LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 review

Trade in LG Gram Pro 2-in-1

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The LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 has the potential to become my preferred convertible laptop choice. True to its “Gram” branding, this device is exceptionally lightweight, earning it the prestigious Guinness World Record for the lightest 2-in-1 laptop. While its weight is impressive, there’s much more to appreciate about the Gram Pro 2-in-1 beyond its feather-light design.

This laptop offers the flexibility of opting for either a 16-inch LCD touch display or a 16-inch OLED touchscreen, boasting a brightness rating of 400 nits. Furthermore, it is equipped with up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 “Meteor Lake” processor, supporting configurations of up to 32GB of RAM and up to 2TB of SSD storage. All these features are housed within a sleek chassis that includes a generous array of ports.

During a brief hands-on experience with the LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 at an LG event, I was impressed by its overall performance and capabilities. While I have a preference for the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360, I found LG’s offering to potentially outshine it, particularly due to its sturdy build despite its remarkably light weight. To thoroughly assess its merits, I look forward to conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the LG Gram Pro 2-in-1, determining its eligibility for inclusion in our esteemed list of best 2-in-1 laptops.

Stay tuned for my initial impressions of the LG Gram Pro 2-in-1.

LG GRAM PRO 2-IN-1 HANDS-ON REVIEW: SPECS

LG GRAM PRO 2-IN-1 HANDS-ON REVIEW: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

You can procure the LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 laptop directly from LG’s official website. Presently, the entry-level model, priced at $1,399, offers a 16-inch (2,560 x 1,600) LCD 144Hz touch display, powered by an Intel Core Ultra 5 CPU, coupled with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD storage.

For those interested in the OLED variant, it’s currently open for pre-order, commencing at $1,799. This version boasts a 16-inch (2,880 x 1,800) 120Hz OLED touch display, driven by an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, accompanied by 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD storage.

Moreover, customers who pre-order before March 17, 2024, will receive a complimentary LG Gram +View portable monitor, valued at $349. Additionally, they will be entitled to a $100 streaming credit and free expedited shipping. Pre-orders are scheduled to commence shipping during the week of March 18, or possibly earlier, depending on product availability.

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The LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 stands out as one of the slimmest and most lightweight convertible laptops I’ve come across. As mentioned earlier, its design strongly evokes similarities to the Galaxy Book Pro 360 series. With dimensions measuring 14.1 x 10 x 0.49 ~ 0.51 inches and a weight of 3.08 pounds, this ultraportable device is so light that it could easily escape notice in your backpack.

For comparison, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 laptops we’ve previously evaluated weighed in at 3.6 pounds. While the variance might not seem significant on paper, the difference is palpable in practice.

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Save for a “gram” logo on the top lid, the all-black chassis is free of any adornments or embellishments. There are plenty of ports, including two USB-C, two USB-A, and an HDMI port. Ultraportables don’t always have USB-A so I appreciate that we get two such ports on this machine. Unfortunately, there’s no SD card slot.

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The keyboard offers a spacious layout with responsive keys, promising comfortable typing sessions even during extended use. While the touchpad is slightly smaller than that of the MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max, it still provides ample room for navigation and productivity tasks. However, I’ll reserve final judgment on both the keyboard and touchpad until I’ve had the opportunity for a more in-depth evaluation.

One notable aspect that immediately caught my attention was the remarkable sturdiness of the Gram Pro 2-in-1, especially when compared to the Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360. The lid exhibits minimal wobbling or bending, while the overall body feels impressively rigid. Additionally, the smooth surface adds to the overall tactile enjoyment of handling the device.

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While a comprehensive evaluation of the Gram Pro 2-in-1’s display performance awaits our testing lab, my initial impression of the OLED screen suggests a vivid and adequately bright viewing experience. Notably, I was impressed by the striking contrast between dark and light elements, indicative of strong display capabilities. LG claims a brightness rating of 400 nits for the laptop, which appears promising, although definitive assessments will require our formal testing procedures.

LG GRAM PRO 2-IN-1 HANDS-ON REVIEW: PERFORMANCE

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The LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 offers configuration options featuring up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 2TB of SSD storage. These specifications should suffice for everyday tasks like web browsing, word processing, video streaming, and email management. However, due to the integrated graphics of the CPU, demanding PC gaming experiences at maximum settings may not be achievable.

Although formal benchmarking of the Gram Pro 2-in-1 is pending, its performance is anticipated to align with other laptops featuring an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU that we’ve previously tested, such as the Acer Swift Go 14, HP Omen Transcend 14, and Dell XPS 14. For detailed performance comparisons, refer to our comprehensive benchmark tests of these devices below.

Intel Core Ultra processors come equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) designed to streamline AI-driven tasks. While concrete examples demonstrating the practical benefits of on-board AI remain scarce, the potential significance of “AI laptops” like the Gram Pro 2-in-1 may become more apparent if and when AI technology gains traction. However, as of now, it’s a matter of waiting and observing how developments in AI unfold.

LG GRAM PRO 2-IN-1 HANDS-ON REVIEW: OUTLOOK

The LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 has the potential to secure a spot among my top picks for laptops in 2024. With its sleek and sophisticated design, stunning display, robust construction, ample connectivity options, and sufficient performance for daily tasks, it poses a formidable challenge to competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Pro 360 series.

Stay tuned for our comprehensive review of the LG Gram Pro 2-in-1 coming soon!

Source: Tom’s Guide