For years, the LG gram name meant one thing.
Very light. Very thin. Very portable.
Performance always came second.
That balance is now changing, and this time, it feels serious.
A powerful GPU finally comes to LG gram
The LG gram Pro 16 will arrive with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 graphics.
This is part of NVIDIA’s Blackwell architecture.
It is the first time the gram series moves this far into real GPU power.
Here is what matters:
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
- Screen size: 16 inches
- Weight: Just 1.36 kg
For a 16 inch laptop, this weight is honestly shocking.
Why RTX 5050 matters in a gram laptop
The RTX 5050 is an entry level Blackwell GPU, but do not underestimate it.
It brings:
- Better AI acceleration
- Stronger graphics performance
- Improved power efficiency
This is not for hardcore gaming.
This is for creators, developers, and AI workloads that need real GPU help.
And yes, it still fits inside a thin gram body.
Hybrid AI is the real focus this year
LG is not just talking about hardware.
The big push is On Device AI.
The 2025 gram series comes with Hybrid AI, built around gram Chat.
Two AI modes explained simply
Offline mode
- Works without internet
- Searches your files
- Organizes documents
- Fast and private
Online mode
- Connects to GPT 4o
- Natural conversations
- Better answers
- Smarter assistance
This setup makes sense for real world use.
Privacy and smart features still matter
LG did not forget the small things.
You also get:
- Glance by Mirametrix, alerts when someone looks at your screen
- LG gram Link, smooth file sharing and multi device collaboration
These are quiet features, but once you use them, you miss them on other laptops.
Availability feels confusing, but here is the truth
This model is called LG gram Pro 16Z90TR.
It launched in Taiwan about two months ago.
Global availability may stretch into 2026.
Yes, that is frustrating.
But at least the hardware is real now.
Who this laptop is really for
This is for people who want:
- Extreme portability
- Real GPU power
- AI features that actually work
- A clean, professional design
If you already know the gram design, nothing looks new.
What changed is what is inside.
And that is what matters now.
Kind of wild when you think about it.
Same Design, No Drama
In terms of laptop design, LG is truly conservative, and I mean that in a good way.
The LG gram Pro 16 16Z90TR looks almost identical to previous gram models.
No sharp redesigns.
No unnecessary changes.
I genuinely appreciate brands that stick to a classic design, and this laptop does exactly that.
Obsidian Black Looks Premium, But Be Ready to Clean
The Obsidian Black body looks clean and premium at first glance.
But let me be honest here.
This finish has always been a fingerprint magnet.
Promotional videos and influencer unboxings make it look spotless, but that is pure advertising.
In real life, you will need to wipe it regularly if you want it to look clean and fresh.
Size and Thickness Explained Simply
The laptop measures 357.7 x 251.6 x 15.8mm.
At its thinnest point, it is only 14.4mm thick.
For a 16-inch laptop, that is extremely thin.
And yes, you feel it immediately when you pick it up.
Thin and Light Comes With a Trade-Off
Because this laptop is so thin and light, there is a noticeable flex.
When you press on the top or bottom cover, you can feel a slight sinking sensation.
LG says it meets MIL-STD-810H US military standard certification.
Still, speaking from personal experience,
I would strongly recommend avoiding impacts or rough handling.
This is not a laptop you want to drop.
Where the gram Pro 16 Really Stands Out
Even though the gram Pro 16Z90TR arrived a bit late to the market, it still has advantages that are hard to replace.
Among 16-inch thin and light laptops, only two models stand out with dedicated graphics:
- ROG Zephyrus G16 2025
- LG gram Pro 16Z90TR
That alone puts it in a rare category.
Weight That Feels Almost Unreal
LG officially claims a weight of around 1.36Kg.
When placed on an electronic scale,
it actually weighs 1.315Kg.
For a 16-inch laptop with a dedicated GPU, that is honestly impressive.
You can put it in a backpack and barely feel it.
Portability Meets Real Performance
This laptop is not just light for the sake of being light.
Thanks to the dedicated graphics card, it can handle:
- Professional workloads
- Creative tasks
- Heavy multitasking
It is built for people who move a lot but still need real power.
I/O Ports You Will Actually Use
LG kept the port selection practical and familiar.
Left Side Ports
- 2× USB 4 Type-C (Thunderbolt 4)
- HDMI port supporting 4K 60Hz external display
Right Side Ports
- 2× USB 3.2 Type-A
- 3.5mm combo audio jack
This setup is exactly the same as the gram Pro 17Z90SP from last year.
No surprises here, and that is a good thing.
Final Thought
The LG gram Pro 16Z90TR does not try to impress you with flashy design changes.
Instead, it focuses on what actually matters:
- Extremely low weight
- Excellent portability
- Dedicated graphics in a thin body
- A clean and familiar design
It is not perfect.
It flexes.
It attracts fingerprints.
But if you value mobility without sacrificing performance, this laptop still plays in a league of its own.
Kind of wild, really, how light a 16-inch machine can feel.
Display Basics, Explained Simply
The gram Pro 16Z90TR uses a 16-inch IPS anti-glare display with a 16:10 aspect ratio.
Resolution is WQXGA, 2560 x 1600, which means more vertical space and less scrolling.
Text looks sharp.
Workspaces feel bigger.
It is great for productivity.
Refresh Rate That Adapts to You
This screen supports a variable refresh rate from 31Hz to 144Hz.
That means:
- Smooth scrolling when needed
- Lower power use during light tasks
It is not just fast, it is smart about it.
Color and Brightness, Real Numbers
LG officially claims 99 percent DCI-P3, and real testing backs that up.
Using a professional X-Rite iDisplay Pro colorimeter, results were:
- 99.5% sRGB
- 84.2% Adobe RGB
- 96.4% DCI-P3
These numbers are very close to LG’s claims.
Color accuracy is also solid.
The Delta E*76 value is 0.20, which means colors look natural and well-balanced.
Bright Enough for Daily Use
Measured brightness comes in at 403.02 cd/m².
That is enough for:
- Bright indoor rooms
- Coffee shops
- Light outdoor use
Direct sunlight will still be tough, but that is normal for IPS panels.
No HDR, and Here Is Why
HDR is not supported.
This is expected.
The gram Pro 16Z90TR uses an IPS panel, not OLED.
OLED displays handle HDR much better.
So this is not a deal breaker, just a limitation of the panel type.
No Dolby Atmos Support
One thing missing here is Dolby Atmos support.
If you care deeply about cinematic audio features, this is worth knowing.
For most users, it will not be a big issue, but it is still good to be clear about it.
Screen Opening Angle
The maximum opening angle is about 135 degrees.
So no, it does not lay flat on the table.
If that matters to you, LG does offer the gram Pro 2-in-1 launched around the same time.
Just keep in mind,
the 2-in-1 model does not have a dedicated graphics card.
Webcam and Microphone Quality
At the top of the display, you get:
- 1080p webcam
- Dual-array microphones
Video quality is surprisingly clear.
For meetings, online classes, or quick recordings,
this setup performs better than most thin laptops.
Final Take on the Display
The display on the LG gram Pro 16Z90TR is not flashy, but it is very well balanced.
You get:
- High resolution
- Wide color coverage
- Smooth refresh rate
- Solid brightness
- Clear webcam quality
No HDR.
No Dolby Atmos.
But for daily work, creative tasks, and long hours of use,
this screen does its job quietly and very well.
It does not try to impress.
It just works, and sometimes that matters more.
Keyboard and Touchpad, What It’s Really Like to Use
The LG gram Pro 16Z90TR comes with a full-size keyboard and a dedicated numeric keypad.
That alone already makes it different from many thin 16-inch laptops.
The power button sits in the upper right corner and is slightly recessed, so accidental presses are unlikely.
There is no fingerprint reader here.
Instead, Windows Hello works through the 1080p webcam, which handles biometric login.
The arrow keys are half-size, which may take a little getting used to.
The Enter key on the numeric keypad is square, not tall, which feels more calculator-like.
Above the spacebar, you will notice a printed “gram chat On-Device” logo.
Pressing Fn + Space instantly launches LG’s on-device AI assistant, even without internet.
Typing feel is clean and fast.
Key travel is short, so presses feel crisp, but tactile feedback is limited.
If you like soft, deep keys, this keyboard may feel a bit firm.
On the right palm rest, there is an NVIDIA GeForce RTX Studio sticker.
That is rare for the gram Pro lineup and quietly signals its creator focus.
The touchpad size stays the same as last year.
It measures 132 × 84 mm and has not been enlarged.
It works well, but some may wish it were bigger on a 16-inch laptop.
The keyboard includes three-stage white backlighting.
However, JB noted that brightness is not very noticeable in dark rooms.
Bottom Design, Cooling, and Internal Hardware
Flip the laptop over and the design feels familiar.
The bottom cover has four circular rubber feet, one at each corner.
The vented heat dissipation area covers less than one-third of the bottom panel.
To open the laptop, the rubber feet must be removed to access the screws.
JB skipped disassembly for this review.
Because this model includes a dedicated GPU, LG uses a dual-fan, dual-heatpipe cooling system.
Power comes from a large 90Wh lithium battery, which helps balance performance and endurance.
Storage is generous.
You get two 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD slots.
Memory is 32GB LPDDR5X, but it cannot be upgraded later.
Wireless connectivity is fully modern.
It supports Intel Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
For audio, the laptop includes four built-in 3W stereo speakers.
It also supports Dolby Atmos, which is a welcome addition for movies and calls.
Charger, Weight, and Portability Reality
Inside the box, LG includes a 100W charger.
This is a step up from the 65W charger used on last year’s gram Pro 17 with integrated graphics.
The higher wattage is needed for heavy workloads, charging while in use, and stable performance.
Charging uses USB Type-C.
The power cable uses a traditional Mickey Mouse plug.
The charger and cable together weigh 420 grams.
For a 100W charger, that weight is fairly reasonable.
Still, the plug design is not great, especially for tight spaces.
If portability is your top priority, many users will likely switch to a lighter GaN or third-party charger.
What This All Means in Real Life
The gram Pro 16Z90TR keeps its lightweight identity.
But the keyboard layout, AI shortcut, dedicated GPU cooling, and bigger battery show clear intent.
This is no longer just a thin laptop.
It is a portable workstation, tuned for creators who want power without bulk.
And honestly, that shift is easy to feel the moment you start typing.
G quietly changed how its gram laptops work, not with new hardware, but with software that most users will probably overlook at first.
But once you understand it, the change is actually important.
LG Replaced “LG Smart Assistant” With My gram
LG’s main control app is no longer called LG Smart Assistant.
It is now called My gram.
This is not just a name change.
The entire interface has been redesigned and simplified.
Everything important is now in one place.
What You See First Inside My gram
When you open the app, you land on a clean home screen.
From here, you can quickly toggle features without digging through Windows settings.
New and notable options include:
- One-click Dark Mode for the system
- AI noise cancellation for calls
- Touchpad controls
- USB-C offline charging
- Battery life extension tools
These are things people use daily, so putting them upfront saves time.
Left Panel Explained in Simple Words
The left side of My gram is where the real control lives.
PC Maintenance
This is where you fine-tune the laptop.
You get access to performance modes, power behavior, charging limits, and cooling.
Everything is explained clearly, even for beginners.
Customer Support
This section is made for normal users, not tech experts.
It includes:
- Step-by-step tutorials
- Usage guides
- Help articles written in simple language
Good for first-time LG users.
Applications
This is a hub for all LG-made apps.
You will find:
- gram chat On-Device
- gram chat Cloud
- LG gram Link
Instead of hunting for apps, they all live here.
Display, Sound, Power, and Keyboard Settings
Most settings are familiar if you used older gram laptops.
Still, everything feels more organized.
Display Settings
You can adjust:
- Color temperature
- Professional display mode
- Easy display mode
- Lively Theme
These are not new, but they are easier to access now.
Sound Settings
LG added smarter audio tuning.
You can:
- Optimize the AI microphone
- Tune the AI speaker
- Register your own voice to improve noise cancellation
This helps a lot during calls.
Power and Performance
Performance is linked to cooling behavior.
You get four modes:
- Low
- Normal
- High
- Extreme performance
Extreme mode gives maximum power, but fan noise becomes clearly audible under load.
Other useful options here include:
- Charging protection to slow battery wear
- AFK screen off, turns display off when you leave, requires face registration
- USB-C offline charging
Keyboard and Shortcut Keys
You can assign custom shortcuts.
Each key can open:
- An app
- A file
- A website
Simple, practical, and fast.
gram chat On-Device, What It Really Does
LG added two AI apps in 2025.
The first one is gram chat On-Device.
Right now, it only supports English and Korean.
That limits its usefulness in many regions.
What gram chat On-Device Is Good At
This AI runs fully on the device.
It can:
- Search files instantly
- Organize folders
- Answer system setting questions
Search speed is impressive.
Even typing one letter shows results faster than Windows File Explorer.
It sorts results into:
- Settings
- Applications
- Files and folders
- Filenames with matching keywords
Interestingly, it can still find Chinese files, even though the interface does not support Chinese.
Time Travel Screen and Audio Capture
Inside settings, there is a feature called Time Travel.
It works similar to Windows 11 Recall.
The system records screen activity and audio history.
You can later search using:
- Keywords
- Voice search
- A timeline slider
Storage duration is adjustable:
- Minimum 1 day
- Maximum 30 days
Old data deletes automatically to protect privacy.
You can also exclude specific folders or apps from being recorded.
Limitations You Should Know
The Ask feature is still in beta.
It can:
- Search
- Translate
- Compile
- Help with troubleshooting
But it cannot chat freely.
For real conversation, you need the cloud version.
Compilation and Translation Limits
Compilation has strict limits.
Maximum characters allowed:
- 4000 characters for Korean
- 9000 characters for English
JB tested Chinese and English press releases.
The app failed and showed a character limit exceeded error.
Translation also has limits.
It only works between English and Korean.
Because of this, gram chat On-Device is currently not very useful for Taiwanese users.
Right now, its biggest strength is fast file search.
gram chat Cloud, The Real AI Assistant
The second AI app is gram chat Cloud.
This one runs on GPT-4o.
At launch, LG showed it working in Traditional Chinese.
However, the test device JB used only supported English and Korean.
What gram chat Cloud Can Do
This is where things get powerful.
It allows:
- Natural conversation
- Email search and drafting
- Meeting scheduling
It integrates with:
- Gmail
- Google Meet
- Google Calendar
- Outlook Mail
- Outlook Calendar
- Microsoft 365 apps
You can ask the AI to find emails, write replies, or plan meetings directly.
Activation and Usage Limits
To use gram chat Cloud, you must enter a coupon code.
LG includes a one-year trial with purchase.
Without activation, features stay locked.
There are also usage limits:
- 200,000 tokens per month
- 450 requests per month
- 30 requests per day
If you exceed these limits, the system automatically switches to GPT-4o mini.
Final Thoughts
LG did not make noise about this software shift.
But My gram is one of the most important changes in the gram series this year.
It simplifies control, improves usability, and quietly pushes LG toward on-device and cloud AI.
Right now, language support is the biggest weakness.
Once that improves, this software could become one of LG gram’s strongest features.
Kind of hidden, but powerful when you notice it.
LG quietly did something bold with the new LG gram Pro 16Z90TR.
At first glance, it looks like a normal gram.
Thin. Clean. Extremely light.
Then you read the specs.
And you stop for a second.
The Big Idea in One Line
This is the lightest 16-inch laptop with a dedicated NVIDIA RTX GPU.
And yes, it actually performs like one.
That alone changes how you should look at it.
Key Specifications at a Glance
Let me keep this fast and clear.
- Operating System: Windows 11 Professional
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050, 8GB GDDR7
- Memory: 32GB LPDDR5X, 8400MHz, dual-channel, onboard
- Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD, dual M.2 slots
- Display:
- 16-inch IPS
- 2560 x 1600 resolution
- 100% DCI-P3
- 400 nits brightness
- 31 to 144Hz variable refresh rate
- Battery: 90Wh
- Weight: 1.36kg
- Price: NT$61,900 in Taiwan
That weight number is not a typo.
Why This Laptop Exists
LG gram has always been about one thing.
Being light.
What is new here is this.
LG added a real RTX GPU without turning the laptop into a brick.
That is the story.
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H Explained Simply
This chip uses Intel’s new Arrow Lake design.
Here is what matters.
- 16 cores total
- 6 performance cores
- 8 efficiency cores
- 2 low-power cores
- 16 threads
- 24MB L3 cache
- Boost clock up to 5.1GHz
- Base power 28W
- Turbo power up to 115W
There is also an NPU inside.
It handles AI tasks with up to 13 TOPS.
This helps with future Windows AI features and creative tools.
CPU Performance Results
LG compared it directly with last year’s gram Pro 17 using the Core Ultra 7 155H.
Same settings.
Extreme performance mode.
Best performance power profile.
The gains are real.
Performance Increase vs Last Gen
- CPU-Z Single Core: +26%
- CPU-Z Multi Core: +16%
- Cinebench R20 Multi: +33%
- Cinebench R23 Multi: +23%
- Geekbench 6 Single: +15%
- Geekbench 6 Multi: +14%
- X264 Video Encode: +52%
That Cinebench jump matters.
It means faster rendering and exports.
How It Feels in Daily Use
Numbers are one thing.
Usage is another.
In real life, it feels smooth.
- Many browser tabs stay responsive
- Apps switch instantly
- Heavy Office work feels effortless
No lag.
No waiting.
It behaves like a proper high-end machine.
Office Productivity Test
PCMark 10 failed during testing.
So a different test was used.
UL Procyon Office Productivity.
Final score: 6644
That is a strong result.
Especially for a laptop this light.
Ports and Connectivity
LG did not cut corners here.
You get:
- 2x USB 4 Type-C with Thunderbolt 4
- 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen2
- HDMI 2.1
- 3.5mm audio jack
Wireless is also future-ready.
- Wi-Fi 7
- Bluetooth 5.4
The Display Experience
This screen is made for long hours.
- Sharp WQXGA resolution
- Excellent color accuracy
- Smooth scrolling up to 144Hz
It works for creators.
It works for casual users.
It is easy on the eyes.
The Real Takeaway
This laptop is not trying to be a gaming monster.
And it is not pretending to be ultra cheap.
It is doing something harder.
Giving real performance in an impossibly light body.
That balance is rare.
And honestly, kind of impressive.
If you care about portability but still want power, this one deserves attention.
Quietly.
Seriously.
that AI performance is where the LG gram Pro 16Z90TR quietly shows its future-ready side.
This is not just a thin laptop with a GPU.
It is also built for on-device AI work.
And the testing proves it.
AI Performance, Explained in Simple Words
To test AI power, the UL Procyon AI Computer Vision benchmark was used.
This test checks how well the laptop handles AI tasks using different engines.
CPU.
GPU.
And the new NPU.
Let me break it down clearly.
Intel OpenVINO Inference Performance
This test shows how fast the system can run AI models using Intel’s AI framework.
Here are the scores:
- CPU: 91 points
- Integrated GPU: 253 points
- NPU: 386 points
The important part is the NPU score.
It is the highest here.
That means AI tasks designed for the NPU run faster and more efficiently.
Windows ML Inference Performance
This test uses Microsoft’s Windows ML framework.
Results:
- CPU: 78 points
- GPU: 302 points
Once again, the GPU clearly takes the lead.
This matters for AI apps built directly into Windows.
NVIDIA TensorRT Inference Performance
This test uses NVIDIA’s TensorRT framework with float32 precision.
Score achieved: 371 points
For a laptop this thin and light, that is impressive.
This shows the RTX 5050 is not just for graphics.
It can handle real AI compute workloads too.
AI Image Generation Performance
Now comes the part most people care about.
Image generation.
UL Procyon was used again, with Stable Diffusion models.
Stable Diffusion 1.5
- Score: 828 points
- Generation speed: 7.544 seconds per image
This is usable.
Not instant.
But stable and reliable.
Stable Diffusion 1.5 Light
This is where things get interesting.
- Score: 9048 points
- Generation speed: 3.454 seconds per image
That is fast.
Especially for a 1.36kg laptop.
What About Stable Diffusion XL?
It could not be tested.
Why?
Insufficient VRAM.
The RTX 5050 comes with 8GB VRAM, which is not enough for SDXL in this setup.
This is an important limitation to know.
What This Means in Real Life
If you use:
- AI photo tools
- On-device image generation
- Windows AI features
- Lightweight local models
This laptop handles them well.
But if your work depends on large AI models or SDXL-level workloads, this is not the right machine.
And that is okay.
LG never claimed it was.
Final Thought on AI Performance
This laptop is not chasing AI hype.
It is quietly prepared for it.
CPU, GPU, and NPU all work together.
That balance is rare in ultra-light laptops.
Honestly, it feels like LG built this for what laptops will do next year.
Not just what they do today.
And that makes it interesting.
G gram Pro 16Z90TR is trying something risky and honestly impressive.
It puts a dedicated NVIDIA RTX 5050 GPU inside one of the lightest 16-inch laptops ever made.
That alone raises one question.
Can thin and light really handle real performance?
Let me explain it clearly, step by step, without wasting your time.
What This Laptop Is Trying To Do
The LG gram Pro 16Z90TR is not a gaming laptop.
It is not a workstation either.
It is a portable productivity machine that dares to add a real GPU without killing weight, thermals, or battery life.
That balance is the whole story here.
AI Inference Performance (Simple Explanation)
LG tested on-device AI using the ONNXRuntime DirectML inference engine.
This checks how well the laptop runs language models locally, without the cloud.
Here are the results.
- PHI 3.5: 1600
- Mistral 7B: 1392
- LLaMA 3.1: 1117
- LLaMA 2: failed to run
The laptop could generate instructions correctly on modern models.
But there is one thing you should know.
TTFT, First Token Latency, was slow.
That means the model takes a bit of time before responding.
Once it starts, the speed is fine.
So for local AI testing or learning, it works.
For heavy daily LLM usage, it is not ideal.
3D Creation Performance (CPU + GPU)
This part matters for creators.
V-Ray 6 Results
- CPU Rendering: 16,380 vsamples
- GPU CUDA: 751 vpaths
- GPU RTX: 2,620 vrays
For a thin laptop, this is solid.
Especially the RTX result, which shows the GPU is doing real work.
Blender 4.5.0 Results
- CPU Rendering Score:216.03
- Top 63% of tested devices
- GPU Rendering Score:1880.04
- Top 27% of tested devices
This tells us something important.
The RTX 5050 is usable, not powerful.
It helps, but it does not replace higher-end GPUs.
Video Editing Performance
If you edit videos, this section matters.
In UL Procyon Video Editing, without GPU acceleration, the score was:
- 20,399
In real 4K Premiere Pro editing, playback and timeline scrubbing felt much smoother than integrated graphics laptops.
This is where the RTX 5050 quietly shines.
Not flashy.
Just practical.
Photo Editing Test (Important Limitation)
The UL Procyon Photo Editing test failed twice.
Both times, it failed at the Photoshop batch sharpening step.
This suggests memory or workflow limits under heavy batch tasks.
It is usable for editing.
It is not built for large automated workloads.
Memory Performance (Read This Carefully)
The laptop comes with:
- 32GB LPDDR5 RAM
- On-board memory
- No upgrade option
This is a big drawback.
Especially if you plan to run large local AI models.
AIDA64 Memory Results
- Read: 83,306 MB/s
- Write: 81,738 MB/s
- Copy: 107.19 GB/s
- Latency: 130.6ns
L3 Cache Performance
- Read: 208.14 GB/s
- Write: 440.20 GB/s
- Copy: 479.44 GB/s
- Latency: 17.5ns
Fast memory.
But fixed forever.
Storage Performance
LG switched from SK Hynix to Samsung SSDs.
You get:
- 1TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD
- Two M.2 2280 slots
Storage Benchmarks
- CrystalDiskMark:
- Read 6924.69 MB/s
- Write 4846.23 MB/s
- TxBench QD32:
- Read 6929.056 MB/s
- Write 5081.435 MB/s
- AS SSD:
- Read 4885.25 MB/s
- Write 2349.73 MB/s
- Score 5120
Surprisingly, the Samsung SSD is slightly slower than the previous generation.
Not bad.
Just not an upgrade.
Battery Life (Real Numbers)
The laptop has a 90Wh battery.
Test conditions were fair and realistic.
- Brightness at 40%
- Wi-Fi on
- Bluetooth and keyboard backlight off
- Balanced power mode
Result
- 10 hours 23 minutes
- From 100% to 3%
This is almost 6 hours less than last year’s integrated GPU model.
That is expected.
A dedicated GPU always costs battery.
Charging Speed
- 15% to 100% in 1 hour 1 minute
- Using the 100W charger
Fast and reliable.
GPU Details (What RTX 5050 Really Is)
The RTX 5050 is part of NVIDIA’s Blackwell lineup.
Released in June this year.
Specs in simple terms:
- 2,560 CUDA cores
- 20 Ray Tracing cores
- 80 Tensor cores
- 8GB GDDR7 VRAM
- Built on TSMC 4nm
- Supports DLSS 4 and NVIDIA Reflex
It runs at around 65W.
That power limit matters.
Graphics Benchmarks (Real World View)
3DMark Scores
- Fire Strike: 15,214
- Fire Strike Extreme: 7,942
- Fire Strike Ultra: 4,044
About 2x faster than last year’s gram with dGPU.
Still far behind RTX 5060.
- Time Spy: 5,901
- Time Spy Extreme: 2,888
- Port Royal: 3,473
Ray tracing works.
Just not fast.
Gaming Performance (Honest Truth)
Yes, it runs games.
No, it is not smooth everywhere.
Final Fantasy XV
- High Quality: 4179
- Standard Quality: 5279
Playable.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- Ultra: 48 fps
- Medium: 55 fps
Lowering settings helps.
But this is not effortless gaming.
Battlefield 6
- Playable with DLSS
- Around 30 fps
- Frame drops happen
This laptop can play AAA games.
But compromises are mandatory.
Final Verdict
The LG gram Pro 16Z90TR is not trying to be powerful.
It is trying to be possible.
A 16-inch laptop, extremely light, with a real RTX GPU, decent battery, and creator-level performance.
It succeeds.
But with clear limits.
If you want portability with occasional power, this is impressive.
If you want raw performance, this is not the right machine.
That balance is the whole point.
And honestly, it is kind of wild that LG pulled it off at all.
LG gram Pro 16Z90TR faces its biggest test where it matters most for ultra-light laptops, heat control.
Thermal Performance, Explained Simply
This test used CINEBENCH R20 and FurMark, two tools that push the CPU and GPU hard.
The goal was simple, check how hot the laptop gets and how it behaves under pressure.
Temperatures When Idle
When the laptop was just sitting there, not doing anything heavy, the numbers were already interesting.
- CPU temperature: 59°C
- GPU temperature: 50.2°C
Body heat was checked using a FLIR thermal camera, not by touch.
- Average body temperature: 32.7°C
- Hottest spot: Rear exhaust vent at 44°C
- Left wrist rest: 31.6°C
- Right wrist rest: 32.2°C
Basically, it feels normal on your hands when idle.
Temperatures Under Heavy Load
Things change once the system is pushed hard.
JB ran five back-to-back rounds of CINEBENCH R20 and FurMark together.
This is a worst-case scenario.
- CPU temperature: 83°C average
- CPU peak: 105°C
- GPU temperature: 84.8°C
That CPU peak is high, no sugarcoating that.
Performance Drop Explained
After five rounds of stress testing:
- CINEBENCH R20 score: 3404 points
That is about 45 percent lower than normal runs.
This tells us the system throttles to protect itself.
It stays stable, but performance is reduced to control heat.
How Hot Does the Laptop Feel?
Thermal imaging gives a clearer picture.
- Average body temperature after stress: 34.2°C
- Hottest area: Rear heatsink at 52.7°C
- Center of keyboard area: 45.7°C
The center feels warm, not burning hot.
The heat stays mostly away from your palms.
Fan Noise and Charging Heat
During full load testing:
- Fan noise: 57.9 dB
This is noticeable, but still reasonable.
Sensitive users can switch cooling modes, but performance will drop.
Charging under load also adds heat.
- Charging power: 93.78 W
- Charger temperature: 40°C
What This Means in Real Life
The core strength of the gram Pro 16Z90TR is simple.
- A 16-inch laptop
- With a GeForce RTX 5050
- In a body weighing around 1.3 kg
Right now, it is the lightest 16-inch laptop with dedicated graphics.
For creators, this matters.
- Video editing
- High-resolution photo work
- AI-accelerated tasks
All run far better than on integrated graphics.
The Big Compromise
Extreme thinness always comes at a price.
To control heat and power:
- GPU wattage is set low
- Overall performance is conservative
Because of this, gaming performance is weaker than heavier RTX 5050 laptops.
Comparison That Matters
The closest competitor is the ROG Zephyrus G16 2025.
- Starts with RTX 5060
- Costs about 10,000 yuan more
- Heavier, but stronger in raw performance
If performance comes first, the Zephyrus makes sense.
Design and Daily Use
Design-wise, the gram Pro 16Z90TR is clean but not exciting.
It also picks up fingerprints easily.
What it does well:
- 16-inch high color gamut display
- Full-size keyboard with numeric keypad, rare and useful for creators
Battery life hits around 10 hours for document work.
Heavy tasks like photo or video editing drain it much faster.
Software and AI Features
LG’s software has improved a lot.
- LG Glance by Mirametrix offers strong privacy protection
- LG apps are redesigned
- Both on-device AI and cloud AI are included
But there are limits.
- Only English and Korean are supported
- Cloud AI has daily usage caps
With so many free AI tools available, this limits its value for now.
Final Verdict
If you want absolute performance, and you can handle more weight and higher price, go for the ROG Zephyrus G16.
If your priority is light weight, portability, and the ability to edit photos and videos anywhere, the LG gram Pro 16Z90TR makes more sense.
It does not chase maximum power.
It chases balance.
And honestly, that balance is very rare in a 16-inch laptop with dedicated graphics.
Quick Summary
The LG gram Pro 16Z90TR is built for one clear purpose, deliver real GPU power in an ultra-light 16-inch body.
It succeeds at portability better than anything else in its class.
But to reach that weight, performance had to be limited.
This is not a gaming-first laptop.
It is a creator-first, travel-friendly machine.
Final Conclusion
If you care most about lightness, mobility, and having RTX graphics anywhere you go, this laptop makes a lot of sense.
If you want maximum performance, higher GPU wattage, and better sustained gaming results, heavier laptops will always win.
The gram Pro 16Z90TR does not try to be the fastest.
It tries to be the lightest powerful laptop, and it succeeds.
Pros
- Lightest 16-inch laptop with dedicated GPU
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 beats integrated graphics by a wide margin
- Excellent for photo editing, video work, and AI tasks
- High color gamut 16-inch display, creator-friendly
- Full-size keyboard with numeric keypad, rare in this segment
- Good thermals for daily work, palm areas stay comfortable
- Around 10 hours battery life for light document use
- Strong privacy features with LG Glance by Mirametrix
Cons
- Performance is limited due to conservative power settings
- Noticeable CPU throttling under long, heavy workloads
- Not ideal for serious gaming
- Fan noise increases in extreme performance mode
- Body attracts fingerprints easily
- Cloud AI features are limited by language and daily caps
- Battery life drops fast during heavy creative work
Who Should Buy It
Buy this if you want:
- A 16-inch RTX laptop you can carry all day
- A machine for creative work on the move
- Maximum portability with acceptable performance
Skip it if you want:
- The strongest RTX 5050 gaming performance
- Better sustained power without compromises
This laptop is about freedom and mobility, not raw numbers.