published: 29th of December 2024
In November 2024 I purchased a Framework 16 laptop. This is my review.
I opted for these main components:
In hindsight, for my use, the Ryzen 7 7840HS would have been fine. It's basically the same CPU, except only 5.1Ghz and also $330 cheaper.
Framework laptops are designed with repair/upgradeability in mind. This allows you to upgrade components in the future without having to replace the whole laptop. When ordering the laptop, you have the options to build it to the specs that suit your needs.
I purchased the DIY model, which comes in pieces. It took me about 30 minutes to put the laptop together, plus 1-2 hours updating the BIOS and installing Windows 11.
The build instructions are very good, with clear videos showing how to put the components together.
Another advantage of the DIY model. I purchased RAM and NVMe drives from a local computer parts retailer for less than half the price of Framework branded products. I also purchased Windows 11 Pro OEM license for $13 from groupon.
If you don't want to DIY, you can also get one pre-built for you, for a $500 premium.
This is probably my favorite thing about the laptop. The 16" version has a Raspberry Pi microcontroller running QMK firmware. This allows you to reprogram the keys and define macros. They also provide easy mode with the web configurator.
Since the keys are programmable, I would love to see a version of the keyboard with the spacebar split into 2 or 3 keys. This would give you more options for using your thumbs for things other than space key. Something like the Japanese version for the 13".
The numpad is also optional, so I didn't get one. That means that I can have the keyboard in the center, rather than on the left or right. It might seem like a small thing, it's just so uncomfortable for me to have my arms over to the left or right when typing. A 16" laptop without a numpad is surprisingly hard to find.
The display is a nice high resolution and has Matt finish. This suits me perfectly, because I hate the reflection that you get on gloss display.
There is no touch option for the screen (praise jeebus). Touchscreen is not something I ever use on a laptop and always disable it in the BIOS.
Another nice feature of the screen are the physical camera and microphone activation switches. I'm paranoid, so I turn these off when I am not using them. I have been known to put tape over inbuilt cameras in the past. The switches make disabling them easy.
Instead of having fixed peripheral ports, the Framework has USB-C expansion slots. The 16" has 6x expansion slots (which are USB-C ports) where expansion cards can be connected. This allows you to mix and match your peripherals for different situations.
The shipping was pretty fast and free. Less than 1 week from order to delivery.
To get into the laptop body, you go in through the keyboard face. This means you have to take off the keyboard and touchpad. It's definitely not a quick as removing the bottom plate which has been the standard entrypoint on every other laptop I have had in the last 20 years. Thankfully, this is not something you should have to do very often.
The pricing was not the cheapest. The build cost $3600 + the cost of RAM and NVMe drives. For the specs the cost was pretty comparable to other brands retail pricing. However, the cost overtime should be lower due to future upgradability.
If you don't plan to upgrade parts in the future, better deals can be found with Lenovo, Dell, etc.. Especially around sale pricing.
If you are considering a Framework Laptop, I say go for it. I have no regrets and am very happy with my purchase. There are some things that could be different, but isn't that the case with every laptop? The difference with the Framework is, they can be, except the whole laptop does not need to be replaced.