Framework Unveils New Modular Laptop - the Framework Laptop 16
Framework, a startup company that champions the idea of repairable and upgradable technology, has announced a new addition to its lineup of modular laptops – the Framework Laptop 16. The new laptop takes modularity to a whole new level, allowing users to customize their devices in unprecedented ways.
The Framework Laptop 16 boasts a two-tone design that perfectly blends an Alienware gaming laptop and a MacBook Pro but with a fresh twist. However, the show's real star is the laptop's expansion systems. The most significant of these is the ability to swap out discrete GPUs, which has always been a challenge for the industry.
Framework claims to have solved this challenge with a new expansion bay system allowing completely independent modules to be swapped out separately from the Mainboard, enabling users to upgrade their graphics year after year. Framework did not specify which brand or model of discrete graphics would be supported.
The company has also designed a dual-m.2 riser card that can support up to 16TB of storage or an external GPU enclosure that can plug into any compatible laptop. The magic of Framework’s approach is its open-source mindset. This approach allows the developer community to take these modules to the next level, allowing limitless possibilities for customization.
The Framework Laptop 16 also features a customizable keyboard. The company has designed a modular keyboard that can support a centered standard keyboard or one with a number pad. Users can even slot the number pad in on the left since the keyboard and touchpad can be moved to make room.
Aside from the keyboard, Framework has also shown some potential use cases for these modules, including adding secondary screens, scroll wheels, or an LED matrix. The different parts will be available in the Framework Marketplace, where the company sells upgrades and third-party accessories for its laptops.
The Framework Laptop 16 also comes with broader ports, three expansion cards on each side, and a new audio expansion slot to move the headphone jack around or add multiple. The company has also announced an upgraded Intel 13th-gen Mainboard and its first AMD option, the Ryzen 7040 series.
Preorders for the Framework Laptop upgrades start today, while the AMD models won’t be available until Q3 of this year. The Intel 13th-gen Mainboards will be available in May, starting at $849 for the DIY model and $1,049 for the fully configured model.
The Framework Laptop 16 will open up for preorders sometime this spring and is set to ship in "late 2023." It's an exciting moment for the company, which is looking to change the conventional business models and upgrade cycles of the tech industry.
