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Framework proved repairable laptops can work, but almost nobody is willing to buy one
(www.xda-developers.com)
this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2026
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Framework feels like a bit of a gimmick to me, it's basically dongles, but they're built into the machine. I'd rather have a decent selection of ports out of the box.
Even the headphone jack is an option you need to buy, it's silly.
I think you’ve missed the point of framework laptops.
What other laptops can you change the gpu or screen on?
Screen changing is not a problem since eDP became the default. I swapped the panel on mine to a completely different one a few times already.
You can change the screen on my t480. Lots of things can be changed on it. It also cost less than $200.
I prefer the off lease commercial thinkpads too, but I am glad someone is actually creating new stuff for that market. The used thinkpad market can't grow.
Great, now can you change the GPU? Add another usb-c port? Add a 3.5mm port?
OK, but how many people actually want to do that?
Not the screen, but it would be nice if I could replace the keyboard on my laptop, since it doesn't work properly any more.
But since it's built into the lower body, it costs about as much to replace as the device is worth, since I'd be replacing a big piece of the casing, so I just make do with also carrying a Bluetooth keyboard.
Tip of the day: You can order replacement parts cheap from EBay or AliExpress and there are service manuals and instructions and even videos for plenty of common computers.
It may sound scary but it is really not that difficult. It's mostly finding all the screws and knowing what order to pick everything apart and put it back again.
Bonus Tip: get one (or 5 haha) of those little magnetic trays from harbor freight to put your screws in. They are a godsend if you're like me constantly losing shit.
People that are here.
To me the point of framework is that it can reliably endure amateur (aka me) repair.
I have repaired a fair amount of device in my life, companies without a focus on repair will have fragile cabel and components. And everytime I open it up, there would be a high chance of me breaking something, forcing me to use a broken device after that.
Repair and cleaning will need to happen every two or three years for most electronics, and that usually means I will live with a corky device for the next two years, then produce a bunch of ewastes consists of mostly perfectly functioning parts, with one failed critical component (most of the time, said component has not even failed, just significantly worn).
Me which is why I bought one, and several of the people who have seen me work with mine now want one for these reasons too. If my screen (or any component) craps out it is super easy to replace with minimal e-waste. Once I'm out of school and into the workforce I'm going to buy one of the GPUs probably a used one further reducing e-waste. If I want more storage space it takes like 5 minutes to swap a drive out. Love the thing
no, that's included on FW13
The important bit is that you can choose which ports you want and that they sit flush in the chassis so you don't have to carry a dongle.
Agreed. Give me a chonky 2000 era wall of ports along the side. I'm weird though, and people like thin laptops they can hold in one hand.
This is only true of the 16; the 12 and 13 have it built in. That makes me think there was a technical reason.
I own a framework and the dongles are the only thing I would change. I think it would better if the whole side is replaceable with preconfigured IO. As its right now its alot of space wasted. I think the MNT Reform does it like that.
I got a FW laptop a couple of years ago, and I got a headphone jack module with it.
I haven't installed it once. I just use Bluetooth.