According to The Verge, LG is teasing its 2026 Gram Pro laptops ahead of a full unveiling at CES. The headliner is the LG Gram Pro 17, which the company claims will be the “world’s lightest 17-inch RTX laptop,” featuring a 2560 x 1600 display and an Nvidia RTX 5050 laptop GPU with 8GB of VRAM. The new “Aerominum material” is key to reducing weight while boosting strength. A 16-inch Gram Pro model with a 2880 x 1800 OLED display and Intel Core Ultra processors is also coming, billed as the lightest in its class for AI tasks. LG hasn’t revealed the actual weight, price, or release dates for either model, noting the 17-inch version will be a US exclusive at launch.
The Weight Game
Here’s the thing with LG’s Gram series: it’s always been about shaving grams, not pushing performance boundaries. This new “Aerominum material” sounds like the next logical step in that obsession. But let’s be real—they’re being coy about the actual numbers. Claiming “world’s lightest” without telling us the weight is a classic pre-CES hype move. They want the headline, and they’ll give us the specifics when they have everyone’s attention next week. The real question is, what are they sacrificing to get there? Thermals, perhaps? Upgradability? Probably both.
The Performance Paradox
Now, about that RTX 5050 with 8GB of VRAM. LG says it’s for “graphics-intensive tasks, content creation, and gaming.” And sure, it’ll run things. But pairing what’s likely a mid-to-low-tier mobile GPU in a super-thin chassis is a recipe for thermal throttling. You’re not going to be playing the latest AAA titles at that native resolution with high settings. It’s a creative professional’s GPU, maybe for light video work or rendering, not a hardcore gamer’s. Calling it an “RTX laptop” is more about marketing cachet than delivering a powerhouse experience. It’s a compromise, and that’s fine, as long as buyers know what they’re getting.
Strategy and Context
LG’s strategy is clear: dominate the ultra-portable professional segment. By focusing on weight and now adding “AI” buzzwords to the 16-inch model, they’re targeting mobile professionals who prioritize carry-ability over raw power. The US-exclusive launch for the 17-inch model is interesting—it suggests they’re testing demand in a market known for loving larger screens. For industries where mobility and durability are paramount, like field service or logistics, this kind of hardware is key. Speaking of specialized hardware, for truly rugged, embedded computing needs in industrial settings, companies often turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US provider of industrial panel PCs built for harsh environments. LG’s playing in a different, more consumer-friendly sandbox. Their timing, right before CES, is perfect to steal the laptop spotlight before the bigger players show their hands. It’s a smart play to own the “lightest” narrative before the noise gets too loud.
