LG is entering the CES 2026 arena swinging, teasing its new Gram Pro laptops with bold claims of being the 'world's lightest' in their class. The Gram Pro 17, in particular, boasts a 17-inch display and an Nvidia RTX 5050 GPU, aiming for that sweet spot of portability and performance. But is it all just marketing fluff?

'Aerominum': A Gimmick or Game-Changer?

LG is touting a new material called 'Aerominum' as the secret sauce behind the Gram Pro's featherweight design. According to Engadget, this proprietary alloy supposedly "reduces the laptop's weight while reinforcing structural strength." The claim is that it offers improved scratch resistance and a sleek finish while meeting military-grade durability standards. I'll believe it when I see it.

Honestly, 'Aerominum' sounds like marketing jargon cooked up in a boardroom. What is it actually made of? We need to see real-world testing to confirm its durability. Color me skeptical.

RTX 5050: Enough Power for a 'Pro' Laptop?

The LG Gram Pro 17 (17Z90UR) includes a 2560 x 1600 display and an Nvidia RTX 5050 GPU. LG is promising "ample performance for graphics-intensive tasks, content creation, and gaming," but I am not convinced. The Verge points out that the RTX 5050 comes with a measly 8GB of VRAM.

Let's be real: 8GB of VRAM isn't going to cut it for serious gaming or professional content creation in 2026. The RTX 5050 is a budget card, and slapping it in a 'Pro' laptop feels like a compromise too far. It will handle older games and some light video editing, but don't expect to run the latest AAA titles at high settings.

AI Features and the Big Picture

Beyond the weight and GPU, the new Gram laptops include AI features via Microsoft Copilot+ PC and LG's on-device AI system. Engadget notes that these features should allow for some AI tasks to be handled without an internet connection, which is a plus for privacy-conscious users. LG’s Link technology also enables easy file sharing across multiple devices. That's genuinely useful.

Ultimately, the LG Gram Pro 17 presents a mixed bag. Its 'world's lightest' claim is intriguing, and the AI features are a welcome addition. However, the RTX 5050 GPU and the questionable 'Aerominum' material raise serious concerns about its real-world performance and value proposition. We'll need to get our hands on one to see if it lives up to the hype, or if it's just another case of style over substance. Stay tuned for my full review after CES 2026.