Framework isn’t just focused on its new Laptop 13 Pro. The company is also rolling out a solid set of updates to the Framework Laptop 16, which was one of the best laptops you can buy. The best part of the update is that Framework is addressing all the issues that past Framework 16 owners have been asking for since the laptop launched two years ago.
The biggest quality-of-life upgrade is the new one-piece haptic touchpad. One of the trade-offs of the Laptop 16’s modular input system has been the visible seams around the touchpad area.
The new one-piece design eliminates that with a single CNC aluminum palm rest that cleanly centers the touchpad. It uses the same four-piezo haptic system as the Laptop 13 Pro, and both the click force and haptic feedback are adjustable to users’ preferences.
Alongside it is a new one-piece keyboard in US English. It keeps the same key structure of the past but adds an aluminum lattice that makes the top row of the input module system seamless.
Is there a new color option?
Yes, and it’s a good one. Framework is adding a Translucent Smoke Gray Bezel, which it says went through years of testing before making it to market. The material is 98% post-consumer-recycled plastic, which is a nice bonus. It will be available in system configurations and the Framework Marketplace later this summer.
There is also a new Ryzen 5 340 chipset configuration, which lowers the entry price and makes the laptop more accessible. The Ryzen 5 configuration will start at $1,249 for the DIY Edition and $1,599 for a pre-built configuration. Both are available to pre-order today.
What is the OCuLink Dev Kit?
This is the most interesting part of the update. Framework is previewing an OCuLink Dev Kit for the Laptop 16 that lets you connect external GPUs and other high-speed peripherals through the laptop’s Expansion Bay. It uses OCuLink 8i and delivers up to 128 Gbps of bidirectional throughput, which Framework claims makes this the first laptop with an exposed 8-lane OCuLink interface.
The kit includes an adapter board, a dock for reusing Framework’s own Graphics Modules externally, and a PCIe dock for standard off-the-shelf graphics cards and other peripherals. You build the enclosure and choose the GPU yourself.
The company has said that more details will be coming closer to its launch later this year. The one-piece touchpad and keyboard are available to pre-order now, with shipments starting in June.
Along with this, Framework is also launching a wireless keyboard with an integrated touchpad and a 10GB Ethernet expansion card for people who need that extra speed. Both products are set to be available later this year.