LG Gram 17: The Ultimate Lightweight Laptop for Professionals and Creatives
Outline
- Introduction
- Design and Build Quality
- Display and Audio
- Performance and Specs
- Keyboard, Trackpad, and Ports
- Battery Life
- Best LG Gram 17 Alternatives
- Who Should Buy the LG Gram 17?
- Pros and Cons
- FAQ
Introduction
The LG Gram 17 is a standout laptop, known for its remarkably lightweight design combined with a large 17-inch display. This makes it an attractive option for professionals and creatives who need a powerful, portable device. Its combination of a spacious screen, impressive battery life, and relatively robust performance for its weight makes it a compelling choice in a crowded market. Unlike many 17-inch laptops, the Gram 17 manages to stay incredibly thin and light, allowing for easy transport. This review delves into the key aspects of the LG Gram 17, evaluating its design, performance, display quality, and overall value proposition to help you determine if it’s the right laptop for you.
Design and Build Quality
The LG Gram 17 truly distinguishes itself in terms of design due to its emphasis on portability. The magnesium alloy chassis is exceptionally light, contributing to the overall featherweight feel. While the magnesium alloy construction makes it light, some users report a slightly less premium feel compared to laptops built with aluminum. Despite the lightweight build, the Gram 17 feels sturdy enough for everyday use. The simple, minimalist design is both professional and elegant, making it suitable for any environment. Available in a range of understated colors, the design focuses on practicality over flashy aesthetics. The thin bezels surrounding the display contribute to a modern look and feel, maximizing screen real estate within a compact footprint.
Display and Audio
The centerpiece of the LG Gram 17 is undoubtedly its large 17-inch display. The screen offers a high resolution, typically Quad HD (2560 x 1600), providing ample workspace for productivity tasks and detailed visuals for creative work. Color accuracy is generally good, making it suitable for photo and video editing, though professional-grade color accuracy might require a calibrated external monitor. The display is bright enough for indoor use, but its glossy finish can sometimes cause reflections, especially in brightly lit environments. Audio quality is adequate for basic use, with speakers that deliver acceptable sound for video conferencing and casual listening. However, the audio experience is not particularly immersive, and external speakers or headphones are recommended for a better listening experience.
Performance and Specs
The LG Gram 17 is available in a range of configurations, often including Intel Core i5 or i7 processors. The specific performance depends on the chosen configuration, but generally the laptop delivers sufficient power for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and video streaming. The integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics handles light gaming and basic content creation tasks well. For more demanding applications, an external graphics card may be needed. The inclusion of fast storage options, such as NVMe SSDs, ensures quick boot times and rapid application loading. Ample RAM is also generally provided, allowing for multitasking and efficient handling of large files. The Gram 17 generally performs well for general productivity tasks, but may show limitations in professional workloads (e.g., intensive video editing, 3D modelling).
Keyboard, Trackpad, and Ports
The keyboard on the LG Gram 17 offers a comfortable typing experience, despite the thin chassis. Key travel is relatively short, but the keys are well-spaced and offer a satisfying tactile feel. A backlit keyboard is standard, enhancing usability in low-light conditions. The trackpad is smooth and responsive, with accurate cursor control. While the trackpad is large, it does not have physical click buttons, relying on the user’s tap and click on the pad itself. The port selection on the LG Gram 17 is decent, typically including USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support for fast data transfer and external display connectivity, USB-A ports, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. Some configurations also include an HDMI port.
Battery Life
One of the significant advantages of the LG Gram 17 is its impressive battery life. Thanks to its energy-efficient components and large battery capacity, the laptop can easily last a full workday on a single charge. Users can expect to get upwards of 8-10 hours of real-world usage, depending on the tasks performed. This extended battery life makes it an ideal choice for users who need to work on the go or travel frequently.
Best LG Gram 17 Alternatives
While the LG Gram 17 excels in portability and screen size, it’s essential to consider alternative options that may better suit specific needs. Here’s a comparison table showcasing some alternative laptops.
| Feature | LG Gram 17 | Dell XPS 17 | Apple MacBook Pro 16″ (M3) | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | ~2.98 lbs (1.35 kg) | ~5.53 lbs (2.51 kg) | ~4.8 lbs (2.17 kg) | ~4.37 lbs (1.98 kg) |
| Screen Size | 17-inch | 17-inch | 16.2-inch | 14.4-inch |
| Processor | Intel Core i5/i7 (varies) | Intel Core i5/i7/i9 | Apple M3 Pro/Max | Intel Core i7 (varies) |
| Graphics | Integrated Intel Iris Xe | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050/4060/4070/4080 (optional) | Integrated GPU (Apple Silicon) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050/4060/4070 (optional) |
| Battery Life | Excellent | Good | Very Good | Good |
| Target User | Professionals, Students, Travelers | Professionals, Content Creators | Creative Professionals, Developers | Professionals, Creatives |
| Price (approx.) | $1400 – $2000 (depending on configuration) | $2000 – $4000 (depending on configuration) | $2500 – $6000 (depending on configuration) | $2000 – $4000 (depending on configuration) |
| Portability | Exceptional | Good | Good | Good |
Best Alternatives for Professionals
The Dell XPS 17 and Apple MacBook Pro 16″ offer powerful performance and premium build quality, but at a heavier weight. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is an attractive option for its versatility and innovative design.
Who Should Buy the LG Gram 17?
The LG Gram 17 is ideally suited for:
- Professionals: Who need a large display for productivity tasks, spreadsheets, and document editing.
- Students: Who want a lightweight laptop for note-taking, research, and presentations.
- Travelers: Who prioritize portability and extended battery life.
- Creatives: Who require a large screen for photo and video editing, though professional-grade editing might necessitate a higher-powered machine.
- Anyone: Who values a large screen without the burden of excessive weight.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Lightweight Design: Exceptionally portable for a 17-inch laptop.
- Large Display: Offers ample screen real estate for productivity and creative tasks.
- Long Battery Life: Provides all-day battery performance.
- Good Keyboard and Trackpad: Comfortable typing experience and responsive trackpad.
- Decent Port Selection: Includes essential ports, including USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 support.
Cons:
- Build Quality: Magnesium alloy construction can feel less premium compared to aluminum laptops.
- Display: Glossy screen can cause reflections in bright environments.
- Audio: Speakers are adequate but not particularly immersive.
- Performance: Performance is generally adequate for most tasks, but can be limited compared to higher-powered laptops.
- Price: Pricing can be a premium for the specs
FAQ
Q: Is the LG Gram 17 good for gaming?
A: The LG Gram 17 is not designed for gaming. While it can run some less-demanding games at lower settings due to its integrated graphics, it is not a performance gaming laptop.
Q: Does the LG Gram 17 have a touchscreen?
A: No, the LG Gram 17 does not typically come with a touchscreen.
Q: Can I upgrade the RAM or storage?
A: In most models, the RAM is not upgradable. The storage (SSD) is generally upgradable. Be sure to verify the specific configuration details before purchasing.
Q: What is the warranty on the LG Gram 17?
A: The LG Gram 17 typically comes with a standard one-year limited warranty.
Q: How does the LG Gram 17 compare to the MacBook Air?
A: The LG Gram 17 is a larger, more powerful laptop designed with professionals in mind with a much larger screen, whereas the MacBook Air is more suited for casual use. However, the MacBook Air offers the premium build quality of Apple products.
