LG Gram 17 long-term test: Two years with the lightweight giant
We have just published our review of the new 2025 LG Gram 17, which is powered by a Lunar Lake processor. But it’s also worth taking another look at an older LG laptop that has been in daily use since early 2023, namely the LG Gram 17Z90Q-E.AD78G. This model still features a 12th gen Intel processor and an RTX 2050, and it’s time for a long-term conclusion and quick comparison to the latest model.
In terms of GPU performance, the old RTX 2050 and the new Arc 140V in the 2025 version surprisingly don’t differ too much. The RTX 2050 has advantages in professional applications like Blender, while the Arc 140V performs better in many games. The Core i7 1260P can even outperform the more modern Lunar Lake processor in most benchmarks. As a result, the almost three-year-old Gram remains fully usable at the end of 2025.
Aside from performance, one key point is arguably portability. A 17-inch laptop that weighs almost nothing is extremely valuable for working on the go, as it offers plenty of screen space without extra weight. However, the limits of this form factor have become apparent in rather tight places like trains or on planes. For example, travelers in economy class will find it hard to fully open the large LG Gram 17 on their tray table. In that case, a 14-inch laptop is simply more practical.
For the most part, the Gram 17 has proven to be durable. Although the chassis was often criticized for being too flexible, it holds up well in everyday use. After two years of heavy use, there are only cosmetic flaws, such as scratches and worn edges around the display. It even survived a bad fall when I landed on the laptop, which only damaged the display. However, the repair was surprisingly simple and the replacement screen only cost around €140, which was pleasantly affordable. It’s also worth noting that LG uses a different coating for the chassis of this particular model.
In our experience, the input devices also performed well. The large keyboard with a numeric keypad is excellent, and the glass touchpad responds perfectly. The battery has also held up nicely. After two years, it lost about 20% of its capacity, but the remaining 71 of 90Wh are still enough for 10 to 12 hours of runtime. Since the new 2025 model is more efficient, it will probably still last for 15 to 18 hours after 2 years.
That being said, a few changes of the 2025 LG Gram 17 are worth noting. The laptop no longer sports a microSD card reader. In an editorial workflow where photos play a big role, that’s a big caveat. The card reader is a simpler solution than carrying around the camera’s USB cable all the time. On the other hand, the new model features a fingerprint sensor instead of facial recognition. That might be a positive change, since the facial recognition on the 2023 model often struggles in low light, especially in the evening.
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