At CES 2026, LG Electronics unveiled a significant advancement in ultra-portable computing with the introduction of the LG Gram Pro 17 (17Z90UR), which the company claims to be the world's lightest 17-inch laptop equipped with a discrete RTX graphics processor.
This announcement marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of the Gram lineup, a series that has maintained leadership in the ultra-portable segment for over a decade.
The flagship model represents a substantial engineering achievement, packing the computational and graphical capabilities of a 17-inch RTX system into a chassis comparable in footprint to conventional 16-inch laptops.
This accomplishment addresses a persistent challenge in laptop design: integrating larger displays and dedicated graphics without proportional weight increases.
The Aerominum Innovation
Central to this achievement is Aerominum, a proprietary magnesium-aluminium alloy developed by LG specifically for laptop construction. The material draws inspiration from aerospace engineering, combining the low density characteristics of magnesium with the structural rigidity of aluminium.
This hybrid composition allows manufacturers to reduce weight while simultaneously reinforcing durability—a longstanding compromise in ultra-light device design.
LG reports that scratch resistance has improved by more than 35% compared to previous generation models. The Aerominum chassis meets U.S. military-grade durability standards, having passed seven distinct MIL-STD tests encompassing shock, dust, temperature extremes, vibration, salt fog, and low-pressure conditions.
The material's refined aeroplate structure and brushed metallic finish provide an elevated aesthetic without adding bulk to the overall design.
Display and Visual Performance
The Gram Pro 17 features a spacious 17-inch WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) LCD display. This resolution offers 178 pixels per inch density and delivers both the screen real estate necessary for professional work and the immersive viewing experience demanded by content creators.
The high-brightness 400-nit panel supports variable refresh rate technology, enabling adaptive screen refresh rates that balance visual smoothness with battery consumption. The 16:10 aspect ratio favors productivity workflows, providing additional vertical screen space compared to traditional 16:9 formats.
Graphics Capabilities
The RTX 5050 discrete GPU supplied by NVIDIA serves as the processing engine for demanding workloads. The GPU configuration includes 8GB of GDDR7 memory, positioned within the entry-to-mid-tier segment of NVIDIA's laptop GPU lineup.
According to LG's specifications, this combination delivers sufficient performance for graphics-intensive applications, content creation tasks, and gaming at modest quality settings. However, manufacturers acknowledge that this configuration falls short of supporting maximum-quality settings on contemporary AAA gaming titles at the device's native resolution.
The integration of this discrete graphics capability without significantly compromising weight or form factor addresses a specific market segment: creative professionals requiring capable graphics processors without the bulk of traditional gaming-oriented notebooks.
Processing and Intelligence
The Gram Pro 17 incorporates the latest Intel Core Ultra processors, though specific SKU configurations remain to be fully detailed.
The computational architecture supports multitasking across professional applications while maintaining thermal management within the device's compact form factor. An internal dual cooling system prevents thermal throttling during sustained workloads.
The 2026 model introduces dual AI capabilities, combining Microsoft Copilot+ PC functionality with LG's proprietary Gram Chat on-device AI. The latter runs EXAONE 3.5, a small-scale language model developed by LG that operates locally on the device.
This architecture enables users to access AI-assisted features including document summarization, search, translation, and contextual responses without requiring internet connectivity, addressing both privacy and reliability concerns.
Battery and Connectivity
The 2026 Gram Pro lineup is equipped with advanced power delivery systems and extensive connectivity options.
LG's gram Link technology has been expanded to support seamless integration across Android, iOS, and webOS ecosystems, enabling users to share files, mirror displays, and transfer content across smartphones, tablets, televisions, smart monitors, and projectors.
For security, LG ThinQ integration provides remote device control capabilities, allowing users to lock, disable, or erase the laptop remotely if lost or stolen.
Market Positioning and Availability
The Gram Pro 17 carries exclusive availability in North America at launch. The company has not disclosed final pricing or specific launch dates, with additional details expected to emerge following the CES 2026 presentation.
This positioning distinguishes the device from gaming-oriented alternatives, targeting instead the professional and creative segment—designers, video editors, software developers, and content creators who require graphical capability without the weight penalty typically associated with discrete GPU systems.
Competitive Context
The ultra-portable segment with discrete graphics has traditionally required compromises. Gaming laptops featuring RTX processors typically weigh 4-5 pounds or more; conversely, sub-3-pound laptops have historically relied on integrated graphics.
The Gram Pro 17's claimed achievement of combining a 17-inch display, RTX discrete GPU, and sub-3-pound weight represents a meaningful technical advancement in laptop engineering, though independent third-party validation of the weight claim remains pending.
The Aerominum material technology underlying this achievement signals LG's commitment to materials science innovation within consumer electronics, a strategy that could establish a competitive advantage in the ultra-portable computing space if the technology proves durable under real-world conditions.
