As devices become less and less repairable, it is always encouraging when companies build devices with an eye on sustainability. After all, repairing the machine you already own will almost always be more environmentally friendly than buying a new one. Framework is a hardware startup, founded by former Oculus engineer Nirav Patel, who wants to take the Fairphone model and bring it to laptops, even with a screwdriver in the box.
Today, the company is announcing its first product, the Framework laptop, a 13.5-inch notebook with several modular parts. The idea is that users can replace many of the components when they break down or update them when the technology advances. Now, repairable laptops are not a new invention, but the focus here seems to be to make them as friendly as possible for beginners.
The Framework laptop comes with a 13.5 inch, 2,256 x 1,504 3: 2 screen, which is hidden behind a series of magnetic bezels, making replacement easy. It also comes with a 1080p and 60fps webcam with a hardware privacy switch and a 1.5mm offset keyboard. As for the chip, you will have the option of selecting an 11th generation quad-core Intel Core CPU together with WiFi 6, up to 64 GB of DDR4 and up to 4 TB of Gen4 NVME SSD storage.
Almost all components of the machine, including the display, battery, keyboard and display bezel are replaceable. Inside, you’ll also find that SSDs, memory modules and WiFi use industry-standard sockets; the only thing that is not is the CPU, actually. If you want to update it, you will need to remove and return the motherboard, newer versions of which will be available at the Framework store when new chip options arrive.
Patel said that each module “uses a single labeled connector” and most of them have “pull tabs to make them easy to handle”. He added that, of the components that can be replaced, the only problem is the motherboard itself, since it would be necessary to disconnect everything it connects to before removing it. But, he added, pulling the heart out of the machine would be a very rare event.
Naturally, whenever people discuss the possibility of repairs, there is always the idea that this is a situation of eating your vegetables, with basic specifications and awkward performance. Patel says this is not the situation here, saying he wants to find, or win, the ThinkPad T, the Surface Laptop and the XPS 13 in performance.
Structure
One of the most interesting elements of the Framework’s design is the way the company deals with the doors that run on both sides of the machine. Instead of correcting the port selection and risking obsolescence, the company created what it calls “expansion cards”. These are small boxes with the option of adding a USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, MicroSD, an extra SSD or a discrete headset amplifier to the chassis. To make these expansion cards universal, the company built USB-C ports directly on the laptop’s motherboard. Making them, in general terms, more like dongles than real hardware ports.
In addition to the promise to make the laptop easy to update and repair, the Framework is also burning its other environmental credentials. He says the machine is made up of 50% post-consumer recycled aluminum and up to 30% post-consumer recycled plastic. Oh, and the packaging is recyclable, without disposable plastics, and all shipments are offset with carbon.
The Framework laptop will begin shipping sometime this summer for a price not yet specified, although Patel said buyers would not pay “a premium for longevity”. Instead, the hardware will be “on par with other well-rated notebooks with similar silicon”. Users can choose from several pre-configured models running Windows 10 Home or Pro, while a DIY edition will be sent to you unmounted.