LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (2024) Review

About the LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (2024)

While the LG Gram Pro 16 (2024) is available in two configurations, the only difference between them is their system memory and solid-state drive. One model incorporates 16GB of RAM and 1TB storage; the other (our test model) features 32GB of RAM and 2TB storage. Otherwise, all of the below specs are the same.

LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 specs

• Price as configured: $2,099
• Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processors, 16 cores (8 performance, 6 efficiency, 2 low-power efficiency), 22 threads
• Graphics: Intel Arc graphics (integrated)
• Memory: 32GB of LPDDR5x 7467MHz (soldered)
• Storage: 2TB SSD
• Display: 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED, 400 nits max (rated), 382 nits max (measured), 48-144Hz variable refresh rate touchscreen
• Ports: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2; 2 x USB 4 Gen3x2 Type C (supports Power Delivery, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 4); 1 x HDMI; 1 x headphone/mic
• Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
• Battery: 77 Whr
• Weight: 3.08 pounds
• Size: 14.06 x 9.99 x 0.49 inches
• Warranty: 1-year limited parts and labor

What we like

Large, responsive touchscreen with impressive color depth

The LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 packs a triple-whammy. Not only is the screen large enough to easily divide up while working, but every detail renders in robust color, thanks to the device's 2880 x 1800 OLED display, HDR support, and rich contrast. We measured a maximum brightness of 382 nits, and while you'll certainly find devices with more luminous screens—including the ridiculously bright Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 Gen 9—we found this was plenty of light for using the Gram Pro 16 near a sunny window.

Of all the advantages to the Gram Pro 16, this one was perhaps the most impactful—without it, the 2-in-1's hefty price tag wouldn't be anywhere near worth paying. Browsing the internet via the touchscreen was a breeze, and the unit's included stylus made it fun to jot down handwritten notes or scribble around in Paint. In tent mode, the 2-in-1 became a convenient YouTube display during lunchtime, and thanks to the responsiveness of the screen, it was easy to tap out a few notes on my experience without switching back to clamshell mode. It's clear the Gram Pro 16 is made for those who will actually use their 2-in-1's touchscreen—not just fantasize about it when they're laptop shopping.

Lightweight form factor

For its size, the Gram Pro 16 is surprisingly light. It's just 3.08 pounds, making it lighter than the slightly-smaller Apple MacBook Air 15 M2, which is often lauded for its featherlight feel. Sticking this 2-in-1 in your work bag or carrying it from class to class shouldn't be an issue for most users, despite the relatively large keyboard and trackpad area and that big screen we just covered.

Lengthy battery life

If you'll be using the Gram Pro 16 on the go, you'll be pleased to know that it offers a fairly healthy single-charge battery life. Though the device is rated for 20.5 hours of video playback, we were able to use the Revolver Chrome extension (which rotates through 20 different browsers tabs every 15 seconds) to conduct just over 14 hours of mock internet use. For most users, this should offer plenty of time to circle back to a wall outlet.

With double USB-A and USB-C ports, that lengthy battery life could be leveraged to charge other devices away from home, like your phone or your smart watch.

What we don’t like

Shallow soundstage

Whether we were listening to some Kendrick on Spotify or a cooking vlog on YouTube, the built-in speakers on the Gram Pro 16 made for a frustrating experience. A relative lack of bass resulted in shallow, treble-dominant audio that made us instinctually lean toward the device in an effort to hear better—even at full volume. We recommend having a great pair of headphones on hand if you plan to watch movies, listen to music, or otherwise enjoy audio content using this laptop. Otherwise, check out the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 Gen 9 a 2-in-1 with fantastic audio (and impressive build quality to boot).

Disappointing CPU and GPU performance

With a screen this big and bright, it would have been nice to use the Gram Pro 16 for a bit of gaming, especially when modern PC games tend to utilize rich, lifelike graphics. Unfortunately, this 2-in-1 simply wasn't up for the task. Compared with other 2-in-1s, it received decent results from our go-to 3DMark GPU benchmarks: Wild Life Extreme Ultimate (score: 5749) and Night Raid (21618). On our larger list of productivity laptops, however, the Gram Pro 16 sat toward the middle.

The Gram Pro 16 disappointed us further with Cinebench, our CPU rendering speed benchmark, where the 2-in1 received a single-core score of 1669 and a multi-core score of 8707. About half the productivity machines we've tested rank higher than this one did. As a result, those who care deeply about performance but also want the 2-in-1 form factor have a tough call to make when it comes to the Gram Pro 16. Considering the Gram Pro 16 sits towards the higher end of the 2-in-1 price scale, it’s hard to justify the disappointing test results (not to mention for an MSRP of $2,099, we would have liked to hear more luxurious audio). Those willing to ditch the touchscreen can find far better performance in the LG Gram 17, a $1,299 clamshell laptop with a fast processor and nearly 15-hour tested battery life. The LG Gram 17 ranked third against other productivity laptops on our 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Ultimate benchmark (score: 19292) and proved itself capable of rendering images slightly faster than the Gram Pro 16 in Blender.

For less than half the cost of the LG Gram 16 at the time of writing, the MSI Modern 15 sits toward the top of our tested productivity laptops, with a single-core Cinebench score of 1981 and a multi-core score of 14891. Still, the LG Gram 17 and MSI Modern 15 don't offer 2-in-1 capabilities, which might be a must-have for some.

Glitchy trackpad

The Gram Pro 16 trackpad was a bit less responsive than we would have liked. It sometimes took a few clicks for a particular selection to register, and multi-touch gestures often felt glitchy or flat-out ignored. We thankfully didn't have any issues with palm rejection; nonetheless, these frustrations made the touchscreen a more appealing option. This might not be a problem for people who are accustomed to using 2-in-1s or tablets, but for those who want the conventional laptop experience to go smoothly, the glitchy trackpad could become an annoyance.

Should you buy the LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1?

Yes, if you'll use the touchscreen and you're not on a tight budget

Overall, using the LG Gram Pro 16 is a pleasant experience. It’s easy to carry from place to place, has a healthy battery life to keep from being tethered to a wall outlet all day, and that brilliant OLED is captivating, impressing us throughout each benchmark and casual user test.

That said, disappointing performance and unpleasant audio make us wary of its large price tag. For $2,099, you could buy the Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 (a lightweight laptop with fantastic audio and a rich display) or the 2023 HP Pavilion Plus 16 (a Windows machine with a slim design, laudable battery, and clear screen) and still have plenty of cash left over. The only thing you'd be missing is a touchscreen, which can also be had via the impressive Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 or the surprisingly practical Asus Zenbook Duo for less money. None of these options boast a display quite as large as the Gram Pro 16, however, so if screen size is a big sell for you, this 2-in-1 could be worth the extra money.