Framework Laptop Teardown

Written By: Carsten Frauenheim
Published: 30/09/21
  • Comments: 13

Framework Laptop Teardown

Published: 30/09/21

Teardown

Introduction

We didn't do a step-by-step teardown for this device, but we did make a video! If you'd rather read along, see here.

Framework announced a 13” laptop designed from the ground up with repair and modularity in mind. We’ve been anxiously awaiting this thing, and it’s finally here: the Framework Laptop. Surely its top-tier repairability comes at a cost? Let’s tear it down and find out!

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    • The Framework Laptop earns a 10 out of 10 on our repairability scale (10 is the easiest to repair):

    • Every important component in the laptop is easy to access and replace.

    • Inside the laptop, most components are helpfully labeled to help orient and guide the fixer.

    • The Framework Laptop repair guides are free and easily accessible, and Framework is already selling spare parts right on their website.

    • External ports on the laptop are modular, but the actual USB-C sockets they plug into are soldered to the main board, complicating a potential port replacement.

Author

Carsten Frauenheim

Member since: 10/03/20

110978 Reputation

13 comments

Buying one! When it comes to Turkey

KAAN CAN -

noice! a rare 10!

Ch_pi -

I have faith in these guys! Respects from Turkey.

Ömer Gülcü -

Definitiely ordering one when the deliver to Sweden, no doubt!

Alex Olsson -

I love it! Definitively my next laptop!

gustaudio -

Excellent concept. I would love to install chromium os. Will look for availability.

Claude

Claude Poliakoff -

The World Today needs this type of Laptop Models, This will reduce the E-Waste drastically, Most Laptops today are difficult to repair

Arun Nayak -

Bought a DIY Gen 12 version and absolutely love it. The only thing lacking, for me, is the lack of a touch screen. Hopefully, Framework will make one available in the near future.

Edgar Spilman -

Sounds amazing! as a 3D developper i'd hope to see a GPU too but it's okay, I can wait

Aaron Terg -

I think the USB-C port issue should take off a point, no matter. Still an excellent laptop for repairability!

guardian10 -

Would like to buy this laptop. But looks like Framework doesn't list my local keyboard layout (azerty- belgium).

Vapoliroot -

Apparently, both the Framework 13 and 16 can now be ordered with a Belgian keyboard. I hadn't noticed as I switched to UK extended a while ago and thus ordered my FW 13 with that layout. I'm really impressed with the ease of repair (I swapped out the stock thermal paster for PTM7950, because I wanted to test it, and that was painless).

Fair prices for spare parts are also a major plus, and the ability to upgrade an 11th gen intel laptop to the new Ryzen boards, is something that was unheard of just a few years ago. Let's hope the company makes it big time, or that maybe other manufacturers will also adopt this platform or develop hardware for it.

BartC -

If an HP Elitebook 840 G6 can score a 10/10, then this should be at least 11/10... Open source firmware, open source expansion cards, open source mainboard schematics, upgradable/replaceable everything with a great marketplace offering every possible component. How did the HP Elitebook 840 G6 score a 10/10? The laptop reparability score needs to be more strict IMO.

Alex Schendel -