LG Gram 17 (2023) review: A featherweight, big-screen laptop

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There are a great deal of laptops to select from in 2023, however the overwhelming majority have a show between 13- and 15-inches. If you want one thing a bit larger, your choices are much more restricted. 

One of the principle units on this class is the Gram 17, LG’s largest laptop computer. Its key promoting level is an extremely light-weight design, it weighs an unimaginable 1.35kg (2.9 lbs), making it extra moveable than many 14-inch laptops. But are the compromises in different areas price it given its excessive price ticket? The brief reply is sure, however just for a really particular sort of person.

Looking for extra choices? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops.

LG Gram 17: Specs 

• Display: 17-inch, 2560×1600 IPS non-touch, 60Hz 
• Processor: Intel Core i5-1340P, i7-1360P 
• Graphics: Intel Iris Xe 
• Memory: 16/32GB LPDDR5 RAM 
• Storage: 1/2TB SSD 
• Ports: 2x USB-A (3.2), 2x USB-C (4), HDMI, 3.5mm audio jack, microSD 
• Camera: 1080p front-facing with Windows Hello help 
• Wireless: WiFi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.1 
• Battery: 80Wh with 65W charging 
• Operating system: Windows 11 Home 
• Colors: Black 
• Weight: 1.35kg 

LG Gram 17: Design and construct 

• Weighs simply 1.35kg
• Chassis doesn’t really feel premium
• Great port choice

Let’s get the plain out of the way in which first. The Gram 17 is a really massive laptop computer. LG has tried to make the bezels across the 17-inch show as slim as attainable, however the chassis nonetheless measures 14.91 x 10.19 x 0.7 inches. However, that is to be anticipated whenever you need such a giant display screen. There are 14-, 15-, or 16-inch LG Gram laptops out there in the event you’d want them. 

But one space the Gram 17 excels is its whole weight or lack thereof. It’s simply 1.35kg (about 2.9 lbs), which is extra in step with what you’d anticipate from a 14-inch laptop computer. Compare that to the two.53kg Dell XPS 17 and I do know which one I’d slightly carry round with me. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

It means the Gram 17 is much extra moveable than you’d ever anticipate, with the principle limitation being the scale of your bag. Many laptop computer backpacks solely help units as much as 16 inches. 

There’s nothing flawed with the supplies used to make the Gram 17. But you might simply mistake the carbon-magnesium alloy for plastic, and important flex within the show makes me involved for long-term sturdiness. It doesn’t really feel almost as premium as many high-end laptops. 

Aesthetically, although, the Gram 17 nonetheless appears the half. It’s solely out there in black, however the smooth, minimalist design is well-suited for enterprise use. 

That’s very true when you think about ports. Both USB-C ports help Thunderbolt 4 (for quick information switch) and USB PD (for quick charging) they usually’re joined by two USB-A, full-size HDMI, microSD, and a 3.5mm audio jack.  

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

The solely actual factor lacking is ethernet, nevertheless it’s probably the greatest port alternatives on any non-gaming laptop computer. 

LG Gram 17: Screen and audio system

• Solid 17-inch LCD show
• No excessive refresh fee or contact help
• Decent twin stereo audio system

If you’re shopping for such a giant laptop computer, the show must be good. And whereas not fairly top-tier, I completely loved utilizing the one on the Gram 17. 

You’re getting a 17-inch, 2560×1600 LCD panel, giving it the 16:10 facet ratio we’ve come to anticipate in fashionable laptops. It’s a disgrace to not see OLED on the Gram 17, however you possibly can nonetheless anticipate an important viewing expertise.  

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Color accuracy is an actual energy, one thing borne out within the information. According to the SpyderXPro calibration device, it covers the total sRGB shade gamut, plus 99 % of DCI-P3 and 91 % of AdobeRGB. As a consequence, most content material appears impressively true to life. The synthetic oversaturated look you get from some OLEDs is averted, although you additionally miss out on these wealthy, deep blacks. 

Brightness isn’t a problem, although. I recorded a most of 439 nits, so you will get away with some out of doors utilization, supplied it’s not in direct daylight. But the refresh fee continues to be caught at 60Hz, regardless of many premium laptops having moved to 120Hz or larger. You gained’t discover it as a lot right here as on a smartphone, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a disgrace. 

There’s additionally no touchscreen help, although that is much less of a problem. I wouldn’t need to jab at such a big display screen anyway, and the trackpad is a lot good in its place. 

The Gram 17 options twin stereo audio system, they usually carry out fairly nicely. There’s a depth and heat to the sound that you simply don’t all the time get on laptops, they usually keep away from any audible distortion. But don’t anticipate room-filling sound, and bass is severely missing, in order that they’re higher suited to voice content material than music or films. For the latter, I’d suggest connecting headphones. 

LG Gram 17: Keyboard, trackpad, and webcam

• Enjoyable keyboard and trackpad
• Solid 1080p webcam
• No fingerprint sensor

The sheer measurement of the Gram 17 means there’s loads of room for a full-size keyboard and separate quantity pad. If you’re coming from a laptop computer with out one, you’ll want to regulate your grip barely, however there’s nothing flawed with the typing expertise. Each key’s clicky and responsive, providing a pleasant stage of suggestions. Within a couple of minutes, I used to be again typing at my regular pace. 

One factor some folks gained’t take pleasure in is the restricted key journey. But that is nearly inevitable in such a skinny and lightweight gadget, and appears like a smart trade-off for LG to make. Each key’s backlit, and there are two totally different brightness settings to select from. However, there doesn’t look like a option to preserve the backlighting turned on completely – it solely prompts whenever you begin typing and for just a few seconds after. 

LG presents fast entry to some further settings by way of the row of perform keys on the prime. These embrace LG’s Smart Assistant app, an airplane mode toggle, and reader mode, which shifts the show in the direction of hotter tones. Below the keyboard is a large trackpad. The measurement of the Gram 17 means there’s nonetheless loads of house to relaxation your palms both aspect. And it’s impressively exact, permitting to you simply choose massive parts of textual content or click on one thing very particular. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

However, there’s one massive characteristic lacking from the keyboard: a fingerprint reader. The energy button it’s usually constructed into is correct there within the top-right nook, so I can’t perceive why LG didn’t embrace it. Instead, you’ll be counting on Windows Hello face unlock. It makes use of a mixture of the webcam and separate IR sensor, and is usually quick and dependable. However, you’ll must place your face so it’s immediately in line for it to unlock. 

The Full HD webcam itself is among the higher built-in laptop computer cameras. Detail and colours are usually correct, and it handles publicity nicely in some difficult lighting situations. Alongside twin microphones, it means the Gram 17 is an efficient choice for video calls. 

LG Gram 17: Performance

• Intel Raptor Lake P-series CPUs
• Great on a regular basis efficiency
• No discrete GPU

As a 2023 laptop computer, it’s no shock to see the Gram 17 powered by Intel’s Raptor Lake processors, the most recent on the time of launch.  

Specifically, you’re getting a selection between the i5-1340P and i7-1360P, each from the P-series class. These are particularly designed for skinny and lightweight units, however I’m nonetheless dissatisfied there’s no choice for the extra highly effective H-series. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Nonetheless, efficiency continues to be stable. The mannequin I examined combines the i7-1360P with a bumper 32GB of RAM, guaranteeing it breezes by way of all on a regular basis duties. My workflow consists of plenty of internet searching, e-mail, Slack and occasional video calls, all of which the Gram 17 dealt with with ease. That consists of whereas a number of apps had been working concurrently.

Combined with the massive display screen, it’s an important choice for multitasking. It additionally by no means obtained greater than barely heat to the contact, and the followers had been barely audible. Of course, that may change throughout demanding duties equivalent to video enhancing or gaming, however the Iris Xe built-in graphics limits what’s attainable right here. If you’re critical about both, I’d suggest a laptop computer with a discrete GPU as a substitute. 

LG Gram 17: Benchmarks

Benchmarks recommend the Gram 17 is in step with different big-screen laptops, though the 2023 Dell XPS 17 isn’t included right here. 

In phrases of storage, you possibly can select between 512GB, 1TB and 2TB. The former is a lot for most individuals, particularly in the event you use a cloud storage supplier. 

And whereas Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 aren’t absolutely the newest requirements, each ship quick and dependable connections. 

LG Gram 17: Battery life and charging 

• 80Wh battery
• All-day battery life
• Decent 65W charging

Regardless of the mannequin you select, the LG Gram 17 is provided with an 80Wh capability. That’s one of many bigger capacities round, and it performs nicely, regardless of such a giant show. In our 720p video loop battery take a look at, it lasted a formidable 15 hours and 43 minutes. 

However, that’s with brightness set to a comparatively low 120 nits and no web entry. A extra reasonable determine is round eight or 9 hours of normal utilization, which means most individuals shall be ready get a full working day on a single cost. It could also be attainable to increase this with battery saver mode turned on. 

The Gram 17 helps 65W charging and LG consists of the mandatory charger within the field. I recorded 32 % in 30 minutes and 57 % in an hour, with a full cost taking slightly below 2.5 hours. That’s in step with what I used to be anticipating. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

LG Gram 17: Software

• Windows 11 Home
• Annoying further pre-installed apps

The Gram 17 runs Windows 11 Home out of the field. Microsoft’s working system is essentially unchanged right here, and its multitasking options are at their finest on such a big show. 

However, there’s an excessive amount of further pre-installed software program for my liking. I counted no fewer than seven LG apps, plus probably the most annoying of the lot: McAfee. It’s an excellent antivirus app, however not when it’s consistently bugging you to pay for a subscription. 

All these further apps may be uninstalled, however you need to have the choice to not set up them within the first place. 

Microsoft hasn’t revealed when it is going to cease supporting Windows 11, nevertheless it’ll seemingly be for a lot of extra years. Provided you often replace your gadget, it’ll proceed being protected. 

LG Gram 17: Price and availability

As you would possibly anticipate, the LG Gram 17 doesn’t come low cost. It begins at $1,549 for an Intel Core i5 mannequin with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. But the top-spec mannequin I examined, which mixes the Core i7 with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD, prices $2,099. Aside from LG, it’s also possible to purchase them from Currys within the UK and Adorama in the US. However, that’s nonetheless extra inexpensive than the 2023 Dell XPS 17, which begins at $2,499.

LG Gram 17: Should you purchase it?

The LG Gram 17 is a formidable laptop computer, nevertheless it’s solely proper for a really particular sort of individual. If you actually need a 17-inch show, however nonetheless need to have the ability to take your laptop computer all over the place with you, it’s the only option on the market. But in the event you’re on the lookout for a efficiency powerhouse, this isn’t it.

The Gram 17 continues to be a lot quick throughout on a regular basis duties, however the lack of a discrete GPU limits what it’s able to. And nearly as good because the show is, the shortage of OLED, a excessive refresh fee and contact help means it falls in need of one of the best laptop computer screens round. Alongside a flimsy construct and that top price ticket, most individuals shall be higher off with one thing smaller and cheaper. 

However, battery life and ports are each nice, and I nonetheless can’t recover from how mild this factor is. That alone means it’s price contemplating. 

This evaluate initially appeared on techadvisor.com.