Framework fulfills promise of upgradeable laptop GPU, shipping this November
Something to look forward to: Two years ago, Framework promised that owners of its 16-inch laptop would one day be able to upgrade to more powerful discrete graphics cards without buying a new notebook – a dream once thought impossible. In a little over three months, customers will finally get to test that promise with the upcoming Nvidia RTX 5070 module.
Bottom line: Nothing's budget-minded sub-brand, CMF, has introduced its first mobile phone. The CMF Phone 1 is an entry-level handset that could finally take the concept of a modular smartphone mainstream. The price is right at $199, but will it make a splash in a cutthroat market where every previous modular attempt has come up short?
Something to look forward to: One of the most significant drawbacks to owning a laptop is the lack of upgradability. Most allow memory or storage replacement, but getting a faster processor means buying a new laptop. Framework hopes to change the status quo with two modular offerings coming this year that will let users swap out CPUs, GPUs, and more.
The Framework laptop is designed to be easily upgradeable, from the RAM, the ports, faster Wi-Fi, or even replacing the motherboard without tossing the whole laptop. On paper, it sounds nifty, but in practice there are some concerns.