LG's New Gram Pro Looks Like a Real MacBook Pro Competitor

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As CES approaches, LG has unveiled upgrades to its Gram Pro series and introduced an affordable option called the Gram Book. Among these, the revamped LG Gram Pro 17 stands out.

This new model is now sleeker, measuring just 0.62 inches in thickness—comparable to the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Furthermore, it weighs a pound and a half less than the MacBook Pro, solidifying its place as one of the top contenders in the laptop market.

	LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1	LG Gram Pro 17	LG Gram Pro 16	LG Gram Book
Dimensions	14.06 x 9.99 x 0.50 inches	14.94 x 10.45 x 0.62 inches	14.08 x 9.91 x 0.50 inches	14.17 x 9.36 x 0.76 inches
Weight	3.08 pounds	3.26 pounds	2.73 pounds	3.75 pounds
Display	16-inch, 2880 x 1800 OLED at 120Hz 16-inch, 2560 x 1600 LCD at 144Hz	17-inch, 2560 x 1600 LCD at 144Hz	16-inch, 2560 x 1600 LCD at 144Hz	15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 LCD at 60Hz
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 5 Intel Core Ultra 7	Intel Core Ultra 5 Intel Core Ultra 7	Intel Core Ultra 5 Intel Core Ultra 7 Intel Core Ultra 9	Intel Core i5
GPU	Intel Arc	Nvidia RTX 4050	Intel Arc	Intel Xe
Memory	16GB 32GB	16GB 32GB	16GB 32GB	8GB 16GB
Storage	512GB 1TB 2TB	512GB 1TB 2TB	512GB 1TB 2TB	256GB 512GB 1TB
Ports	2x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 2x USB-A Gen3 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 1x HDMI 2.1	2x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 2x USB-A Gen3 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 1x HDMI 2.1	2x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 2x USB-A Gen3 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 1x HDMI 2.1	1x USB-A 3.2 Gen1 1x USB-A 2.0 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen2 1x HDMI 2.1
Webcam	1080p with IR	1080p with IR	1080p with IR	720p
Price

Among these models, the Gram Pro 17 emerges as the strongest contender, featuring an RTX 4050 GPU—an upgrade from the previous generation’s RTX 3050. This places it competitively in the market as GPUs from the RTX 50 series are projected to debut in 2025.

However, LG’s strategy in rolling out these three new Gram Pro laptops seems unconventional, as the top-tier components are distributed rather than consolidated into one device. For instance, the higher-resolution OLED display is exclusive to the LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1, and the most powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 processor is only available in the Gram Pro 16. It would have been nice to have these options available in the Gram Pro 17 as well.

The two 16-inch models are particularly impressive in terms of portability. With a thickness of just 0.50 inches and a weight starting at 2.73 pounds, they rank among the most travel-friendly large-screen laptops available. Although the 15-inch MacBook Air is marginally sleeker at 0.45 inches, the new Gram Pros are not far behind.

It’s worth mentioning that all new Gram Pro laptops come standard with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. This memory is particularly significant because these models are LG’s first Gram entries as Copilot+ PCs, which necessitate the larger memory to support AI functionalities. Additionally, LG has introduced AI capabilities, such as Gram Chat On-Device, which leverages a local small language model for AI chat functionality without needing an internet connection. This service also integrates with GPT-4o, resulting in what LG calls a “hybrid AI solution.” Gram Chat can synchronize with calendars and email, similar to Microsoft’s Copilot, which is built into the devices.

Another AI feature, called Time Travel, is LG’s rival to Microsoft Recall, enabling users to revisit web pages, documents, videos, and audio files easily.

While LG has yet to showcase screenshots or videos of these AI features, I’ll have the opportunity to test these devices hands-on at CES next week.

LG Gram Pro Device — Image used with permission by copyright holder

In addition to the three Gram Pro laptops, LG has announced a new model, the Gram Book, described as an “entry-level device” with an “accessible price.” It appears to target a different audience, utilizing older components and tech standards to lower costs—like a 16:9 aspect ratio display, a 60Hz refresh rate, a 720p camera, and that includes an Intel processor that’s at least two generations old, paired with a base RAM of 8GB.

While LG hasn’t provided pricing or availability dates for these new laptops, it’s expected that the Gram Book will need competitive pricing to carve out a niche in the budget laptop market.