Foldable displays might not be mainstream yet, but that’s not stopping companies from experimenting with these new displays in their products. This innovation isn’t just confined to smartphones, with laptops and hybrid PCs also catching the foldable fever.
LG, not one to be left out, recently introduced the LG Gram Fold, a 17-inch powerhouse with a 2560 x 1920 pixel display that neatly folds down the middle. Once folded, it turns into something resembling a notebook with two 12.3-inch displays, each with a resolution of 1920 x 1280 pixels – one up top and one down below.
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Weighing in at nearly 1.25 kg, the Gram Fold does more than double duty and can easily transform into a giant tablet, a compact laptop, or a pint-sized all-in-one PC, making it a versatile choice for both work and entertainment. In terms of dimensions, it measures 19.9mm thick when folded, slimming down to 9.4mm when unfolded. The massive display boasts a peak brightness of 500 nits and maintains an aspect ratio of 4:3.
In a press release regarding the mass production of the display panel used in the Gram Fold, LG emphasised the use of a “specialised material” in the foldable screen area to minimise creasing and also guaranteed the durability of the Gram Fold, with a rating for enduring 30,000 folding cycles. “In addition, the 17-inch Foldable OLED features an ‘in-folding’ design, allowing it to fold inwards with ease,” notes LG.
The Gram Fold shares several key features with its other foldable counterparts and can be used in a variety of orientations. You can fold the display upright and use it like a laptop with a Bluetooth keyboard, or, you can ditch the physical keyboard and type on the virtual keyboard on the screen itself.
Fully flattening the laptop lets you use it like a tablet, or you can add a keyboard to use it like a computer with a 17-inch screen. There’s also a book mode that’s designed for you to half-fold the laptop and hold it in your hands in landscape mode.
Besides its big and shiny folding screen, the LG Gram Fold sports some relatively average specifications under the hood. It’s equipped with an Intel i5-1335U CPU, which is part of Intel’s 10th gen Raptor Lake-U CPU lineup, along with 16GB of RAM, a 512GB storage capacity, and a 72Wh battery. For connectivity, it provides a pair of USB-C ports, with one supporting Thunderbolt 4 and the other featuring USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 compatibility. Furthermore, the Gram Fold offers stylus compatibility and the option of a detachable keyboard, which are available as a separate purchase.
Just like many other foldable laptops on the market, the LG Gram Fold comes with a pretty hefty price tag that’s absurdly high considering the specs and features it offers. Currently, the LG Gram Fold will be available for purchase online only in South Korea for 4.99 million won (or about AUD$5,792) starting on October 4. We’re still waiting for details about its international release, as LG has not yet provided any information about a global launch.
