The new Framework Laptop 16 takes modularity to the extreme: it allows you to upgrade even the graphics card

When the Framework Laptop was presented two years ago, we were surprised by its enormous possibilities of repairability and expansion. After many promises by the industry, a manufacturer finally announced a device destined for commercialization.

In that 13.5-inch proposal, the removable processor stood out, a key feature to jump from one generation to another of the Intel Core. Now Framework just presented your new 16-inch laptop with upgradeable modular graphics and gamer spirit.

The modular laptop par excellence grows up to 16 inches

Modularity is the lynchpin of the smaller Framework laptop, however it doesn’t allow for upgrading the graphic section which features the integrated Intel Xe solution. Things change with this larger option, opening the door to new uses by the most demanding users.

These possibilities come from the hand of an interesting design and engineering work by the manufacturer. For this they have created a versatile expansion system (Expansion Bay) that admits modules whose dimensions can vary according to the needs of the developer.

“Since the modules can extend the laptop both in thickness and depth, we have an immense design flexibility to handle generation-to-generation changes in mechanical, thermal, and electrical requirements for GPUs.”

Framework has created its own PCIe x8 interface to offer high performance graphics with its modules. Of course, the company has not yet revealed what type of NVIDIA or AMD graphics cards it will support, but it has said that it will also be used to connect other types of peripherals.

Expansion Bay will also open the door to use M.2 SSD cards to provide additional 16TB storage. And because the interface is open source, they rely on third-party developers to create solutions to allow card readers and other devices to be connected.

Modularity to the next level

What’s new in the 16-inch Framework Laptop goes beyond the new expansion system. Now that there is enough space, users will be able to easily add and remove the number pad, as well as change the placement of the touchpad (left, right or center).

And, as if that were not enough, we can also change the keyboard modules completely. do you feel like having piano keys on your laptop? voila! A secondary screen? No problem. A futuristic-style led matrix? They also promise that it will be removable.

From what we can see the new Framework laptop is intended to expand the possibilities of the previous model. At the moment they have not said their specifications, but they assure that this information will be published at the end of this spring and that it will be launched before the end of the year.

Images: Framework (1, 2)

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