Lastly, Cellular Gaming With Desktop Modularity

I ought to know what the brand new Framework Laptop 16 (2025) is able to, being that I’m the one who constructed it. Well, okay, I didn’t use a CNC machine to carve out the aluminum body or craft the fan equipment by hand like an previous shoemaker squinting at a boot’s sole within the dim gentle of an oil lamp. But I did set up all the things, from the SSD storage to the RAM, all the way in which as much as the display screen bezel, keyboard, and RGB-backlit numpad. I’m not a lot a tinkerer, however a follower of directions. Don’t knock it. That’s all it takes to introduce your self to the fun of PC constructing.

So when your subsequent desktop PC diehard tells you that no laptop computer shall be as customizable as their 45L desktop tower, you possibly can present them the brand new Framework Laptop 16. Of course, there’ll all the time be compromises for the sake of each repairability and portability. But if I had the selection of maintaining one gaming laptop computer at dwelling, even with the bevy of choices with higher audio system and higher screens, I should still look first to Framework. Because, when push involves shove, I might know that is nonetheless my laptop computer, and no person else’s.

Somehow, when all of the disparate items had been fitted collectively and I obtained down to truly utilizing the brand new Framework Laptop 16 in my each day grind, it’s a superbly usable gadget. Performance-wise, this laptop computer with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU and the model new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU module carried out comparatively nicely in comparison with different laptops with comparable specs. However, it nonetheless is probably not what you need contemplating the value.

The Laptop 16 DIY equipment that Framework despatched me for evaluate prices near $2,500, and that’s with no Windows 11 key or selecting any further I/O modules you possibly can swap out and in. Laptops going for across the identical worth or much less (although often on sale) will provide higher single-core and multi-core CPU efficiency; the latter being way more essential for inventive apps like video enhancing. Those gaming-ready computer systems usually embrace higher show know-how to make video games look sharper and have keyboards that don’t really feel such as you’re plinking away at a knockoff MacBook Magic Keyboard.

That’s to not say Framework’s tough edges are completely lackluster; they’re merely adequate. It’s extra essential for a Framework to have a baseline of high quality contemplating it’s a laptop computer that wishes you to maintain it ceaselessly. Framework computer systems are generally known as ultra-repairable, however that is the primary laptop computer I’ve used with a totally replaceable discrete GPU. The module hangs out within the again and accepts a full 240W of energy by way of USB-C, which can also be a primary for laptops. All the opposite laptop computer makers that declare you want a proprietary port for a gaming laptop computer can carry on whistling Dixie. The Framework Laptop 16 is the one laptop computer of its sort. Just as a result of it’s not the best nor the prettiest doesn’t imply it’s best to ignore it in favor of more-standard units. Sometimes, jank is a profit.

Swap your total keyboard format in lower than 30 seconds

I by no means had the prospect to construct the 2-year-old Framework 16 earlier than the brand new 2025 mannequin. Jumping in for the primary time took roughly half-hour all in all, together with me glancing forwards and backwards between the instructions and laptop computer. Getting beneath the mid plate requires utilizing an ordinary Phillips-head screwdriver to loosen 16 separate screws. It’s probably the most tedious a part of the method, however nothing so troublesome that it turns into tiresome. After that time, you possibly can set up your storage elements or no matter first-party or aftermarket elements you intend to stay inside. My system got here with a 1TB stick of WD Black M.2 2280 storage and a single 16GB DDR5-5600 RAM. There’s an additional slot inbuilt for extra reminiscence choices everytime you determine to improve.

Framework’s DIY equipment is available in a field full of all the required elements, from the display screen bezel right down to particular person spacer and I/O modules. Most of those fine details adhere to the Framework Laptop 16 by way of a intelligent mixture of magnets and slots. This means you don’t have to do any screwing to set the keyboard or trackpad in place. The bezel is equally idiot-proof. It merely requires you line it up with the perimeter and ensure its caught on tight. Alongside the normal black bezel, there are further orange and lavender choices. Unfortunately there’s no clear plastic choice like there may be on this 12 months’s Framework Laptop 13.

The new Framework Laptop 16 might be configured so you possibly can have a easy black 75% keyboard or allow per-key RGB lights behind both opaque or clear plastic keys. There are different choices for a numpad, an RGB “Macropad” (primarily a programmable numpad), or a collection of “spacers” with a type of Nineties aptitude that screams “tubular” in a Chester Cheetah voice. There’s even a set of LED matrix lights you possibly can, once more, program to indicate off no matter fits your fancy.

These magnetic attachment factors labored nicely sufficient normally, however that doesn’t imply each part is constructed completely. When initially developing the laptop computer, you’ll have to take away the 2 silver touchpad spacers. One of mine was off-colored in comparison with the opposite, and I discovered if I put in one on the fitting and the opposite on the left, the spacer would really feel free—capable of slide out and in with out a lot drive. Swapping them mounted that situation.

Modularity means sacrificing pristine aesthetics

When the Framework Laptop 16 is all configured to fit your wants, it received’t look as completely constructed as any non-repairable gadget you’ve used prior. The laptop computer’s silver end tends to get scuffed simply by overseas objects. Those odd panel strains actually received’t assist it win awards for aesthetics, both. Worse nonetheless is that the keyboard and trackpad have diploma of flex, each within the middle and on the peripheries. If you’re one to kind closely, these keys with their naked 1.5mm of journey will see a small bounce with each press.

The default trackpad feels high quality, and it’s large enough to permit your finger to glide with out too many points with palm rejection. At the identical time, the keyboard doesn’t really feel fairly as premium as up to date laptops for a similar worth. The smaller Framework Laptop 13 feels snappier beneath my fingertips. At the very least, with all of the RGB on and bedecked with the orange bezel, the Framework Laptop 16 appears to be like the a part of a gaming laptop computer with out something overt just like the Asus ROG “AniME Lights” strobing on the lid. In order to vary the gadget’s RGB or programmable buttons, it’s essential to skirt over to one of several web-based apps. It’s good to have a laptop computer that isn’t coming full of an obnoxious default Alienware, ROG, or Lenovo Legion app.

Every different laptop computer will inevitably disappoint for the variety of I/O ports accessible. The Framework Laptop 16 doesn’t have that downside. The rear GPU module holds the lone built-in 240W USB-C port that additionally accepts DisplayPort 2.1. There are an extra six whole slots the place you possibly can stick any variety of port modules. However, you possibly can’t simply stick six SD card slots into the laptop computer. The two modules closest to the trackpad received’t settle for something however USB-C 3.2 (not 240W succesful) and USB-A. Any different port will nonetheless settle for the total 240W energy brick.

Not the all-round multi-media laptop computer

The 240W energy brick isn’t almost that large it received’t act as ballast on a old-timey crusing vessel, although the laptop computer itself will battle to slot in any sized backpack laptop computer sleeve.

The base DIY equipment comes along with your typical IPS LCD show. Many high-end gaming laptops are switching over to OLED, which affords higher distinction and black ranges than conventional liquid-crystal show know-how. That’s to not say the display screen appears to be like dangerous; the black ranges aren’t almost as grey as some low-end LCDs. When you lastly get into your video games, the show is completely high quality even when it received’t make some titles with denser colour palettes like Hades II or The Outer Worlds 2 pop like they do on different methods.

Unlike the previous-gen Framework Laptop 16, the 2025 version sports activities a 165Hz refresh fee panel at 2,560 x 1,600 decision. It additionally now helps Nvidia G-Sync to hopefully minimize down any awkwardness when video games aren’t working on the max refresh fee.

The Framework Laptop 16 isn’t constructed to be the best-looking laptop computer round. By its nature, Framework’s “gaming” laptop computer with its massively thick backside display screen bezel will seem old skool, to some extent. At least it consists of an additional bodily toggle to allow the mic and 1080p webcam.

What is in some way higher than different laptops of this scale is the thermal design. Framework mentioned it improved the Laptop 16’s skill to deal with the warmth with optimized fan geometry and an improved Honeywell PTM pad on the CPU. When pushing the Framework Laptop 16 as laborious as it should go, the followers by no means kicked up wherever near the identical racket as different 14-inch or 16-inch laptops I’ve examined just lately. The RTX 50-series GPUs are notoriously extra power dependent—and subsequently produce extra warmth. Using a laser thermometer, the Framework Laptop 16 clocked in at round 85 levels Fahrenheit across the palmrests and round 90 levels within the middle of the keyboard.

That means the Framework Laptop 16 might get further toasty in hotter climates, although I’ll admit that the heat was fairly nice on my palms throughout these late fall months in New York City. The system received’t general be your one multimedia leisure gadget. The two side-firing audio system aren’t sufficient to supply the type of leisure expertise that may maintain you from shopping for a pleasant pair of headphones or desktop soundbar.

Solid gaming chops

It’s laborious to overstate how large a deal the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 module is for laptops. Alienware, the final firm that attempted to create a laptop computer with a replaceable GPU, ended up ditching the mission fully, hounded by lawsuits. Framework labored immediately with Nvidia to develop the GPU module, and it makes such a distinction in comparison with the final gen’s AMD Radeon RX 7700S. Better but, you don’t even want the brand new Framework Laptop 16 to get the next-gen GPU. You should buy it individually for $650, and it’ll nonetheless slot in to the identical enlargement bay as earlier than.

The 8-core Ryzen AI 7 370 isn’t usually what you’ll need for a full gaming-ready 16-inch laptop computer, although at a 45W TDP (thermal design energy), the Framework Laptop 16’s 240W energy supply is greater than sufficient to offer the CPU and the RTX 5070 GPU (at 100W) the required juice to play demanding AAA video games with strong efficiency, as long as you settle for just a few compromises.

There’s one other model of the Framework Laptop 16 that features an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, the identical processor discovered within the Razer Blade 16 from this 12 months. That chip might provide barely boosted efficiency over the Ryzen AI 7 370, although I’ve not had the chance to check simply how a lot of a soar it might be. Based on my exams with laptops just like the Razer Blade 14 and its Ryzen AI 9 365, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 could show an enormous step up in CPU efficiency, which shall be much more essential for non-gaming associated duties.

In CPU efficiency, the Framework Laptop 16 with the Ryzen AI 7 370 beat out the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V that I simply examined on the $2,500 Acer Predator Triton 14 AI, although it additionally wins towards this 12 months’s Framework Laptop 13 with the identical chip due to the expanded energy supply. It nonetheless scores 5,000 factors under the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 in Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmarks. It has no likelihood towards different CPUs just like the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, which you’ll find in gaming laptops just like the Alienware Area-51, HP Omen Max 16, or Lenovo Legion Pro 7i for across the identical worth with both an RTX 5070 or RTX 5070 Ti and 16GB extra RAM.

But it’s as quickly as you break free from the artificial benchmarks that you simply begin to see what the Framework Laptop 16 is able to. In my Blender exams, the place we get the system to render a scene of a BMW utilizing each the CPU and GPU, the Ryzen AI 7 370 on the 16-inch chassis managed it simply 8 seconds slower than the newest 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip. Yes, it’s nonetheless a minute slower than the 16-inch Macbook Pro with M4 Pro chip. Instead, it exhibits that even the lower-end chip can nonetheless do comparatively nicely in sure real-world duties, benchmarks be damned. Besides, the GPU module means you’ll have a significantly better time when working these identical rendering duties when counting on a discrete GPU.

In gaming benchmarks, issues get even higher. The Framework Laptop 16 is simply sufficient to hit playable body charges in a number of video games I examined even on the best settings. Those few titles that wouldn’t internet a minimal 60 fps might turn into playable for those who cut back settings only a smidge and resort to AI upscaling, like Nvidia’s DLSS (deep studying tremendous sampling).

On “Ultra” settings in Cyberpunk 2077, the Framework Laptop 16 manages to hit 70 fps without having to make use of DLSS. It can deal with the sport with ray-tracing settings enabled (for extra correct lighting in video games) for those who settle for you received’t have each setting at its peak and depend on upscaling. In Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered benchmark exams, the laptop computer manages to get a mean of 53 fps on the laptop computer’s max 2,560 x 1,600 decision with out DLSS.

You can internet strong body charges on more-recent titles like The Outer Worlds 2, however the premium expertise with out AI upscaling shall be simply out of attain. I managed to push the sport to “Very High” settings and clock in with a mean of 35 fps. With just a few settings dialed again, I might get round 55 fps in the identical setting.

These benchmarks are partly an element of Nvidia’s newest drivers, which have slowly however absolutely managed to optimize for at present’s gaming setting. I used to be particularly eager to study whether or not the GPU module being a detachable piece of the laptop computer’s pie would affect efficiency. The Framework Laptop 16 exhibits us which you can have a modular design with out impacting general efficiency and thermals. Now right here’s the large caveat: whereas there may be one other module with the Radeon RX 7700S GPU and a separate Expansion Bay module that enhances system cooling, there aren’t any different choices at present for enhanced graphics. You merely need to belief that Framework will craft new modules sooner or later, whether or not that’s with new AMD built-in GPUs or no matter new RTX 50-series Super variant squeeks out of Nvidia’s labs. I don’t think about Framework will cease making upgrades, however any time traveler will let you know, you possibly can’t account for the longer term.

The final laptop computer you’ll ever purchase?

Early in testing, I encountered issues with the Framework Laptop 16 refusing to cost when asleep, however a brand new firmware replace mounted these points. Otherwise, the laptop computer lasts longer than different noteooks I’ve used just lately which have discrete GPUs. On common, I might internet round 4.5 to five hours of lively use simply doing my traditional writing and shopping duties.

The 85Wh battery received’t make a 16-inch laptop computer with a discrete GPU into a real “all-day” gadget, however that’s true with each gaming-ready laptop computer I’ve used for the previous two years. At the least, Framework isn’t making some overt declare about this laptop computer being a miracle of battery life. Even if its not as large as different, extra-meaty cell gaming platforms, the 5.29-pound Framework Laptop 16 shouldn’t be fairly moveable sufficient to be your good on a regular basis carry until you prefer to schlep round with a extra-large bag.

But maintaining the Framework Laptop 16 at dwelling or the workplace, the place I can tinker with it incessantly, is among the uncommon treats in tech. So usually, we’re caught with laptops that hinder customers from partaking with the underlying {hardware}. Proprietary charging ports, soldered RAM, display screen bezels that require a warmth gun and a prayer to take away, are all examples of how units separate us from the pure understanding of what’s occurring beneath the hood.

In so some ways, the Framework Laptop 16 is an sometimes janky gadget that received’t look as clear and pristine as a typical gaming laptop computer. Those odd spacers and all of the panel strains that don’t fairly match up could make the laptop computer appear slapdash. The Framework Laptop 16 may even be dearer than different laptops for these specs. But it’s a strong gadget, strong sufficient that any small flaws are simply missed after getting the chance to tinker with each little component. You can change your keyboard format in lower than 30 seconds, and the laptop computer will bear in mind your RGB or lighting settings for those who change again. If you’re nonetheless confused why desktop aficionados like to throw collectively a PC construct, maybe the Framework Laptop 16 can educate you just a few of the fun of throwing a jumble of aluminum, plastic, and silicon collectively to create one thing wholly yours.