The Framework laptop 16 is available for pre-order now at $1,499, with units shipping this month.
The upgraded hardware and multi-vendor GPU options make it a high-performance machine with lots of customization.
It faces the same challenges as its predecessors, namely mediocre battery life, physical build inconsistencies, and it’s expensive.
–>
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source<!–> on Google.
Framework, maker of DIY, modular, repairable PCs, just released its latest Laptop 16–> with a refreshed set of hardware, an updated mainboard, and some external build improvements. The refreshed Laptop 16 also offers an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU — a first for the 16-inch — along with the AMD Radeon RX 7700S, affording users even more customization options for its expansion bay graphics module.
First launched back in 2023, the new Framework Laptop 16 is also backwards compatible with previous versions, allowing for a mix and match of components from previous builds to take advantage of the upgraded hardware, sticking to the brand’s ethos of longevity and repairability.
Also: How this DIY Windows laptop stole my heart from more expensive models (and it works with Linux)
There’s a real demand for this kind of sustainable, accessible product, especially in an economy where consumers are fatigued with expensive, un-upgradeable laptops, planned obsolescence, and Microsoft’s pulling of the plug for Windows 10 support.
The Framework Laptop 16 addresses at least a few of these issues with a device you can customize from the ground up, load with Linux out of the box, and repair indefinitely with a robust community, extensive support, and unique design choices.
I recently spent a few weeks with the new Framework Laptop 16 using it as my main driver, and have a lot of positive things to say, but there are definitely some things to be aware of before going the DIY route.
Best laptop deals of the week
Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.
First off, all of Framework’s laptops come in either a pre-built configuration, or as a DIY package. The latter lives up to its name: it arrives as a collection of parts that require the end-user to assemble out of the box, including the operating system (which comes with either Windows, Linux, or none at all).
The idea is that if users can crack open their laptop and install their own memory and SSDs in a few easy steps, the device’s lifecycle can be extended far beyond a typical stock laptop that’s designed to last a few years before ending up in a landfill.
And it really is that easy with the Framework laptop’s modular design. The GPU, for example, is built into an expansion module that consists of the laptop’s entire outer backing, the keyboard and trackpad are removable with no tools needed, and the laptop’s ports are swappable on the fly.
<!–>
–>
Framework
Each internal component has a QR code that users can click to access the corresponding How-To page on Framework’s website, which features a robust and comprehensive library of support content. After assembling a few different Framework PCs myself, I say with confidence that if you can put together an IKEA bookshelf, you can do this.
On the laptop’s configuration page, users can select hardware, with a few different available options. The refreshed Laptop 16 features an AMD Ryzen AI 350 or HX 370 “Krackan Point” processor released earlier this year, along with anywhere from 8GB to 96GB of DDR5-5600 RAM.
Storage options are equally varied, with anywhere from 500GB to 8TB NVMe SSDs. Obviously the cost scales with the storage amount, and it gets pricey, with the max option increasing the overall price nearly $700.
The expansion bay module that houses the GPU now features a USB-C port in the center-back, which can charge and support up to four external displays in one slot. With six additional ports (three on each side), support for second-gen Display Port, and Wi-Fi 7, there’s no shortage of connectivity on the Laptop 16.
Also: My perfect MacBook Pro replacement is the Windows laptop you least expect
Speaking of displays, the Framework Laptop 16 has a better one than I saw on the Laptop 12, which was a relief. You’ve got a 2560 x 1600 (WQXGA) matte non-touch display at 165Hz refresh, 500 nits of brightness, 100% of DCI-P3 color gamut, and support for Nvidia G-Sync. For video content and gaming, it looks great, precisely what you’d expect for a mid-to-upper tier 16-inch gaming-capable laptop.
All of this hardware is relatively power-hungry, however, and doesn’t exactly run cool. Framework says it did a lot of work to improve thermal performance in the latest Framework 16, but in my experience, results are mixed.
First off, the fan architecture was redesigned with a new controller with the intention of reducing noise, but they can still certainly get loud when they’re cranking on full. During heavier workloads outside of gaming, they’re comparable to competitors, but sustained gaming will make ’em pump.
<!–>
Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET
Second, the Laptop 16 can get warm, a fact that is especially noticeable as the battery is directly below the trackpad. During everyday use, operating temperatures tended to stay normal, but charging the laptop from a low battery, demanding tasks, or extended gaming resulted in some palpable heat in my testing. Although it’s nothing concerning, it frequently got a little toastier than I expected.
In that vein, battery longevity on the Laptop 16 is not as optimized as its smaller counterparts. When I reviewed the Framework 12 earlier this year, I noted its very good battery life, but that device also features much more modest hardware. The 85W battery in the Laptop 16, by comparison, doesn’t last the whole day for me in the office, even with non-intensive workloads.
It does ship with a 240W charger though, meaning you can run sustained heavy workloads with it and not see any power drain. This is actually worth noting, since it’s not uncommon to see more power-demanding laptops ship with chargers that aren’t powerful enough to keep them topped up under sustained power demand.
The reality of working with a modular laptop consisting of separate pieces means that there are some inevitable variances in fit and form. This is most immediately evident on the keyboard and its associated spacers, which may require some trial and error to get just right. Swapping one spacer unit for another can result in some fitting better than others, and not everything fits 100% seamlessly.
For some people, this is an issue, for others, it’s very much not. The laptop’s build leans on a thoroughly DIY aesthetic, with utilitarian construction that belies its ability to be disassembled. It’s not about upholding a polished, militant minimalism, because the trade-off for that is a brick wall of accessibility for the end-user.
Instead, Framework’s aesthetic embraces its imperfections: each individual module has its own lifecycle and use case. The laptop isn’t an impenetrable single unit, it’s a collection of choices.
–>
This is also reflected in the available colorways. Sure, you can just opt for black and silver, but Framework also sells components in a wide range of bold color schemes and patterns you’d never see on a corporate Windows PC in a million years (although maybe the orange is catching on to other products).
If its physical form is a departure from conformity, it’s also not the most portable, with its sharp angles and chunky expansion bay module making it a challenge to fit in some bags. Additionally, its 4.6-pound weight puts it on the upper end of what most people will want to tote around. That said, it’s certainly not the heaviest laptop available, and if you’re considering it as a gaming laptop, it’s merely average.
<!–>
Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET
Other hardware elements follow this theme of utility over polish. The webcam, for example, isn’t exactly bad, but it’s nothing to write home about (especially if you’re coming from a MacBook). Similarly, the speakers and onboard mic are just good enough.
As a productivity device, the keyboard and trackpad are lovely to use. The keys have a pleasant key travel and feel premium, while the trackpad – although on the small side – is responsive (I just wish it were placed slightly lower on the module). The Ryzen AI 300 series CPU is well-suited for demanding workloads and sustained multitasking, but be mindful of battery settings if you’re working unplugged.
If you’re curious about any of these things but have never assembled a laptop before, you won’t find a better community or more robust series of support and guides. I encourage you to take the plunge.
Also: 12 ways to find viruses on your PC for free (and how to remove them)
If, however, you need a portable laptop with marathon battery life, or you’re obsessive about the finer details of build quality, the Framework Laptop 16 is probably not for you. This is a laptop that does best powering multiple monitors on the desk, and probably not as an everyday commuter machine.
At a starting price of $1,499<!–>, it’s pricey, especially for a DIY laptop, and particularly once you start opting for upgrades. But the silver lining here is its longevity and sustainable use without the threat of expensive repairs.
