Lead: Framework has returned with a 2025 refresh of the Laptop 16 that keeps its signature modular, repairable ethos while adding major hardware upgrades. The new model introduces AMD Ryzen AI mainboard options, Wi‑Fi 7, a 240W USB‑C charger, redesigned cooling, a revised webcam and—most notably—a user‑replaceable Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics module. Existing Laptop 16 owners can buy many of these parts separately to upgrade piecemeal, but some compatibility limits and persistent chassis issues temper the gains. Early testing shows big GPU performance boosts but also lingering reliability and fit‑and‑finish problems.
Key Takeaways
- Base prebuilt Framework Laptop 16 starts at $1,799; the reviewed DIY build (Ryzen AI 7 350, RTX 5070, 16GB, 1TB, 240W charger) totals $2,524 before extras.
- The user‑replaceable RTX 5070 module costs $699 and delivers ~64% higher Geekbench GPU performance and ~34% higher 3DMark Time Spy scores versus the prior Radeon module.
- Gaming frame rates rose roughly 36–50% across titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong; DLSS 4 further widened the gap versus AMD FSR 3.1.
- Thermals improved: the old Ryzen 9 7940HS ran ~58°C average and peaked at 93°C in stress testing; the Ryzen AI 7 350 averaged ~50°C and peaked at 64°C under the same load.
- Modularity remains best‑in‑class—six expansion card slots, swappable keyboard/trackpad alignment and replaceable top cover—but many mechanical gaps and creaks persist.
- Stability is an issue: the review unit experienced roughly a dozen crashes across initial testing, improving after BIOS/driver updates but not fully resolved.
- Some upgrades require buying hardware that is technically identical to first‑gen parts (notably the $279 display) because firmware for VRR/G‑Sync cannot be updated on older panels.
Background
Framework launched with a disruptive promise: a laptop designed for longevity through user repair and modular upgrades. That ambition has differentiated the company from mainstream OEMs that prioritize sealed designs and thinness over upgradability. The original Laptop 16 made headlines for packing desktop‑class features into a modular chassis, but it also drew criticism for thermal performance, loud fans and fit‑and‑finish issues.
Over two years Framework has expanded its modular ecosystem—offering replaceable expansion cards, mainboards and even discrete GPU modules—while refining manufacturing processes. The 2025 refresh aims to address core complaints (heat, noise, chassis rigidity) and to deliver on the company’s oft‑evoked promise: truly upgradable graphics in a laptop. That “holy grail” has been a long‑standing technical and commercial challenge for the industry.
Main Event
Framework’s 2025 Laptop 16 adds AMD Ryzen AI 300‑series mainboard options, a Wi‑Fi 7 module, a redesigned cooling stack, a 240W USB‑C charger and a second‑generation 1080p webcam. Most of these components are sold separately so original owners can upgrade without replacing the entire system. The standout is the removable Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 module, which Framework positions as the largest single performance jump available to owners.
Hardware pricing is notable: Ryzen AI mainboards list between $749 and $1,049, the standalone RTX 5070 is $699, and the 240W charger is $109—meaning a CPU+GPU+charger upgrade can approach the cost of a new laptop. Framework’s midrange prebuilt Performance tier with RTX 5070 is $2,449, while the DIY review configuration reached $2,524 before add‑ons like colored spacers or expansion bay modules.
Physically upgrading the GPU follows the same user service flow as the prior model—power down, remove keyboard and trackpad, swap the module—preserving Framework’s repairable ethos. However, some compatibility limits bite: the early display hardware cannot receive the firmware update required for Nvidia VRR/G‑Sync, so first‑gen owners must purchase a $279 second‑gen display to unlock G‑Sync support with the new GPU.
In day‑to‑day use the Laptop 16 shows clear advantages and familiar shortcomings. The keyboard remains one of the laptop’s strongest elements, offering deep travel and QMK customization; the modular port system is useful with six configurable slots. Yet the top cover still flexes, spacer gaps often misalign and the chassis produces creaks—issues that give the machine an unfinished, “Franken” aesthetic despite its internal strengths.
Analysis & Implications
Framework’s modular strategy forces a tradeoff between repairability and industrial polish. By prioritizing swappability—multi‑part spacers, removable ports and a serviceable internals layout—the company accepts mechanical complexity that can reduce perceived refinement. For buyers who value lifespan and incremental upgrades, the tradeoff favors Framework; for users prioritizing seamless build quality or the lightest chassis, other OEMs still hold the advantage.
The RTX 5070 module materially shifts the Laptop 16’s market position. With the measured 36–50% gaming uplift and strong DLSS 4 gains, the machine becomes a credible portable gaming workstation—especially because owners can later replace the GPU without discarding the base unit. That capability could extend device longevity in a market where GPUs age faster than CPUs or displays.
However, upgrade economics are mixed. Buying a mainboard and GPU module approaches $1,400–1,850 depending on parts chosen, and adding the required new display for G‑Sync pushes the effective upgrade cost toward the price of a new full laptop. Framework must balance modular ideals with pricing that keeps upgrades attractive compared with purchasing newer sealed systems.
Reliability concerns remain a notable risk. Multiple blue screens and sleep/wake crashes early in testing undermine confidence for owners who expect a stable daily driver. Framework’s track record of post‑launch firmware and BIOS fixes is encouraging, but software fixes may not address hardware tolerances or mechanical creaks that affect long‑term user experience.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | 2023 Laptop 16 (Radeon RX 7700S) | 2025 Laptop 16 (RTX 5070) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench GPU (OpenCL) | ~75k | ~123k (+64%) |
| 3DMark Time Spy | ~10,000 | ~13,424 (+34%) |
| Gaming FPS (avg) | — | ~36–50% higher across tested titles |
| CPU temp (avg / peak) | 58°C avg / 93°C peak | 50°C avg / 64°C peak |
| Battery (typical mixed use) | ~6 hours | ~6 hours |
The table summarizes key measured deltas from review testing. Benchmarks show the largest gains on GPU‑bound workloads; CPU changes are modest, with Ryzen AI 7 350 showing up to ~21% gains on some multicore or content workflows and as little as ~1.5% on others. Sustained thermals and quieter fan behavior are improved but not eliminated.
Reactions & Quotes
“Our display vendor hasn’t been able to create a technical solution that would enable firmware updateability on the panel we use in Framework Laptop 16,”
Nirav Patel, Framework (email to reviewer)
Framework’s CEO described a technical constraint that prevents retrofitting G‑Sync support onto earlier panels—explaining why owners must buy a replacement display to use the RTX 5070’s VRR features.
“We’ll continue to do post‑launch firmware updates to improve user experience and resolve issues found by customers,”
Eric Schumacher, Framework representative
Framework acknowledged ongoing firmware efforts to stabilize the platform. The company has historically pushed software updates post‑launch to address early stability problems, and the review unit saw fewer crashes after BIOS and driver revisions.
Unconfirmed
- Whether long‑term reliability of the RTX 5070 module matches soldered discrete solutions remains to be proven over months of real‑world use.
- The extent to which future firmware updates might reduce remaining crashes is uncertain; current improvements followed BIOS 3.04 but stability is not fully validated.
- Any roadmap for a single‑piece metal trackpad surround or other structural parts is unannounced and therefore speculative.
Bottom Line
Framework’s 2025 Laptop 16 delivers on the company’s core promise by making a meaningful GPU upgrade possible for owners—an achievement few competitors can claim. The RTX 5070 brings substantial graphics performance gains and the revised cooling lowers CPU temperatures and fan harshness under sustained load.
But the machine still wears its modularity on its sleeve: spacer gaps, lid flex, creaks and intermittent stability problems make it feel less refined than similarly priced sealed alternatives. Upgrade prices can also add up quickly, blunting the economic advantage of piecemeal improvements for some buyers.
For users who prioritize repairability, customization and the idea of a laptop that can evolve component‑by‑component, the refreshed Laptop 16 is the most compelling option available. For buyers valuing thinness, seamless build quality or out‑of‑the‑box polish, mainstream gaming laptops remain attractive alternatives.