The Last Gaming Laptop You’ll Ever Need? Framework 16 Review

The Framework 16 is the most unique gaming laptop I’ve ever tested! It has a crazy level of customization, repairability and upgrade options including swappable GPU - but it does not come cheap - Let’s find out if it’s worth it in this review!

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Framework Laptop 16 (2024) Review Timestamps:
0:00 This Laptop is Crazy!
0:16 Design & Build Quality
1:02 Laptop Specs
1:11 Upgradeable GPU Installation
1:40 Size & Weight (With & Without dGPU)
1:59 Keyboard, Touchpad & Lighting Customization
4:36 Fingerprint Scanner
4:48 Port Customization with Expansion Cards!
6:06 Display Connections to iGPU or dGPU
6:44 Problem with HDMI Expansion Card
7:05 Getting Inside & Internals
7:42 SSD Upgrades & Speed
8:22 Wi-Fi Speed is Crazy!
8:30 Upgrade Options are Insane!
9:21 Speakers & Latencymon
9:37 Battery Size & Power Saving Features
9:50 Battery Life Comparison
10:08 Battery Drain
10:33 Cooling Design
11:10 Lack of Performance Modes
11:38 Temperatures / Clock Speed / TDP
13:07 Improved Thermals in Newer Models
13:43 CPU Performance vs Others (On & Off Battery)
14:52 Does it Feel Hot - Keyboard Temperatures
15:26 Is it Loud - Fan Noise
16:03 Screen is High
16:37 Screen Color, Brightness, Contrast & Bleed
17:01 Screen Response Time & Latency
17:53 MUX Switch?
18:24 Camera & Microphone Test
18:40 3 Game Comparison at (1440p & 1080p)
20:13 3DMark & Content Creation
20:33 BIOS
20:53 Linux Support
21:12 Pricing, Availability & Laptop Deals
23:07 Is Framework Laptop 16 Worth Buying?
23:56 Even More New Gaming Laptops in 2024!

Disclosure: Purchases made through store links above may provide some compensation to Jarrod'sTech.

[Kumoiwa]

People complain about the price but this product is not aimed at the general public. The average laptop buyer is not used to upgrading anything, they just buy the new thing. As it stands, it's a very cool concept for the enthusiast market. Congrats to framework for releasing such an "outside the conventions" product, let's see if in a few years it has been successful.

[priyankgupta]

@JarrodsTech as a software developer I really really appreciate you having a dedicated section on Linux support. Little things like this make you the best laptop reviewer IMO

[ravine]

Framework sent out an email yesterday saying they made a fix for the mid-plate flex. Some people have their laptop already and Framework will offer the parts for those who want it.

Awesome video, your answered some questions I have about the laptop and it was a thorough review. Thanks!

[benjaminngopwaamos]

God knows how long I've waited for innovation like this. It's still pretty expensive, but I will begin to save for this. At least now I won't be stuck with a specific gpu/cpu pairing for years.

[fedora]

20:53 Props for the Linux support section, even if its simple, we are really proud of the official support from the Framework folks!

[leonro]

A large benefit of this laptop is the ability to upgrade RAM and storage at market prices. That brings the price more in line with equivalent laptops, especially now that a lot of them come with soldered LPDDR5 that makes it impossible to buy cheap and upgrade at home. Not to mention the macbooks that now cannot even have the SSD upgraded. I am seriously considering getting this laptop after university with the intention of adding 64gb of ram.

[MrHamof]

I believe the Framework 16 does support 240w charging, if you can find a charger that can do it. IIRC from the blog post Framework decided not to do that because inefficiency losses from converting 40v (What USB uses for 240w) to 12v (What laptop motherboards run on) were great enough that they'd need a (relatively) massive charger just to get rid of the extra heat.

22:30 Oh hey you mentioned it.

[Winnetou]

This was a great review!

Though, I do have to point out, I wish people realize that the best point about this laptop is the repairability, reusability and only then the upgradeability.

The thing is, if you have some defect, if you spill something on it, if you drop it, a car goes over one of its corners, a million possibilities, well, in those cases, Framework is by far the best in:
a) actually be able to repair it at all
b) have the cheapest / most minimal repair done to it

In relation to point a), most people have no idea how hostile towards repairing most other brands are. And how you might find youself forced to buy a new laptop or to replace big portions of it, even if only something very small needs to be replaced. Also that sometimes even if theoretically the repair can be done, realistically it cannot, because the OEM doesn't want to and because 3rd party repair shops (or you yourself if you want to) cannot find that component to buy it. And in other cases even if you have the component, the system might not accept it, unless you "calibrate it" aka use a special tool, that only the OEM has and doesn't share it, and if it doesn't want to do the repair, then you're, again, out of luck.

So, yes, it is more expensive than a similarly spec laptop, and usually has other downsides too (like more flex, or worse speakers and touchpad etcetc). However, it is basically the only one that you know you can use for the 10 years. INCLUDING if Framework goes bust next year. Because almost everything is open sourced, the community, and you, can buy other parts, you can use other Framework as parts donor, and ultimately, you can even build those parts yourself (or with some help). This, again, in the absolute worst case where Framework disappears soon. If it doesn't, then getting spare parts is trivial.

So, at least for me, the whole idea of the Framework laptop is that you have control over it, you can be sure that you buy it, you own it, and you can use it, even if unfortunate accidents happen. Also, if you upgrade it, there are already options to reuse the other components. Like, if you upgrade the Mobo + CPU (you have to upgrade both) then the old one you can put it in a small case and use it as a home/media server, like, say, for your TV. Or you can sell it to another one which needs to replace its mobo + CPU because the one it had got corroded by the Cola it spilled on it.

Lastly, on the upgrade part, two more points: if you find something you like you can keep using it, while upgrading the rest. For example, a keyboard / touchpad / numpad / macropad that you REALLY like, you get it once, and can continue using it for 10 years, even if you upgrade the CPU and/or GPU 5 times in the mean time. That is, getting a better CPU now doesn't have to come to checking how that laptop's keyboard is. That is awesome, to me. Second point, if you have low budget, just getting the Framework itself is expensive, but the upgrades, if you do it to older hardware, can be cheap. Say, if you have a Framework 13 with the original 11th gen Intel CPU, if you upgrade NOW to a 12th gen Intel CPU, because it's not the latest one, you can get it 2nd hand much cheaper. So, in theory, you can spend now, say, $2500, and another, say $400-500 (ok, maybe $1000 with GPU) in 6 years for a not-latest-gen upgrade, and use this laptop for 10 years, without it getting horribly out of date. (and before you jump and say that it's unrealistic or stupid, I'm still using a laptop from 2016 with i7 6700 and GTX 1060. I got lucky to hit the best GPU, but ignoring that, the system is still usable and it doesn't feel that slow for most tasks (notably except gaming). Going forward, the upgrades will be even slower, so if you get a high end CPU now, like 7940HS or 14900HX, it will likely still be very good in 2034, it should age better than 4-core 6700HQ)

Now really lastly, if you DO care about sustainability and pollution and all that, then you'd realize from what I wrote above, that this laptop, is, by far, the one which will have the lowest waste, if you think long term.

[Agent_M]

this should be the new normal for how laptops are designed, having powerful hardware that can me moved around at the users will.

[RafaeL_]

I believe that thinking of the Framework 16 as "a gaming laptop that could be upgraded" gives off the wrong impression. As mentioned in the video, its price-to-performance is not great compared to other more integrated options. It might make more sense to think of it as "a repairable, customizable, modular laptop that just so happens to be able to game too"

[mitchib]

I'm amazed that the Macbook got half a point. What was that for? Like a pitty point or something? There is literally nothing you can upgrade on those things. Hell, you can't even replace the lid angle sensor without getting some BS artificial error from Apple.

[PreDaToReLeaSeD]

Appreciate the fan noise test, couldnt easily find another review with fan noise, not even Linus even mentions fan noise in review

[Jasper-yzvy]

>69 upgrade score. My life is complete

[jipeh]

This is the greatest hope of the entire industry

[yensteel]

A little dismayed that the laptop isnt available everywhere yet. Been waiting for years.

[Tom_Quixote]

I love this kind of upgradeability and repairability. Should be industry standard.

[Capybara]

Thanks for actually recording the fan noise with a mic. I was wondering if it was one of those fans that made a high pitched whine but fortunately it sounds like that's not the case here.

[shellshock]

The issue is without a doubt the price. I love the ability of this. But price is still a hard sell. This is something mostly budget people need yet only premium prices can be afforded lol.

[XZDgg]

Here's to hoping they release something like a 7800m module. That'd be my "welp time to buy" sign for me. Having that visible upgrade goal to the to top end specs should be something available imo

[bassplayerify]

Framework is today what Lenovo a decade or so ago. Not only can you upgrade the memory, storage, and GPU. You can also replace the mainboard (and processor along with it) and battery as well. The screen can also be replaced. No special tools required just a standard t5.