News AI
June 29th, 2024

Framework Laptop 16, six months later

The Framework Laptop 16, initially rated 5/10 for issues like overheating and glitches, improved to 6/10 after six months. Despite some fixes, concerns about heat, noise, and glitches persist, affecting its appeal.

Read original articleLink Icon
Framework Laptop 16, six months later

The Framework Laptop 16, a highly modular notebook, was initially reviewed with a 5 out of 10 due to issues like Blue Screens of Death, glitches, and overheating. After six months and a new unit, the score was raised to 6 out of 10, indicating some improvements but persistent problems. Despite increased stability, issues like heat, noise, and glitches remain. The laptop's unique modularity allows for component swapping, but heat management and noise levels are still concerns. While some glitches have been addressed, new ones like touchpad malfunctions persist. The laptop's innovative design offers repairability and upgradability, but issues with heat, noise, and GPU-related sleep problems may deter potential buyers. The company's commitment to future upgrades and improvements for the Framework Laptop 16 remains uncertain, making it a cautious choice for those considering a purchase.

Related

ThinkPad 701C with a Framework brain transplant

ThinkPad 701C with a Framework brain transplant

A project merges Thinkpad 701C with modern tech: Framework mainboard, iPad 7 display, original keyboard/trackpoint, USB-A/C, GigE ports. Custom adaptations, new components designed. Positive community feedback received.

Review of Linux on Minisforum V3 AMD Ryzen Tablet

Review of Linux on Minisforum V3 AMD Ryzen Tablet

The Minisforum V3 AMD Tablet, priced at $968, offers AMD Ryzen 7 8840U processor, 14" 2.5K 165Hz touch screen, and Linux compatibility. It excels in performance, battery life, and features for Linux enthusiasts.

Easily upgradeable laptops are making a comeback and I'm here for it

Easily upgradeable laptops are making a comeback and I'm here for it

Easily upgradeable laptops like Lenovo's ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 and T16 Gen 3 models are designed for repairability, receiving a high score from iFixit. This shift aligns with sustainability and right-to-repair trends.

Surface Laptop review: Microsoft's best MacBook Air competitor yet

Surface Laptop review: Microsoft's best MacBook Air competitor yet

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition competes with the MacBook Air, offering Qualcomm chips for enhanced performance and battery life. It features AI capabilities, a larger display, and smooth operation with some app compatibility challenges.

Frame.work laptop now available in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden

Frame.work laptop now available in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden

The Framework Team expands product shipment to Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, offering laptops, pre-orders with Intel Core Ultra Series 1 processors, and modules. Customers can order laptops with specific keyboards. Some initial availability discrepancies were swiftly resolved. Factory seconds laptops may lack keyboard layout options. Customers will be notified before final pre-order charges. Expansion to Nordic countries is positively received.

Link Icon 10 comments
By @hardwaresofton - 5 months
Framework and System76 are both doing great work. Glad they are able to make their businesses thrive, pay their employees and actually deliver a new age of “Linux on the laptop“.

Still looking forward to buying a Framework to put next to my System76

By @metabagel - 5 months
For what it’s worth, the AMD 13” Framework laptop is the best Linux laptop I’ve ever had (running Ubuntu 22.04 LTS). It’s cool, quiet, and very responsive. I absolutely love it.
By @Havoc - 5 months
> For a split second, I thought you were running the vacuum in the living room,” she told me. Just browsing a few websites with the laptop plugged in was enough to cross 70°C

That sounds not awesome…

By @TwentyPosts - 5 months
> The product gave me multiple Blue Screens of Death

Sounds suspiciously like "I didn't assemble my laptop correctly, something is slightly loose somewhere".

As a whole, how many people buy a Framework laptop and put Windows on it, of all things? I can't imagine that's more than 10%.

By @BaculumMeumEst - 5 months
My wishlist for laptops include a thinkpad caliber keyboard, excellent battery life, a great screen, and for the machine to be able to run cool and quiet - either out of the box or through a combination of undervolting and throttling. I wish Framework came a little closer to that ideal. For the time being I put up with macbooks. I'd like to check out ARM thinkpads when Windows ARM is a little more polished, I haven't tried a thinkpad in many years.
By @frankjr - 5 months
It reads more like a Windows' review than Framework's.
By @anotherhue - 5 months
I've had 20 years of thinkpads, and I really like them, but the FW 13 (intel) is the best laptop I've used, including various work provided MBPs (M2).

There is actual honest-to-goodness linux support and active commitment from the manufacturer to continue supporting it. It's the first time in a long time that I've felt my interests were aligned with those of the laptop manufacturer,.

By @AYBABTME - 5 months
Is the 13in model suffering the same issues? How about under Linux? Would love a solid machine to replace the Apple MBP but I'm very skeptical.
By @mhitza - 5 months
External build quality does look disappointing. I have a 2018 model dell with a plastic case and the screen doesn't flex as much when opened by a corner. It's a 15.6 inch model, but it also has chunkier bezels.

I understand that extra performance is nice in this price class, but I also use the laptop in my lap and I'd like to avoid toasty testies. I still think that a lower power consumption CPU would be the way to go (would have been the bottleneck for the GPU in games?). The current 7840HS model is 14% more performant than the U model (in multithreaded, and around 5% for single threat) at an additional 24W of dissipated power.

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/5322vs5258/AMD-Ryzen-7-...