LG Ultra PC 14 review: Stamina meets performance

Are there any differences between the gram and Ultra PC series? Yes. For instance, they are different in terms of weight (980 g versus 1.29 kg, or 2.16 lb versus 2.84 lb) and hinge design (the Ultra PC uses a metal hinge, whilst the one on the gram is hidden). The Ultra PC is made of plastic instead of magnesium and has a stiffer chassis thanks to the strong vertical and horizontal reinforcements inside. Other than material, the Ultra PC has a 72Wh battery that is heavier than the special lightweight batteries used in the LG gram.

The base section and display exhibit some moderate flex. As with the 16-inch Ultra PC, twisting the display lightly will immediately cause distinct discolouration on the TFT panel – this time around not at the lower edge but across the upper half of the screen. This phenomenon also appears to some extent when moving the display. That said, it doesn't negatively affect usage and isn't noticeable when the device is on the lap or shaken.

When it comes to ports, what we said about the Ultra PC 16 applies here as well: you can use a USB-C charger instead of the 65-watt adapter with barrel plug to power the device (we tested 45- and 65-watt chargers).

The Ultra PC 14 is equipped with an Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (with Bluetooth 5.1). The module didn't perform as well as the one in the Ultra PC 16, in both transmit and receive rates. The card readers on the two Ultra PC models delivered identical speeds.

The 14-inch laptop shares the same internal design as its 16-inch big brother. The only difference is that the components are more tightly packed together. It seems the two laptops use the same motherboard; the speakers, battery and I/O board also appear to be identical. There is a second SSD slot available for storage expansion, but the memory is soldered and can't be upgraded. To open up the device, all you need is a small Phillips-head screwdriver. Once the screws are undone, the bottom panel will practically lift up by itself.

In Germany, LG provides a two-year warranty on the LG Ultra PC 14, with an option to extend it to three years for €50 (US$54). Warranty terms and conditions may vary by country. For example, the standard warranty period is only one year in the US.

The Ultra PC 14's keyboard is not backlit and lacks a numerical pad. We can't recommend the keyboard wholeheartedly to those who type a lot. Although the keys offer nice, crisp resistance, the keyboard flexes in the middle. This prevents users from typing quickly and diminishes the quality feel of the laptop. The touchpad is of the same size as the one on the 16-inch Ultra PC (13.2 x 8.2 cm, or 5.2 x 3.2"). It has a noticeable travel, a distinct actuation point and a moderately loud click. 

The Ultra PC 14 has the worst sRGB coverage amongst the devices in our comparison. This could be relevant in applications where colour accuracy is critical. The screen's contrast of 1,600:1 is a touch higher than what the competitors are capable of, even surpassing the gram 14. We managed to improve colour accuracy through calibration, particularly for the greyscale (Delta E reduced from 2.3 to 0.7). You can download the colour profile created by us in the box above.

With its 8 cores and 16 threads, the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U (TDP: 25 watts) turns the laptop into a genuine work machine. The Ryzen CPU delivered excellent performance in our comparison. It is able to keep pace with the Intel Core i7-12500H (45 watts) under sustained load and has slightly higher single-core performance than the Core i5-1135G7 (28 watts). But as expected, the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U performs better in multi-thread tests and is able to make full use of its potential.

When running Cinebench R15 Multi in a loop, the Ryzen initially scored 1,800 before subsequently settling down at an average score of 1,600. The Core i5-1240P in the LG gram 14 trails behind by a considerable margin, with the Ryzen having 80-90% better performance.

Please refer to our CPU comparison table for more information and benchmarks.