Many companies have promised to create a gaming laptop that can be upgraded over time. If we’re honest, no one has managed to properly deliver on that pledge so far, since the framework launched a meaningful CPU and GPU upgrade for the Laptop 16. Nearly two years after the machine first went on sale, you can now swap out its discrete Radeon RX 7700S for NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5070. If the company deserves a standing ovation for that achievement, it gets an additional award for bringing in NVIDIA GPUs. Internal area of AMD.
Engadget
The framework really delivers on its promise of creating a truly upgradeable gaming laptop. But keeping that new GPU cool comes at a cost.
- upgrades are worthwhile
- upgrades are powerful
- it will last a long time
- great performance
- cooling is an issue
- unbearable loud fan noise
- Expensive compared to other machines
$1,500 on framework
Hardware
The framework’s late 2025 upgrade to laptops is arguably more significant than every product released since before it. This is the first opportunity for users (for any laptop, really) to swap out or add a different GPU to an existing machine. If you bought the first-generation model, you could rely on integrated graphics, or equip it with the discrete Radeon RX 7700S. Now, you get the option to purchase NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5070 with 8GB of DDR7 RAM that you can add to the chassis yourself. The company has also repackaged the existing Radeon RX 7700S with Promise Lower fan noise and better thermal performance than previous models.
The new GPU draws some of the focus away from the new mainboards, which are equipped with a choice of AMD’s Ryzen AI 7 350 or Ryzen AI 9 HZ 370, both of which promise to deliver a 45W TDP. As before, you can equip the board with 86 GB of RAM, one or two SSDs and your favorite ports through six expansion card slots placed in the chassis.
If you’re buying the new laptop, you’ll find several small upgrades, starting with a new 165Hz, 2,560 x 1,600 panel that supports NVIDIA G-Sync. Plus, a new top cover, improved keyboard, number pad, webcam, Wi-Fi 7 support, and an upgraded 240W power adapter. Sadly, I can’t talk about these as I was testing the upgrade from the 2024 model which included a new mainboard and GPU module.
The framework heard complaints about the rear-slung USB-C port not supporting charging earlier. This was an omission that greatly troubled Devindra Hardawar, my colleague in reviewing the original machine. But now, if you spend the money for the RTX 5070, you can now use the rear port the way most people want to. (If you’re unfamiliar, the Laptop 16’s discrete GPUs are packaged in self-contained “expansion modules” that go on the back of the chassis. The Radeon version can only be used to connect peripherals and/or additional displays.)
Complementing the changes is the framework’s continued promise that it has improved the cooling situation. The thermal paste for the Honeywell PTM has been removed, there is a new, redesigned fan geometry and revised pipes for better air flow. And, look, I don’t want to discredit the framework for failing to keep one promise, while it has kept many others. But if you’ve followed the company for a long time, you already know what I’m going to say in the in-use section.
mandatory amd port agreement
Graphic showing which ports work with which cards with AMD mainboards. (framework)
As is customary, when discussing an AMD-toting framework machine, you need to remember the diagram showing which expansion card slots will work with which devices. We’re not going to ding the framework for an issue that exists in all AMD hardware, and the only reason it’s worth mentioning here is that you have a choice as to which port to use for what. You don’t have the kind of universal port flexibility you might otherwise expect.
installation
The Laptop 16 is larger and more complex than its smaller siblings, but that doesn’t mean it’s more difficult to maintain. The company’s iFixit-style guides hold your hand so well that removing the middle plate should feel as natural as breathing. And when you’re asked to take them all apart and put them back together, you get a real feel for how well the components are laid out. The company says it will take you an hour to replace the mainboard and graphics module, which is a lot. It took me about 22 minutes to change and set up everything, to the extent that I think installing new drivers was more laborious than it was.
I can’t stress enough what a great accomplishment it is to have a modular, upgradeable gaming laptop that lets you jump a generation ahead. Being able to rip out a two year old Radeon and replace it with a fresh RTX is the stuff of dreams (at least for some people). Imagine how long it would be possible to keep this machine running if this kind of bi-annual upgrade cycle continued. It’s not a particularly difficult process, making it quite easy for people who would otherwise be skeptical of the idea.
in use
Image of the 16 mainboard and expansion modules for the Framework Laptop 2025. (Daniel Cooper for Engadget)
Of course, strapping such a powerful chip and graphics [INAUDIBLE DUE TO FAN NOISE] Lead to issues. As discrete components, both the mainboard and expansion modules require their own cooling. It will never be as efficient as an overall well designed laptop. When you are not taxing the machine, this is not a problem, it is only when you use it for its intended purpose that it becomes a serious problem. If you want to play games with this thing, take headphones or put subtitles on, and don’t even think about using it in public. What…did you hear? can you hear me? I said…as discrete components…
And before we even get to summer, this thing comes out. I placed my unit on a stand about four inches away from the desk. I put my hand under the chassis to feel how hot it was getting and it was enough that I never wanted to put it on my lap, Sometimes,
It’s a shame that the noise and heat are so high given that this is a machine that has enough grunt to put off many a weary enthusiast. I set cyberpunk 2077 At 1080p I ran the highest settings I could (Ray Tracing: Overdrive), and it was comfortably able to produce 140 fps. Setting it to default (ray tracing: low, but set to the maximum for the resolution display) it was able to crank out 182 fps.
If you use the Laptop 16 more for productivity than gaming you’ll get equally impressive performance. It compressed a 38GB 4K video file to an 8GB HD mp4 in 28 minutes and 29 seconds. Using LM Studio, I was able to run Google’s Gemma 3 27b model with fairly good performance. Sure, the chatbot wasn’t responding as quickly as Gemini Online, but it was hardly flailing. I would say the performance here is more or less what you’d expect from the specifications, the one downside is the terrible fan noise.
Price determination
If you buy the new Laptop 16 pre-built from Framework, the Ryzen AI 7 configuration starts at $1,500, the AI 9 starts at $1,800. Add the RTX 5070 and you can add another $699 to that price, which is the same cost as if you bought the GPU standalone as an upgrade. Or, if money is tight, you can buy the new machine now and then add the 5070 whenever you want – that’s the benefit of modularity.
If you look elsewhere it should be clear that you can get laptops with these types of components for less. Ahead of the holiday season, I’ve seen machines — like HP’s Omen Max — offering a Ryzen AI 7 and an RTX 5070 Ti for under $2,000. But here you’re not just buying a laptop, you’re buying into the broader ethos of the framework. You’ll get the fastest machine it can sell you right now, as well as the ability to cheaply transition to the next big thing in a few years without the cost of buying a new machine.
As I said earlier this year when I reviewed the Ryzen AI 300 upgrade for the Laptop 13, the framework is well-positioned to take advantage of the world’s political situation. If the price of a whole new laptop skyrockets, you can at least save by replacing what you need.
wrap up
I wonder if “should you get one?” This is the best question to ask and answer as the single furrow framework is being plowed. If you want a powerful laptop where every part can be replaced or upgraded, you really don’t have any serious options. The natural target market of the Laptop 16 is professionals and enthusiasts who value modularity and longevity above everything else. These new components give you enough power to play games, run AI models locally, and perform other important tasks.
For everyone else, it’s a question of how willing you are to accept heat, noise, and a slightly agricultural aesthetic. After all, this machine isn’t the type of gadget you’ll want to outgrow in a few years, this will be a machine you’re committed to for the long term.