Framework Laptop 16 upgrades make it look less like an unfinished prototype
Ars Technica • • technology
Key Points:
- Framework has introduced several refinements to the Framework Laptop 16, including a new CPU option—a six-core Ryzen AI 5 340—which lowers the starting price to $1,599 pre-built and $1,249 for the DIY Edition.
- Cosmetic updates include a new “Translucent Smoke Gray Bezel” and redesigned one-piece keyboard and trackpad modules that provide a cleaner, more finished look compared to the previous modular design.
- The new trackpad module features a MacBook-style haptic trackpad, and both the one-piece keyboard and trackpad are available for preorder with availability in June.
- A major functional upgrade is the introduction of an OCuLink Dev Kit, which offers a direct PCIe 4.0 connection for external GPUs and accessories, improving bandwidth and reducing latency compared to Thunderbolt/USB4 connections.
- The OCuLink system requires users to replace the Laptop 16’s GPU or Expansion Bay Shell spacer module with an adapter board and allows customization of GPU enclosures and power supplies; pricing details for the kit have not yet been announced.
