LG gram +view 16 (16" 2560×1600 IPS) review 2027

What problem does the LG gram +view 16 solve?

The gram +view 16 is built around one idea: more screen and more pixels than any other portable IPS monitor here. Two documents sit side by side, and code gets enough vertical room to show real context instead of a few lines.

LG's own tagline calls it "the most screen and the most pixels of any portable IPS here," and the measured results back that up: 330 nits of brightness and 100% sRGB coverage. For writers, coders and gram owners, that combination means a second display that is sharp enough for text and accurate enough for photos, without the bulk of a desktop panel.

How did it score in our tests?

We scored the gram +view 16 across five criteria, and the total came to 7.5 out of 10.

• Image quality — 27 out of 30. This criterion covers measured brightness, contrast, colour coverage and accuracy, panel type, and resolution at the size.
• Portability & build — 15 out of 20. Weight, thickness, the stand or cover, and how it survived a week in a bag. At 1.5 lb it is light for its size, but the folio stand held it back.
• Connectivity — 15 out of 20. Single-cable USB-C with power delivery, HDMI, whether it worked with a phone and a console, and cables included. Two USB-C ports with DP Alt are present; HDMI is not.
• Features — 7 out of 10. Touch, speakers, battery, VESA mount, OSD controls and refresh rate. There is no touch and the refresh rate is 60 Hz.
• Value — 11 out of 20. Price against measured quality, at $349.99.

What are the standout strengths?

The measured numbers are the story. At 330 nits the gram +view 16 is brighter than several rivals in this group, and 100% sRGB coverage means colour work is realistic rather than approximate. LG also lists 99% DCI-P3, so video and photo colour hold up beyond the sRGB space.

The resolution and shape matter just as much. In practice that is the difference between scrolling constantly and seeing a full page or a full function at once.

At 1.5 lb it is light for its size, and the two USB-C ports give you a spare connection rather than a single fragile one.

How does the panel technology work?

IPS is a liquid-crystal panel type where the crystals are switched in a plane parallel to the glass rather than twisted toward it. That arrangement keeps colour and contrast stable when you view the screen from an angle, which is why IPS is common in monitors meant to be shared or tilted. The trade-off is that IPS cannot switch individual pixels fully off, so blacks are dark grey rather than true black.

USB-C DP Alt is a mode in which the USB-C port carries a DisplayPort video signal alongside data and power. One cable can therefore send the picture and, where the host supports it, charge the laptop at the same time.

What is it made of, and what ports does it have?

Measured brightness is 330 nits and sRGB coverage is 100%. It weighs 1.5 lb.

Connections are two USB-C ports with DP Alt. There is no HDMI, no mini-HDMI and no dedicated power input. The stand is a folio cover rather than a rigid kickstand, which is the part of the build our testers flagged.

How does it compare with the competition?

The ASUS counters with an OLED panel, 360 nits measured, 100% sRGB and a mini-HDMI port the LG lacks. The ASUS is also slightly lighter at 1.4 lb.

Against the ASUS ZenScreen MB16ACV (8.2, $199), the LG is sharper and brighter — 330 nits against 248 nits — but costs more and gives up the kickstand and Kensington slot that make the cheaper ASUS easier to live with.

The LG is lighter at 1.5 lb against 1.7 lb and cheaper at $349.99 against $499, but it has no touch and no HDMI.

Where does it fall short?

Connectivity and the stand are the two areas where it lost ground. There is no HDMI at all, so consoles and older laptops need an adapter or a different monitor. The folio stand is awkward in portrait orientation, which limits how you can set it up next to a laptop.

Is it good value at $349.99?

The gram +view 16 sells for $349.99, and our value criterion scored 11 out of 20. That reflects a price that sits above the cheaper 1080p IPS options in this group while delivering the highest resolution and the largest panel of any portable IPS we tested. If sharp text and vertical workspace are what you are paying for, the money goes to the right place; if you mainly need a second screen for email and video calls, the cheaper rivals cover that for less.

Who should buy the LG gram +view 16?

Writers, coders and gram owners are the people this monitor fits. Buy it if you want the sharpest, tallest portable IPS here and you already own a laptop that can drive it over USB-C. Look elsewhere if you need HDMI, touch, or a stand that works well in portrait.