LG is making waves at CES 2026 with its new Gram Pro laptops, showcasing a novel 'Aerominum' alloy that promises unprecedented strength and lightness. The company's long-standing commitment to ultra-light laptops appears to be paying off, finally striking a balance between portability and durability that has eluded previous iterations. This could be a game-changer for enterprise users who demand both performance and portability.
Aerominum: A Material Science Breakthrough?
According to Engadget, the 16-inch Gram Pro weighs a mere 2.6 pounds, rivaling the much smaller 13-inch MacBook Air in terms of weight. This is achieved through LG's innovative Aerominum, an aluminum/magnesium alloy that feels remarkably robust despite its light weight. While older Gram models were often criticized for their flex-prone cases, early impressions suggest that Aerominum has significantly improved the structural integrity of the new Gram Pro line. This robustness, if proven over time, could substantially reduce TCO for enterprises by minimizing hardware damage and replacement costs.
While the 16-inch model sports a vibrant 2.8K OLED screen and Intel's latest Panther Lake processors, the real standout is the 17-inch variant. This larger model, equipped with an NVIDIA RTX 5050 GPU, remains under four pounds, making it the lightest 17-inch notebook with a dedicated graphics card. This positions the Gram Pro 17 as a potentially compelling option for professionals who require graphical horsepower on the go, such as engineers or designers.
Enterprise Implications and Lingering Concerns
For enterprise CTOs, the LG Gram Pro presents a compelling proposition. The reduced weight translates to increased employee productivity and reduced strain, while the promise of enhanced durability minimizes potential downtime. However, the Engadget review raises concerns about the keyboard, noting a lack of key travel and an unsatisfying typing experience. This could be a significant drawback for users who spend considerable time writing. The trackpad also doesn't quite measure up to the standards set by Apple or Microsoft.
Furthermore, thorough testing is needed to assess the long-term durability and reliability of the Aerominum alloy under real-world enterprise conditions. Factors like hinge strength, thermal management under sustained workloads, and battery life consistency need to be carefully evaluated. Despite these concerns, the LG Gram Pro represents a significant step forward in the pursuit of lightweight, high-performance laptops. If LG can address the keyboard shortcomings and demonstrate enterprise-grade reliability, the Gram Pro could become a strong contender in the corporate laptop market. The potential for reduced TCO through increased durability and portability is simply too significant to ignore.