Today, we’re introducing a major set of upgrades to the Framework Laptop spanning two new models – the Framework Laptop 13 (13th Gen Intel® Core™) and the Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen™ 7040 Series). We’ve not only scaled up performance and enabled an AMD-powered version for the first time, but we’ve also delivered refinements to the day-to-day user experience with a higher capacity battery, matte display, louder speakers, and more ridgid hinges.
And Framework kept their promise: these new mainboards can be ordered separately and fit into the existing Framework 13″ laptop.
The company also showed off their next product – a 16″ laptop that not only comes with an upgradeable GPU, but also a completely configurable input deck, so you can configure the keyboard and trackpad area in any configuration you like.
I’m so happy Framework is doing well, as it shows that glued shut, non-repeairable, and non-upgradeable laptops are not some sort of universal inevitable truth.
I was a little cautious with Framework. The entire premise was that you would be able to benefit from the hardware and ecosystem for years to come. But that isn’t much value if the company falls flat in two or three years.
But the latest announcements and seeing what they’re doing with the 16″ laptop it will absolutely be my next computer. Linus Tech Tips did a really good video on it that I believe was published today.
I am skeptical too but you never know, this could be one of those exceptions. Even if they could just put pressure on other companies to improve their products it would be a win for consumers, but that doesn’t happen when the competition evaporates. All too often large incumbents eat everyone’s lunch leaving us with little choice and boring uninspired products, just like what’s happened with the google & apple phone duopoly. So many tried to compete but failed leaving only two platforms 🙁
I am intrigued about the upgradeable GPU and what interface it will use. Manufacturers slowly abandoned MXM after Pascal and Turing (depending on the manufacturer) and are either soldering the GPU on the motherboard (the most common case) or using proprietary interfaces such as Dell Graphics Form Factor (which means Dell can arbitrarily cut you off from upgrades, which they did for people who bought Turing-era Alienware laptops with DGFF supposed upgradeability).
The Linus Tech Tips (Linux is a Framework investor) video has a hands-on preview of the 16″
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeCdBVHYa_8
and confirms that they’re using the Dell Graphics Form Factor DGFF.
If you’re interested in more details about the eGPU or anything else about either the 13″ updates or the new 16″ there’s lots of good info in that video.
I’m a Framework laptop owner and a bit of a fanboi — but still pretty impressed at how much customer feedback they’ve addressed in such a short period of time. They’ve had very predictable growing pains — some quality issues, some customer support issues — but they’re a very principle-driven company and it really shows in their products.
I love my laptop and just have to believe that good products can still win in the long run.
They say they’re using the DGFF connector, but Dell never published the pin layout details; so these cards are not interchangeable with any of Dell’s old [not really] upgradable Alienware GPUs. This was most likely to save costs as some factories already had the tooling to create that connector.
rlees42,
I’m a fan of the modular laptop idea as well: buy, use, and upgrade only the components you need is a refreshing idea. This is in stark contrast to other manufactures who’ve switched to soldering everything and even using DRM to make sure nothing is serviceable.. Especially things like SSD should be user serviceable, because it’s such a useful upgrade down the line. And considering flash’s limited lifespan, soldering it in is absolutely shameful! I like the framework philosophy and goal of countering these trends, but their execution still needs a bit of work…
https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/24/23655616/framework-laptop-battery-i5-ryzen-5-higher-price
I understand framework’s position on product standardization, but I personally agree with Sean Hollister that the inability to buy all the components (and just the components) he wants is bad for framework customers. It’d be one thing to offer a lower price for prebuilt bundles, but to actually tell customers they cannot buy what they want without buying more unwanted ewaste for a laptop that is meant to be modular…ouch that’s a significant blow to their credibility. I hope framework rethink this policy. I think they will if it gets enough attention.
I think one of the key things is that “escape valve” thing in the linked article. There are =certainly= people who are passionate about not being able to get what they want, but Framework is making a judgement call on what they think is the best solution for conflicting objectives. 95% of the people will be satisfied with that. And for the 1% that are =really= upset about it, they always have the choice of ordering the extra battery separately, and assessing the total cost against their other alternatives. Sure there’s an environmental compromise, but in the grand scheme of things the actual impact is likely to be a smidgen in an ocean. I think the Rolling Stones were onto something here…
rlees42,
Isn’t that a made up statistic though?
To be fair, the gripe wasn’t just the cost, but also the fact that forcing customers to do that contributes to the ewaste problem. Not to make too big a deal of it, but I honestly think framework can and should do better and I hope that by talking about it they will. For instance tack on $20 customization fee to cover the few minutes it should take to do the swap and make everyone happy.
I don’t understand the musical reference, but a counter point is that in the grand scheme of things everyone goes about their day ignoring their own culpability because they feel their tiny environmental compromises don’t matter. But collectively all these compromises really do add up. So I don’t think we should be excusing it especially for such low hanging fruit like this.
“You can’t always get what you want”.
Solid points about “do better” and a really good idea about a surcharge for non-standard configurations.
I guess I was just saying that they’re a small company, I recently heard only 40 employees, and they need to be cut some slack. If you interact with them you get the distinct impression that they’re definitely “doing their best” — just that a startup can’t try to do everything and those that do try often fail.
Of course my % numbers were made up, I thought it was obvious they were representative of what I think rather than explicit truths, but I’ll try to be more careful next time!
Wish I was able to go with Framework like 6 months ago when I got a new laptop but they don’t make touchscreens yet.
Unfortunately I find touchscreens too useful while playing guitar and using the editor software for my Pod Go.