, although you have to keep in mind that the former is a 13-inch device while the latter is 15 inches.
Speaking of the displays, the Neo easily wins with a 2408x1506 resolution, taller 16:10 aspect ratio, 500 nits brightness, and Dolby Vision. The only saving grace in the gram Book is touch functionality. It's otherwise not as high-res or bright.
Above the Neo's display is a 1080p webcam, whereas the gram Book has just an HD (720p) camera to work with. It does, however, add a privacy shutter.
Now on to performance. Apple's A18 Pro System-on-Chip (SoC) is an impressive piece of hardware, and despite it originally being used for mobile devices, it holds up very well compared to the Intel Core Ultra 5 115U in the gram Book.
The A18 Pro can deliver superior single- and multi-core performance, as well as superior integrated GPU performance. If you want the most power and efficiency, you'll want to stick with the Neo.
TL;DR: The MacBook Neo offers better performance and efficiency, a superior display, a higher-res webcam, and a sleek aluminum chassis.
LG gram Book 15 vs. MacBook Neo: Windows and macOS
The Windows 11 vs. macOS debate is always a lively one. I usually end up at the conclusion that I'm not likely to change your mind if you already live in one ecosystem or the other.
But if you're new to both operating systems, I can offer a condensed comparison. Windows 11 is a more flexible OS that can run many different tools and apps. It's much better for gaming, although I wouldn't recommend buying the gram Book as primarily a gaming system.
If you prefer a super simple and sleek OS, you'll probably enjoy macOS more. It might not be as flexible or offer as many options, but it is consistent and makes sense for creators. It's also a great choice if you already have an iPhone or iPad, since Apple's ecosystem is so comprehensive.
LG gram Book 15 vs. MacBook Neo: Which should you buy?
The LG gram Book 15 for 2026 has an attractive price, and if you're sold on Windows 11, it could be a great choice for lighter productivity work, streaming, web browsing, email, etc. The fact that storage is upgradeable after purchase and RAM can be configured up to 32GB means there's a good chance of it remaining relevant for years to come.
On the other hand, if you can stomach macOS, Apple's MacBook Neo delivers a whole lot of laptop for a low price. It's built to a higher standard, its display is superior, and its SoC is more powerful and efficient. The 8GB RAM cap is disappointing, as is the port selection, but for the average user (like a student), it's a great option starting at $599.
The affordable LG gram Book 15 for 2026 certainly does some things that the MacBook Neo doesn't, but overall, it's probably not the right choice if you can stomach macOS. Apple's laptop simply delivers a higher-quality experience. Regardless, this is still a solid option for students and casual Windows 11 users who don't want to overspend.
Apple's MacBook Neo gets a lot right, and if you're interested in macOS, it's the right choice. It falls short of the LG gram Book in a few key areas, like port selection, memory and storage options, and a lack of touch functionality on the display, but otherwise, it's a whole lot of laptop for a low price.
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