The “New Galaxy Book6,” a new laptop Samsung Electronics released on the 1st. Photo courtesy of Samsung Electronics
The “LG gram Book AI 2026,” a new laptop LG Electronics will release on the 7th. Photo courtesy of LG Electronics
Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have rolled out competing mid-range laptops priced in the 1 million won range, targeting value-conscious buyers as a surge in memory costs this year pushes new-model prices sharply higher. Both companies are betting on machines that cost more than 1 million won less than existing models while keeping core features including artificial intelligence functions.
Samsung Electronics (005930) said on the 1st it had launched the New Galaxy Book6. Retail prices range from 1.19 million won to 1.49 million won ($830 to $1,040) depending on configuration. That is 410,000 won to 1.02 million won cheaper than the standard Galaxy Book6, which had been the least expensive of this year’s earlier releases at 1.6 million won to 2.51 million won.
The New Galaxy Book6 carries 8 gigabytes of LPDDR5X memory, less than half the 16 to 32 gigabytes in the standard model, a reduction that lowered production costs. Storage is 256 gigabytes and the neural processing unit delivers up to 15 TOPS, or 15 trillion operations per second — both well below the standard version.
In exchange, the new model keeps the same 14-inch display as the standard version while weighing less at 1.35 kilograms, offering battery life for up to 25 hours of video playback and adding anti-glare technology. It also carries the same AI features as existing models, including AI Cut Out, which quickly removes unwanted backgrounds from images. Samsung plans to target consumers across price tiers with four models this year: the new laptop, the standard version, and the higher-end Galaxy Book6 Ultra and Galaxy Book6 Pro.
LG Electronics (066570) also unveiled the LG gram Book AI 2026 the same day, priced at 1.45 million won ($1,010), with sales starting on the 7th. That is 1.29 million won less than the LG gram AI 2026, which sells for 2.74 million won. LG likewise cut costs by fitting the new model with 8 gigabytes of memory and 256 gigabytes of storage, each about half the capacity of the existing model.
In return, the new laptop retains the same 14-inch display and adds a 2026 Intel Core Series 3 processor supporting high-performance AI, along with a battery rated for more than 30 hours of use. At 1.29 kilograms and 14.9 millimeters thick, it also preserves portability. The model additionally supports Microsoft’s Windows AI features and offers privacy protection through a webcam shutter.
Samsung Electronics models use the “New Galaxy Book6,” a new laptop released on the 1st. Photo courtesy of Samsung Electronics
An AI-generated image showing use of the “LG gram Book AI 2026,” a new laptop LG Electronics will release on the 7th. Photo courtesy of LG Electronics