Imagine a laptop that evolves with you, a device that defies the planned obsolescence of the tech world. That's the promise of the Framework Laptop, and the 2025 model doubles down on it! But does this modular marvel truly deliver on its ambitious vision, or does it remain a frustrating experiment?
Framework is back at it again, boldly going where other manufacturers fear to tread. They're committed to creating user-repairable, upgradeable laptops. While giants like Alienware have stumbled and even faced lawsuits over failed upgrade promises, Framework has consistently delivered on its word.
The newest iteration, the Framework Laptop 16 (2025), brings a wave of improvements. We're talking about fresh AMD Ryzen AI CPU options, blazing-fast Wi-Fi 7, a robust USB-C charger, a completely redesigned cooling system, and a spiffy new webcam. And the best part? All these goodies are available separately, so existing Framework owners can breathe new life into their machines. But the headline feature, the one that truly sets the Laptop 16 apart, is its user-replaceable graphics card.
This modular GPU is what separates the Laptop 16 from the masses. Framework themselves dubbed upgradable graphics the "holy grail" when they first unveiled the Laptop 16. Even after the initial launch, there was some uncertainty about future GPU upgrades. But now, it's here: an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, promising a significant leap in graphics performance compared to the previous AMD Radeon card.
But here's where it gets controversial... The original Framework Laptop 16 was, to put it bluntly, a bit rough around the edges. It ran hot, the fans were loud, and the chassis had a disconcerting tendency to creak. Some of these issues were ironed out over time, but the initial impression was of a device that felt… unfinished. The new model takes several small steps forward and one giant leap in graphics processing. Yet, it still has a ways to go before it achieves true refinement.
Verge Score: 6/10
The Good:
- Unparalleled user-repairability and upgradability.
- Substantial gaming performance boost with the RTX 5070.
- Incredible customization options, from port selection to keyboard and trackpad alignment.
- High-quality, high-resolution, high-refresh-rate LCD screen.
The Bad:
- Worrying number of Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) crashes during testing.
- The display lid still exhibits significant flex.
- Uneven and creaky side spacers.
- Erratic and jumpy auto-brightness.
- Overall, it still feels somewhat janky, like a "Franken-laptop."
- Original owners need to purchase a new display to fully utilize G-Sync.
The base model prebuilt Framework Laptop 16 starts at $1,799, sans discrete graphics. The review unit, a DIY Edition, boasts an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 mainboard, an RTX 5070 graphics module, 16GB of RAM, and a spacious 1TB SSD. This configuration, complete with a 240W USB-C charger, will set you back $2,524. And that's before you even start adding extras like expansion cards, colorful spacers, an optional number pad, an RGB macro pad, or the standard expansion bay module for when you want to leave the GPU at home to save weight. The closest prebuilt version, the Performance tier, costs $2,449 and includes the 5070, a smaller 512GB SSD, and a Windows 11 license.
Component Report Card:
- Screen: B
- Webcam: C
- Mic: C
- Keyboard: A
- Trackpad: B
- Port Selection: A
- Speakers: C
- Number of Ugly Stickers to Remove: 0
Since the 2025 model shares much of its DNA with the 2023 version, original owners can incrementally upgrade their Laptop 16 with the new and improved second-generation components. The alluring new Ryzen AI 300-series mainboards, complete with a Wi-Fi 7 module and Framework's revised heatsink design, range from $749 to $1,049. The standalone RTX 5070 graphics module costs $699, and the new 240W USB-C charger to power it all is $109. This means a double-chip upgrade will set you back between $1,557 and $1,857 – the price of an entirely new laptop!
Other incremental improvements come at a cost, too. A second-gen 1080p webcam is $39, a more rigid second-gen top cover lid is $139, and a second-gen display is $279. And this is the part most people miss... The display hardware itself is the same, but it now features a firmware update for Nvidia G-Sync, replacing the first-generation's AMD FreeSync support.
Unfortunately, first-gen Framework 16 owners who want to unlock the full potential of the new GPU module are forced to shell out $279 for a display that's identical to the one they already own. You can't simply update the firmware yourself. This is a major letdown, pushing the total cost of a GPU upgrade close to a thousand dollars!
Framework CEO Nirav Patel explained in an email that their display vendor couldn't create a technical solution for firmware updates on the existing panel, either by users or in their own service centers. He also confirmed that Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) is impossible with the Nvidia GPU and the first-gen display.
The eight-core Ryzen AI 7 350 mainboard offers modest performance gains compared to the previous-generation Ryzen 9 7940HS. Geekbench CPU, Cinebench, and PugetBench Photoshop scores show improvements ranging from a mere 1.5% to a more substantial 21%. (A 12-core Ryzen AI 7 370 mainboard option is also available, but not tested here. Based on benchmarks from the Razer Blade 16, its primary advantage lies in multi-core performance, scoring 15% higher in the Photoshop test.)
| System | Geekbench 6 CPU Single | Geekbench 6 CPU Multi | Geekbench 6 GPU (OpenCL) | Cinebench 2024 Single | Cinebench 2024 Multi | PugetBench for Photoshop | Sustained SSD reads (MB/s) | Sustained SSD writes (MB/s) | 3DMark Time Spy |
| :------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | :--------------------- | :--------------------- | :----------------------- | :---------------------- | :---------------------- | :------------------------- | :-------------------------- | :--------------------------- | :--------------- |
| Framework Laptop 16 (2025) / RTX 5070 / Ryzen AI 7 350 / 16GB / 1TB | 2897 | 12566 | 122744 | 117 | 858 | 7560 | 5280.31 | 4560.47 | 13424 |
| Framework Laptop 16 (2023) / Radeon RX 7700S / Ryzen 7940HS / 16GB / 512GB + 2TB | 2386 | 10490 | 75031 | 100 | 808 | 7445.67 | 6913.12 | 4515.63 | 10003 |
| Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) / RTX 5070 Ti / Intel Core Ultra 9 285H / 32GB / 2TB | 2881 | 17004 | 155238 | 127 | 1103 | 8058 | 6370.16 | 5883.37 | 13707 |
| Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 / RTX 5080 / Core Ultra 9 275HX / 32GB / 2TB | 3113 | 19709 | 200189 | 137 | 1965 | 8482 | 6832.06 | 6550.21 | 20977 |
| Razer Blade 16 (2025) / RTX 5090 / Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 / 32GB / 2TB | 2968 | 15922 | 213016 | 119 | 1287 | 8679 | 6726.25 | 4931.41 | 22498 |
The new graphics card provides the most substantial performance boost. Graphics-intensive tests like Geekbench GPU and 3DMark Time Spy showcase improvements of 64% and 34%, respectively. In real-world gaming scenarios like Black Myth: Wukong and Cyberpunk 2077, the new Laptop 16 delivers average frame rates that are 36% to 50% higher than the original Radeon RX 7700S module. This difference widens even further when utilizing Nvidia's DLSS 4 rendering on the new model compared to AMD's FSR 3.1 on the previous generation.
During testing, Battlefield 6 was playable at the panel's native 2560 x 1600 resolution with the High graphics preset, maintaining a consistent 80-90fps with DLSS 4 set to Quality. Enabling frame generation pushed the frame rate to around 130-140fps, surpassing the panel's 165Hz refresh rate. The game was even playable on my lap, where the laptop got warm but not unbearably hot.
The original Laptop 16 was notorious for its heat and jet-engine-like fan noise under load. Framework addressed this with a redesigned thermal management system featuring new heatsinks and fans, and the difference is significant. Under a sustained Black Myth: Wukong benchmark loop, the old Ryzen 9 7940HS averaged 58 degrees Celsius and peaked at a scorching 93C. In contrast, the new AMD Ryzen 7 AI 350 CPU averaged 50C and peaked at 64C. While the new Laptop 16 still gets loud, it's noticeably quieter, producing more of a white noise sound than a constant whine.
As with other Framework devices, the Laptop 16's flexibility is its greatest asset. It retains six swappable expansion cards, offering three customizable ports on each side. You can charge the laptop from any of the rear four ports. The keyboard and trackpad are even more customizable than on Framework's other laptops. You can center them and fill the sides with colorful spacers, or add a macropad or number pad to either side, adjusting the keyboard and trackpad alignment accordingly.
The keyboard is available with white or RGB backlighting and in various language options. It's one of the better notebook keyboards, with a hint of the Laptop 13's pillowy feel and deep key travel, but with firmer tactile feedback. It's also fully customizable using QMK. The mechanical trackpad is good, although slightly small for a laptop of this size, especially when compared to the MacBook Pro 16-inch and Razer Blade 16. The ability to align it to the left or right is a unique touch.
Unfortunately, Framework's spacer-heavy design, while ingenious in theory, can be frustrating in practice. The components often don't align perfectly, the edges can be felt under your wrists, and the whole thing creaks excessively. It simply doesn't feel like a $2,500 device.
Framework included a prototype trackpad with a 3D-printed edge-to-edge surround, and the difference was immediately noticeable. It made the Laptop 16 feel slightly more refined, similar to an Asus ROG Zephyrus G16. While the prototype surround is made of cheap plastic, and the spacers are aluminum, ditching the creaking was a welcome change. You can currently print your own trackpad surround, but a proper all-metal alternative from Framework would be a valuable addition. While expecting a fully user-serviceable laptop to be as sleek as a MacBook Pro is unrealistic, it shouldn't feel like an erector set.
The lack of polish extends to other areas. The IPS panel, with its 2560 x 1600 resolution and 165Hz refresh rate, is crisp, but the auto-brightness is overly aggressive and erratic. Instead of a smooth transition, it increases and decreases in visible steps, as if someone is manually adjusting the brightness keys. Framework's response to this issue was lukewarm, stating they will "continue to do post-launch firmware updates to improve user experience and resolve issues found by customers."
While Framework claims the lid is sturdier, it still exhibits significant flex. Closing it carefully from the center is fine, but any pressure on the corners reveals its flimsiness. Other less-than-stellar components include the speakers, which sound flat and lifeless until cranked up, and the webcam, which is sharp but often dark and muddy in low light.
Battery life during a typical workday of web browsing, messaging, and streaming was decent for a laptop with discrete graphics, lasting around six hours instead of a full eight.
However, the second-gen Laptop 16's biggest setback so far is its reliability. It crashed approximately six times in the first two days, both on battery and while plugged in, sometimes during wake-up or when plugging it into power. Stability improved somewhat after initial BIOS and driver updates, but it still crashed another half-dozen times over the following week.
After installing the 3.04 BIOS update, crashes have been less frequent. Framework appears to be improving the Laptop 16's stability, similar to what happened after the initial launch, but further testing is needed.
Framework's commitment to repairability and upgradability is admirable, and its overall execution has been solid. The Laptop 13 has evolved into an excellent all-around device, and the Laptop 12 and Desktop had strong launches. However, the Laptop 16 still feels like a beta test.
The 2025 Laptop 16 features updated hardware, but its structural rigidity, fit, and finish still fall short. Hopefully, incremental refinements will continue, such as a single-piece metal trackpad surround. Given the price, it's tempting to opt for non-upgradeable gaming laptops that are thinner and sleeker, like the ROG Zephyrus G16, or more powerful. But perhaps Framework can Ship of Theseus its way to a design that feels less like a compromise.
2025 Framework Laptop 16 Specs (as reviewed):
- Display: 16-inch (2560 x 1600) 165Hz IPS with Nvidia G-Sync
- CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 7 350
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU
- RAM: 16GB DDR5 5600MHz
- Storage: 1TB M.2 NVMe 2280 SSD, with extra M.2 2230 slot
- Webcam: 1080p 30fps with privacy switch
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
- Ports: 6x modular ports for Framework Expansion Cards
- Biometrics: fingerprint sensor in power button
- Weight: 5.29 pounds / 2.4kg
- Dimensions: 14.04 x 11.43 x 0.82 inches / 356.58 x 290.20 x 20.95mm
- Battery: 85Wh
- Price: $2,524.00
So, is the allure of a truly upgradeable laptop enough to overlook the Framework Laptop 16's shortcomings? Is the freedom of repairability worth the premium price and the occasional jankiness? And what about that controversial decision to require a new display for full G-Sync support? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
