The Korean company LG is a reference in televisions. With its line of ultralight laptops, LG Gram has also become an essential brand if you are looking for a high-light device without giving up a large screen.the multinational updated this series with a better battery and graphics capacity, other novelties, and models with smaller sizes (including a convertible). In this review, we analyze the largest model, the 17-inch (17Z90N-V.AA78B), a device with an unmatched weight for its size. It is unique.
A large keyboard with a reader included
The 17-inch WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) 16:10 display is bezel-less and relatively bright (sometimes too bright for outdoor work). With these features, you won’t be able to get the most out of 4K content, and that doesn’t mean that it more than satisfies the usual needs of a user who doesn’t need the best.
With such large dimensions, the LG Gram’s full keyboard hasn’t been reduced in size like other laptops. It is as if you were working with a desktop PC. Soft touches are enough for writing with the keys, and they work great. For those looking for security, the on/off button on the keyboard at the top right integrates a fingerprint reader that always works well and is fast. It is very convenient, so you don’t have to type the password continuously.
The touchpad – also large – is right in the middle, allowing the wrists to rest smoothly on the sides of the touchpad for comfortable typing. However, the keyboard is far away and a bit awkward when typing; you have to get used to it.
The HD webcam does not offer sharp images on full screen but is slightly blurred, and it is worth its purpose. The speakers sit below and support the DTS:X surround sound format. And they do their job but aren’t brilliant.
In technical specifications aim high, you will not lack performance even for not too demanding editing tasks (Windows 10 Home comes with a straightforward video editor within the Photos application): tenth generation Intel Core i7 processor, Iris Plus 655 graphics, 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB SSD storage (expandable up to 4 TB).
Battery and charging that does not disappoint
The autonomy of the equipment, on paper, reaches 17 hours. In our tests, with brightness at half (works fine indoors at this level), audio at 25 percent, and power mode at maximum performance, at five hours of YouTube video playback, 50 percent remained. Percent of autonomy. The battery was completely drained in 11 hours. When we put it to charge, it had already reached 50 percent in just an hour.
The adapter to charge it, as expected in a team that claims to be the lightest 17-inch, does not bulk or weigh much.
The official price of the LG Gram 17 in its 2020 version is 1,755 euros, a considerable amount of money. It will be worth spending it if you are looking for the lightest laptop with a giant screen, an unrivaled achievement for now. After testing the equipment, all the others will inevitably seem heavy and small. What’s more, we want all laptops to weigh as little as this or even less to ease the burden on the road.
If your thing is laptops with a premium look and the most advanced technology of the moment, then look at other options. LG Gram does not come with the latest from Intel or the best screen resolution, but it stands out in addition to lightness, performance, autonomy, and fast charging. It’s perfect for taking anywhere, performing everyday tasks with the PC, and entertaining yourself with movies on a large screen without hurting your back. Of course, you will have to carry a giant backpack or bag than usual because it takes up a lot. It just made us fall in love. If this lightweight gear doesn’t fit you, maybe one on this list does.
Quite a feat in the size-to-weight ratio
The 17-inch LG Gram laptop is made of unique materials to weigh less. It is an alloy of magnesium and nanocarbon, the latter used in the aerospace industry. The result is a device with a vast screen weighing 1.3 kilos, a familiar figure for 15-inch machines. The feeling when you grab it is beastly. Everybody, when they take it in their hands, thinks it’s super light! At the same time, it has enough weight to work with the legs without falling.
The materials also give it a decent aesthetic, both on the outside and on the keyboard. With a gray tint and a slim chassis (380.6 x 262.6 x 15.4~17.4 mm), the notebook can boast an attractive and modern appearance, like many other brands, without claiming to be on the list of the most elegant. And even better: it will resist daily threats since it meets military standards (STD-MIL-810G) against shock, dust, and extreme temperatures.
The laptop comes very well equipped with connections: on the left side, a USB-A, an HDMI, and a USB-C (Thunderbolt). On the right, a 3.5mm mini headphone jack, two USB-A ports, a Kensington security hole (in case you want to tie it down with a padlock), and a microSD card slot. As usual, most laptops it does not have an RJ45 port, but if you want to plug it in, it is easily solved with a USB to Ethernet adapter cable.
