Framework did it — with the Laptop 16, you can upgrade the GPU. While the laptop is extremely customizable, it still has some fit and finish issues and is pricey, particularly if you're using it for gaming.
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Imagine not needing to replace your entire laptop when you want a new GPU. It's been tried before, but never successfully. But with the release of the second-generation Framework Laptop 16, you have a system with a realistic GPU upgrade path.The new Framework Laptop 16 comes with the option of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 laptop GPU, which can power your new laptop or replace the GPU in the original Framework Laptop 16 from 2024.
While that makes this the most repairable and upgradeable laptop we've ever seen, it still may not be the best gaming laptop . It's more expensive than most other RTX 5070 machines, and Framework still needs to work on making this system feel as premium as its price.
Design of the Framework Laptop 16
Framework's latest 16-incher doesn't appear different from the one we tested in early 2024, but there are a few changes. While the laptop still has a silver lid with its logo on the top, the company says it's using a new structure for the CNC aluminum that should make it stronger. There's still some flex, though, particularly in the center (especially when the lid is open).
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Our DIY edition laptop still came in a way that feels initially surprising — without a keyboard installed. That's because you have to choose how to align and install it. If you add the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Graphics module like we did, the laptop expands in the back, taking up more room on your desk. But with the touchpad in place and a bezel preinstalled (with a thick bottom edge), this is definitely a large laptop. How you add the keyboard will depend if you also bought a number pad, RGB macropad, or various spacers.
Building the system includes adding the SSD, RAM, and the optional GPU module. Framework has a comprehensive startup guide for the process .For the most part, you can install the keyboard and touchpad anywhere you want. There are a few combinations that won't work , but they don't look like choices I would make. They mostly have to do with having the keyboard or touchpad on the extreme right side.
The keyboard and other accessories go in easily. You place them at an angle and lower them into magnetic connectors. If you want to move them, there are easy pull tabs to get them out of the casing. The keyboard and macros are controlled by a browser-based version the open-source software VIA (found at keyboard.frame.work ), which is often used in custom or enthusiast keyboards. Those unfamiliar with VIA will have a bit of a learning curve here.
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