LG teases 17-inch RTX laptop ahead of CES 2026

LG Corporation has previewed its 2026 Gram Pro lineup, headlined by the Gram Pro 17 (17Z90UR) and Gram Pro 16 (16Z90U). The new models debut Aerominum, a proprietary ultralight material designed to cut weight while increasing scratch resistance and structural integrity.

Based in Seoul, South Korea, LG was founded by Koo-Inhwoi on January 5, 1947. The company’s former name is Lucky-Goldstar.

Key specifications and hardware

• LG Gram Pro 17: Positioned as the world’s lightest 17-inch RTX laptop, it features a 2,560 x 1,600 display and an Nvidia RTX 5050 GPU (8GB VRAM). While LG touts its performance for content creation, the entry-level GPU suggests it is an ultra-portable workstation rather than a dedicated high-end gaming rig.
• LG Gram Pro 16: This model steps up to a 2,880 x 1,800 OLED panel and is marketed as the lightest 16-inch laptop to offer integrated on-device and cloud-based AI.
• Core Internals: Both units are powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra processors and support LG Link for cross-device file sharing and screen monitoring.

Design and portability

The shift to Aerominum is expected to push the Gram Pro 17—which weighed 3.26 lbs in 2025—toward or below the 3-pound mark. The 16-inch model may similarly drop from 2.73 lbs to approximately 2.5 lbs.

Despite the impressive weight loss, the inclusion of RTX graphics in such a thin chassis (roughly 0.5 inches) raises questions regarding thermal management, which LG expects to address via an updated cooling system.

LG has not yet disclosed pricing or specific release dates, with a full reveal expected next week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026. The trade show is scheduled for January 6-9, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.

Spec comparison

The Gram Pro 17 will be a U.S. exclusive at launch. Here is a comparison of the key technical specifications for the 2025 and 2026 LG Gram Pro models based on the latest announcements ahead of CES 2026:

LG Gram Pro 17 specs

The most significant change for 2026 is the inclusion of a dedicated RTX GPU in an even lighter chassis.

Feature	2025 Model (17Z90TP)	2026 Model (17Z90UR)
Chassis Material	Magnesium Alloy	Aerominum (Magnesium-Aluminum)
Weight	~3.1–3.26 lbs	< 3.0 lbs (estimated)
GPU	Intel Arc (Integrated)	Nvidia RTX 5050 (8GB GDDR7)
Display	17″ WQXGA (2560×1600) LCD	17″ WQXGA (2560×1600) LCD
CPU	Intel Core Ultra (Series 1/2)	Latest Intel Core Ultra
AI Capabilities	On-device AI Suite	Dual AI (EXAONE 3.5 sLLM + Cloud)
Availability	Global	U.S. Exclusive at launch

LG Gram Pro 16 specs

The 16-inch model continues to prioritize the superior OLED display while cutting weight further using the new Aerominum material.

Feature	2025 Model (16Z90TS)	2026 Model (16Z90U)
Weight	~2.6–2.73 lbs	~1.19 kg (~2.5 lbs)
Display Type	OLED or IPS options	WQXGA+ (2880×1800) OLED
Refresh Rate	120Hz (OLED) / 144Hz (IPS)	120Hz (OLED)
Battery	77Wh	77Wh (Optimized via AI)
Connectivity	Gram Link (Android/iOS)	Gram Link (Adds webOS/LG TV support)
Cooling	Dual Fan System	Enhanced Internal Dual Cooling

Improvements

• Aerominum Construction: This new aerospace-inspired alloy is the primary driver behind the weight reduction. It provides a more “premium” metallic feel and higher scratch resistance compared to the matte magnesium used in 2025.
• Dual AI Processing: While the 2025 models introduced basic AI tasks, the 2026 lineup uses a “Dual AI” approach. This allows the laptop to handle complex queries via the cloud while using a local EXAONE 3.5 small language model for private, offline tasks like document summarization.
• Expanded Ecosystem: The 2026 version of Gram Link now bridges the gap between your laptop and LG smart TVs or monitors, allowing you to use a TV as an extended wireless display more seamlessly than previous versions.

Pricing

While official benchmarks and final pricing are typically reserved for the CES floor, here is the current outlook for the thermal performance and market positioning of the 2026 LG Gram Pro series:

1. Thermal performance and cooling

The integration of an RTX 5050 into a chassis that is roughly 0.5 inches thick is a significant engineering challenge. Based on LG’s pre-CES briefings:

• New “Aerominum” Heat Dissipation: LG claims the new material isn’t just for weight; it has better thermal conductivity than the previous magnesium alloy, effectively acting as a heat sink for the entire body.
• Dual-Fan Megacooling System: To manage the RTX 5050, the 17-inch model uses an evolved version of their dual-fan system. LG states they have increased the fan blade count and expanded the heat pipes to handle the GPU’s 8GB of VRAM and associated power draw.
• The “Thin-and-Light” Compromise: Despite these upgrades, the RTX 5050 in the Gram Pro is likely a “Max-Q” or lower-TGP (Total Graphics Power) variant. You should expect the laptop to prioritize silent operation and portability over sustained high-performance gaming, meaning it will likely throttle slightly during intensive 4K video renders to prevent the “lap-burn” common in ultra-portables.

2. Expected pricing and availability

LG has historically positioned the “Pro” line at the top of the ultrabook market. Based on the 2025 launch prices and the addition of the new RTX hardware and Aerominum material, here are the industry estimates:

• LG Gram Pro 16 (2026): * Estimated Price:$1,599 – $1,899
  • The OLED display and AI-integrated Core Ultra chip keep this in the premium tier, though it lacks the dedicated GPU of its larger sibling.
• LG Gram Pro 17 (2026): * Estimated Price:$1,999 – $2,299
  • The “World’s Lightest RTX 17-inch” title allows LG to command a significant premium. The inclusion of the Nvidia 50-series card is the primary driver for this price hike.
• Launch Date: Pre-orders are expected to open in late Q1 2026 (March) for the U.S. market, following the full reveal at CES next week.

Verdict

If your priority is the best visual experience, the 16-inch OLED remains the winner. However, if you are a creator or engineer who needs CUDA cores for rendering while traveling, the 17-inch RTX model justifies its higher price and thermal risks by offering a power-to-weight ratio that is currently unmatched in the industry.