Framework 16 AMD Ryzen 7840HS
OS: Windows 11 Home version 10.0.26100
Charger: UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W USB C Charger (Amazon.ca)
Cable: UGREEN 240W USB C to USB C Cable (Amazon.ca)
I’ve been having a charging issue with my Framework 16 basically since I got it over a year ago. When I plug it in to charge, the laptop cycles back and froth between charging and not charging for a while until it finally balances out and just stays consistently charging. This isn’t a huge deal in the grand scheme of things but the problem arises, as it so often does, with the way Windows handles this “flickering” of charging/not charging.
If I plug my laptop in when the battery is very low the flickering will cause the system to constantly flash the “battery low” warning and it will make any media I’m watching stutter as the system adjusts the power availability.
I’ve read that this could be an issue with the charger “ramping up” to it’s maximum charging rate and delivering inconsistent power along the way. Given that this is basically the highest wattage power supply that I would still deem as portable it’s hard to believe that it can’t put out enough power to keep the laptop charging consistently.
Has anyone else had this issue, if so what did you do about it? Do you know of a way I could fix the issue in software so at least Windows doesn’t freak out every time I charge my laptop? (And no switching to Linux isn’t a feasible fix unfortunately) If there’s anyone out there with a different charger that doesn’t give them this issue let me know what it is.
The charger and cable from Framework for the Laptop 16 is where I would start. Get it from Framework and if the issue persists then it might be something with the laptop.
If it goes away then it is something with the UGREEN charger, cable, or both.
Yeah I figured this would be the answer but I was hoping to not need to buy a new charger. The framework charger is a lot more money and seems to be a lot bigger which is pretty annoying. It boasts that it’ll deliver 180W though so maybe that’s the kind of power draw the laptop is looking for.
Everyone wants a smaller/cheaper charger until they find out corners were cut in quality.
The Framework 180W power supply is not overly large and has been designed specifically to work with the Framework Laptop 16 and comply with the USB PD specs.
There is a more powerful charger available from Delta that is a full 240W USBPD. Mouser was stocking them but it out currently and has an estimated 10 coming in April and the next time is in August! DigiKey has them in stock currently.
Though you might want to act sooner than later if you are a US customer. Everything is going to get a price jump thanks to the new tariffs taking effect shortly.
The Delta charger was selling for about $125 originally in Nov 2024. Mouser now has it listed for ~$193.
Good looking out! Thankfully I live in the democratic republic of Canada so finger crossed we don’t get hosed too badly by the tariffs.
I’ll have a look at the option from Delta but if it’s going to be about the same price as the framework charger I’ll probably just stick with the known good/compatible product.
This doesn’t have much to do with quality, that shows in other ways, there are currently just no other 180w pd adapters available and only a hand full of 240 ones that aren’t meant for consumers.
