LG Gram 17 (2021) review: Small changes make this ultra-big laptop ultra-impressive
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light as a featherLG Gram 17 (2021) review: Small changes brand this ultra-big laptop ultra-impressive
LG has revised its most one-of-a-kind Gram 17 Ultrabook with an updated Intel 11th Gen CPU, new colors, and some welcomed improvements. 
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
17-inch laptops take waxed and waned over the years, but lately, there is a resurgence. The reason is that newer technology lets today's 17-inch laptop feel like yesterday's 15-inch ane making them much more than attainable to those who need the size.
That said, almost 17-inch laptops err on the side of pure "portable" virtually-desktop power where striking 6lbs is not atypical. While y'all tin throw it in your backpack, they are not lite by any stretch of the imagination.
LG bucks that trend with the Gram 17. Now in its third year, it is the but 17-inch laptop that weighs less than 3lbs. Of course, the trade-off is in performance, only you besides proceeds fantabulous bombardment life. For 2022, the Gram 17 gets some modest changes, simply they are more often than not welcomed ones. Here is what yous need to know about this super fun — and very different – massive and shockingly calorie-free Ultrabook.
And so big, so light
LG Gram 17 (2021)
Bottom line: LG's 17-inch Ultrabook doesn't get any heavier, just it does get more powerful thank you to Intel'southward latest CPU. With improved ports, an splendid 2K display, long battery life, and weighing less than 3 pounds, it's hard not to love this unique laptop for creators, photographers, and writers.
Pros
- sixteen:x 17-inch brandish
- 100% DCI-P3 gamut
- Only ii.98lbs (i.35kg)
- Excellent performance
- Good for typing, nice ports
Cons
- NVIDIA MX350 would have been nice
- No touch screen back up
- No HDR or WCG
LG Gram 17 (2021): Toll and availability
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
The LG Gram 17 is at present bachelor through Amazon and LG straight for $one,700 for the black model with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Other colorways, including silver, may be fabricated bachelor afterwards on every bit well equally configurations with up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB storage.
Older models of the Gram 17 with 8th and tenth Gen Intel processors can still be institute for slightly less — just be sure you are getting the model you want and not an older i if you want the benefits of Intel 11th Gen, Iris Xe graphics, and Intel Evo certification.
LG Gram 17 (2021): At a glance
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
The LG Gram 17 is a unique laptop in that information technology features a massive 17-inch xvi:x near-bezel less display, but the PC itself has the guts of a typical premium 13-inch Ultrabook. Nigh 17-inch PCs go bigger in every direction, including weight, GPU, price, and processor grade – but not the Gram 17.
| Category | Spec |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 Pro |
| Processor | Intel 11th Gen Core i7-1165G7 |
| RAM | 16GB (on-board) LPDDR4-4266MHz |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe NVMe |
| Brandish | 17-inches 2560x1600 xvi:10 Aspect Non-impact, glossy |
| Ports | Two Thunderbolt four Two USB-A 3.2 Full HDMI microSD reader 3.5mm audio |
| Audio | Dual ane.5w DTS:X Ultra |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi vi Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Camera | Front-facing 720P |
| Keyboard | Backlit with number pad |
| Touchpad | Precision |
| Security | Fingerprint reader for Windows Howdy |
| Battery | 80WHr |
| Dimensions | xiv.97 x 10.24 x 0.70 inches (380.2mm x 260.1mm x 17.8mm) |
| Weight | ii.98 pounds (ane.35kg) |
| Color | White Silvery Black |
| Price | From $one,700 |
Instead, you are getting the thinnest and lightest 17-inch laptop on the planet that is not only easy to carry merely has battery life to terminal an entire workday.
Pocket-sized changes
LG Gram 17 (2021): Design and features
LG uses a combo fingerprint reader and power button for security on the Gram 17. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
At first, there does not seem to be that much new with the Gram 17 for 2022, merely that would be missing many important details. LG has continually refined the design, shape, keyboard, ports, venting, colors, and upgrading the internal hardware.
For 2022, the Gram 17 gets the following new features compared to last year's model:
- Intel 11th Gen (upward from tenth Gen) + Intel Evo
- Intel Iris Xe graphics (upwardly from Iris Plus)
- LPDDR4-4266MHz (upward from DDR4-3200)
- 2x Thunderbolt 4 (upward from 1x Thunderbolt iii)
- No more than proprietary AC charger (now Blazon-C)
- x2 USB Blazon-A three.2 (upward from three.ane)
- 100% DCI-P3 (up from just 78%)
- Bluetooth five.1 (up from 5.0)
- Slight changes to chassis pattern
- New lesser intake for cooling
The processor is a typical but admirable Cadre i7-1165G7 found in almost all premium 13- and fourteen-inch Ultrabooks. It benefits from Intel'south 10nm blueprint process, 4.7GHz performance, fantabulous battery life, and merely 28 watts of power consumption (versus 45-watts in standard workstation laptops). The Gram 17 is also at present Intel Evo certified.
Top to lesser: LG Gram 2022, 2022, and 2022. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
RAM is now soldered to the board, so users cannot expand retentivity downwards the line, and there is now simply one 1TB SSD instead of 2 512GB modules. Notwithstanding, there should even so be a second open NVMe slot on the board, as ane model has 2TB of storage with dual 1TB sticks.
There is now an choice for a dark black colorway (used for this review) and the previous dark silvery option. Black looks fantastic, especially when combined with LG's commendable minimal branding. The silver 'Gram' logo on the lid is perfect, and at that place is only a pocket-size, non-distracting 'LG' on the lower bezel. There are two stickers for Intel and Amazon Alexa, but these badges can be hands peeled off. My only gripe is that black is highly decumbent to fingerprints and oils from your mitt as it has a very matte finish. If such things bother you, opt for the silver model, which does not suffer from this setback.
The lower display bezel is also just slightly thinner, lending to a much more than modern design and viewing feel.
The LG Gram 17 offers an feel like no other laptop on the market place.
Thankfully, the butt charger of the last ii gens is now gone. It is still the aforementioned 65-watt charger, which is relatively small, but it now connects via Type-C instead of a barrel design. Instead of that barrel connector, LG now includes ii Type-C ports (instead of simply one), both of which support Thunderbolt iv, and then y'all always take at least one free while charging.
Port choice is a nice balance of old (two Type-A), new (2 Type-C with Thunderbolt four), plus legacy HDMI one.4 for display out and even a microSD reader. While there is space for a full SD reader, which may have been preferable, LG is sticking with microSD.
Audio is handled via two bottom-firing speakers (1.v watts each), which is augmented past the excellent DTS:10 Ultra software. That app includes a full custom equalizer and presets for movies, games, music, and more. DTS:X Ultra helps with audio and spatial separation. The sound is quite decent, but the Gram 17 would be better served with superlative-firing sound on the rather large keyboard deck.
The included DTS:X Ultra software with total EQ is a squeamish touch for audio. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
For security, LG all the same doesn't include a Windows Hello infrared camera but instead relies on a fingerprint reader built into the power button. That reader is fast, accurate and I had no issues logging into Windows.
The keyboard is excellent once you get used to it being starting time to include the full number pad to the right. The primal travel and the backlighting are peculiarly good with well-spaced-out keys. A more than direct commentary on this keyboard is information technology is outstanding for typing, especially for hours-long sessions.
Some may call up the trackpad could be larger, but its size is deceptive. It'south already a massive trackpad with Microsoft Precision drivers and an excellent click. However, the size pushes the limits of a mechanical trackpad as expressionless zones, and the right-click area takes some fourth dimension to adjust to. LG would do good from looking into using more modern haptic trackpads similar on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga or Huawei MateBook X Pro (2021).
The Gram 17's weight is still a remarkable 2.98 pounds (1.35kg), making this an exceptionally lite laptop for its massive brandish size. LG uses a magnesium blend for the chassis, which feels closer to a high-terminate plastic than metal, although this black edition is more metallic-feeling than previous iterations.
Despite being light, the LG Gram 17 is exceptionally durable with a MIL-STD 810G rating to ensure protection confronting "shock, dust, loftier or low temperature and more".
LG packs in some of its own software, and it is all outstanding. LG Ability Manger is more often than not shortcuts to Windows x features for prolonging battery life. LG Control Centre lets you tune the display to cooler or warmer temperatures or shift cooling manner between silent, optimal, and performance. LG Update Center grabs any new drivers or LG app updates. And Virtoo by LG is an app that connects wirelessly to your Android or iPhone to brand calls, view photos, receive and reply to SMS, and fifty-fifty stream apps.
In that location is some other software, like Cyberlink PowerDVD 14, AudioDriector vii, ColorDirector 5, and PowerDirector. These are not trialware, either, simply are licensed apps, which seems spot-on for this laptop'southward demographic. It'south an splendid value add for creators buying the Gram 17.
Overall, LG paid a lot of attending to particular on Gram 17's design. It is a nice residuum of features, and while it is missing a few premium perks, LG'south choices go on the price and weight down, which is the bespeak of this PC.
Very color accurate
LG Gram 17 (2021): Display
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
The Gram 17's display is the star of the bear witness, and for 2022 LG has upped the quality of this screen significantly. It is not-bear on and somewhat glossy yet. While touch input would take been dainty, putting a touch sensor in a laptop, this size would accept added a considerable amount of weight, upped the cost, and fabricated the giant 17-inch display more wobbly, not to mention challenging to open i-handed (which you tin can do).
The LG Gram 17 is unparalleled for features and pricing, even three years later.
The final two iterations of the Gram 17's screen approached 78% DCI-P3 color gamut. That was okay, equally it is in line with other premium Ultrabooks. But this yr's model is at present 100% DCI-P3, making it actually perfect for photo editing, work in graphics, design, and more. In testing, sRGB is also 100%, and AdobeRGB is a comfortable 88%, which is higher than your average laptop.
Unfortunately, at that place is no support for HDR or wide-color-gamut (WCG). While those are unnecessary, they would have upped the value hither and delivered an outstanding media experience. Likewise, at that place is no sensor for auto-brightness, which is either skilful or bad depending on you feel most such tech.
Brightness peaks at but around 350 nits, which is slightly below last year's model at 400 nits. But being 17 inches, there is so much screen here it is hard to notice. At no time did I call up this display was dim — quite the opposite, equally using this in a room at night volition likely requiring turning down the brightness to around l percent since at that place is so much overall low-cal being emitted.
First-class colour contrast, 2560x1600 resolution, and the 16:10 aspect all add up to a beautiful — and distinctive — viewing experience on a mobile device. Some may say 4K is needed hither, simply LG knows how to make a display, and I cannot say I ever saw the pixels or thought information technology was low resolution fifty-fifty at 17-inches. As a tradeoff, LG gets to brag nigh all-day bombardment life, which is the right residuum hither.
Equally expected
LG Gram 17 (2021): Performance and battery
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
The Gram 17 is an incredibly unique laptop when it comes to power. Whereas other 17-inch laptops button extreme performance for gaming (Razer Bract Pro 17) or video editing (Dell XPS 17), the Gram 17 is more nearly long battery life akin to productivity 13-inch laptops — it really is a minor laptop made big.
The 11th Gen Core i7-1165G7 processor does offer a significant bump in operation compared to last year's model, every bit expected. On PCMark ten, the 2022 edition striking four,883, whereas the 2022 model came in at four,157. The same applies to Geekbench 5, where a significant boost in multi-cadre performance (5,224 vs. three,349) is observed.
While you tin can game on the Gram 17, it is best suited for platformers and low-cal strategy games versus outset-person shooters, although cheers to Intel'southward Iris Xe graphics, you can fifty-fifty play those at lower graphics settings.
For storage, SSD performance is also skillful with three,338 MB/due south for sequential read and 2,604 MB/s for sequential write; however, this is on par with last year'southward model and is unremarkable.
The LG Gram 17 CPU functioning is typical, just information technology really excels in bombardment life.
Thermals accept also changed with the inclusion of a bottom venting grill. The older pattern was preferable, as it ways your legs (or anything in your lap) would non block the intake. Withal, LG likely had expert reasons to go with this more than traditional pattern. The Gram 17 never gets too warm due to its size, lower-wattage CPU draw, and adequate fans (which remain quiet).
Bombardment life is still a strong point of the Gram 17, cheers to the 80WHr battery. On heavy days, eight hours of usage is typical, merely I averaged around 9 hours and l minutes for near sessions. Of course, how vivid you ready the massive 17-inch display will touch on your experience. The bottom line is there is no 17-inch laptop on the planet that tin be used for this long abroad from a wall outlet. While yous won't want to use information technology on a long flying (due to the size), you will be OK for all-day usage if you're away from your AC charger.
Other options
LG Gram 17 (2021): The contest
The mighty Dell XPS 17 (9700). Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Cardinal
The 17-inch laptop marketplace is surprisingly growing, but none exactly compete with the LG Gram 17.
Razer has its almost potent laptop — the Blade Pro 17 — at this scale, but it packs very powerful RTX graphics, larger processor, and weighs twice as much at half dozen.06lbs (2.75 kg). That laptop is aimed at gamers or people who need high-end mobile processing with either loftier-refresh displays or even 4K. Pricing starts at $2,300.
Dell has the XPS 17, which similar the Blade Pro 17, focuses on mobile power featuring a gorgeous 4K brandish and outstanding sound. Pricing starts lower than LG at $one,320, but y'all're getting less RAM, storage, and just a full Hard disk screen at that price. Nonetheless, Dell lets y'all configure the XPS 17 up to a mighty rig if y'all have the cash. It besides weighs 4.65lbs (ii.11kg), which is much heavier than Gram 17.
HP has something in betwixt Dell and Razer with the Green-eyed 17. Information technology has a more than robust CPU and GPU (NVIDIA MX330) than Gram 17, and the screen ranges from full Hard disk drive to 4K. Weight, yet, is over again much heavier at 6.02lbs (2.73kg).
Finally, LG themselves offer a slightly smaller Gram 16 (16-inch, sixteen:10) and the Gram 14 (now with a 16:10 display), which bring the same features of the Gram 17 only in a smaller form factor.
You can get more ideas on our best 17-inch laptops list to see what else is available.
Information technology's one of a kind
Should you buy the LG Gram 17 (2021)?
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Who information technology'south for
- Creators who want a large, color-accurate brandish
- Creators who want a big screen, merely also a light laptop
- Writers, photographers, audio engineers, video editors
- Those who don't need a discrete NVIDIA GPU
Who it isn't for
- Gamers who need a more powerful CPU and GPU philharmonic
- People who need to work on a plane
Of all the laptops I regularly review, I always savor the Gram 17 going back to its showtime 2022 iteration. It offers an experience similar no other laptop on the market — a vast, gorgeous, 17-inch display in a chassis under 3lbs. It is a surreal and satisfying experience. Even for just give-and-take processing or office productivity, the 17-inch brandish and first-class keyboard are delightful for long work sessions. For multi-media creators, the ability to be more than immersed in your work without squinting is so beneficial.
For 2022, the Gram 17 doesn't change too much, merely that'southward OK also, as the blueprint is mostly perfect. I'd still similar to meet LG bring a bit more to the display like HDR and WCG and brand use of the chassis for amend audio. Virtually sound engineers would impale to have this much space to work within a laptop, just LG is wasting a lot of information technology.
LG keeps branding to a minimum on Gram 17, and it looks fantastic. Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Cardinal
The big question, pardon the pun, is if you need the Gram 17? For most people, the reply is no as its size can exist prohibitive, not to mention you give up some privacy equally the whole room can literally see what yous are doing. But for a pocket-sized group of creators who value screen size and clarity, Gram 17 is unapparelled three years later.
Overall, LG continues to carve out a niche space in the wide earth of Windows laptops, and information technology has clearly differentiated itself from the contest. The Gram 17 continues to push button that envelope, and information technology is like shooting fish in a barrel to recommend for those who want to become big.
And then big, and so low-cal
LG Gram 17 (2021)
Pocket-size changes to a huge Ultrabook
LG's 17-inch Ultrabook doesn't get any heavier, but it does get more powerful thanks to Intel'south latest CPU. With improved ports, an splendid 2K display, long bombardment life, and weighing less than iii pounds, it's hard not to honey this unique laptop for creators, photographers, and writers.
We may earn a committee for purchases using our links. Larn more.
Daniel Rubino
Daniel Rubino is the Executive Editor of Windows Cardinal. He has been covering Microsoft here since 2007 back when this site was chosen WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Surface, laptops, and modern computing. Follow him on Twitter: @daniel_rubino.
Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/lg-gram-17-2021-review
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