“A computer should be yours”: Framework CEO calls out MacBook Neo design

Framework’s founder, Nirav Patel, recently posted a teardown video of Apple’s MacBook Neo and compared it to his company’s Framework Laptop 12. He summed up the distinct differences between the two budget-friendly laptops with one simple idea: “A computer should be yours.”

In the YouTube video, Patel spent 33 minutes tearing down the MacBook Neo and the Framework Laptop 12, showing how both sub-$1,000 budget-friendly laptops, aimed at students and light users, represent entirely opposing philosophies about what a laptop should be and how long it should last.

Apple’s MacBook Neo, priced at $599, is considered Apple’s most repairable laptop in 14 years and received a repairability rating of 6/10 from iFixit. Patel bought a MacBook Neo from an Apple Store to see what’s inside and compared it side by side with Framework’s 12.2-inch convertible touchscreen laptop, which starts at the same price.

However, Framework’s laptop is designed to be built from the ground up, opened, and upgraded to increase its long-term reliability and lifespan.

During the teardown video, Framework’s internals were clearly labeled, with parts that could easily be swapped thanks to simple POGO pins. This allows users to replace the motherboard, memory, storage, cooling solution, screen, keyboard, and other components over time.

The MacBook Neo, on the other hand, provides easy access to the touchpad, battery, and speakers, and its ports can be replaced without too much trouble, except for the keyboard, which requires users to peel off a layer of tape and unscrew 41 Phillips screws.

However, the downsides become apparent when you consider that you’re essentially stuck with 8 GB of RAM on the MacBook Neo and a fixed amount of storage, either 256 GB or 512 GB, as the memory and storage are soldered to the motherboard.

Patel also noted that if you accidentally break your MacBook Neo’s display, you’ll have to replace the entire top chassis, whereas Framework’s displays simply slide out and can be swapped in mere minutes.

Framework CEO Says MacBook Neo Aims to Lure Users Into Apple’s “Walled Garden”

Patel then talked about the bigger picture of Apple’s approach and said:

“A big part of the MacBook Neo is to get new MacBook users right from the start and then bring them into the walled garden that Apple has created for them. Once you’re a MacBook Neo owner, you run out of storage space, it gets a bit too slow, you need more ports, and you’re in the macOS world. Maybe you’ll buy that MacBook Pro or that MacBook Air at that $1,000, $2,000, or $3,000 price point.”

Patel then discussed Framework’s goal and said that it’s a stark contrast because “schools need repairability.” He explained:

“We want to eliminate that e-waste by making the product easy to use for as long as you want to. And of course, we don’t want this to be a stepping stone on the path to other computers. If you’ve got a Framework Laptop, we want you to be able to continue to upgrade it so that it works well for you for as long as you need it. That’s our entire philosophy.”