Two years ago, at a major event in San Francisco, Framework introduced the Laptop 16, a groundbreaking device that promised the “holy grail” of upgradable graphics cards—a truly ambitious step in laptop technology. However, at the company’s latest event, the Framework Laptop 16 barely got a mention, leaving many wondering about its future.
Instead, the event focused heavily on the newly unveiled Framework Desktop, a modular, gamer-oriented PC, as well as updates to the Framework Laptop 13, which now features the latest AMD processors. Meanwhile, the fate of the Laptop 16 remains uncertain, with no confirmation on whether or when it will receive new mainboards or hardware upgrades.
A Small Nod to the Laptop 16
Despite the lack of major announcements, Framework did introduce a new “One Key Module”—a customizable keyboard module that will allow the community to create their own electromechanical keyboards thin enough to fit into the Laptop 16’s ultra-slim Input Module bay. This feature, while intriguing, does not address the bigger question: Will the Laptop 16 receive the long-promised GPU upgrade or other hardware improvements?
Framework did finally ship the M.2 adapter bay in December, allowing users to insert extra SSDs or peripherals instead of a discrete GPU, but this doesn’t fulfill the original promise of upgradable graphics.
Framework CEO: “We’re Not Done Yet”
At the event, I had the chance to speak with Framework CEO Nirav Patel, who provided a small but crucial reassurance:
“We’re nowhere near done with Framework Laptop 16.”
While this suggests that the company still has plans for the Laptop 16, Patel would not confirm if or when the device will receive a GPU upgrade or a secondary battery option. When asked directly, he responded:
“Today is not that day.”
The Challenge of Modular GPU Upgrades
Framework has been under pressure to deliver upgradable GPUs, especially since other companies have failed to do so in the past. Dell’s Alienware Area-51m, for example, promised GPU upgrades but never delivered, leading to lawsuits and customer backlash.
The Laptop 16 is an innovative but somewhat problematic device, and if Framework is rethinking its approach, it wouldn’t be surprising. While the company has resisted confirming future upgrades, customers deserve clarity on whether the Laptop 16 will truly fulfill its modular vision or remain stuck in limbo.
For now, it seems Framework isn’t giving up on the Laptop 16—but the future of its modular GPU dream remains uncertain.
