[Mania] From Laptop, Tablet to E-Book... All-in-One with Maximum Utility 'LG Gram Fold'

LG Gram Fold Review
Unnoticeable Hinge Crease Is an Advantage
Lack of Connection Ports Is a Drawback

"When unfolded, a 17-inch tablet; when folded, a 12-inch laptop; and when folded horizontally, an e-book."

LG Electronics unveiled the 'LG Gram Fold' last month. It is the first foldable laptop in Korea equipped with a foldable organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel, and it set a record by selling out its initial stock within six minutes of going on sale at an online brand shop. LG Electronics has created a space at the Geumseong Radio Refresh Center located in Gyeongdong Market, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, where consumers can experience the LG Gram Fold. I used the Gram rental service available on-site to borrow and try the product myself.

The 'LG Gram Fold', the first foldable laptop in Korea equipped with an OLED panel.
[Photo by Han Yeju]

First, the size when folded was slightly smaller than an A4 sheet of paper. Despite having a 17-inch display, it was designed to be foldable, which is a strong point for portability. The weight is 1.5kg. Excluding the Bluetooth keyboard, it boasts a light weight of 1.25kg. However, considering the weight of the dedicated pouch, it exceeds 2kg. Since most users are expected to carry the pouch due to the stand function, those accustomed to lightweight laptops might find it somewhat inconvenient.

The display uses OLED, so the contrast ratio was striking. The color reproduction rate was also 99.5%, making it suitable for work purposes.

I was most curious about the crease on the hinge when the screen was folded, but it was barely noticeable. This is thanks to the wide design of the hinge area. Using a pen was smooth without any discomfort. The product passed a test of folding the hinge 30,000 times, which alleviates concerns about crease durability. However, the hinge made the product noticeably thick. Although it is an advantage that it can be folded even with the dedicated keyboard attached, when folding without the keyboard, the empty space felt somewhat large. This could allow foreign substances to enter easily, so caution is needed during use.

The product was quite thick due to the wide hinge. When folded, excluding the keyboard, the empty space felt significantly large.
Photo by Han Yeju

The high versatility of the foldable laptop was noteworthy. Attaching the Bluetooth keyboard allows it to be used like a traditional laptop, and the screen can be split vertically. When fully unfolded, it becomes a large monitor. Folding it halfway creates a book-like setup. When the screen is stood vertically or rotated horizontally, the screen orientation and aspect ratio automatically adjust according to the mode. When the keyboard is placed on the screen to use the laptop function, the lower screen automatically turns off.

The keyboard charges automatically just by placing it on top, so there is no need for separate charging, which is convenient. It takes about three hours to fully charge the keyboard, and based on four hours of daily use, it can last about 15 days. The product’s own charging time is not long. Since the front of the product is covered by the display, power consumption is high. It takes three hours to fully charge and can be used for up to four hours a day.

When fully unfolded, the product becomes a large 17-inch tablet. The screen can also be split into up to four sections, making it highly versatile.
[Photo by Han Yeju]

The LG Gram Fold is equipped with a 13th generation Intel Core i5-1335U CPU and Intel Iris XE integrated graphics, allowing for light gaming. While it is not a high-end gaming laptop, it has a moderate specification that is not too weak.

It was disappointing that there were few connection ports. There are only two ports in total: one USB4.0 Type-C port and one USB 3.2 Type-C port. Considering the product is classified as a laptop, the absence of a standard USB port and HDMI port could cause inconvenience in use.

The product color is a single color, black. The texture and design were somewhat disappointing.
Photo by Han Yeju

The high price is also a barrier to entry. The LG Gram Fold’s retail price is 4,990,000 KRW. Even considering that it is a limited edition and that the foldable laptop market itself is not yet mainstream, the price is burdensome for general consumers. The design is somewhat bulky. It is also regrettable that it is available only in black. Considering the price, it is not a laptop with a luxurious design or texture.