Two years ago, at Framework’s last event in San Francisco, the spotlight was on the Framework Laptop 16 — a device touted as the “holy grail” of upgradable graphics cards and one of the most ambitious laptops in the market.
However, today’s event shifted focus away from the Framework Laptop 16 to the launch of the new Framework Desktop, aimed at gamers. While both products received the latest AMD processors, there is no clarity on when the Framework Laptop 16 will see similar advancements.
The only significant update regarding Framework’s flagship laptop was the introduction of a new “One Key Module”. This experimental feature allows the Framework community to design their own electromechanical keyboards that can fit into the Laptop 16’s sleek Input Module bay. You can view a demonstration of the Input Modules in this video.
Framework’s CEO discusses the One Key Module, featured prominently in this prototype all-black board. | Image: Framework (YouTube)”>
Framework did manage to launch its much-anticipated M.2 adapter bay in December, which facilitates the addition of extra SSDs or peripherals to the Framework Laptop 16 instead of just discrete graphics cards. My pressing question remains: is the promising yet somewhat problematic laptop going to evolve, or is it a dead end?
I caught up with Framework’s CEO, Nirav Patel, during the event. While he was tight-lipped about specifics, he emphasized, “We’re nowhere near done with Framework Laptop 16.”
I pressed further, asking if he could guarantee that the Laptop 16 would eventually receive a GPU upgrade or a snap-on secondary battery. His response was clear: “Today is not that day.”
As someone who supports Framework’s journey, I wonder if it’s premature to be concerned — the company was still fulfilling preorders for the Laptop 16 well into last year.
Historically, upgrades can be tricky; rivals have stumbled in this area. For instance, Dell/Alienware faced legal challenges over unmet promises regarding the Alienware Area-51m, which never saw a second-generation upgrade for its GPUs.
Framework has been cautious in addressing GPU upgrades, avoiding firm commitments. In our previous coverage, Patel’s exact statements reflected this cautious approach. It would be reassuring for buyers to receive definitive assurances about future upgrades. Personally, there are several aspects of this laptop I would like to see improved, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Framework is reconsidering its approach even as it fulfills existing commitments.
