LG Gram 17 (2024) vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
The Verdict
LG Gram 17 (2024) excels as a portable workstation with its expansive 17-inch WQXGA display, powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor with 16 cores, and exceptional 17-hour battery life backed by a 90 Wh battery. Its magnesium chassis weighs just 1.35 kg, making it genuinely ultraportable for its size, while offering comprehensive connectivity including three USB-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and SD card support. Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 prioritizes compactness and design elegance with its premium aluminum-Alcantara build, lighter 1.27 kg weight, and vibrant 400-nit PixelSense display in a 13.5-inch form factor. However, it's hampered by older 12th-gen Intel processors, just 1 USB-A port, and limited storage expansion. For professionals needing screen real estate and performance at $1599, LG Gram 17 (2024) delivers superior value and capability. Surface Laptop 5 suits minimalist users prioritizing ultraportability over power, though its $999 base price requires configuring to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage for practical use.
Who Should Buy
Buy the LG Gram 17 (2024) if…
- →Remarkably light for a 17-inch laptop at just 1.35 kg
- →Up to 17-hour battery life is class-leading at this size
- →MIL-STD-810H certified for everyday durability
Buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 if…
- →Excellent 3:2 aspect ratio PixelSense touchscreen for productivity
- →Alcantara keyboard deck is comfortable and distinctive
- →Lightweight at 1.27 kg for easy portability
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
LG Gram 17 (2024)
Pros
- Remarkably light for a 17-inch laptop at just 1.35 kg
- Up to 17-hour battery life is class-leading at this size
- MIL-STD-810H certified for everyday durability
- Generous port selection including USB-A and full-size SD card
- Large 2560x1600 display ideal for productivity
Cons
- 350-nit display brightness is modest in bright environments
- IPS display lacks the vibrancy of OLED alternatives
- No discrete GPU option
- 60Hz refresh rate feels dated compared to 90–120Hz peers
- Thin chassis can flex under pressure
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
Pros
- Excellent 3:2 aspect ratio PixelSense touchscreen for productivity
- Alcantara keyboard deck is comfortable and distinctive
- Lightweight at 1.27 kg for easy portability
- Up to 18 hours claimed battery life
- Removable SSD for easier data recovery
Cons
- Only one USB-C port and one USB-A port — very limited
- 60Hz display lacks the smoothness of 120Hz competitors
- No Thunderbolt 4 — USB-C is USB 4.0 with limited bandwidth
- Surface Connect charger is proprietary
- 8 GB base RAM is restrictive for multitasking
Full Specifications
| Spec | LG Gram 17 (2024) | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.35 kg | 1.27 kg |
| Material | Magnesium alloy (Nano skin finish) | Aluminum and Alcantara |
| Dimensions | 381.3 x 261.5 x 13.0 mm | 308 x 223 x 14.5 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | — |
| USB-A ports | 3 | 1 |
| USB-C ports | 1 | 1 |
| SD card | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | — |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| Surface Connect | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 17 hours mixed use | Up to 18 hours |
| Capacity | 90 Wh | 47.4 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 17.0 inches | 13.5 inches |
| Type | WQXGA IPS anti-glare | PixelSense IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2256 x 1504 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 350 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe | 256 GB / 512 GB (removable SSD) |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5x | 8 GB / 16 GB |
| Cores | 16-core (6P+8E+2LPE) | 10-core (2P + 8E) |
| Chipset | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U / i7-1255U |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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