Lead: LG has previewed two Gram Pro laptops ahead of CES 2026, including a 17-inch model the company calls the “world’s lightest 17‑inch RTX laptop.” The Gram Pro 17 (model 17Z90UR) pairs a 2,560 x 1,600 panel with Nvidia’s new RTX 5050 laptop GPU (8GB VRAM), while the Gram Pro 16 (16Z90U) uses a 2,880 x 1,800 OLED and Intel Core Ultra processors. LG also introduced a new ultralight “Aerominum” chassis material it says improves strength and scratch resistance. Key specs, pricing and exact weights remain unrevealed ahead of the full CES unveiling next week, and the Gram Pro 17 will be sold exclusively in the U.S. at launch.
Key Takeaways
- LG previewed two 2026 Gram Pro models—17Z90UR and 16Z90U—ahead of their CES reveal next week.
- The Gram Pro 17 features a 2,560 x 1,600 display and Nvidia RTX 5050 laptop GPU with 8GB VRAM, targeted at creators rather than hardcore gamers.
- The Gram Pro 16 offers a 2,880 x 1,800 OLED panel and Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors, with on-device and cloud AI features.
- Both models use a new “Aerominum” material LG says reduces weight while enhancing strength and scratch resistance.
- LG has not disclosed the actual weights or prices for either model; the 17-inch model will be U.S.-exclusive at launch.
- LG describes RTX 5050 performance as “ample for graphics-intensive tasks,” but cautions it won’t run many modern games at max settings in a playable way.
- Official release dates and global availability beyond the U.S. launch window remain unannounced.
Background
LG’s Gram line has long emphasized thinness and low weight, targeting professionals and mobile creators who prioritize portability. Over the past several years, manufacturers have pursued material and structural innovations—magnesium alloys, carbon fiber, and hybrid composites—to shave grams without sacrificing durability. LG’s announcement follows that trend and signals an attempt to claim a market-leading portability milestone in the 17‑inch segment, where large displays typically come with heavier bodies.
At CES, vendors often debut products with marketing superlatives; some claims later narrow when full specs and independent tests appear. The laptop space is also seeing a bifurcation: devices marketed to content creators increasingly combine mid‑tier discrete GPUs with power‑efficient CPUs, rather than the high‑power gaming stacks found in thicker machines. LG is positioning the Gram Pro 16 and 17 within that creator-oriented niche, emphasizing balanced performance, display quality, and lightness over peak gaming frame rates.
Main Event
In its teaser, LG named two upcoming Gram Pro models: the Gram Pro 17 (17Z90UR) and Gram Pro 16 (16Z90U). The 17Z90UR pairs a 2,560 x 1,600 display with Nvidia’s newly announced RTX 5050 laptop GPU that ships with 8GB of VRAM. LG framed the RTX 5050 as sufficient for content creation and graphics-heavy workflows but did not position the machine as a dedicated gaming laptop.
The Gram Pro 16 will adopt a higher-resolution 2,880 x 1,800 OLED panel and rely on Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors. LG highlighted both on-device and cloud-based AI capabilities for the 16-inch model, calling it the lightest 16-inch laptop in its class to combine those AI features. Neither model’s exact weight nor battery specifications were disclosed in the teaser.
LG introduced a new material it calls “Aerominum,” described as an ultralight alloy aimed at reducing overall chassis weight while improving stiffness and scratch resistance. The company asserts the material enables the 17-inch claim and the light-class status for the 16-inch model, but provided no detailed technical datasheet or independent test results alongside the teaser.
Analysis & Implications
If LG’s weight claim for the Gram Pro 17 holds up in independent testing, it would adjust expectations for what a 17‑inch laptop can be: historically, larger displays have forced trade-offs in weight and thermal headroom. A genuinely ultralight 17‑inch system would appeal to mobile creatives who need a larger workspace without the burden of a heavy chassis, potentially shifting a segment of buyers away from 15- or 16‑inch ultraportables.
However, the choice of an RTX 5050 with 8GB VRAM signals a balanced design choice rather than a performance-first one. In practical terms, users should expect solid acceleration for video editing, 3D modeling at moderate complexity, and GPU-accelerated photo workflows, while latency-sensitive or max‑settings AAA gaming will likely be constrained. For professionals, the trade-off favors portability and sustained mobile workflows over peak rendering throughput.
Strategically, launching the 17-inch model exclusively in the U.S. at first suggests LG will test market reception before a wider roll‑out. That approach limits early sales volume but reduces logistical risk; it also gives LG time to collect reviewer data and adjust messaging. Competitors such as Dell, Asus and Lenovo already occupy creator-focused weight/performance niches—LG’s differentiator will hinge on the real-world feel of Aerominum and any thermal or battery advantages it can demonstrate.
Comparison & Data
| Model | Display | Processor / GPU | VRAM | Material | Launch Region | Known Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gram Pro 17 (17Z90UR) | 2,560 x 1,600 | Nvidia RTX 5050 (laptop) | 8 GB | Aerominum (LG) | U.S. (initial) | Not disclosed |
| Gram Pro 16 (16Z90U) | 2,880 x 1,800 OLED | Intel Core Ultra | Integrated / varies | Aerominum (LG) | Undisclosed | Not disclosed |
The table summarizes LG’s public teaser details. Without official weight figures, battery capacities or thermal design power (TDP) values, any direct performance or endurance comparison remains provisional. Review units and spec sheets released at CES will be required to validate LG’s portability and performance claims.
Reactions & Quotes
Industry observers and potential buyers focused immediately on the weight claim and the use of a mid‑range discrete GPU. Below are the primary official claims LG made in its teaser and the company wording that circulated in early reports.
“World’s lightest 17‑inch RTX laptop.”
LG Electronics (official teaser)
LG used that phrasing to headline the 17Z90UR announcement; the claim is promotional and depends on how competing models are categorized (e.g., consumer vs. professional, discrete GPU class). Independent measurement of chassis weight and component distribution will determine whether the claim stands against peer devices.
“Ample performance for graphics‑intensive tasks, content creation, and gaming.”
LG Electronics (product brief)
LG positioned the RTX 5050 as a capable, efficiency‑oriented GPU. That language signals confidence in everyday creative workloads but also leaves room for qualification—LG and early coverage note the machine won’t match the playable, max‑settings experience of thicker gaming laptops.
Unconfirmed
- The exact chassis weights for the Gram Pro 17 (17Z90UR) and Gram Pro 16 (16Z90U) have not been published by LG.
- Retail prices and global release dates beyond the stated U.S. initial availability for the 17‑inch model are unannounced.
- Independent performance benchmarks for the RTX 5050 in these designs—and how they compare to competing 17‑inch laptops—are not yet available.
- Detailed technical specifications for Aerominum (composition, hardness, recyclability) were not provided in the teaser.
Bottom Line
LG’s Gram Pro preview sets expectations for two lightweight, creator‑oriented laptops arriving at CES 2026, with the headline being a claimed “world’s lightest” 17‑inch RTX laptop. The combination of an RTX 5050 (8GB), a high‑resolution display and a novel chassis material points to a prioritized balance of portability and everyday GPU acceleration rather than top‑tier gaming performance.
Final judgment should await full CES specifications and independent reviews that confirm actual weight, thermal behavior and sustained performance under real workloads. If Aerominum and the system design deliver on LG’s promises, the Gram Pro 17 could reshape what buyers expect from large‑format ultraportables; if not, the announcement will remain an incremental step in ongoing material and efficiency innovations.