Design and Build Quality
Despite their large displays, they're remarkably thin and lightweight. The Gram Pro Max 17 is especially impressive, weighing under four pounds even with a dedicated GPU.
LG's new "Aerominum" magnesium-aluminum chassis also improves rigidity over previous models. The 17-inch feels noticeably sturdier, while the 16-inch still suffers from more keyboard deck flex than we'd like.
Display
The Gram Pro 16 features a high-resolution 2880 × 1800 OLED display with excellent color accuracy, sharp text, and a rare matte finish that helps reduce reflections. Its only major drawback is the plastic display bezel, which feels out of place on a premium laptop.
The Gram Pro Max 17 uses a 2560 x 1600 IPS touchscreen. While it isn't as crisp as the OLED panel, the larger display remains excellent for multitasking, and the lower resolution helps improve gaming performance.
If display quality is your priority, the 16-inch wins. If you value screen size and gaming, the 17-inch is the better fit.
Keyboard, Trackpad, and Ports
The larger chassis gives the Gram Pro Max 17 the better keyboard. It feels firmer, offers a more comfortable layout, and suffers from less flex during typing.
Both laptops still use mechanical trackpads, which feel dated at this price, although they remain accurate in everyday use.
Port selection is excellent, with Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, two USB-A ports, and a headphone jack. We only wish LG had included charging support on both sides and an SD card reader for creators.
The LG Gram Pro Max 17 delivers stronger sustained CPU performance than the Gram Pro 16, although both trail Apple's M5 Pro and Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon X2 processors in multi-core workloads.
Intel's latest Panther Lake processors provide a noticeable performance boost over last year's models.
Both laptops handle demanding productivity tasks like programming, multitasking, and photo editing with ease. The 17-inch performs slightly better because it allows its processor to sustain higher power levels.
Apple's M5 chips and Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon X2 processors still lead in CPU efficiency, but LG's latest Grams remain strong productivity machines.
The Gram Pro 16 relies on Intel's integrated graphics, making it well suited to photo editing, esports titles, and lighter creative workloads.
The Gram Pro Max 17 adds an RTX 5050 GPU, delivering a noticeable improvement in gaming and video editing performance. It comfortably outperforms the 16-inch in modern games, although it still trails dedicated gaming laptops at a similar price.
If gaming or video editing is important, the 17-inch is the clear choice.
Heat, Fan Noise, and Battery Life
Both LG Gram Pro models delivered around nine hours of battery life in our office workload test, with the Gram Pro Max 17 maintaining excellent endurance despite its dedicated RTX 5050 GPU.
Battery life is solid on both models at around nine hours in our office workload test. The 17-inch's result is particularly impressive given its dedicated graphics card.
The Gram Pro Max 17 manages heat surprisingly well for such a thin laptop, remaining comfortable during longer gaming sessions.
The 16-inch becomes noticeably warmer under sustained graphics workloads, making it less enjoyable for heavier tasks.
Which LG Gram Should You Buy?
Choose the Gram Pro Max 17 if you want the lightest 17-inch laptop with dedicated graphics. It offers a unique combination of portability, screen size, and enough GPU power for light gaming and creator work.
Choose the Gram Pro 16 if portability, an OLED display, and everyday productivity are your priorities. Its integrated graphics are surprisingly capable, but there are stronger value alternatives if gaming is important.
Final Thoughts
The LG Gram Pro Max 17 remains one of the most unique laptops on the market. There are very few 17-inch laptops that combine this level of portability with dedicated graphics, making it an excellent choice for users who travel frequently but still need extra screen space.
The Gram Pro 16 is a good ultrabook, but it faces much stronger competition. While its OLED display and lightweight design are appealing, other premium laptops in this price range offer better overall value.
If you want the largest screen possible without carrying a heavy laptop, the Gram Pro Max 17 is the standout choice. Otherwise, it's worth comparing the Gram Pro 16 against competing premium ultrabooks before making your decision.
Pros
- Large Screen
- Solid Performance from its Updated CPU and Dedicated GPU
- Most Portable 17-inch Laptop on the Market, Extremely Lightweight
- Decent Port Selection
- Stays Cool to the Touch with Minimal Fan Noise
Cons
- IPS Screen with PPI on the Lower End of Acceptable (~180)
- Keyboard is Low Travel
- Mechanical Trackpad
- Charging Only on Left Side
