W
%Begin LG Gram 17 Review: A Featherweight Laptop Offering Impressive Performance Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Best Products > Computer & Laptops
visibility
821 views
thumb_up
23 likes
S
If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. 4.2
LG Gram 17
Lifewire / Jonno Hill What We Like Incredibly lightweight Beautiful display Relatively small footprint Impressive battery life What We Don't Like A bit expensive No discrete graphics Poor speakers Somewhat flimsy feeling The LG Gram 17 is a very capable productivity laptop featuring a shockingly light design and thin bezels, making it great for those that prioritize screen real estate and portability over everything else.
thumb_up
15 likes
H
View On Amazon 4.2
LG Gram 17
Lifewire / Jonno Hill View On Amazon in this article Expand Design Setup Process Display Performance Productivity Audio Network Camera Battery Software Price Competition Final Verdict Specs We purchased the LG Gram 17 so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review. The market for 17-inch laptops might not be massive, but the LG Gram 17 certainly makes a compelling argument in their favor.
thumb_up
3 likes
Z
Traditionally the two largest drawbacks to 17-inch laptops are the physical footprint, and the weight, both of which make these large laptops less than portable. The LG Gram does away with both of these problems with its 2.95 pound body and thin bezels, packing a 17-inch screen in a 15-inch body. LG further supports this laptop with a better than average suite of specs, including an 8th gen i7-8565 processor, 512GB SSD, and 16GB of RAM.
thumb_up
38 likes
S
This laptop unsurprisingly omits a discrete graphics card in its slender 0.7-inch thick frame, so don’t plan on doing any gaming or similarly heavy graphics work, but it should otherwise stand up to just about any task. Lifewire / Jonno Hill
Design A thoughtful approach to larger laptops
Without question, the first thing you will notice when you take the LG Gram 17 out of its box is how light it is.
thumb_up
1 likes
L
Weighing less than 3 pounds, it’s trivial to lift, hold, and carry with one hand. For reference, a current-generation 15-inch MacBook Pro weighs in at just over 4 pounds, so it’s a funny feeling to hold a larger laptop that weighs less.
thumb_up
8 likes
L
There haven’t been any great miracles worked here—the reduced weight comes at the cost of a flimsier feeling construction that lacks the sturdiness of heavier laptops. Despite the slim frame, the LG Gram 17 still manages a fair amount of connectivity. The left side of the device contains a USB-A, HDMI, and USB-C ports, while the right side houses two USB-A ports, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader.
thumb_up
12 likes
G
This may not be an overabundance of connectivity options, but it's more than we’ve come to expect from modern laptops. The market for 17-inch laptops might not be massive, but the LG Gram 17 certainly makes a compelling argument in their favor. The keyboard takes advantage of the sizeable frame and provides a full-size layout complete with numpad.
thumb_up
6 likes
A
The keys themselves are a bit on the mushier side, but after a bit of acclimation, we were able to type quickly enough to not be an issue. One peculiarity that might bothersome, however, is the placement of the touchpad square in the middle instead of aligned with the main key rows. This did cause us to accidentally move the cursor while typing on plenty of occasions.
thumb_up
13 likes
I
Finally, the fingerprint sensor, located directly on the power button on the top right corner of the keyboard, performed fairly well in our tests. This placement, although precarious in theory, didn’t cause any mishaps during our testing.
thumb_up
31 likes
J
This placement is actually somewhat advantageous—if you turn on the laptop using a finger registered to the fingerprint sensor, it wakes straight into Windows seamlessly without even hitting the login prompt. Lifewire / Jonno Hill
Setup Process No help needed
The LG Gram 17 arrives in a minimally packaged box containing only the essentials: The laptop itself, the charger, a manual, and an adapter for the USB-C port. LG definitely gets high marks on setup, requiring minimal steps to get set up and begin using your device right away.
thumb_up
47 likes
I
You will be prompted to enter the standard information any Windows laptop will ask—like your Wi-Fi credentials, a username and password, your timezone, and if you’d like, a fingerprint impression. Once you’ve completed setup, you’ll be introduced to the LG Update Center, designed to handle both Windows updates and updates to LG’s software on the laptop.
thumb_up
27 likes
I
Thankfully, this software is very discreet and hands-off, not overstepping its intended purpose. LG is very light on 3rd party software bundled with the laptop, containing only a handful of bespoke applications which we will cover in greater detail in the Software section.
thumb_up
15 likes
C
Suffice it to say, there is a lot less bloatware than we normally find on laptops. Lifewire / Jonno Hill
Display A joy to use
The large, bright 17-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS display is definitely the centerpiece of the LG Gram 17. It strikes the perfect balance of size to resolution ratio.
thumb_up
2 likes
G
Having a 16:10 aspect ratio instead of 16:9 definitely gives the feeling that you have more room to play around with. We were impressed by how bright and vivid colors were on this display when watching video content.
thumb_up
14 likes
A
The IPS display is sharp, featuring attractive colors and satisfying contrast. Keep in mind though that while watching most standard 16:9 content, you aren’t taking advantage of all 17 inches of the display, and will see black bars on the top and bottom. The large, bright 17-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS display is definitely the centerpiece of the LG Gram 17.
thumb_up
1 likes
I
Productivity is definitely where this laptop shines. The large, tall screen makes it really perfect for getting things done. It’s easy to throw a couple of applications side by side and have plenty of real estate to work with.
thumb_up
12 likes
R
Even if you don’t feel like you’re missing much on your current laptop, it’s definitely nice to be able to scroll less and see more at-a-glance. The IPS display also performs admirably by most other metrics that buyers will care about, such as a maximum brightness high enough to be usable outdoors. Additionally, the display looks great from off-angles, losing very little brightness when viewed from the sides, and showing no signs of color shift.
thumb_up
21 likes
A
Performance Ready to work but not to game
The LG Gram 17 performed well in our tests, managing a 3,851 score in PCMark 10. As mentioned previously, this laptop is best suited for productivity-related tasks. The absence of a dedicated graphics card means that it won’t be able to keep up in anything beyond casual games and very light video editing workloads, but so long as you avoid these types of tasks you shouldn’t really notice any shortcomings.
thumb_up
1 likes
A
The 16GB of RAM and 8th gen Intel i7 made using the Gram 17 a fast, responsive experience in everyday and work-related tasks. We did nonetheless test the LG Gram 17 in some less demanding games, such as Slay the Spire, a roguelike card game with relatively undemanding graphics.
thumb_up
43 likes
H
We were able to play the game, but definitely noted some lag that made gameplay a little less pleasant. Lifewire / Jonno Hill
Productivity The Gram s sweet spot
Having 16GB of Memory and a 512GB SSD makes the Gram a great choice for productivity purposes.
thumb_up
22 likes
C
We had no problem working with many browser windows open at the same time and switching back and forth between different applications. Shoppers looking to find a laptop with ample screen real estate and the specs necessary to deliver good performance now and into the future will be pleased with what the LG Gram 17 offers.
Audio Sorry what was that
The speakers on The LG Gram 17 are an afterthought at best, offering meek sounding audio originating from ill-placed speaker grills on the bottom.
thumb_up
22 likes
R
To make matters worse, these speakers are easily covered and muffled when it sits on your lap. Even when the stars aligned and we happened to leave the speakers unobstructed, we weren’t impressed by the sound offered. In short, get ready to use headphones or external speakers, and don’t plan on having any movie viewing parties with it either.
thumb_up
44 likes
A
Keep in mind though that while watching most standard 16:9 content, you aren’t taking advantage of all 17 inches of the display, and will see black bars on the top and bottom.
Network Everything you d expect
Wi-Fi on the LG Gram 17 gave us no trouble, offering a strong signal and speeds in any of the public and private environments we tested in.
thumb_up
47 likes
I
LG uses the Intel Wireless AC 9560 Wi-Fi adapter, the fastest of such chips currently on offer from Intel. This Wi-Fi adapter has a theoretical max speed of 1.73Gbps and offers a 2x2 antenna configuration, though you’re unlikely to ever hit such a high download speed.
Camera Bare minimum
The 720p webcam on the LG Gram 17 is nothing to write home about, and probably won’t be the platform you use for taking your next headshot or dating profile picture.
thumb_up
43 likes
L
The camera has a tendency to blow out the background in an attempt to keep the subject in focus, and there is a plainly visible amount of noise in the image even in generous daylight conditions. Nonetheless, it will serve fine for teleconferencing purposes. Lifewire / Jonno Hill
Battery Beyond plentiful
The LG Gram 17 is equipped with a more than capable battery that offers up to 19.5 hrs of battery life, according to LG.
thumb_up
16 likes
J
In our tests, the laptop averaged around 14 hours during mixed daily use—still quite a great deal. This is likely due to a mixture of the larger than average battery, lack of a discrete graphics card, and an energy-efficient display. This is about as good as you can hope for in a laptop, to be honest, and a surprising achievement for such a light and thin one.
thumb_up
48 likes
C
If time between charges is a concern for you, take note. When running Battery Eater Pro to push the laptop to its limits, it kicked the bucket in just over 2 hours and 30 minutes.
thumb_up
47 likes
K
This may seem like a very short time, but it’s still considerably better than any of the other 17-inch laptops we tested using this brutal benchmark.
Software Standard Windows with some unique features
The LG Gram 17 comes with a fairly vanilla installation of Windows 10 Home, offering very little in the way of custom third party applications or other types of bloat. In our eyes, this is a big plus, as having numerous added applications can slow systems (and users) down, and often serve as yet another piece of software to keep up to date. The three main pieces of software we did find pre-installed were the LG Update Center, LG Control Center, and Reader Mode.
thumb_up
42 likes
J
LG Update Center helps manage Windows updates in addition to driver updates, and does so without being overly complicated or intrusive. As it stands, you won’t find a lighter, smaller 17-inch laptop than the LG Gram 17.
thumb_up
49 likes
O
The LG Control Center gives users quick access to common system functions like power management, Windows security, and system settings. You can control the volume, disable the touchpad temporarily, manage screen and keyboard backlight brightness, and more. This might not be altogether necessary, but users can simply not use it if they wish.
thumb_up
30 likes
J
Finally, the LG Gram 17 comes with Reader Mode as a pre-installed app that runs in the background on startup and is accessible from the taskbar. Switching it on changes the color temperature of the display to filter out blue light (by default) and make night-time and low-light usage more pleasant. You can also take control of the adjustments that Reader Mode makes, controlling the brightness, contrast, and gamma adjustments for red, green, and blue independently.
thumb_up
8 likes
S
This seems excessive, but we can’t fault LG too much for giving users more control.
Price Lighter laptop bigger price tag
At an MSRP of $1,700, the LG Gram 17 is not particularly affordable, and even less so when compared to similar options in the market.
thumb_up
16 likes
J
For this price, we would normally expect to get a discrete graphics card and the expanded possibilities that come with it. The premium you are paying for in this case isn’t sheer price-to-performance but portability and form factor. On these fronts, the LG Gram 17 definitely shines.
thumb_up
23 likes
H
LG Gram 17 vs ASUS VivoBook Pro 17
These two laptops share very little in common other than both having 17-inch displays and the same Intel processor. The VivoBook has a lower resolution (1920 x 1080 versus 2560 x 1600) display, larger bezels, chunkier body, smaller battery, and weighs over 50 percent more (4.6 versus 2.95 pounds).
thumb_up
11 likes
J
The VivoBook, on the other hand, has an Nvidia GTX 1050 graphics card and costs far less ($1,099 vs $1,699). If form factor and portability are higher on your list, the LG probably still wins out, but where price-to-performance is concerned, the VivoBook Pro 17 wins handily. Asus VivoBook Pro 17 Review: Great Performance For The Price Final Verdict A featherweight champion for productivity.
thumb_up
45 likes
J
As it stands, you won’t find a lighter, smaller 17-inch laptop than the LG Gram 17. LG is aware of how valuable this is to buyers that care about these metrics, and has priced their laptop accordingly.
thumb_up
31 likes
V
If you are shopping for what the Gram has on offer, we can’t imagine you’ll be too disappointed. This is a smart, capable laptop that delights in daily use.
Specs
Product Name Gram 17 Product Brand LG MPN B07MNDYX9Z Price $1,699.99 Release Date December 2018 Weight 2.95 lbs.
thumb_up
23 likes
K
Product Dimensions 15 x 10.5 x 0.7 in. Processor Intel Core i7-8565U @ 1.8 GHz Graphics Intel HD Graphics 610 Display 17 Inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) resolution 16: 10 IPS display Memory 16GB DDR4 2400MHz - 8 GB x 1 (On Board) - 8 GB x 1 Storage 512 GB SSD Battery 4-cell, 72 Wh Ports 3x USB 3.0 (A), 1 headphone/microphone combo, 1x Thunderbolt 3 port, 1x HDMI, 1x microSD card reader Warranty 1 Year Limited Platform Window 10 Home Was this page helpful?
thumb_up
40 likes
H
Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day
Subscribe Tell us why!
thumb_up
47 likes
M
Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire The 6 Best 17-Inch and Larger Laptops of 2022 Razer Blade Stealth 13 Review: A Massive Leap in Ultrabook Performance Asus VivoBook Pro 17 Review: Great Performance For The Price The 9 Best Laptops of 2022 LG Gram 15 Review: Thin and Light With Great Battery Life The 6 Best 14- to 16-Inch Laptops of 2022 LG Gram 15.6-inch (2018) Review: A Big, Incredibly Light Laptop that Lasts and Lasts The 8 Best Gaming Laptops for Under $1,000 in 2022 The 8 Best Laptops at Walmart in 2022 Acer Aspire E 15 Review: One of the Best Budget Laptops Money Can Buy LG 34UC98-W Curved UltraWide Monitor Review: A Solid Mid-Range Ultrawide The 8 Best Gaming Laptops of 2022 HP Spectre x360 15t Touch Laptop Review: Fantastic Performance and an Attractive Design Acer Aspire 5 Review: Looks Great and Priced Right 6 Things to Consider Before Buying a Laptop What to Look For in a Gaming Monitor Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies
thumb_up
11 likes
Similar Discussions
-
John Cena sets a Guinness World Record
-
F1 News Former F1 driver opens up about cold relationship with Lewis Hamilton after controversial 2008 incident
-
Ubisoft clarifies Assassin s Creed Mirage won t have loot box or real gambling after ESRB rating sends fanbase into a frenzy
-
With Alcaraz we knew that this was going to happen sooner or later Spain Davis Cup captain on Carlos Alcaraz s US Open win
-
Fans can t get over Stray Kids emo pink concept in MAXIDENT comeback trailer
-
Avalanche s Alex Newhook Whistled twice for penalties CBSSports com
-
A I O B All In One Broadcast APK Download for Android
-
Moreno Boxing APK Download for Android
-
VÚB Mobile Banking APK Download for Android
-
Jeweled Diamonds Dance Company APK Download for Android
-
La plus grande ferme solaire d le de France a vu le jour sur un ancien site p trolier des Yvelines $Alchemy Keywords
-
Pourquoi Google va accepter les cryptomonnaies comme moyen de paiement Google Cryptos
-
Este partido pol tico de Dinamarca est dirigido por una inteligencia artificial y quiere representar a los daneses que no votan Tech
-
17 Celebrity Favorite Y2K Fashion Brands That Are Popular Again
-
Impuesto a los ricos ayudas sociales o empleo el sello de Unidas Podemos en las leyes del Gobierno İmpuesto Ricos
-
Corporate America s Big Money Could Fuel Victory for Big Lie Candidates
-
As han fulminado los mercados a Liz Truss en menos de un mes Expansioncom Mercados
-
La ONU confirma el uso de munici n real contra los manifestantes en Ir n Onu Confirma
-
Dr Disrespect explains why more games should include iconic Mortal Kombat feature
-
Fortnite Assassin s Creed skin bundle crossover Release date how to get amp price
-
Splatoon 3 How to Use the Big Bubbler The Nerd Stash
-
We Started Illustrating Every National Park In The US To Get Park Nerds Into Posters And Poster Nerds Into The Parks
-
How federalism could work in the UK
-
Shopify Apps You Need to Sell More Products
-
How a Bigger Screen Can Boost Your Productivity
-
How to Share and Collaborate With Google Drive
-
How to Upgrade Your Router s Firmware
-
The 9 Best Camera Apps That Work for iPhone and Android in 2022
-
How to Play Roblox on Chromebook
-
4 Ways Cellphone Electrocution Can Happen to You