Framework’s DIY laptop lets you upgrade rather than replace

Looking and feeling just like any other premium portable PC, but being especially easy to configure, upgrade and repair, the Framework Laptop is a dream for people who wish their expensive devices were a little more sustainable and long-lived, and who don’t mind a bit of tinkering.

I first covered this device about two years ago, chatting to company founder Nirav Patel (formerly of Apple, Oculus and Facebook) and putting together a 13-inch laptop from Framework’s chassis and various bits you can buy from any computer shop.

While I was impressed with the DIY aspect and the overall quality of the finished product (the Framework has been in constant use in my office since then), the company also claims the device is simple for users to upgrade, which is wildly different to every other laptop on the market. And that’s what I’m testing this time.

The Framework laptop looks and works like any other portable PC, except when you need to repair or upgrade it.

First, a Framework refresher

If you didn’t read that original article, the gist is that Framework wants to create laptops that never need to be thrown away. Each part can be replaced, so if the battery dies, a port gets broken, or you need more performance, you can just change that specific bit. Even if you don’t want to do it yourself, your bill at the repair shop should be far lower than repairing a regular laptop or MacBook.

Framework laptops come either fully built or in DIY configurations, where you source your own storage, memory and operating system.

For repairs, there are some parts you have to buy from Framework, such as the screen, keyboard, anything to do with the body, and the clever modular plugs that let you install any combination of four ports. Of course, you need a Framework mainboard, which includes a processor, heat sink and fans mounted on a motherboard. The rest of the internals you can get anywhere, and Framework plans on fostering a marketplace where people and companies can sell their own compatible and customisable bits.

Adding parts to a Framework Laptop is a bit like building Lego.

The 13-inch laptop was the only available model two years ago, but now it comes in more configurations featuring various Intel and AMD chips, starting at $1690 fully built or $1370 DIY. There’s also a big 16-inch laptop with customisable keyboard panels and interchangeable dedicated graphics cards, starting at $2320.

Most recently, the company has been taking parts which didn’t quite pass its quality checks and would otherwise go to landfill – such as screens that aren’t completely uniform at certain angles – to make and sell cut-price “seconds” models. These start at $850 and are DIY only. A Framework that works with Google’s ChromeOS is also on the way.

In terms of price and performance, a prebuilt Framework is very competitive with other laptop manufacturers, and the DIY versions can be comparatively cheap – if you shop around for parts.

However, while they have the advantage of easy repairs and upgrades (because they use standard parts that are not glued or soldered together), and I love having no pre-installed bloatware, they are by definition more generic than the likes of MacBooks and Surface laptops, which benefit from having the one company design the hardware, software and accessories.

The upgrade process

My Framework is still performing exceptionally well but, in the interest of this article and to find out how difficult and cost-effective it really is for an ordinary user to overhaul the device, I’m pretending it’s time for an upgrade.

Framework’s marketplace has some slightly revised parts, including speakers, webcams, Wi-Fi cards and hinges, but I’m happy with all the peripherals I already have.

My goal is to upgrade my Framework to the spec of a current Dell XPS 13 Plus laptop, so to achieve that I grabbed the mainboard featuring the same processor – Intel’s 13th Gen i7-1360P – as well as 32GB of RAM.

Everything inside the laptop is labelled, and everything uses the same screws, so you can take it apart in a matter of minutes.Credit: Tim Biggs

Overall, the upgrade process was straightforward – I finished the job in about 20 minutes.

Everything inside the Framework is labelled, and many of the plugs and cables have handy tabs or loops attached to help you pull them out correctly without bending or twisting. The company has visual and easy-to-follow guides for all kinds of upgrades and repairs on its website, which makes the whole thing like building very expensive Lego.

First, I took the storage off the old mainboard, unplugged everything attached to it – from the webcam to the battery – and unscrewed it from the case. The board lifted out easily, and the new one slid in. Then it was a matter of re-attaching cables, putting the storage back and installing the new RAM.

You can take care of everything with a single tool; the screwdriver/spudger combo that comes with every Framework.

Though the process was quick and easy, you do need to exercise a great deal of care; a dropped mainboard, debris in the chassis or a static charge could ruin your entire laptop.

There are some important steps you need to take before the process too. For example, you’ll want to back everything up – no matter what. And if you’re keeping your old storage drive, you’ll need to disable any encryption systems, such as Windows’ BitLocker, so it doesn’t lock you out after the surgery.

Anyone familiar with computers or willing to watch tutorials can do this upgrade fine, but it is riskier than simply replacing the SSD or adding an extra stick of RAM.

The finished product

With everything closed back up, it’s time for that nerve-racking first push of the power button.

After a long black screen while the PC configured the new RAM, everything was peachy. My old and new processors are similar enough that Windows 11 kept going without needing re-installation, and after running Frameworks’ driver bundle, it’s all working like a new laptop. It’s much faster and can now work harder before the fans start spinning up. However, as with the previous mainboard, it does run hotter and louder than many other laptops when you really push it.

So, once again pretending that two years is a normal upgrade cycle for a laptop, how economical was this process?

The Dell I used as my performance target costs $2600. The new Framework mainboard was $1130, and the RAM I used goes for $150 or less, so the upgrade cost around half the price of a new laptop.

Of course, when you consider the cost of the original Framework laptop, it’s close to $3000 all up, but I’ve got a lot of good use already out of the mainboard and RAM I’m replacing. In real life, you’d be comparing the (monetary and environmental) cost of the Framework Laptop and one upgrade against the cost of two laptops, and the maths would only get better with further upgrades.

The parts I took out of the laptop live on as their own little PC, which you could attach to a monitor or stick under your TV.Credit: Tim Biggs

And maintaining Framework’s focus on sustainability, the usefulness of the parts you’re replacing doesn’t have to end there, assuming they still work.

I’ve taken the mainboard and RAM I removed from the laptop and stuffed them into a special case – designed by Cooler Master and sold by Framework – ready to be used as a standard PC once plugged into power, attached to a monitor and fitted with some storage and an operating system. It comes with a stand, and a mount if you want to attach it to the back of a monitor, and costs $65.

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