Laptops

Framework laptop has a fully customizable and easily repairable parts

Bucking the trend of modern laptops

Published

March 6, 2021

Kenrick Buduan

Most manufacturers today are bent on making their laptops thinner and lighter. However, that trend comes with an unfortunate development: making laptops much harder to upgrade or repair. Soldered parts, for instance, discourage users from undertaking do-it-yourself (DIY) repairs to further extend a laptop’s lifespan.

To buck this trend, a San Francisco-based Framework recently launched a laptop that aims to be “upgraded, customized, and repaired in ways that no other notebook can.” The laptop features fully customizable and modular parts that users can repair and upgrade accordingly.

A laptop like no other

Base specifications of the laptop include a 13.5-inch 2K screen with a 3:2 aspect ratio, a 1080P webcam, and a 55Wh battery. A choice of 11th-gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, up to 64GB of DDR4 memory, and up to 4TB of NVMe SSD storage is configurable too.

As for the operating system, the laptop can come with Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, or Linux.

Almost everything on this laptop is fully upgradeable, from its internal to external components. Users can easily upgrade or swap the storage, memory card, WiFi card, battery, and even the motherboard. The same goes for the screen, screen bezel, keyboard, and even ports.

Upgrading the ports themselves is a unique proposition, making use of an expansion system users for a quick and easy swap to a USB-C, USB-A HDMI, DisplayPort, or microSD card reader.

Users may scan the laptop part’s QR code which will take them to the Framework Marketplace where they can easily find replacements. The marketplace will eventually feature parts from third-party manufacturers so users can have more options in the future.

The most impressive part here is that Framework manages to cram all these upgradeable parts into one slick profile. The startup boasts an impressive weight of under 1.35 kilograms all thanks to the use of aluminum for the chassis.

Framework will also offer a DIY laptop kit to enthusiasts. The kit will include individual modules and a screwdriver so users can easily assemble the laptop themselves.

Availability

Fortunately, it won’t be a long wait for interested users to get their hands on the Framework laptop. The startup is targeting a summer release, with pre-orders coming this spring. There is no word on the price yet. However, the founder says that the laptop’s price would be “comparable to other well-reviewed notebooks.”

The premise of Framework is indeed unique, rethinking what a laptop should be. Modern laptops today are becoming more and more locked down, which is a far cry from the laptops of yesteryears. Should this laptop find success, it could send a message to every manufacturer that upgradeability and repairability don’t have to suffer in the pursuit of thinner and lighter laptops.

Via: The Verge

Related Topics:Framework Framework laptop

Laptops

Samsung Galaxy Book6 series coming to the US on March 11

Samsung’s most powerful AI PCs yet

Published

February 25, 2026

GadgetMatch

Samsung’s most advanced AI-powered PC lineup yet, the Samsung Galaxy Book6 series, will be available in the United States starting March 11.

The Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra, Book6 Pro, and Book6 are all powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors to deliver improved CPU, GPU, and NPU performance.

Galaxy AI features like AI Select and Intelligent Search streamline workflows, while Multi-Control and Second Screen enable seamless productivity across Galaxy devices.

Users can connect the Galaxy Book6 series to their Galaxy smartphone or tablet for multi-screen productivity. This includes accessing one’s phone storage straight from the Book6 PC.

And similar to Circle to Search on Galaxy mobile devices, the upcoming PCs have a feature wherein users can just trace whatever is on their screen and search.

In addition, the series combines ultra-thin designs with up to 30 hours of video playback.

Price, availability

Here are the pricing of the three devices under the series:

Galaxy Book6 Ultra: Starts at US$ 2,449.99
Galaxy Book6 Pro: Starts at US$ 1,599.99
Galaxy Book6: Starts at US$ 1,049.99

They will be available nationwide at Samsung.com and Samsung Experience Stores beginning on March 11. Customers who reserve early will get a US$ 30 credit.

More details will be unveiled during the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25 at 10:00 A.M. PT / 1:00 A.M. ET.

Laptops

Are you ready for a more colorful MacBook?

Apple is experimenting with quirkier colorway options for the MacBook.

Published

February 16, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

In recent years, Apple has relented on limiting the colors of its devices to only the more premium-looking options. Users can now pick quirkier colors for their iPhones, highlighted currently by the Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro Max. Soon, the same splashes of color might make its way to the MacBook lineup.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has been testing different colorway options for its upcoming entry-level MacBook. The unannounced lineup might come in pink, light yellow, light green, and blue.

It’s a big change for MacBooks. Currently, the only “quirky” option that users can get is the MacBook Air’s Sky Blue, which honestly looks more silvery than blue. Other than that, the MacBook simply seesaws from different shades of gold, silver, and black.

To be fair, the upcoming MacBook will still have the traditional colorways of the current lineup. Additionally, it’s unclear whether Apple will ultimately include all its experimental colors into the final lineup.

Reportedly, the new lineup will cost somewhere between US$ 699 to US$ 799. Of course, the lower price tag will come at the expense of some specs. Although, it should still be good if we’re talking about an entry-level laptop.

It’s even more interesting if it’s hinting at the return of truly colorful options but for the notebook. The iMac already got a similar renaissance back in 2024, which mimics the classic computer’s colorful history.

SEE ALSO: M5 MacBook Pro review

Laptops

ASUS, Acer PCs are banned in Germany

And it’s all because of Nokia.

Published

February 16, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Brands getting banned are commonplace in today’s tech landscape. These usually happen because of geopolitical reasons, especially if it’s in the United States. In Europe, brands sometimes get banned for anticompetition reasons. Today, however, a commonly used codec, HEVC, is at the center of a controversy that has led to the banning of ASUS and Acer in Germany. Even crazier, Nokia is involved.

For context, Nokia owns several patents for video codecs. One of those codecs, HEVC (or High-Efficiency Video Coding) is ubiquitous in every PC, which means that every PC maker must purchase a license to include the codec in their machines. It’s an essential these days, so it’s unusual for ASUS and Acer to miss it.

In Germany, where licensing is stricter, both companies were found guilty of infringing the patent, as reported by German outlet Hardwareluxx. As a result, ASUS and Acer must stop selling PC and laptop sales until they obtain a license from Nokia.

To be clear, this doesn’t mean that the two brands have disappeared from the country. Third-party retailers can still sell their remaining stock. However, the companies cannot import or sell any new stock, pending a conclusion to the issue.

Naturally, the easiest fix is to just buy the license. Hisense, another company that found itself in the same mire, bought a license last month. Either ASUS and Acer are running into more technical issues, or they just didn’t feel the license was worth it for a single market.