If you want a Windows laptop with as large of a screen as possible, your options are basically the Dell XPS 17 or the LG Gram 17. The calculus between the two is quite straightforward. If you care more about power, go XPS; if you care more about portability, go Gram.
This latest Gram 17 is no exception. At 2.98 pounds in a 17-inch chassis, this is without a doubt one of the lightest and longest-lasting laptops in the big-screen sphere. It achieves that combination without asking a fortune in price — my unit (with a 12th Gen Core i7-1260P, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage) is currently listed at $1,799, but Grams are available for as low as $1,599. Those certainly aren’t cheap prices, but they make the Gram miles more affordable than the XPS.
For those seeking the extra space of a 17-inch screen without the extra weight that comes with many big-screen rigs, the LG Gram remains the unambiguous choice. While the product has its limitations (especially when it comes to performance), there’s really nothing else like it on the market. Here’s what you can expect if you buy the thing.
The primary draw of the LG Gram 17 is that it’s under three pounds. I cannot overstate how light this thing feels. When you pick this up, it feels like you’re picking up a hollow chassis with nothing inside. I would sometimes worry that I’d forgotten to put it in my backpack when I was carrying it around. This thing is light.
(I will add, just so you’re not misled, that the Gram’s thinness is not as exceptional — at 0.7 inches, it’s not too far off the thickness of the XPS 17. But if you’re going for a 17-incher, I don’t imagine that backpack space is your biggest concern.)
Then you open this device up, and it’s screen all the way down. So much screen. I don’t have all that much to say about this part of the laptop that the phrase “17-inch” doesn’t already imply, but just for the record — it’s lovely to have this much space. I can have two or even three windows and apps open at a time. I can zoom all the way in on the words I’m reading or writing. I can fit so much on this panel that I’m already dreading going back to my 13-inch personal device. The fact that it’s high-resolution (2560 x 1600) and matte, with no glare in sight, is icing on the cake.
The case is probably the weakest part
Other things to know about the Gram:
- The case is probably the weakest part of it. It’s got quite a plasticky feel, and the obsidian black finish picks up fingerprints pretty quickly, though it didn’t scratch during my fairly rough time with it. Significant flex in the keyboard and screen.
- The keyboard is quite pleasant to type on. The bottom of the stroke feels a bit harder than some laptop keyboards, but the click is quite satisfying, and the keys are roomy, with a professional but fun font. There’s even a numpad, which the XPS 17 doesn’t have. I do hate how far away the volume keys (F10 and F11) are from the Fn key — it requires me to use two hands to adjust the volume, which I don’t love needing to do.
- Ports include two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, one HDMI, and one headphone jack on the left, as well as two USB 3.2, a microSD reader, and a lock slot on the right. (One of the USB-C ports will sometimes be occupied by the 65W charger.) That’s about everything you need; no complaints.
- The touchpad is huge and has a great click. It actually feels quite similar to clicking on the XPS (and that’s high praise).
When it comes to performance, the Gram’s Core i7-1260P is a step down in power from the processor that powers Dell’s machine. Aside from the weight difference, the delta in power is the primary differentiator between the Gram and the XPS. It gives the XPS an advantage in professional workloads and gaming but gives the Gram a huge win in battery life.
The Gram’s battery life was exemplary
The 1260P is more than adequate for office and internet applications, which covers most of my own workload. While the Gram doesn’t have a discrete GPU, it can also lend a hand in content creation if needed. The device scored a reasonable (for integrated graphics) 323 on PugetBench for Premiere Pro, and it completed our typical export test in 10 minutes and 45 seconds (which is slow but not agonizingly so). I wouldn’t, to be clear, recommend this device if you’ll be using Adobe software like Premiere a lot because I generally found it to be a bit unresponsive and slow.
This is also a passable but not great option for gaming. I got 28FPS from Shadow of the Tomb Raider, 13FPS from Red Dead Redemption 2, and 14FPS from Horizon Zero Dawn (all at the highest graphic preset, with resolution bumped down to 1920 x 1200). If you fancy some gaming, you’ll want to bump the settings down on those demanding titles (but lighter stuff, like esports, should be fine).
On the other hand, the Gram’s battery life was exemplary. I got an average of 12 hours and six minutes of consistent work use out of the device with medium brightness, which is the longest lifespan I’ve seen from a non-Apple laptop this year. This is quite refreshing, given that this generation of Intel-powered laptops has been having some… issues on that front.
To start using the LG Gram 17, you’ll need to agree to the following:
- Microsoft software license terms and McAfee License Agreement
- Back up to OneDrive
You can also say yes or no to the following:
- Privacy settings (location, Find My Device, sharing diagnostic data, inking and typing, tailored experience, advertising ID)
- Microsoft 365 free trial
- Join Xbox Game Pass
That’s three mandatory agreements and eight optional agreements to use the Gram 17 (2021).
While the LG Gram doesn’t quite have the graphics power that I personally need, I’m very much going to miss using it as my work driver. The extra screen space was heaven, and the weight made walking around with it a breeze. The long battery life was the cherry on top — I never needed to worry about plugging this machine in.
The primary compromises to consider are build quality (if that’s your top priority, the XPS is your choice) and the computing needs of your own workload. If you’re looking for a 17-incher, you don’t mind those compromises, and you don’t mind the slightly steep price tag, then you won’t be disappointed in the Gram.
- The letter keys are 1.6 x 1.5 centimeters with 0.2 centimeters between them. All keys are backlit apart from the power button. Only the power button has an indicator light. The power button is 1.5 x 1 centimeters. The volume keys are 1.4 x 0.9 inches. The keys are black with white text and take little force to depress.
- The speakers reached an average of 83 decibels in my testing, which is a bit louder than a standard external speaker.
- The laptop weighs 2.98 pounds.
- The lid can be opened with one hand. It can be tilted back to 140 degrees.
- There is no touchscreen option.
- The touchpad is 2.25 x 4.25 inches (excluding the clicker buttons).
- Setup involves turning the device on and clicking through several menus.
- The Gram supports fingerprint and facial logins.