In January, I spent two weeks with essentially the most modular pocket book ever made: the Framework Laptop 16. It’s a gadget nerd’s dream: you possibly can swap out its keyboard, touchpad, ports — even its complete discrete GPU. You may rework it from a modern work laptop computer to a good gaming machine in two minutes flat, one which fees with the world’s first 180W USB-C energy adapter.
However on the time, I gave the Framework Laptop computer 16 a 5 out of 10. The product gave me a number of Blue Screens of Loss of life, glitched, felt flimsy in locations, and ran hotter and louder than its efficiency would recommend.
Six months later, with a brand new unit and new firmware, I’m feeling a bit higher! Not adequate to present it my full suggestion, however sufficient to lift its rating to six out of 10, which we define as: “Good. There are points but additionally redeeming qualities.” However whereas the laptop computer’s extra secure, most of my different annoyances are nonetheless kicking.
I’ve now spent a further month with the Laptop computer 16 and swapping its varied elements, simply as the corporate has lastly fulfilled its preorders and put the laptop on general sale. I’m pleased to say I’ve solely seen the pc fail as soon as throughout that complete month — an “It seems like Home windows didn’t load accurately” error I haven’t been in a position to reproduce. Aside from an extremely annoying behavior of failing to sleep when its discrete GPU is awake, it’s been a trustworthy companion for work and play — together with a Verge liveblog, modifying videos for our social media channels, and writing tales, together with this one.
We even discovered my thriller subject the place the superb 2560 x 1600 display would out of the blue appear to scrub out — that’s as a consequence of AMD’s Vari-Vivid setting, which makes an attempt to avoid wasting battery when the built-in GPU is in command. I turned that off, and it’s been vibrant and colourful ever since. (Jedi: Survivor seems nice.)
However that warmth and noise! With my unique overview unit, I noticed the AMD Ryzen 7940HS heat up previous 90 levels Celsius. Regardless of this alternative coming with a barely weaker 7840HS, I’ve measured 100.8°C at peak whereas taking part in a recreation — and as excessive as 92.5°C sooner or later once I was simply writing a narrative in an online browser. The keyboard and touchpad don’t get almost that scorching, however I usually have sweaty fingers working from this machine. The Laptop computer 16 runs quieter if you unplug it or set Home windows to an influence saver mode, or with the discrete GPU eliminated. However the full dGPU package deal doesn’t appear to have a ample cooling resolution for on a regular basis use.
The fan noise nonetheless overwhelms the laptop computer’s below-average audio system, too, sufficient that my spouse as soon as once more wandered over to see what I used to be doing. “Oh, that’s your laptop computer. For a break up second, I believed you had been working the vacuum in the lounge,” she instructed me. Simply looking just a few web sites with the laptop computer plugged in was sufficient to cross 70°C and spin up the fan to a loud, audible diploma.
And whereas some glitches have been fastened, just like the one the place the bigger SSD may disappear if you resume from sleep, there are nonetheless gremlins to seek out. Twice, the touchpad out of the blue stopped scrolling and stopped accepting button presses till I bodily eliminated it from the system and reseated it. I’ve repeatedly gotten a Home windows message about how my “USB machine might need restricted performance when linked to this port” even when I’m simply plugging within the charger.
After a month, I’ve determined I may dwell with the lid flex and the uneven surfaces created by Framework’s modular spacers and touchpad. They’re all barely straighter in my new unit, they usually’re a small worth to pay for the unprecedented modularity and repairability you get right here. However I additionally need you to know the flex and gaps aren’t totally fastened and make for infrequent tough edges on fingers and wrists.
However I don’t know if I’d dwell with the warmth and noise right here, or the bizarre subject this laptop computer has when the discrete GPU is energetic and I’m attempting to place it to sleep. (“If there’s a program retaining the dGPU energetic, the system received’t droop,” spokesperson Eric Schumacher confirmed by way of electronic mail.) I got here again one morning to seek out the battery totally drained as a result of the laptop computer awakened after I closed the lid, and I’ve seen comparable habits many instances once I’ve left it plugged in. I shouldn’t have to shut apps and test the GPU in Activity Supervisor simply to place it to sleep reliably.
This can be a groundbreaking machine. No firm has ever constructed a laptop computer so bold earlier than, as I clarify on the high of my original review, and I need this concept to exist! I personally need to purchase a laptop computer that excels at work and play, one I can upgrade and repair year after year like the corporate’s 13-inch machine. I can really feel that potential right here. However I’m reviewing a laptop computer, not a crowdfunding marketing campaign for a era of laptops, and I’d personally await a future revision of the Framework Laptop computer 16.
Sure, I do know there’s no assure Framework will go forward with upgrades if the laptop computer doesn’t promote effectively. The corporate’s by no means fairly dedicated to letting you swap out its Radeon RX 7700S for a extra highly effective GPU sooner or later. However in April, CEO Nirav Patel did tell me the 16-inch mannequin has a wholesome future roadmap. I’m going to take him at his phrase.
Images by Sean Hollister / The Verge