Summary of "I Should Have Invested MORE in Framework"
Concise overview
Framework revealed four major products/updates and one concept: the Framework 13 Pro laptop, a midcycle refresh of the Framework 16, a new Oculink-based expansion bay (eGPU dev kit), a standalone Framework keyboard, and a modular “battery mags” battery bank concept. The announcements emphasize repairability, modularity, and community-driven development. Overall impression in the video: very positive — these releases push Framework further toward competing with mainstream premium laptops while keeping upgradability and openness.
Verdict (short): Strong recommendation for enthusiasts who prioritize repairability, upgradeability, and openness; caution for buyers who need a consumer-ready external GPU solution.
Main features
Framework 13 Pro
- CNC aluminum “Pro” chassis with a premium feel comparable to MacBook Pro.
- Battery: 74 Wh (about 21% larger than previous gen).
- New custom 2.8K touchscreen — first Framework touchscreen — with matte anti-glare polarizer and up to ~700 nits peak brightness (very good outdoor visibility).
- New speaker modules.
- New input cover: haptic touchpad, CNCed frame, improved typing.
- New single-handed expansion card latch for easier swaps.
- Mainboard options:
- Intel Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake GPU) with LP Cam 2 memory support and PCIe Gen5 SSD support.
- Ryzen AI300 remains available as an alternative.
- Maintains mainboard/chassis compatibility (new mainboards fit original chassis; older mainboards fit Pro chassis).
- Improved battery-life examples (e.g., Netflix 4K streaming cited: ~8h -> ~20h in some use cases).
- Pre-order price lock: price won’t increase after ordering, though exact MSRP wasn’t disclosed.
Framework 16 (refresh)
- One-piece haptic trackpad and keyboard input modules.
- New Ryzen 5 option (lower-cost CPU choice).
- Translucent bezel color option.
- Continued support for community/developer input modules (e.g., MIDI keyboard, ergonomic layouts).
Expansion bay / eGPU dev kit (Oculink 8i)
- New Oculink 8i expansion bay module (developer kit) exposes native PCIe out via Oculink 8i.
- Up to ~128 Gbits/s bidirectional throughput (8 PCIe lanes).
- Targeted as a developer kit — not a full consumer hot-plug solution (Oculink currently lacks Thunderbolt-style hot-plug convenience).
- Cited benchmark/analysis: TechPowerUp article referenced a 16–36% disadvantage for Thunderbolt 5 vs Oculink for some eGPU workloads.
- Also announced: 10 Gb Ethernet expansion card.
- Community developers have designed bifurcation boards to split lanes.
Framework keyboard (desktop peripheral)
- Mechanical switches and touchpad architecture derived from Framework Laptop 12.
- Ultra-efficient Nordic NRF54 radio for long battery life.
- “Dongle garage” to stow a USB receiver inside the keyboard.
- Open-source firmware; stores four profiles; multiple connection options (dongle, USB-A, USB-C).
- Replaceable battery; control board to be released as a developer board.
- CAD and accessories open-sourced.
Battery mags (modular battery bank concept)
- Modular “battery magazine” concept: reusable control board/chassis and swappable battery magazine when cells reach end-of-life.
- Supports potential future battery chemistries (e.g., sodium-ion) by swapping magazines.
- Mechanical “hat” interface planned for add-ons (USB-A breakout, flashlight, benchtop power supply, etc.).
- Disassembly designed to be simple (one screw).
- Still under development; tooling and legal/manufacturer constraints prevented a fully resellable cell model at this time.
Pros
- Strong focus on repairability and upgradeability across products.
- Premium chassis and tactile improvements bring Framework closer to MacBook Pro–class feel.
- First fully custom touchscreen panel for Framework: 2.8K, matte anti-glare, ~700 nits, excellent outdoors.
- Significant battery life gains in real-world examples (Netflix 4K example: ~8h → ~20h).
- High-bandwidth external GPU option (Oculink 8i) with native PCIe and high throughput for developers.
- Official Ubuntu build worked directly with Canonical (drivers preinstalled) — good for Linux users.
- Open-source firmware, CAD, and dev-board approaches encourage community innovation.
- Community contributions supported (3D-printed and CNC input modules demonstrated).
Cons / caveats
- 13 Pro is a step-up in price; no MSRP disclosed at announcement. Memory/storage market volatility could affect final pricing.
- Oculink module is a developer kit: lacks hot-plug convenience and is not yet a plug-and-play consumer eGPU solution.
- Some spare parts (e.g., standalone trackpad replacement for the keyboard) may not be guaranteed immediately.
- Battery mags remain a concept in development; tooling and liability constraints limited some ambitions (no fully resellable cell model).
- Final pricing and ship dates were unclear at the time of the video.
User experience notes (from the video)
- The 13 Pro felt premium, solid, and comparable to MacBook Pro in build and typing feel.
- Custom matte touchscreen: excellent anti-glare behavior outdoors; usable even at moderate brightness.
- Internal access and module swaps were demonstrated (easier expansion card latch; ribbon cables accessible while running).
- Keyboard’s dongle garage worked for the presenter’s receiver; tooling may be adjusted to fit varying dongles.
- Framework’s Ubuntu option intended to be plug-and-play (drivers preinstalled) — valuable for Linux users.
- Developer-made modules for the 16 showed community creativity and a good fit.
Comparisons made
- MacBook Pro: 13 Pro’s CNC aluminum chassis and feel compared directly to MacBook Pro.
- Oculink 8i vs Thunderbolt 5: Oculink (native PCIe) is argued to be better for eGPU throughput; referenced TechPowerUp testing claimed Thunderbolt 5 can be 16–36% worse for eGPU performance in some cases.
- The release parallels a previous surprise launch described as Framework’s “Framework 16 moment.”
Numeric / spec highlights
- Battery: 74 Wh (21% larger).
- Display: 2.8K touchscreen, up to ~700 nits.
- Oculink 8i: up to ~128 Gbits/s bidirectional (8 lanes).
- Example battery life change: Netflix 4K streaming from ~8 hours (old 13) to ~20 hours (new 13 Pro).
- Oculink vs Thunderbolt 5 performance differential referenced: 16–36% worse for TB5 (per TechPowerUp).
All unique product points (summary)
- Framework 13 Pro
- CNC aluminum Pro chassis; 74 Wh battery; custom 2.8K matte touchscreen; 700 nits; new speakers; haptic touchpad and CNC input cover; single-hand expansion latch; LP Cam 2 memory support; PCIe Gen5 SSD support; Intel Core Ultra Series 3 mainboard option; Ryzen AI300 option; maintained mainboard/chassis compatibility.
- Framework 16 refresh
- One-piece haptic trackpad and keyboard inputs; Ryzen 5 option; translucent bezel; support for community-made input modules; one-piece CNC trackpad planned for sale.
- Expansion bay (Oculink 8i dev kit)
- Native PCIe over Oculink 8i; 128 Gbits/s bidirectional; developer kit (no hot-plug); better eGPU throughput vs Thunderbolt 5 per referenced testing; community bifurcation boards exist.
- Other expansion cards
- New 10 Gb Ethernet module.
- Framework keyboard
- Mechanical switches like Laptop 12; Nordic NRF54 radio; dongle garage; open firmware; replaceable battery; dev control board; open CAD.
- Battery mags
- Swappable magazines; reusable control board/chassis; supports swapping for future chemistries; mechanical “hat” interface; one-screw disassembly; manufacturer/legal limits prevented fully resellable cell model.
- Software / manufacturing notes
- Official Ubuntu build in partnership with Canonical (drivers preinstalled).
- Framework invested over $1M to develop a fully custom panel.
- Pre-order price lock promise.
- Memory/storage market volatility cited as reason for delayed pricing.
Contributions by speakers (who said what)
- Reviewer / primary presenter:
- Expressed excitement; compared 13 Pro to MacBook Pro; tested outdoor display and dongle garage; emphasized feel, typing, and battery-life examples; asked questions about compatibility, hot-plug, and pricing; referenced TechPowerUp article about Oculink vs TB5.
- Framework representatives (e.g., Elijah and others):
- Provided technical details: CNC chassis, custom display development cost, LP Cam 2 memory, PCIe Gen5 support, mainboard/chassis compatibility, new latches and input covers, Oculink rationale (positioned as dev kit), keyboard internals, battery mags design choices, and Ubuntu partnership with Canonical.
- Community developers:
- Pit Stopte (MIDI keyboard input module) and Axel (ergonomic keyboard layout) demonstrated community-made modules for the Framework 16.
- “Nurav” (audience/questioner):
- Asked about keyboard repairability; Framework explained that the keyboard battery is replaceable and that the platform is open (firmware, CAD, dev board).
Category
Product Review
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