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MagyarRadeon RX 7700S performance debut: Framework Laptop 16 review
Revealed at GDC 2023, The Framework Laptop 16 expands upon the repairability and sustainability aspects of the Framework 13.5 but in a larger 16-inch form factor. It's much more than just a bigger version, however, as the larger screen size has allowed for even more customization and optional parts than the original 13.5-inch design including removable discrete graphics, touchpad spacers, LEDs, and numpad.
Our review unit is the highest-end configuration with the Ryzen 9 7940HS and 100 W Radeon RX 7700S for roughly $2400 USD retail. Lower-end SKUs ship with the Ryzen 7 7840HS and no discrete GPU, but all options come with the same 1600p 165 Hz VRR IPS display. Barebone and DIY kits are also available much like for the Laptop 13.5. Framework says the company worked closely with AMD on the design of the Laptop 16 to imply that we shouldn't be holding our breath for any Intel-Nvidia options anytime soon.
Though the Laptop 16 is wholly capable of gaming because of its specifications, Framework is being careful to avoid calling it a gaming laptop for fear of pigeonholing the model. The Laptop 16 is instead targeting a broader audience consisting of multimedia users, content creators, and gamers alike. Competitors to the Laptop 16 include 16-inch laptops from more traditional makers like the HP Spectre x360 16, upcoming Dell XPS 16, Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, or the Apple MacBook Pro 16.
More Framework reviews:
Potential Competitors in Comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89.6 % | 01/2024 | Framework Laptop 16 R9 7940HS, Radeon RX 7700S | 2.4 kg | 20.95 mm | 16.00" | 2560x1600 | |
| 88.1 % | 12/2023 | MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US Ultra 7 155H, Arc 8-Cores | 1.6 kg | 19.1 mm | 16.00" | 2560x1600 | |
| 88.6 % | 12/2023 | Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 R9 PRO 7940HS, Radeon RX 6550M | 1.8 kg | 15.8 mm | 16.00" | 3840x2400 | |
| 93.2 % | 11/2023 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max Apple M3 Max 16-Core, M3 Max 40-Core GPU | 2.1 kg | 16.9 mm | 16.00" | 3456x2234 | |
| 87.1 % | 08/2023 | Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 i7-13700H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU | 2.2 kg | 19.95 mm | 16.00" | 2560x1600 | |
| 87.3 % | 01/2023 | HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng i7-12700H, Iris Xe G7 96EUs | 2 kg | 19.9 mm | 16.00" | 3072x1920 |
Case — When Form Meets Function
The chassis is an evolution of the smaller Laptop 13.5. While materials are largely the same between them, the Laptop 16 feels thicker and more rigid around the base for better first impressions even after accounting for all the new removable parts. Attempting to twist the base or warp the keyboard would result in almost no creaking and just minimal distortions which are already huge improvements over the more fragile Laptop 13.5.
Unfortunately, one attribute has not improved and that is the lid. Much like on the Laptop 13.5, the lid on the Laptop 16 is more susceptible to twisting and warping when compared to other 16-inch alternatives like the HP Spectre x360 16 or Blade 16. The hinges may be decent, but the lid feels like the weakest aspect of the chassis yet again.
Dimensions and weight are different depending on if the dGPU module is attached or if the smaller standard cover module is attached instead. Indeed, the Laptop 16 becomes noticeably heavier and longer than other 16-inch multimedia laptops when its dGPU module is attached. Its design is already quite long at 270 mm with just the standard cover module. If portability is a concern, you can certainly do better with more traditional laptops from Apple or the LG Gram series.
| With Standard Expansion Bay Cover Module | 356.58 x 270.0 x 17.95 mm | 2.1 kg |
| With Discrete Graphics Bay Module | 356.58 x 290.2 x 20.95 mm | 2.4 kg |
Connectivity — Six Customizable Ports
This is the only laptop in recent memory to integrate a total of six USB-C ports and nothing else — not even an audio jack or Kensington lock. All six ports are compatible with Framework's existing lineup of expansion cards and so they function the same way as on the Laptop 13.5.
It's important to note that the six USB-C ports are not created equal as shown by our table below. Only two are USB4, three are compatible with DP, and four are compatible with the USB-C AC adapter. There are no visual indicators to differentiate between the ports.
| Expansion Card Slot # | Interface | DisplayPort Compatible? | 240 W USB-C Charging Compatible? | USB-A High Power Consumption? |
| 1 | USB4 | Y | Y | Y |
| 2 | USB 3.2 | N | Y | N |
| 3 | USB 3.2 | N | N | N |
| 4 | USB4 | Y | Y | Y |
| 5 | USB 3.2 | Y | Y | N |
| 6 | USB 3.2 | N | N | N |
Additionally, there are still no expansion cards for full-size SD readers, WAN, or RJ-45. If such ports are important to you, then you'll have to look at USB adapters or docking stations.
A seventh USB-C port along the rear edge becomes available if the discrete GPU module is installed. This port is compatible with DP but not the AC adapter.
SD Card Reader
The Laptop 16 utilizes the same MicroSD expansion card reader as found on the Laptop 13.5 for similar read and write rates. At only around 80 MB/s, performance is much slower than the card readers on competing models like the ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 or MacBook Pro 16.
We do not have access to the SD card reader expansion card for our Laptop 16 and so our data for the Laptop 13.5 is provided below in its place.
| SD Card Reader | |
| average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max (Angelbird AV Pro V60) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| Framework Laptop 13.5 (AV Pro UHS-II V60) | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max (Angelbird AV Pro V60) | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| Framework Laptop 13.5 (AV Pro UHS-II V60) | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
Communication
Wi-Fi 6 and 6E are provided by a MediaTek MT7922 instead of the usual AX211 in keeping with the Intel-free design of the model. We experienced steady and reliable connections when paired to our Asus AXE11000 test router.
WAN is unfortunately not supported.
Webcam
A 2 MP webcam with IR and manual shutter come standard while competitors like the HP Spectre or Elite series have been shipping with 5 MP or higher webcams for well over a year. Hopefully Framework can offer improved webcam options in the future.
Accessories — More Options Than Batman's Utility Belt
Unlike your typical laptop, the Laptop 16 is arguably defined by its accessories. The most notable include the removable rear discrete graphics module, LED Matrix modules, and RGB Macropad module. There is only one dGPU to choose from at the moment, but it's likely that more options will be made available in the future.
The RGB Macropad is a secondary option to the standard numpad. Its inputs are exactly the same as a regular numpad but the keys are visually different as they are transparent and with RGB backlighting whereas the standard numpad is printed and with only a white backlight. The clear and colorful keys of the Macropad can appeal to hardcore users or gamers who like to customize their key inputs.
As for the LED Matrix modules, these replace the regular spacers and consist of numerous LEDs in a pixel-like grid that can be programmed to show battery life levels, scrolling texts, notifications, or a clock.
Users who have no desire for the dGPU or LED Matrix modules can install standard plate covers in their respective places. These covers ship with all configurations of the Laptop 16.
Beyond the accessories, most internal parts are replaceable and can be individually purchased from the manufacturer including the mainboard just like on the Framework 13.5.
Maintenance
Accessing the motherboard is more involved than usual. Whereas most other laptops require you to only remove the bottom panel, the Laptop 16 requires you to remove the keyboard, clickpad, a ribbon cable, 15 Torx screws, and a metal mid-plate to reveal the innards. It's not difficult by any means, but the process is slightly longer when compared to something like a traditional ThinkPad or EliteBook.
Thankfully, Framework offers some of the most detailed and easy-to-follow repair guides we've seen from any laptop manufacturer to make maintenance a breeze. We highly recommend checking out the extensive official support page which covers everything from simple RAM and SSD upgrades to mainboard replacements and dGPU module installation. We don't need to reprint the entire maintenance process, but the procedures have a slightly higher learning curve than the Laptop 13.5 due to the complexities of the new removable dGPU and larger input modules.
While many of the modules are magnetic, a screwdriver is still required for installing the rear dGPU and some modules must be installed in a certain order. The rear module in particular is not plug-and-play as the system must be powered off and the keyboard and clickpad must first be removed. The good news is that you only need to disassemble and reassemble the system once before the maintenance procedures become second nature. Framework even encourages this by shipping the keyboard and clickpad detached which effectively forces the user to learn how some of the modules work before turning on the laptop for the first time.
The use of magnets and latches for the touchpad modules is an intuitive approach to servicing. We're hopeful to see this expanded upon to the point where all modules and upgrades can be tool-less.
Warranty
The standard one-year limited manufacturer warranty applies if purchased in the US. The protection covers the laptop in addition to its parts and modules.
Input Devices — Removable, Replaceable, And Rearrangeable
Keyboard
The per-key RGB keys have 1.5 mm of travel which is common amongst most Ultrabooks. The typing experience doesn't feel hindered by the removable aspect of the keyboard which is exactly what we like to see. Users who prefer laptops with deeper and firmer key travel should try out the HP Spectre.
Oddly, the numpad keys only have a white backlight whereas the main QWERTY keys are RGB lit. Users who prefer to have no numpad at all can instead install spacers to center the QWERTY keyboard or install an RGB macropad with customizable keys. The ability to reposition or center the keyboard to your liking is not something we've seen on any other laptop. The numpad, for example, can be installed to the left or right of the QWERTY keyboard for some truly interesting configurations.
Touchpad
At 12.3 x 7.7 cm, the Precision clickpad is smaller than the one on the MSI Prestige 16 (15 x 9 cm) and about the same size as the one on the Inspiron 16 Plus (11.5 x 8 cm). Traction is smooth on the matte glass surface with just a bit of sticking when gliding at slower speeds for improved accuracy. Clicking also feels good as feedback isn't as spongy as on the Prestige 16, but clatter is slightly louder as a result.
A unique aspect about the clickpad is that it can be shifted left or right on the palm rests depending on how it is installed as shown by the pictures below. This is a neat feature for users who might prefer the clickpad off-centered.
Display — Sorry Folks, No OLED
With absolutely no other display options to choose from at the time of writing, we have high expectations for the sole IPS panel that comes with every Laptop 16 configuration. Fortunately, we can safely say that Framework didn't cheap out on the display at all. The 2560 x 1600 panel offers fast response times, DCI-P3 colors, a bright backlight, relatively high contrast ratio, and even a variable 165 Hz refresh rate with FreeSync support. The Laptop 16 is consequently one of the first laptops to ship with the BOE NE160QDM-NZ6 VRR panel.
As an IPS panel, however, it doesn't quite reach the same pitch black contrast ratios or response times as a typical OLED alternative like those on the Asus VivoBook 16 series. It also lacks proper HDR support which is becoming an increasingly common feature on multimedia laptops. For a laptop that boasts end-user upgradeability, it's odd to see no second display option here. Even so, this is still one of the best 16-inch IPS displays we've seen for both editing and gaming purposes.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 504.8 cd/m²
Contrast: 1231:1 (Black: 0.41 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.23 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 1.1
ΔE Greyscale 2 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
87% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
99.7% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
97.7% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.22
| Framework Laptop 16 2560x1600, 16.00 | MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US AU Optronics B160QAN03.R, IPS, 2560x1600, 16.00 | Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 Samsung ATNA60YV04-0, OLED, 3840x2400, 16.00 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max Mini-LED, 3456x2234, 16.00 | Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 LG Philips 160WQ2, IPS, 2560x1600, 16.00 | HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng AU Optronics AUO50A3, IPS, 3072x1920, 16.00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | -1% | 4% | 2% | -15% | -11% | |
| Display P3 Coverage | 97.7 | 96.7 -1% | 99.7 2% | 99.2 2% | 70.1 -28% | 75.6 -23% |
| sRGB Coverage | 99.7 | 99.8 0% | 100 0% | 99.6 0% | 100.2 1% | |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 87 | 84.6 -3% | 96.7 11% | 72.3 -17% | 77.2 -11% | |
| Response Times | -219% | 85% | -322% | -127% | -202% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 14.6 ? | 49.4 ? -238% | 1.86 ? 87% | 66.9 ? -358% | 35 ? -140% | 52 ? -256% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 11.3 ? | 33.9 ? -200% | 1.89 ? 83% | 43.6 ? -286% | 24.2 ? -114% | 28 ? -148% |
| PWM Frequency | 60 ? | 14877 | ||||
| Screen | -70% | -6% | 15% | -50% | -120% | |
| Brightness middle | 504.8 | 473.6 -6% | 390.1 -23% | 630 25% | 299.4 -41% | 425 -16% |
| Brightness | 490 | 456 -7% | 393 -20% | 604 23% | 290 -41% | 406 -17% |
| Brightness Distribution | 84 | 87 4% | 97 15% | 94 12% | 92 10% | 78 -7% |
| Black Level * | 0.41 | 0.19 54% | 0.21 49% | 0.24 41% | ||
| Contrast | 1231 | 2493 103% | 1426 16% | 1771 44% | ||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.23 | 5.9 -380% | 1.41 -15% | 1.2 2% | 4.25 -246% | 5.8 -372% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 3.74 | 9.37 -151% | 3.43 8% | 2.8 25% | 6.71 -79% | 11.03 -195% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 1.1 | 0.89 19% | 0.52 53% | 4.16 -278% | ||
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2 | 7.3 -265% | 2 -0% | 1.9 5% | 5.5 -175% | 7.57 -279% |
| Gamma | 2.22 99% | 1.9 116% | 2.22 99% | 2.29 96% | 2.35 94% | 6600 0% |
| CCT | 6670 97% | 7260 90% | 6324 103% | 6812 95% | 6368 102% | |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -97% /
-77% | 28% /
13% | -102% /
-61% | -64% /
-54% | -111% /
-108% |
* ... smaller is better
The display comes well-calibrated against the sRGB standard even though the panel covers 100% of DCI-P3. Calibrating the display ourselves would not improve its average deltaE values by noticeable margins and so an end-user calibration will not be necessary for most.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 11.3 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 6.1 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 5.2 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 26 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 14.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 7.1 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 7.5 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 23 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM not detected |  | ||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
At 500 nits, the display is brighter than many other multimedia laptops including even the OLED panels on the ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 or MSI Stealth 16. The high brightness and matte panel make the screen easier to see under outdoor conditions.
Performance — No Intel Or Nvidia Required
Testing Conditions
We set Windows to Performance mode and AMD Adrenalin to Default prior to running the benchmarks below. SmartAccess Graphics is AMD's MUX solution to automatically switch between the iGPU and dGPU depending on the application. The problem is that unlike on GeForce-powered laptops, SmartAccess Graphics does not offer a "dGPU-only" or "iGPU-only" mode and so your graphics experience relies wholly on automatic switching. The system must freeze for a couple of seconds whenever it detects a GPU-heavy application which can be annoying when multi-tasking between different windows. Implementing a "dGPU-only" mode would have addressed this issue.
Processor
The Ryzen 9 7940HS is commonly found on fast multimedia or gaming laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 or TUF Gaming A17. It competes directly with the 13th gen Core i7-13700H and so the two processors are roughly comparable.
Framework offers the Ryzen 7 7840HS on lesser configurations of the Laptop 16. Based on our experience with the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 16APH8, however, the Ryzen 7 7840HS is essentially neck-to-neck with the Ryzen 9 7940HS despite what their price differences and naming convention may suggest. If you don't need that extra 5 percent performance from the Ryzen 9, then you can save yourself hundreds of dollars by going with the Ryzen 7 option.
It's too bad that Framework doesn't offer the Ryzen 9 Pro 7940HS which would have made the Laptop 16 more appealing to professionals.
Cinebench R15 Multi Loop
Cinebench R23: Multi Core | Single Core
Cinebench R20: CPU (Multi Core) | CPU (Single Core)
Cinebench R15: CPU Multi 64Bit | CPU Single 64Bit
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 | 7z b 4 -mmt1
Geekbench 5.5: Multi-Core | Single-Core
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean
Cinebench R23: Multi Core | Single Core
Cinebench R20: CPU (Multi Core) | CPU (Single Core)
Cinebench R15: CPU Multi 64Bit | CPU Single 64Bit
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 | 7z b 4 -mmt1
Geekbench 5.5: Multi-Core | Single-Core
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean
* ... smaller is better
AIDA64: FP32 Ray-Trace | FPU Julia | CPU SHA3 | CPU Queen | FPU SinJulia | FPU Mandel | CPU AES | CPU ZLib | FP64 Ray-Trace | CPU PhotoWorxx
| Performance Rating | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| AIDA64 / FP32 Ray-Trace | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (25226 - 29109, n=7) | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| AIDA64 / FPU Julia | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (106512 - 123214, n=7) | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| AIDA64 / CPU SHA3 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (4566 - 5119, n=7) | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| AIDA64 / CPU Queen | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (118174 - 124783, n=7) | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| AIDA64 / FPU SinJulia | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (14663 - 15551, n=7) | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| AIDA64 / FPU Mandel | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (56839 - 66238, n=7) | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| AIDA64 / CPU AES | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (86309 - 169946, n=7) | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| AIDA64 / CPU ZLib | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (866 - 1152, n=7) | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| AIDA64 / FP64 Ray-Trace | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (13175 - 15675, n=7) | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| AIDA64 / CPU PhotoWorxx | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (29922 - 41024, n=7) | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
System Performance
PCMark 10 scores are some of the highest of any 16-inch multimedia laptop owing to the fast Ryzen 9 Zen 4 CPU and associated Radeon graphics. High PCMark scores show that the Framework 16 can be just as speedy as other high-performance laptops when running daily tasks ranging from browsers to graphics editors.
CrossMark: Overall | Productivity | Creativity | Responsiveness
WebXPRT 3: Overall
WebXPRT 4: Overall
Mozilla Kraken 1.1: Total
| PCMark 10 / Score | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, AMD Radeon RX 7700S () | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| PCMark 10 / Essentials | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, AMD Radeon RX 7700S () | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| PCMark 10 / Productivity | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, AMD Radeon RX 7700S () | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| PCMark 10 / Digital Content Creation | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, AMD Radeon RX 7700S () | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| CrossMark / Overall | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, AMD Radeon RX 7700S () | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| CrossMark / Productivity | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, AMD Radeon RX 7700S () | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| CrossMark / Creativity | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, AMD Radeon RX 7700S () | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| CrossMark / Responsiveness | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, AMD Radeon RX 7700S () | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| WebXPRT 3 / Overall | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, AMD Radeon RX 7700S () | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| WebXPRT 4 / Overall | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, AMD Radeon RX 7700S () | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 / Total | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, AMD Radeon RX 7700S () | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max | |
* ... smaller is better
| PCMark 10 Score | 8670 points | |
Help | ||
| AIDA64 / Memory Copy | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (59712 - 78739, n=7) | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| AIDA64 / Memory Read | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (50399 - 61735, n=7) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| AIDA64 / Memory Write | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (72541 - 91567, n=7) | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| AIDA64 / Memory Latency | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| Average AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (87.6 - 111.1, n=7) | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
* ... smaller is better
DPC Latency
LatencyMon reveals DPC issues when opening multiple browser tabs of our homepage. Additionally, we're able to record 6 dropped frames during a one-minute timespan when playing 4K60 video. Each dropped frame would occur at almost regular intervals to suggest an underlying driver issue potentially related to the AMD GPUs. In our experience, most Intel-based laptops do not suffer from similar issues and are more likely to drop no frames at all when running the same test.
| DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
* ... smaller is better
Storage Devices
Our test unit ships with the Western Digital SN810 PCIe4 x4 NVMe SSD which is an upgrade from the SN740 that's currently available on the Framework 13.5. The drive would exhibit no issues maintaining a ~7000 MB/s transfer rate for extended periods unlike what we observed on the HP Pavilion Plus 14 equipped with the very same WD SSD. This suggests that the Framework 16 was designed with better SSD cooling in mind to prevent performance throttling.
| Drive Performance Rating - Percent | |
| MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US | |
| Average WDC PC SN810 1TB | |
| Framework Laptop 16 | |
| HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 | |
* ... smaller is better
Disk Throttling: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8
GPU Performance — RDNA 3 To The Rescue
The RDNA 3 Radeon RX 7700S directly succeeds last year's RDNA 2 Radeon RX 6700S. The newer architecture, however, hasn't improved performance by all that much unless if the game supports DX12; 3DMark Fire Strike results are almost identical between the two GPUs whereas Time Spy results are 20 to 25 percent faster than before. Bigger gains can be seen in RT performance as this was a weak spot with the older RDNA 2 architecture. Overall performance is most comparable to a laptop with GeForce RTX 4060 graphics like the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 16.
Even with the dGPU removed, the Radeon RX 780M iGPU is still more than capable of powering through multimedia tasks. The AMD GPU remains one of the fastest iGPU solutions available even though it was recently surpassed by the Intel Arc series.
Running on Windows Balanced mode instead of Performance mode does not appear to impact performance as shown by our Fire Strike results table below. Running on battery power would reduce performance by about 15 percent.
| Power Profile | Graphics Score | Physics Score | Combined Score |
| Performance | 24246 | 29487 | 10294 |
| Balanced | 24125 (-0%) | 29101 (-0%) | 10389 (-0%) |
| Battery Mode | 20380 (-16%) | 25009 (-15%) | 6769 (-34%) |
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 32427 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 21865 points | |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | 10294 points | |
Help | ||
* ... smaller is better
Gaming Performance
Gaming performance from the 100 W Radeon RX 7700S is about 10 to 30 percent behind the mobile GeForce RTX 4060 depending on the TDP. For example, performance is much closer to the 60 W RTX 4060 in the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 while the 140 W RTX 4060 would outperform our Radeon by wider margins. Thus, expect gaming performance to be in between the mobile RTX 4050 and mobile RTX 4060.
Performance would also be just slightly faster than last year's Radeon RX 6700S in most tested titles. The biggest gains can be seen when RT is enabled just as predicted by 3DMark. F1 22, for example, would run 30 to 40 percent faster than before when its RT settings are active compared to the more minor 5 to 15 percent gains when RT settings are off.
Witcher 3 FPS Chart
| low | med. | high | ultra | QHD | 4K | |
| GTA V (2015) | 184 | 178.6 | 170.6 | 95.8 | 67.1 | 68.4 |
| The Witcher 3 (2015) | 392.2 | 277.5 | 147.1 | 84 | 43 | |
| Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 174 | 159.8 | 156.5 | 136.8 | 85.3 | |
| Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) | 206 | 106 | 74.8 | 54.5 | 29 | |
| X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 97.6 | 79.3 | 65 | 46.8 | ||
| Far Cry 5 (2018) | 148 | 130 | 123 | 117 | 81 | 39 |
| Strange Brigade (2018) | 449 | 202 | 167.4 | 143.9 | 91.9 | 47.9 |
| Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (2022) | 183.5 | 140.4 | 92 | 71.2 | 47.3 | 23.1 |
| F1 22 (2022) | 251 | 221 | 168 | 47.7 | 29.9 | 11.3 |
| Baldur's Gate 3 (2023) | 106.8 | 88 | 76.4 | 73.6 | 51.1 | 24.7 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 Phantom Liberty (2023) | 100.7 | 80.5 | 68.1 | 60.7 | 37.3 | 15.8 |
Performance-per-watt when running Witcher 3 on Ultra settings is comparable to a desktop GeForce RTX 4070 Ti or RTX 4080. Thus, the RDNA 3 GPU is at least efficient even if it's nowhere near as powerful as Nvidia's fastest. Meanwhile, the more competitive mobile RTX 4060 is still about 30 percent more efficient and this margin only increases in favor of Nvidia when running RT-enabled games.
Emissions
System Noise — Loud Under Load
Fan noise covers both extremes quite well in the sense that it can be very quiet when running undemanding loads and very loud when running more demanding loads like games. When simply browsing or video streaming, for example, fan noise would tend to hover around 28.5 dB(A) against a silent background of 23.8 dB(A) to be mostly inaudible. When running Witcher 3, however, fan noise can reach almost 52 dB(A) to be as loud as the competing Inspiron 16 Plus or some gaming laptops like the Razer Blade 16.
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 23.9 / 23.9 / 23.9 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 28.5 / 53.7 dB(A) |
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30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Earthworks M23R, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 23.8 dB(A) | ||
| Framework Laptop 16 Radeon RX 7700S, R9 7940HS, WDC PC SN810 1TB | MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US Arc 8-Cores, Ultra 7 155H, Samsung PM9A1 MZVL22T0HBLB | Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 Radeon RX 6550M, R9 PRO 7940HS, Kioxia XG8 KXG8AZNV1T02 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max M3 Max 40-Core GPU, Apple M3 Max 16-Core, Apple SSD AP8192Z | Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, i7-13700H, WD PC SN740 SDDPTQD-1T00 | HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-12700H, SK Hynix PC711 1TB HFS001TDE9X073N | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | -6% | -5% | -0% | -1% | -6% | |
| off / environment * | 23.8 | 24.5 -3% | 22.6 5% | 23.7 -0% | 23.2 3% | 26 -9% |
| Idle Minimum * | 23.9 | 24.5 -3% | 22.9 4% | 23.7 1% | 23.2 3% | 26 -9% |
| Idle Average * | 23.9 | 26.3 -10% | 29.4 -23% | 23.7 1% | 23.2 3% | 26 -9% |
| Idle Maximum * | 23.9 | 26.3 -10% | 29.4 -23% | 23.7 1% | 23.2 3% | 26 -9% |
| Load Average * | 28.5 | 36.5 -28% | 29.5 -4% | 40.8 -43% | 35.1 -23% | 42.9 -51% |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 51.9 | 46.3 11% | 52 -0% | 42.8 18% | 52.5 -1% | 42.9 17% |
| Load Maximum * | 53.7 | 52.9 1% | 52 3% | 42.8 20% | 52.5 2% | 39.1 27% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
Surface temperatures are always warm owing to the metal chassis and lethargic fans. When running more demanding loads like games, hot spots can reach over 40 C on the top and bottom sides of the laptop base. Hot spots are closer to the center of the Laptop 16 whereas they are generally toward the rear on most other laptops. This means that you're more likely to notice the Framework system warming up during use when compared to something like the HP Spectre x360 16 where the palm rests and frontal areas tend to be cooler. Even so, we never found the Laptop 16 to be uncomfortably warm on the skin.
Keep in mind that the 180 W USB-C AC adapter is one of the smallest we've seen (~11.6 z 5.7 x 2.6 cm) for its power output. Its compact size is made possible by GaN transistors which is a technology that Razer also utilizes for its own AC adapters. The downside to GaN is that the adapters themselves can become very warm at over 60 C in our experience. In comparison, larger non-GaN chargers would typically range between 40 C to 50 C under load.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 42.4 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 36.9 °C / 98 F, ranging from 21.1 to 71 °C for the class Multimedia.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 40.8 °C / 105 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 28.7 °C / 84 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(+) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.2 °C / 86 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (33.2 °C / 91.8 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (-4.4 °C / -8 F).
| Framework Laptop 16 AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, AMD Radeon RX 7700S | MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Intel Arc 8-Cores iGPU | Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 7940HS, AMD Radeon RX 6550M | Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max Apple M3 Max 16-Core, Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU | Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 Intel Core i7-13700H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU | HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng Intel Core i7-12700H, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | 2% | 13% | 11% | -14% | 9% | |
| Maximum Upper Side * | 42.4 | 48.8 -15% | 43 -1% | 42.3 -0% | 47.8 -13% | 37.4 12% |
| Maximum Bottom * | 40.8 | 47.6 -17% | 41.6 -2% | 42 -3% | 42.2 -3% | 39.1 4% |
| Idle Upper Side * | 31.4 | 24.2 23% | 21.2 32% | 22.5 28% | 35.2 -12% | 27.1 14% |
| Idle Bottom * | 27.8 | 23.6 15% | 21.4 23% | 22.9 18% | 35 -26% | 26.3 5% |
* ... smaller is better
Stress Test
The CPU would boost to 4.6 GHz and 80 W for the first couple of seconds when initiating Prime95 stress before quickly falling and stabilizing to 4.0 GHz, 54 W, and a toastier-than-expected 96 C. Repeating this same test on the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i 16 with the Core i9-13905H would result in a cooler core temperature of 82 C. This suggests that Framework would rather boost processor performance and limit throttling even it means higher average core temperatures which enthusiasts might appreciate.
The GPU would stabilize at 2363 MHz and 99 W when running Witcher 3 which means it can utilize its entire 100 W budget when gaming. Core temperature would remain decently low at 66 C compared to 62 C on the aforementioned GeForce-powered Lenovo.
| CPU Clock (GHz) | GPU Clock (MHz) | Average CPU Temperature (°C) | Average GPU Temperature (°C) | |
| System Idle | -- | -- | 32 | 41 |
| Prime95 Stress | 4.0 | -- | 96 | 30 |
| Prime95 + FurMark Stress | 4.0 | 1200 | 100 | 53 |
| Witcher 3 Stress | ~0.7 | 2363 | 56 | 66 |
Speakers
Framework Laptop 16 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 9.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.2% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 9% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 90% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 4% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 95% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2021 M1 Pro audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(+) | good bass - only 3.8% away from median
(+) | bass is linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (2.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (4.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 0% of all tested devices in this class were better, 0% similar, 100% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 0% of all tested devices were better, 0% similar, 100% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Energy Management
Power Consumption
Power consumption is comparable to the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus or MacBook Pro 16 2023 when idling or when running undemanding loads. When running higher loads like games, however, consumption would be higher than expected. Running Witcher 3 would demand 172 W compared to just 122 W on the RTX 4060-powered Inspiron 16 Plus. When considering that the RTX 4060 can frequently edge out the Radeon RX 7700S in many games, the GPU performance-per-watt of the Laptop 16 just isn't as good as Nvidia's alternative which backs up our claims made above.
The CPU can also be quite demanding with a systemwide consumption of 110 W when running Prime95 compared to only 75 W on the MSI Stealth 16 powered by the Core i9-13900H.
We're able to record a maximum draw of 176 W from the small 180 W USB-C AC adapter when running games or other extreme loads like Prime95 and FurMark. This is important to note because the limited AC adapter overhead can bottleneck the performance or charging capabilities of the laptop. In this case, the charge rate is impacted when running demanding loads. For example, we're able to observe the battery drain from 100% to 85% when connected to an outlet and running Witcher 3 meaning that it is not possible to charge the battery at a decent rate while running demanding loads simultaneously. Such a scenario would never occur on most other laptops.
| Off / Standby | 0.83 / 1.3 Watt |
| Idle | 9.5 / 17 / 17.2 Watt |
| Load |
96.2 / 175.7 Watt |
   
| |
| Framework Laptop 16 R9 7940HS, Radeon RX 7700S, WDC PC SN810 1TB, , 2560x1600, 16.00 | MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US Ultra 7 155H, Arc 8-Cores, Samsung PM9A1 MZVL22T0HBLB, IPS, 2560x1600, 16.00 | Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 R9 PRO 7940HS, Radeon RX 6550M, Kioxia XG8 KXG8AZNV1T02, OLED, 3840x2400, 16.00 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max Apple M3 Max 16-Core, M3 Max 40-Core GPU, Apple SSD AP8192Z, Mini-LED, 3456x2234, 16.00 | Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 i7-13700H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, WD PC SN740 SDDPTQD-1T00, IPS, 2560x1600, 16.00 | HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng i7-12700H, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, SK Hynix PC711 1TB HFS001TDE9X073N, IPS, 3072x1920, 16.00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 46% | 26% | 18% | -5% | 40% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 9.5 | 3 68% | 7.5 21% | 5.2 45% | 15.6 -64% | 9 5% |
| Idle Average * | 17 | 9.5 44% | 9.6 44% | 16.9 1% | 17.7 -4% | 11.1 35% |
| Idle Maximum * | 17.2 | 12 30% | 18.5 -8% | 17.2 -0% | 20.6 -20% | 16.4 5% |
| Load Average * | 96.2 | 68.3 29% | 57.1 41% | 90.5 6% | 87.4 9% | 38.3 60% |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 171.9 | 59.8 65% | 115.8 33% | 109 37% | 121.7 29% | 34.4 80% |
| Load Maximum * | 175.7 | 104.8 40% | 131.7 25% | 145.2 17% | 138 21% | 82.5 53% |
* ... smaller is better
Power Consumption Witcher 3 / Stresstest
Power Consumption external Monitor
Battery Life
Battery life from the 85 Wh battery is respectable at just over 9 hours of real-world WLAN browsing to be similar to the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 or HP Spectre x360 2-in-1. We recommend setting the display to a variable refresh rate instead of its fixed and default 165 Hz to squeeze more out of the battery. When on the dynamic 83 Hz to 165 Hz setting, for example, we're able to last 20 minutes longer from the same WLAN test. Most smartphones employ this same technique to save on battery life.
Charging from empty to full capacity with the included AC adapter takes about 2 hours if idling on desktop or running undemanding loads. If running more extreme loads, however, the battery would charge much more slowly as mentioned above. A larger 240 W USB-C AC adapter could have potentially solved this issue.
| Framework Laptop 16 R9 7940HS, Radeon RX 7700S, 85 Wh | MSI Prestige 16 B1MG-001US Ultra 7 155H, Arc 8-Cores, 99.9 Wh | Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 R9 PRO 7940HS, Radeon RX 6550M, 72 Wh | Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023 M3 Max Apple M3 Max 16-Core, M3 Max 40-Core GPU, 99.6 Wh | Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7630 i7-13700H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, 86 Wh | HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 16-f1075ng i7-12700H, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, 83 Wh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 83% | -19% | 30% | 5% | 19% | |
| Reader / Idle | 890 | 1506 69% | 612 -31% | 1055 19% | 1233 39% | |
| WiFi v1.3 | 548 | 1100 101% | 357 -35% | 999 82% | 566 3% | 630 15% |
| Load | 92 | 166 80% | 101 10% | 71 -23% | 85 -8% | 95 3% |
| H.264 | 1221 | 671 |
Pros
Cons
Verdict — Increased Repairability Means Increased Size And Weight
The trend towards thinner and lighter laptops is made possible by fusing more and more components onto the mainboard. The main drawback to this approach is that it limits repairability as even a small fault may require replacing entire boards. Framework is one of the only manufacturers looking the other way in an attempt to improve end-user customization and servicing. There's no question that the Laptop 16 is more user-friendly to service than any alternative, but this lucrative feature comes at the cost of size and weight as individual components must be easily replaceable. If you only intend to upgrade the RAM or SSD just once or twice in the span of a laptop's lifetime, then more compact and travel-friendly 16-inch alternatives like the Inspiron 16 Plus or Asus VivoBook Pro 16 might serve you better in this regard.
The removable dGPU is also a risky endeavor as it has historically been unsuccessful from larger OEMs like Dell and Lenovo. The fact that universal USB4 or Thunderbolt-based eGPU options exist makes the specialized Laptop 16 dGPU that much less compelling. If you truly want discrete graphics on the road, then the GeForce RTX 4060 can offer both better performance and performance-per-watt than the Radeon 7700S. Framework will therefore have to support the Laptop 16 dGPU design for years to come with future RDNA options to make the investment worthwhile. Purchasing today will mean trusting the company to do just that.
The Framework Laptop 16 is bigger and heavier than other 16-inch laptops in the name of repairability and sustainability. If you upgrade often or foresee repairs, then the Laptop 16 can be worthwhile. If not, then alternatives from larger OEMs tend to be both faster and lighter.
Because of the reasons above, interested buyers should value the expansion cards, sustainability angle, and high repairability of the girthy Laptop 16 as alternatives tend to be thinner, lighter, and sometimes faster especially at the $2000 range. If Framework can somehow match the size of the Razer Blade 16 or MacBook Pro while maintaining repairability, then future revisions can potentially become something very special. For now, you'll have to sacrifice a bit of portability in order to enjoy all the unique features of the Framework.
Price and Availability
Framework is now accepting pre-orders for the Laptop 16 starting at $1400 USD for the base Ryzen 7 DIY edition up to over $2400 when configured with Ryzen 9, discrete Radeon 7700S graphics, and multiple expansion cards and modules.
Framework Laptop 16
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01/23/2024 v7
Allen Ngo
Transparency
The present review sample was made available to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or a shop for the purposes of review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.
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