LG 17" Black Review
The LG gram Pro 17 is an engineering feat: a 3.3lb laptop with a 17-inch screen and gaming specs. But our reliability data tells a scary story.
The 30-Second Version
It's the world's lightest 17-inch powerhouse, but it's also one of the least reliable laptops we track. That's a bad bet for $2100.
Overview
The LG gram Pro 17 is a laptop that tries to do everything, and it mostly succeeds. It's a 17-inch powerhouse that weighs less than a 3-pound dumbbell, which is frankly ridiculous. The one thing to know is this: it's the lightest big-screen laptop you can buy, and it packs specs that would make most gaming rigs jealous. But that incredible lightness comes with a trade-off you need to know about.
Performance
The surprise here isn't the performance, which is strong across the board. The Intel Ultra 9 CPU and RTX 5050 GPU are well above average, making this a legit machine for creative work and gaming. The real shock is the reliability score, which sits in the bottom 10th percentile. In our database, that's a red flag. It means, despite the military-grade durability claims, these laptops have a higher rate of issues reported by owners than almost anything else we track. The performance is impressive, but you might be gambling on its longevity.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong port (100th percentile) 100th
- Strong cpu (88th percentile) 88th
- Strong ram (86th percentile) 86th
- Strong screen (80th percentile) 80th
Cons
- Below average compact (7th percentile) 7th
- Below average reliability (9th percentile) 9th
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| Cores | 16 |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 |
| Type | discrete |
| VRAM | 8 GB |
| VRAM Type | GDDR7 |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 32 GB |
| RAM Generation | LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 1000 GB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
Display
| Size | 17" |
| Resolution | 2560 (QHD) |
| Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
| Brightness | 400 nits |
Connectivity
| USB-C Ports | 2 |
| USB Ports | 4 |
| Thunderbolt | 2x Thunderbolt |
| HDMI | 1 x HDMI |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 |
Physical
| Weight | 1.5 kg / 3.3 lbs |
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
Value & Pricing
Worth it? Only if portability is your absolute top priority. For $2100, you get leading portability and strong performance, but you're accepting a laptop with a track record of reliability issues. If you need a reliable workstation that will last years, this isn't the best investment.
vs Competition
If you want a reliable, powerful 17-inch machine, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is a better bet. It'll be heavier, but it likely won't break. For creators who prioritize screen quality and reliability over weight, the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch with an M4 Max is a no-brainer, though you lose the big screen. The ASUS ProArt PX13 is a fascinating alternative if you want a killer OLED screen and Copilot+ AI in a more compact form, but with a less powerful GPU.
Common Questions
Q: Is the 25-hour battery life real?
Probably not for real work. That 'video playback' figure is a best-case, lab test scenario. With the RTX 5050 GPU and big screen firing, expect a solid but more normal 8-10 hours for productivity.
Q: Can it really handle gaming and creative work?
Yes, absolutely. The RTX 5050 and Core Ultra 9 are strong specs. It'll game well at that 144Hz resolution and handle video editing or 3D work without a sweat. The performance is there.
Q: How bad is the reliability issue?
Bad enough that we're mentioning it in every section. A 7th percentile score means, historically, owners of this line report problems much more often than owners of other laptops. You might get a perfect one, but the odds aren't great.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a dependable daily driver for work or creative projects, this isn't it. Go get a MacBook Pro or a Lenovo Legion instead. This laptop is only for the person who absolutely, desperately needs a massive screen and will sacrifice everything, including potential longevity, for the lightest possible weight.
Verdict
We can't recommend this laptop without a serious warning. It's a technical marvel of lightness and power, but the poor reliability ranking is a deal-breaker for most people. Buying this feels like choosing a featherweight champion with a known injury history. For the same money, you can get machines that are just as powerful and far more dependable.