I’m really interested in buying the Framework 16 for school. I’m enrolling in Mechanical Engineering, so I require something powerful, reliable, and easy to repair or upgrade in the future.
Of course, I’m a bit conflicted because of the price—especially since I also game. With newer laptops that feature the 50-series GPUs for the same or even better prices, the Framework 16 with the GPU module of 7700s.
Another thing I’ve noticed is that there haven’t been many new modules or major updates for the Framework 16 lately.
I love the idea of repairability and modularity, but I’m wondering if it’s really worth the extra cost right now for someone like me who wants both solid performance and long-term flexibility.
Well, this laptop is fine CPU-wise. My last one had a 4-year-old Intel chip, and the Framework 16 was a huge upgrade.
Whether you’re fine trading a laptop with a 5090 for a laptop with 7700S so that you get more repairability - only you can answer that. And you probably already have an answer on some level.
Regarding the upgradeability, modularity and cool accessories/gadgets - the laptop hasn’t yet proven itself in this regard. You should be prepared for disappointment, and definitely a lot of waiting, IMO.
The laptop itself is phenomenal and entering completely new territory - but it has to be said that the hardware simply didn’t improve since it was launched. And it is not acceptable that the price has remained the same, that is true. As a result, you can, in July 2025, simply get much, much better hardware for the same price. The question therefore is really if you need this very specific form factor.
Perhaps you should go with lenovo, for example the P1 series (gen 6). You can scratch the “repair” bracket as you simply won’t have to ;), P1 can get insanely powerful (far beyond the FW16 laptop) and it is very reliable and upgradable (extra RAM, plus extra storage in lower-end configs).
Mechanical engineering student and occasional gamer here. I’ve not had any issues with the laptop for school. Mine is from batch 1 so I had an issue with thermals and fan noise for a while until I swapped the liquid metal for the PTM thermal pad. Other than that, all of my complaints are about windows. If all of the engineering software I need ran on linux, Id be in heaven.
All that said, it is disappointing that the 16 hasn’t had any hardware updates. The main reason to go with this form factor is the ability to upgrade over time. I got it with the intention of it being my last laptop. If that’s important to you then its a great choice. If not, there are better options for the money as others have mentioned.