Framework is continuing to prove that modular and repairable laptops can compete directly with high-end gaming and workstation machines. After debuting its larger 16-inch form factor last year with room for discrete graphics, the company is now refreshing the lineup with new CPUs and the long-awaited option for Nvidia GPUs. This is a major step forward, especially for users who wanted more variety than the AMD Radeon-only approach of the original model.
The star of this refresh is a brand-new discrete graphics module featuring the GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU. Built on Nvidia’s latest Blackwell architecture, it packs 8GB of GDDR7 memory and can boost up to 2.0GHz. Like the Radeon RX 7700S before it, this card comes in a fully modular cartridge that users can swap in themselves. But Framework says the RTX 5070 offers 30 to 40 percent more gaming performance than the Radeon module, giving players a meaningful jump in frame rates and ray tracing capabilities. The module also gains a refreshed USB-C port on the rear, enabling both charging input and display output for added flexibility.
Alongside the new GPU option, Framework is rolling out updated motherboard modules with AMD’s latest Ryzen AI 300 processors. Buyers can choose between the Ryzen AI 7 350, an 8-core option, or the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, a powerful 12-core chip also found in the new Framework Desktop. Both CPUs are paired with support for up to 96GB of DDR5 RAM and dual M.2 SSD slots, allowing storage expansion all the way up to 10TB. Other refinements include an upgraded webcam for clearer video calls and a higher-capacity 240-watt charger to feed the new hardware.
A fully configured Laptop 16 with these parts won’t come cheap, starting at $2,200 for a barebones model before adding RAM, storage, and expansion cards. But the best news for existing owners is that the new GPU module and CPU motherboards will be sold separately, letting users upgrade without buying an entirely new system. This keeps Framework true to its promise of upgradability and long-term support, a rarity in the laptop world. Preorders are live now, with shipping set for November—assuming tariff issues don’t cause another pricing headache.
