Framework's 16-inch Laptop Took Me 30 Minutes To Assemble, But These Features Make It Truly Stand Out

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Framework laptop 16 is disposable for pre-order now astatine $1,499, pinch units shipping this month.
• The upgraded hardware and multi-vendor GPU options make it a high-performance instrumentality pinch tons of customization.
• It faces nan aforesaid challenges arsenic its predecessors, namely mediocre artillery life, beingness build inconsistencies, and it's expensive.

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Framework, shaper of DIY, modular, repairable PCs, conscionable released its latest Laptop 16 pinch a refreshed group of hardware, an updated mainboard, and immoderate outer build improvements. The refreshed Laptop 16 besides offers an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU -- a first for nan 16-inch -- on pinch nan AMD Radeon RX 7700S, affording users moreover much customization options for its description bay graphics module. 

First launched backmost successful 2023, nan caller Framework Laptop 16 is besides backwards compatible pinch erstwhile versions, allowing for a operation and lucifer of components from erstwhile builds to return advantage of nan upgraded hardware, sticking to nan brand's ethos of longevity and repairability.

Also: How this DIY Windows laptop stole my bosom from much costly models (and it useful pinch Linux)

There's a existent request for this benignant of sustainable, accessible product, particularly successful an system wherever consumers are fatigued pinch expensive, un-upgradeable laptops, planned obsolescence, and Microsoft's pulling of nan plug for Windows 10 support. 

The Framework Laptop 16 addresses astatine slightest a fewer of these issues pinch a instrumentality you tin customize from nan crushed up, load pinch Linux retired of nan box, and repair indefinitely pinch a robust community, extensive support, and unsocial creation choices. 

I precocious spent a fewer weeks pinch nan caller Framework Laptop 16 utilizing it arsenic my main driver, and person a batch of affirmative things to say, but location are decidedly immoderate things to beryllium alert of earlier going nan DIY route. 

First off, each of Framework's laptops travel successful either a pre-built configuration, aliases arsenic a DIY package. The second lives up to its name: it arrives arsenic a postulation of parts that require nan end-user to combine retired of nan box, including nan operating strategy (which comes pinch either Windows, Linux, aliases nary astatine all). 

The thought is that if users tin ace unfastened their laptop and instal their ain representation and SSDs successful a fewer easy steps, nan device's lifecycle tin beryllium extended acold beyond a emblematic banal laptop that's designed to past a fewer years earlier ending up successful a landfill. 

And it really is that easy pinch nan Framework laptop's modular design. The GPU, for example, is built into an description module that consists of nan laptop's full outer backing, nan keyboard and trackpad are removable pinch nary devices needed, and nan laptop's ports are swappable connected nan fly. 

Framework

Each soul constituent has a QR codification that users tin click to entree nan corresponding How-To page connected Framework's website, which features a robust and broad room of support content. After assembling a fewer different Framework PCs myself, I opportunity pinch assurance that if you tin put together an IKEA bookshelf, you tin do this. 

On nan laptop's configuration page, users tin prime hardware, pinch a fewer different disposable options. The refreshed Laptop 16 features an AMD Ryzen AI 350 aliases HX 370 "Krackan Point" processor released earlier this year, on pinch anyplace from 8GB to 96GB of DDR5-5600 RAM. 

Storage options are arsenic varied, pinch anyplace from 500GB to 8TB NVMe SSDs. Obviously nan costs scales pinch nan retention amount, and it gets pricey, pinch nan max action expanding nan wide value astir $700.

The description bay module that houses nan GPU now features a USB-C larboard successful nan center-back, which tin complaint and support up to 4 outer displays successful 1 slot. With six further ports (three connected each side), support for second-gen Display Port, and Wi-Fi 7, there's nary shortage of connectivity connected nan Laptop 16. 

Also: My cleanable MacBook Pro replacement is nan Windows laptop you slightest expect

Speaking of displays, nan Framework Laptop 16 has a amended 1 than I saw connected nan Laptop 12, which was a relief. You've sewage a 2560 x 1600 (WQXGA) matte non-touch show astatine 165Hz refresh, 500 nits of brightness, 100% of DCI-P3 colour gamut, and support for Nvidia G-Sync. For video contented 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 comparatively power-hungry, however, and doesn't precisely tally cool. Framework says it did a batch of activity to amended thermal capacity successful nan latest Framework 16, but successful my experience, results are mixed. 

First off, nan instrumentality architecture was redesigned pinch a caller controller pinch nan volition of reducing noise, but they tin still surely get large erstwhile they're cranking connected full. During heavier workloads extracurricular of gaming, they're comparable to competitors, but sustained gaming will make 'em pump. 

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

Second, nan Laptop 16 tin get warm, a truth that is particularly noticeable arsenic nan artillery is straight beneath nan trackpad. During mundane use, operating temperatures tended to enactment normal, but charging nan laptop from a debased battery, demanding tasks, aliases extended gaming resulted successful immoderate palpable power successful my testing. Although it's thing concerning, it often sewage a small toastier than I expected.

In that vein, artillery longevity connected nan Laptop 16 is not arsenic optimized arsenic its smaller counterparts. When I reviewed nan Framework 12 earlier this year, I noted its very bully artillery life, but that instrumentality besides features overmuch much humble hardware. The 85W artillery successful nan Laptop 16, by comparison, doesn't past nan full time for maine successful nan office, moreover pinch non-intensive workloads. 

It does vessel pinch a 240W charger though, meaning you tin tally sustained dense workloads pinch it and not spot immoderate powerfulness drain. This is really worthy noting, since it's not uncommon to spot much power-demanding laptops ship pinch chargers that aren't powerful enough to support them topped up nether sustained powerfulness demand.

Also: Are high-end Windows laptops worthy buying? I tested 1 from Dell, and it made a statement

The reality of moving pinch a modular laptop consisting of abstracted pieces intends that location are immoderate inevitable variances successful fresh and form. This is astir instantly evident connected nan keyboard and its associated spacers, which whitethorn require immoderate proceedings and correction to get conscionable right. Swapping 1 spacer portion for different tin consequence successful immoderate fitting amended than others, and not everything fits 100% seamlessly.

For immoderate people, this is an issue, for others, it's very overmuch not. The laptop's build leans connected a thoroughly DIY aesthetic, pinch utilitarian building that belies its expertise to beryllium disassembled. It's not astir upholding a polished, militant minimalism, because nan trade-off for that is simply a ceramic wall of accessibility for nan end-user. 

Instead, Framework's artistic embraces its imperfections: each individual module has its ain lifecycle and usage case. The laptop isn't an impenetrable azygous unit, it's a postulation of choices. 

This is besides reflected successful nan disposable colorways. Sure, you tin conscionable opt for achromatic and silver, but Framework besides sells components successful a wide scope of bold colour schemes and patterns you'd ne'er spot connected a firm Windows PC successful a cardinal years (although possibly the orangish is catching on to different products).  

If its beingness shape is simply a departure from conformity, it's besides not nan astir portable, pinch its crisp angles and chunky description bay module making it a situation to fresh successful immoderate bags. Additionally, its 4.6-pound weight puts it connected nan precocious extremity of what astir group will want to tote around. That said, it's surely not nan heaviest laptop available, and if you're considering it arsenic a gaming laptop, it's simply average. 

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

Other hardware elements travel this taxable of inferior complete polish. The webcam, for example, isn't precisely bad, but it's thing to constitute location astir (especially if you're coming from a MacBook). Similarly, nan speakers and onboard mic are conscionable bully enough. 

As a productivity device, nan keyboard and trackpad are beautiful to use. The keys person a pleasant cardinal recreation and consciousness premium, while nan trackpad -- though connected nan mini broadside -- is responsive (I conscionable wish it were placed somewhat little connected nan module). The Ryzen AI 300 bid CPU is well-suited for demanding workloads and sustained multitasking, but beryllium mindful of artillery settings if you're moving unplugged.

ZDNET's buying advice

The Framework Laptop 16 offers users a high-performance, fully-repairable desktop-quality laptop pinch support for up to 4 outer displays. I highly urge it to developers and enthusiasts who tally Linux and tinker pinch upgradeable modules, aliases anyone who wants a sustainable laptop to flight nan exertion upgrade rat race. 

If you're funny astir immoderate of these things but person ne'er assembled a laptop before, you won't find a amended organization aliases much robust bid of support and guides. I promote you to return nan plunge.  

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If, however, you request a portable laptop pinch marathon artillery life, aliases you're obsessive astir nan finer specifications of build quality, nan Framework Laptop 16 is astir apt not for you. This is simply a laptop that does champion powering aggregate monitors connected nan desk, and astir apt not arsenic an mundane commuter machine. 

At a starting value of $1,499, it's pricey, particularly for a DIY laptop, and peculiarly erstwhile you commencement opting for upgrades. But nan metallic lining present is its longevity and sustainable usage without nan threat of costly repairs.