I bought a new laptop after eight years. I put it together and have been using it for a while, so I’m also giving some of my initial thoughts.
My old laptop is an HP Spectre x360, purchased new in 2015. I’m going to miss this thing but it’s finally time to replace it.
Part of my interest in the Framework, marketed as a repairable laptop, started with an experience with a modern laptop that made me really jaded about the industry.
I know someone that went to an Apple Store because her Mac developed a small crack on the screen. They inspected it, but told her they had to replace another component in the keyboard even though she did not notice any issues with it. They just did an unsolicited inspection of other parts of the machine (which itself was not the problem).
The problem here is they said they had to service both issues at the same time or any service at all would be impossible. She was quoted $700, over half of the original price of the whole computer. They even recommended her to buy a new computer. She went to an independent repair and got it fixed for $150.
Another factor that ultimately made me pick Framework was discovery of the Framework Marketplace, a first-party shop for spare parts. The store showed me that really anything could be replaced on a Framework, and I liked the idea of that.
According to them, all future components will have backwards compatibility: “With each new launch, we reduce prices on remaining inventory of the previous generations. You can join the Framework Laptop ecosystem for less today, and upgrade any module in the future if you ever need to.”
Let’s order. I picked the lowest-end CPU available, an Intel i5-1340P, with 16 GB memory and a 1 TB SSD.
| Component | Option |
|---|---|
| Chassis and CPU | Framework Laptop 13 DIY Edition i5-1340P |
| Memory | Crucial 16 GB (2x8) Notebook DDR4-3200 |
| Storage | WD_BLACK SN850X 1 TB SSD 7300/6300 read/write |
| Bezel | Black Bezel |
| Keyboard | Keyboard Cover Kit US English |
| Power Adapter | 60W US/Canada |
| Various Expansion Cards | 2 USB-C 2 USB-A HDMI |
I placed my order Sunday night, it shipped out from Taiwan on Monday afternoon, and arrived at my door in the United States on Wednesday morning.
The keyboard and bezel come in separate boxes so you see the computer bare like this when you open it for the first time. The CPU, battery, and WiFi module were already pre-installed.
My first step is storage and memory installation.
Next, I attach the keyboard cover and bezel. Both are both magnetically mountable.
The keyboard cover is secured by five screws through the back cover. The screws are designed so they can be loosened but don’t completely come out (so you won’t lose them), and I learned that the term for this is captive screw. Overall, I found it super easy to remove and replace the cover, compared with most other laptops I’ve tried with before.
The bezel was a little bit more troublesome because it did not fit nicely with the way some of the wires were pre-installed, causing this creaking sound when I opened and closed the lid. No worries though, I just pulled the wires out and readjusted them, fixing the noise.
Another neat feature of the Framework is an expansion card module system that lets you mix and match four connectors of your choosing (two on each side). I find it thoughtful for customization. For example, if you prefer your charger cable to run through a certain side, you can do that.
I bought two USB-C and two USB-A cards for regular usage, and threw in an HDMI card for when I want to connect to other displays around the house.
That said, while having customizable ports is good, having only four feels limited and I wish there were simply more. Four is more of a bare minimum. I wish they carried an expansion card that splits out into two ports.
I’ll get to the point: build quality does not feel in line with its price. Reviewers and marketing calling it “premium” is a stretch.
Build quality is just fine, maybe mid-tier. This laptop was $1128 USD with my component choices, and, assessing build quality alone, I feel this is something I would expect in the sub-$800 range.
Before I go into the details, we’ll be fair and first bear in mind that the advantage of being repairable is that you reserve the right to correct flaws yourself. Even though I think the Framework is overpriced for its offered quality, the difference in price could be considered a premium paid for having the ability to change it myself.
The Framework’s most major build flaw is this screen lid. It looks like very thin aluminum. The magnetic bezel is plastic and probably does little to make it stronger. It feels weak when you handle it on the sides or the corner.
When I try opening or closing the laptop from the corner, it flexes before it begins movement on the hinge. It’s the most flexion on any laptop lid I’ve seen. All of my previous personal and work laptops were completely solid with zero bend, so this is very noticeable to me.
This sticker on the power button is crooked as if it were sloppily applied by hand.
You personally might not find this a very big issue. I make the argument that, itemized, this key cover is $99. At this price point it’s honestly feels like a bummer to look at every time you open the laptop.
The effect of its crookedness is more pronounced when the laptop is on and the button is backlit.
I picked the no-OS-provided version, so why is the keyboard specifically Windows branded? An OS-agnostic super key would be better across all of Framework’s laptops.
Framework officially supports Ubuntu and Fedora, and encourages users to “bring your favorite Linux distribution”. I’ll install my main distribution now, Pop!_OS 22.04, a derivative of Ubuntu.
Framework comes with Secure Boot enabled by default, so you will need to disable it in the BIOS (F2) to get Pop_OS (or possibly whatever your distro is) installed.
Although the Framework’s Linux compatibility is not perfect, it’s relatively good considered how bad the Linux experience usually is on many modern laptops. I found that most, but not all of the hardware was compatible with Linux.
Most built in features and relevant peripherals I’m using just worked without any issue.
On the other hand, a few features did not work with varying levels of success with recommended fixes.
I’m not counting the microphone issue against the laptop since it’s not clear if that’s because I’m using an unsupported distribution.
Will I be keeping it? Yes. I’m not blown away by it, but it’s relatively good as a Linux laptop. Despite okay build quality, it’s still superior to most laptops marketed as “Linux” laptops.
What’s key here is that Framework’s modularity means build quality shortcomings can’t be considered permanent in the same way as it would on any other non-repairable laptop. Ultimately, at the end of all this, is I’m paying some premium for the ability to repair and replace components at will. I will never be at the will of Apple’s repair protocol, or $700 on the hook to repair a screen. For that, I do find the price tag ultimately worth it.
Do I recommend it to others? Yes, but it’s not for everyone. You are more likely to like the Framework if you are 1. a Linux user or 2. someone that sees value in self-repair ability.