LG is joining the ranks of Lenovo, Asus, and HP by introducing its own foldable laptop, aptly named the LG Gram Fold. The device will be available for purchase online in South Korea starting from October 4th, priced at 4.99 million won (approximately $3,697). While an international release has not been confirmed yet, LG’s entry into the foldable laptop market signifies a growing trend in the industry.
Much like its predecessors, the LG Gram Fold offers versatile usage scenarios due to its single large foldable display. Users can adapt it to different orientations, making it a flexible computing device. Here are some of its usage modes:
- Laptop Mode: Fold it upright and attach a Bluetooth keyboard to use the lower part of the screen as a 12-inch laptop with a 3:2 aspect ratio.
- Tablet Mode: Flatten the laptop completely to use it as a tablet.
- Desktop Mode: Add a keyboard to utilize it like a desktop computer with a spacious 17-inch screen.
- Book Mode: Half-fold the laptop for a book-like experience, holding it in landscape orientation.
The LG Gram Fold’s display boasts a resolution of 1920 x 2560 and a peak brightness of 500 nits. LG Display, in a separate announcement, highlighted a “specialized material” on the folding area of the screen to reduce creasing. LG claims the Gram Fold can withstand up to 30,000 folding cycles, which is considered robust for a laptop, given that laptops are generally folded and unfolded less frequently than smartphones.
While the Gram Fold’s foldable display is the standout feature, its other specifications are more modest. It is powered by an Intel i5-1335U CPU, equipped with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a 72Wh battery. The laptop weighs 1250 grams, measuring 19.9mm in thickness when folded and 9.4mm when unfolded. It runs Windows 11 and features a pair of USB-C ports, one of which is Thunderbolt 4 compatible, and the other is USB 3.2 Gen 2×1. The device is stylus compatible, with the stylus sold separately.
LG’s entry into the foldable laptop market is a testament to the growing interest in such devices. With LG Display, Samsung Display, and BOE manufacturing foldable panels, it’s likely that other laptop manufacturers will follow suit. As the technology matures, future models may become more accessible in terms of pricing, making foldable laptops more attainable for a broader audience.
