Most laptops are designed to be replaced. The battery starts dying around year two, the storage fills up, a newer chip comes out — and before long you're back on a manufacturer's website, spending another £1,000 on something that will go through the same cycle. Framework was built to break that pattern entirely.
Founded in 2020 by Nirav Patel, a former Oculus engineer, Framework makes laptops where every single component is designed to be removed, replaced, or upgraded by the person who owns it. Not by a technician. Not under warranty. By you, with a screwdriver, in your kitchen.
It sounds like a niche idea. In practice, it changes how you think about buying a laptop entirely.
🔩 How the modular system actually works
The starting point is the expansion card system. Around the chassis are four slots that accept credit-card-sized modules — USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, SD card, Ethernet, even extra storage. You slot them in and pull them out without tools. Travelling light and need four USB-C ports? Done. At your desk and need HDMI and an SD reader? Swap them out in ten seconds.
That's the visible bit. Open the back panel — which takes a single screwdriver and about thirty seconds — and everything else is replaceable too. RAM, SSD, Wi-Fi card, battery, keyboard, trackpad, speakers, webcam, display. Framework sells all of these directly, with step-by-step guides for each. A replacement battery costs around £50 and takes ten minutes to fit. Most laptop manufacturers will charge you £150-200 for the same job, assuming they'll do it at all.
The mainboard upgrade
This is where Framework gets genuinely interesting. The entire processor, GPU, and memory live on a single replaceable board. When a new chip generation comes out, you can upgrade just the mainboard rather than buying a whole new laptop. Your 2021 Framework can become a 2026 machine for around £599 — and your old mainboard can be turned into a small desktop PC using Framework's official case.
It's the opposite of planned obsolescence. The laptop gets better the longer you own it.
💻 The laptops themselves
Framework makes two models. The 13 is the original — a compact, productivity-focused machine with a 13.5-inch 2256x1504 display in a 3:2 aspect ratio that's noticeably better for working in documents and code than the standard 16:9 widescreen format most laptops use. It weighs 1.3kg, is 15.9mm thick, and starts at £849 for the DIY edition.
The 16 is the bigger, more powerful sibling — and the one that pushed Framework into the mainstream. It's notable for being the first laptop with a user-upgradeable discrete GPU. The graphics module slots into the back of the chassis and can be swapped out when something better comes along, which is something no other laptop manufacturer has attempted. The 16-inch 2560x1600 165Hz display covers 100% of DCI-P3, and the keyboard area is modular too — you can replace the numpad with a trackpad, a macro pad, or an LED matrix panel. It starts at £1,699.
Framework Laptop 13
- Display: 13.5" 2256x1504, 3:2 ratio
- CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series
- RAM: Up to 96GB DDR5
- Storage: Up to 4TB NVMe
- Battery: 61Wh, 9-12 hours
- Weight: 1.3kg
- From: £849 DIY / £1,049 pre-built
Framework Laptop 16
- Display: 16" 2560x1600, 165Hz, 100% DCI-P3
- CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series
- GPU: Upgradeable NVIDIA RTX 5070
- RAM: Up to 96GB DDR5
- Storage: Dual M.2 (up to 10TB)
- Battery: 85Wh
- From: £1,699 DIY / £1,999 pre-built
🌍 The environmental argument
E-waste is growing faster than any other waste stream — 62 million tonnes in 2024, much of it perfectly functional hardware discarded because a manufacturer chose not to support repairs. Framework's approach is a direct counter to this.
The Framework Laptop 13 has a perfect 10/10 repairability score from iFixit — the highest ever awarded to a laptop. Framework is also a certified B-Corp, open-sources its hardware designs, and actively lobbies for Right to Repair legislation. These aren't marketing positions; they're baked into how the product works.
A Framework bought in 2021 can still run 2026 software at full speed with a mainboard upgrade. The average traditional laptop is in a drawer or a landfill within four years.
🎯 Is it right for you?
Framework laptops make the most sense for people who plan to own their next laptop for a long time. Developers, students, and anyone who's tired of the upgrade treadmill will find a lot to like. The DIY edition is also genuinely approachable — it's closer to flat-pack furniture than PC building, and Framework's guides are some of the clearest in the industry.
It's less suited to people who want the thinnest possible machine (the 13 is 15.9mm versus the MacBook Air's 11.3mm), anyone in the Apple ecosystem, or buyers who genuinely just want something that arrives in a box fully configured with no decisions to make — though the pre-built option addresses some of that.
The honest cost comparison
Framework costs 10-20% more upfront than a comparable Windows laptop. Over five years, it's typically cheaper. A new mainboard runs around £599 versus £1,500 for a replacement laptop. Battery replacement is £50 DIY versus £150-200 at a repair shop. Storage upgrades are standard NVMe prices rather than manufacturer markups.
More than the money: you own it. There are no warranty-voiding stickers, no proprietary screws, no "unrepairable by design" decisions. It's a laptop you can keep as long as you want to.
🛒 Buying in the UK
Framework ships directly to the UK via their official store. Delivery takes 2-4 weeks and prices include UK VAT. The DIY edition is 10-15% cheaper than the pre-built and comes with all the components you need — assembly takes around 20-30 minutes following the included guide. The pre-built arrives ready to use with Windows 11 Pro included.
Warranty is one year standard with an optional three-year extension. The community forum at community.frame.work is one of the most active and helpful laptop communities online — if you have a question about configuration, repair, or upgrades, someone there has already answered it.
Both sold direct from frame.work/gb/en — includes UK VAT
