Okay, I'll bite, does anybody have experiences with the framework series? It's been around for a while, it's a neat idea, but does it really hold up? Is the build quality there? Is the long term...
Okay, I'll bite, does anybody have experiences with the framework series? It's been around for a while, it's a neat idea, but does it really hold up? Is the build quality there? Is the long term support for the hardware there? Are there any obvious downsides?
I've been using a Framework I5-1135 specced with 64G RAM and a 2TB SSD since mid 2022. I take good care of my electronics generally but I really can't fault it. It feels about as sturdy as a...
I've been using a Framework I5-1135 specced with 64G RAM and a 2TB SSD since mid 2022.
I take good care of my electronics generally but I really can't fault it. It feels about as sturdy as a MacBook, the keyboard feels very similar and the only thing I can say is that the MacBook trackpad is slightly better. But except for the MacBook it's the best trackpad I've ever owned.
My only original gripe was that the screen hinges are a little loose so if you carry it around with the screen open it will tend to flop backwards. Framework designed stronger hinges which are now standard and I'm pretty sure can be retrofitted but I just got used to mine and now it doesn't really bother me.
Initially there was some minor hardware support issues with Linux but these seem to be mostly fixed now or have been fixed in mainline and will be coming down the release pipeline shortly.
I'm running KDE Neon and use it mainly as a development and work laptop with a bit of 3D modelling and rendering (hence the RAM).
I got the DIY edition to save the $100 or whatever it was for self assembly and with the included screwdriver / spudger it's very easy to work on - everything uses the same screws, and the screwdriver is magnetic so very hard to lose anything inside the case. Lots of use of magnets to retain things like the screen bezel and other things.
I did have an issue with the headphone output being intermittent and it turned out to be a hardware issue - Framework sent me a new mainboard with very few questions asked and it took me about 30 minutes to swap it out.
The only thing I haven't really tested properly is battery life. I mainly use it plugged in so I have the max battery capacity set up 85% - the battery health is still good though.
There's also a nice "aftermarket" for framework mainboards in that there's a lot of designs for turning them into something else - 3D printed cases to turn them into media servers or other such things that suit a laptop size mainboard.
Barring anything else similar appearing I'll probably be replacing mine with another when I'm no longer happy with the performance for what I'm doing, but I don't see that happening for quite a while yet (maybe another 3 years)
A very detailed and helpful review, thank you! I do think a MBP is the right comparison to make, both in intended audience and in price point. I currently use a M1-series MBP for work (battery...
A very detailed and helpful review, thank you!
I do think a MBP is the right comparison to make, both in intended audience and in price point. I currently use a M1-series MBP for work (battery life over all, as well as ability to control computers remotely), and it's good value for my regular travel schedule and long-term support. I also use VMs to work on other operating systems, but probably 75% of my time is on iOS for office things ... Similarly, we have a small fleet of 6-12 year old (5-8 years old when acquired) Apple All-in-Ones for office work since they hold up pretty well and I can buy them for $50-200 per through our surplus program. Yay internal rates. I don't like Apple, but the right tool is the right tool.
I am thinking about the future for my research group. We have some data collection systems for projects that don't need server-level reliability or performance, but that do need to withstand potential blips in power of a minute or two. We have a ton of backup batteries, but those are aimed at powering the fancier electronics, and I'd rather have the PC be separately redundant...so looking at medium-performance, batteried devices is of interest, especially something upgradable like the Framework. I don't know if we'll end up going in that route, but it's a consideration.
Interesting. Yep I came straight from a 13" MacBook at my previous job and bought the Framework when I quit, as it was significantly cheaper for a relatively similarly specced machine (the MacBook...
Interesting. Yep I came straight from a 13" MacBook at my previous job and bought the Framework when I quit, as it was significantly cheaper for a relatively similarly specced machine (the MacBook was an older generation I7)
The framework ecosystem is definitely something that sounds like it could work for you. Without the screen, trackpad and case the actual hardware is very cost effective and there's a decent community of mods and printable cases - I had a look around quickly and managed to find this one that allows to mount the battery as well : https://www.printables.com/model/1051364-framework-13-mainboard-case-with-battery
Interesting...I was thinking we'd just buy the entire laptop and then upgrade it over the years to reduce the cost. I hadn't even thought that there would be a benefit to only buying some parts...
Interesting...I was thinking we'd just buy the entire laptop and then upgrade it over the years to reduce the cost. I hadn't even thought that there would be a benefit to only buying some parts and not others.
I've owned several MacBooks and ThinkPads, and now a framework. I would rate the build quality as the poorest of the three, and the keyboard second best after the ThinkPad. The versatility of the...
I've owned several MacBooks and ThinkPads, and now a framework. I would rate the build quality as the poorest of the three, and the keyboard second best after the ThinkPad.
The versatility of the swappable ports is great, especially when compared to the MacBook, and while the ThinkPads have a lot of ports, I've never had a ThinkPad with an SD card port built in. So I suppose in a way that the framework is a cross between a MacBook Pro and a ThinkPad. Ultimately, a ThinkPad has more than four ports.
Ultimately, I cannot speak to longevity, but I do look forward to keeping the same chassis and swapping the motherboard.
I talked my sister into getting a framework 16 to replace her previous laptop. The forest big selling factor was repeatability, since she lost 2 laptops previously to simple issues that should...
I talked my sister into getting a framework 16 to replace her previous laptop. The forest big selling factor was repeatability, since she lost 2 laptops previously to simple issues that should have been repairable.
Next selling point was the customizability, specifically if the keyboard. She got a few different loads of numpads, lights, etc. She was a little worried about changing the keyboard modules herself, but the documentation is good and she figured it out.
She absolutely loves her laptop! To date, she has had one single windows issue with it. Windows wouldn’t recognize the fingerprint reader (even though it worked for months before that). She managed to track down a framework forum post about the same issue, and find a group policy edit that should fix it. I coached her through the group policy editor, and had her tell me the edit just in case it was harmful. (I am really proud of her for finding the issue herself, but still asking me to sanity check it before she messed around with group policy.) Luckily that fixed her issue, and she has had no issues since.
I purchased a Framework i7 to replace my 2016 Macbook Pro after the RAM went bad and Apple wants over $400 to replace the bad RAM (which is soldered on). I've built plenty of PCs in my day, and...
I purchased a Framework i7 to replace my 2016 Macbook Pro after the RAM went bad and Apple wants over $400 to replace the bad RAM (which is soldered on).
I've built plenty of PCs in my day, and having a laptop that was designed with serviceability in mind was the main reason I went with Framework over anything else.
The battery life isn't great, but my primary use case is using it at a desk with a larger monitor connected, so it's not a problem for me. I believe the AMD version is supposed to have better battery life.
I had an issue with the fan going bad early on, but was able to get a new fan from Framework under warranty. They did ask me to return the bad one so they could inspect it. Being able to replace just the fan was nice.
I run the latest version of Fedora, but started with either 36 or 37, and didn't have any issues, and haven't had any issues with any versions in between.
Performance wise, it's fine, though I don't do anything too intensive.
The build quality of the main chassis feels good, but the screen is not great. Though, to Framework's credit, they've released an updated screen chassis that is supposed to feel more solid. If I ever have an issue with the screen, I'll probably upgrade at that time.
The swappale ports are also convenient.
All in all, I'd get a Framework again if faced with the need to get a new laptop. And if I ever decide I want something more powerful, I can always just upgrade the main board and convert my current one into a lightweight mini computer.
I've had a Framework since mid-2022 (Edit, a 1260p processor, 12th gen Intel). I've got a bunch of stuff to say about them. Overall, as a Linux user, there's a hefty premium, but if you believe in...
I've had a Framework since mid-2022 (Edit, a 1260p processor, 12th gen Intel). I've got a bunch of stuff to say about them. Overall, as a Linux user, there's a hefty premium, but if you believe in repairability and maintenance, it's worth buying a Framework. I've had a replacement webcam shipped to me (which I proceeded to trivially replace) when I contacted support saying that it was busted. Overall, the battery life is worse than comparable options, and I believe that eventually Asahi Linux will be the best option for laptops, but it's good enough compared to the alternatives, based solely on the fact that you can replace stuff (like the aforementioned webcam) with little trouble.
Is the build quality there?
Nope. I've got several flaws from Framework after only 2ish years of use, not even dependant on their subcontracted stuff. Basically, if you're not keeping it stationary, expect stuff like chassis bending after a few years.
Is the long term support for the hardware there?
I've heard messages saying that you can upgrade the motherboard if you want to, so at least there's that. Not exactly cheap, but it's an option.
Are there any obvious downsides?
Battery life is pretty meh. Other than that, I'd say there's not much to report compared to other x86 processors.
It's an ok machine overall. The problems are mostly in the cheapness (for its price range) and low battery life. Also, the resale values seem to be pretty bad: I had to lower the price to below...
It's an ok machine overall. The problems are mostly in the cheapness (for its price range) and low battery life. Also, the resale values seem to be pretty bad: I had to lower the price to below 50% to offload mine. I had configured it with a bit weird colors and the clear iso keyboard, which probably explains some of that.
With the same money, you can get a new previous gen Thinkpad X1 Carbon, with a lot better build quality, great resale values and pretty much top-of-the-line Linux support.
I got a 16 yesterday (DIY edition, bought RAM separately because theirs is overpriced, installed an SSD I already had, running Linux). I have notes for a review of it I'd like to post once I've...
I got a 16 yesterday (DIY edition, bought RAM separately because theirs is overpriced, installed an SSD I already had, running Linux). I have notes for a review of it I'd like to post once I've used it for a bit longer, because good reviews of tech stuff (non-clickbait, non-sponsored, reviewer knows which thing they are actually reviewing and doesn't go on for paragraphs about standard Windows features) are extremely lacking, but:
So far I have generally positive impressions and only a few relatively minor complaints, the worst being that my touchpad module spacers are just barely misaligned such that one side has an uncomfortable pointy corner. It's not the easiest laptop I've ever worked on, but it's close. I got around 8h battery life in normal low-intensity use (web browsing, text editing) without having done any power optimization.
I've also seen people complaining about the speakers; I have no idea if they're bad because I physically unplug the speakers from my laptops.
I've been using my framework laptop since summer of 22 with no problems. It feels solid. I haven't had any hinge issues. The only thing I've needed to replace is the USB cable (but not the power...
I've been using my framework laptop since summer of 22 with no problems. It feels solid. I haven't had any hinge issues. The only thing I've needed to replace is the USB cable (but not the power block) so I'm a happy camper.
That link just takes me to the main order page, I don't see anything about the chasis there. But found it after navigating at https://frame.work/products/framework-laptop-13-chassis-p6100 That...
That does feel tempting, especially to experiment with the RISC-V mainboard and maybe eventually switch to one of the discounted mainboards... Then again my old thinkpad is still hanging in there and I already have 10 million other toys I've been meaning to play with
I just want to mention that you shouldn’t do RISC-V as an end user, only as a developer, at least right now. Framework has said that this mainboard is to give developers more access to RISC-V, and...
I just want to mention that you shouldn’t do RISC-V as an end user, only as a developer, at least right now. Framework has said that this mainboard is to give developers more access to RISC-V, and is not currently intended for end users.
I think the company is worth supporting despite Linus' investment. He gave them money once, as far as I know ($225k). Not to mention the size of his investment is a drop in the bucket compared to...
I think the company is worth supporting despite Linus' investment. He gave them money once, as far as I know ($225k). Not to mention the size of his investment is a drop in the bucket compared to the rest of the funding they've received (like 1/100th or less).
I personally don't like Linus, I don't watch him anymore, soured on him, especially in recent years, but he believed in the company for a number of good reasons (repairability, modularity, etc) and he isn't part of the company or anything. Broken clock being right twice a day kind of situation I guess. Sometimes people we dislike can still occasionally do beneficial things
If he were part of the company or in any position of power or leadership over it, then I'd have a much deeper problem with it given I find it impossible for him to be a competent leader of anything
I would hardly call Linus a "big investor" with his $225k investment considering they raised $18M during that same Series A round in 2022 and another $18M during their A-1 round in 2024.
I mean, sure, I guess he's probably the highest profile investor in terms of his general public recognizability... but it's not like he has much of anything to do with the actual running of the...
I mean, sure, I guess he's probably the highest profile investor in terms of his general public recognizability... but it's not like he has much of anything to do with the actual running of the company, AFAIK. And his investment was minuscule in comparison to Spark Capital, who has been the lead investor since the start.
I totally understand people's distaste for Linus, especially after his latest fuckups and recent scandals. However, I personally don't think him having invested a relatively small amount in Framework all those years ago is a good justification for avoiding Framework's products.
p.s. According to Framework's blog post the A-1 round was "led by Spark Capital, with Buckley Ventures, Anzu Partners, Cooler Master, and Pathbreaker Ventures participating".
If it's gotta be a laptop and not an SBC or mini desktop, then Deep Computing has their Roma build in stock for $300. They also have the Roma 2, but it's not in stock....
If it's gotta be a laptop and not an SBC or mini desktop, then Deep Computing has their Roma build in stock for $300. They also have the Roma 2, but it's not in stock.
I wonder how possible/practical it would be to mount a Steam Deck mainboard in a Framework 13 chassis and get it working with the Framework 13’s screen and bigger 61Wh battery. The form factor on...
I wonder how possible/practical it would be to mount a Steam Deck mainboard in a Framework 13 chassis and get it working with the Framework 13’s screen and bigger 61Wh battery.
The form factor on the Framework 13 isn’t bad and I appreciate the taller aspect ratio (as well as the 2x scaling screen option) but Valve seems to have has the software side of things dialed in to a considerably greater degree than Framework has with its Linux support. The Deck’s ability to put caps on system power usage would also just be incredible on an x86 laptop, as a class of device that’s traditionally struggled with battery life. For undemanding tasks like studying Anki decks I could probably cap the system at 1-5W TDP and barely use battery at all.
No doubt easier to do it the other way around making the framework board into a handheld case. But it also may be worth looking into a laptop dock for the Steam Deck if you want to use it with...
No doubt easier to do it the other way around making the framework board into a handheld case. But it also may be worth looking into a laptop dock for the Steam Deck if you want to use it with that form factor?
Maybe try SteamOS on the Framework hardware first? Does the Deck have special power hardware to pull off its tricks or is it something any similar SoC lets you do if you hook up the right...
Maybe try SteamOS on the Framework hardware first? Does the Deck have special power hardware to pull off its tricks or is it something any similar SoC lets you do if you hook up the right calibration factors and UI?
Okay, I'll bite, does anybody have experiences with the framework series? It's been around for a while, it's a neat idea, but does it really hold up? Is the build quality there? Is the long term support for the hardware there? Are there any obvious downsides?
I've been using a Framework I5-1135 specced with 64G RAM and a 2TB SSD since mid 2022.
I take good care of my electronics generally but I really can't fault it. It feels about as sturdy as a MacBook, the keyboard feels very similar and the only thing I can say is that the MacBook trackpad is slightly better. But except for the MacBook it's the best trackpad I've ever owned.
My only original gripe was that the screen hinges are a little loose so if you carry it around with the screen open it will tend to flop backwards. Framework designed stronger hinges which are now standard and I'm pretty sure can be retrofitted but I just got used to mine and now it doesn't really bother me.
Initially there was some minor hardware support issues with Linux but these seem to be mostly fixed now or have been fixed in mainline and will be coming down the release pipeline shortly.
I'm running KDE Neon and use it mainly as a development and work laptop with a bit of 3D modelling and rendering (hence the RAM).
I got the DIY edition to save the $100 or whatever it was for self assembly and with the included screwdriver / spudger it's very easy to work on - everything uses the same screws, and the screwdriver is magnetic so very hard to lose anything inside the case. Lots of use of magnets to retain things like the screen bezel and other things.
I did have an issue with the headphone output being intermittent and it turned out to be a hardware issue - Framework sent me a new mainboard with very few questions asked and it took me about 30 minutes to swap it out.
The only thing I haven't really tested properly is battery life. I mainly use it plugged in so I have the max battery capacity set up 85% - the battery health is still good though.
There's also a nice "aftermarket" for framework mainboards in that there's a lot of designs for turning them into something else - 3D printed cases to turn them into media servers or other such things that suit a laptop size mainboard.
Barring anything else similar appearing I'll probably be replacing mine with another when I'm no longer happy with the performance for what I'm doing, but I don't see that happening for quite a while yet (maybe another 3 years)
A very detailed and helpful review, thank you!
I do think a MBP is the right comparison to make, both in intended audience and in price point. I currently use a M1-series MBP for work (battery life over all, as well as ability to control computers remotely), and it's good value for my regular travel schedule and long-term support. I also use VMs to work on other operating systems, but probably 75% of my time is on iOS for office things ... Similarly, we have a small fleet of 6-12 year old (5-8 years old when acquired) Apple All-in-Ones for office work since they hold up pretty well and I can buy them for $50-200 per through our surplus program. Yay internal rates. I don't like Apple, but the right tool is the right tool.
I am thinking about the future for my research group. We have some data collection systems for projects that don't need server-level reliability or performance, but that do need to withstand potential blips in power of a minute or two. We have a ton of backup batteries, but those are aimed at powering the fancier electronics, and I'd rather have the PC be separately redundant...so looking at medium-performance, batteried devices is of interest, especially something upgradable like the Framework. I don't know if we'll end up going in that route, but it's a consideration.
Interesting. Yep I came straight from a 13" MacBook at my previous job and bought the Framework when I quit, as it was significantly cheaper for a relatively similarly specced machine (the MacBook was an older generation I7)
The framework ecosystem is definitely something that sounds like it could work for you. Without the screen, trackpad and case the actual hardware is very cost effective and there's a decent community of mods and printable cases - I had a look around quickly and managed to find this one that allows to mount the battery as well : https://www.printables.com/model/1051364-framework-13-mainboard-case-with-battery
Interesting...I was thinking we'd just buy the entire laptop and then upgrade it over the years to reduce the cost. I hadn't even thought that there would be a benefit to only buying some parts and not others.
Neat idea, thanks!
I've owned several MacBooks and ThinkPads, and now a framework. I would rate the build quality as the poorest of the three, and the keyboard second best after the ThinkPad.
The versatility of the swappable ports is great, especially when compared to the MacBook, and while the ThinkPads have a lot of ports, I've never had a ThinkPad with an SD card port built in. So I suppose in a way that the framework is a cross between a MacBook Pro and a ThinkPad. Ultimately, a ThinkPad has more than four ports.
Ultimately, I cannot speak to longevity, but I do look forward to keeping the same chassis and swapping the motherboard.
I talked my sister into getting a framework 16 to replace her previous laptop. The forest big selling factor was repeatability, since she lost 2 laptops previously to simple issues that should have been repairable.
Next selling point was the customizability, specifically if the keyboard. She got a few different loads of numpads, lights, etc. She was a little worried about changing the keyboard modules herself, but the documentation is good and she figured it out.
She absolutely loves her laptop! To date, she has had one single windows issue with it. Windows wouldn’t recognize the fingerprint reader (even though it worked for months before that). She managed to track down a framework forum post about the same issue, and find a group policy edit that should fix it. I coached her through the group policy editor, and had her tell me the edit just in case it was harmful. (I am really proud of her for finding the issue herself, but still asking me to sanity check it before she messed around with group policy.) Luckily that fixed her issue, and she has had no issues since.
I purchased a Framework i7 to replace my 2016 Macbook Pro after the RAM went bad and Apple wants over $400 to replace the bad RAM (which is soldered on).
I've built plenty of PCs in my day, and having a laptop that was designed with serviceability in mind was the main reason I went with Framework over anything else.
The battery life isn't great, but my primary use case is using it at a desk with a larger monitor connected, so it's not a problem for me. I believe the AMD version is supposed to have better battery life.
I had an issue with the fan going bad early on, but was able to get a new fan from Framework under warranty. They did ask me to return the bad one so they could inspect it. Being able to replace just the fan was nice.
I run the latest version of Fedora, but started with either 36 or 37, and didn't have any issues, and haven't had any issues with any versions in between.
Performance wise, it's fine, though I don't do anything too intensive.
The build quality of the main chassis feels good, but the screen is not great. Though, to Framework's credit, they've released an updated screen chassis that is supposed to feel more solid. If I ever have an issue with the screen, I'll probably upgrade at that time.
The swappale ports are also convenient.
All in all, I'd get a Framework again if faced with the need to get a new laptop. And if I ever decide I want something more powerful, I can always just upgrade the main board and convert my current one into a lightweight mini computer.
I've had a Framework since mid-2022 (Edit, a 1260p processor, 12th gen Intel). I've got a bunch of stuff to say about them. Overall, as a Linux user, there's a hefty premium, but if you believe in repairability and maintenance, it's worth buying a Framework. I've had a replacement webcam shipped to me (which I proceeded to trivially replace) when I contacted support saying that it was busted. Overall, the battery life is worse than comparable options, and I believe that eventually Asahi Linux will be the best option for laptops, but it's good enough compared to the alternatives, based solely on the fact that you can replace stuff (like the aforementioned webcam) with little trouble.
Nope. I've got several flaws from Framework after only 2ish years of use, not even dependant on their subcontracted stuff. Basically, if you're not keeping it stationary, expect stuff like chassis bending after a few years.
I've heard messages saying that you can upgrade the motherboard if you want to, so at least there's that. Not exactly cheap, but it's an option.
Battery life is pretty meh. Other than that, I'd say there's not much to report compared to other x86 processors.
It's an ok machine overall. The problems are mostly in the cheapness (for its price range) and low battery life. Also, the resale values seem to be pretty bad: I had to lower the price to below 50% to offload mine. I had configured it with a bit weird colors and the clear iso keyboard, which probably explains some of that.
With the same money, you can get a new previous gen Thinkpad X1 Carbon, with a lot better build quality, great resale values and pretty much top-of-the-line Linux support.
I got a 16 yesterday (DIY edition, bought RAM separately because theirs is overpriced, installed an SSD I already had, running Linux). I have notes for a review of it I'd like to post once I've used it for a bit longer, because good reviews of tech stuff (non-clickbait, non-sponsored, reviewer knows which thing they are actually reviewing and doesn't go on for paragraphs about standard Windows features) are extremely lacking, but:
So far I have generally positive impressions and only a few relatively minor complaints, the worst being that my touchpad module spacers are just barely misaligned such that one side has an uncomfortable pointy corner. It's not the easiest laptop I've ever worked on, but it's close. I got around 8h battery life in normal low-intensity use (web browsing, text editing) without having done any power optimization.
I've also seen people complaining about the speakers; I have no idea if they're bad because I physically unplug the speakers from my laptops.
I've been using my framework laptop since summer of 22 with no problems. It feels solid. I haven't had any hinge issues. The only thing I've needed to replace is the USB cable (but not the power block) so I'm a happy camper.
That link just takes me to the main order page, I don't see anything about the chasis there. But found it after navigating at https://frame.work/products/framework-laptop-13-chassis-p6100
That does feel tempting, especially to experiment with the RISC-V mainboard and maybe eventually switch to one of the discounted mainboards... Then again my old thinkpad is still hanging in there and I already have 10 million other toys I've been meaning to play with
On one hand, $400 is a lot for a laptop shaped case, but being able to reuse it for an entire architecture like that is a really neat trick.
I just want to mention that you shouldn’t do RISC-V as an end user, only as a developer, at least right now. Framework has said that this mainboard is to give developers more access to RISC-V, and is not currently intended for end users.
I think the company is worth supporting despite Linus' investment. He gave them money once, as far as I know ($225k). Not to mention the size of his investment is a drop in the bucket compared to the rest of the funding they've received (like 1/100th or less).
I personally don't like Linus, I don't watch him anymore, soured on him, especially in recent years, but he believed in the company for a number of good reasons (repairability, modularity, etc) and he isn't part of the company or anything. Broken clock being right twice a day kind of situation I guess. Sometimes people we dislike can still occasionally do beneficial things
If he were part of the company or in any position of power or leadership over it, then I'd have a much deeper problem with it given I find it impossible for him to be a competent leader of anything
I would hardly call Linus a "big investor" with his $225k investment considering they raised $18M during that same Series A round in 2022 and another $18M during their A-1 round in 2024.
I mean, sure, I guess he's probably the highest profile investor in terms of his general public recognizability... but it's not like he has much of anything to do with the actual running of the company, AFAIK. And his investment was minuscule in comparison to Spark Capital, who has been the lead investor since the start.
I totally understand people's distaste for Linus, especially after his latest fuckups and recent scandals. However, I personally don't think him having invested a relatively small amount in Framework all those years ago is a good justification for avoiding Framework's products.
p.s. According to Framework's blog post the A-1 round was "led by Spark Capital, with Buckley Ventures, Anzu Partners, Cooler Master, and Pathbreaker Ventures participating".
If it's gotta be a laptop and not an SBC or mini desktop, then Deep Computing has their Roma build in stock for $300. They also have the Roma 2, but it's not in stock.
https://store.deepcomputing.io/products/dc-roma-risc-v-laptop
I wonder how possible/practical it would be to mount a Steam Deck mainboard in a Framework 13 chassis and get it working with the Framework 13’s screen and bigger 61Wh battery.
The form factor on the Framework 13 isn’t bad and I appreciate the taller aspect ratio (as well as the 2x scaling screen option) but Valve seems to have has the software side of things dialed in to a considerably greater degree than Framework has with its Linux support. The Deck’s ability to put caps on system power usage would also just be incredible on an x86 laptop, as a class of device that’s traditionally struggled with battery life. For undemanding tasks like studying Anki decks I could probably cap the system at 1-5W TDP and barely use battery at all.
No doubt easier to do it the other way around making the framework board into a handheld case. But it also may be worth looking into a laptop dock for the Steam Deck if you want to use it with that form factor?
Framework into handheld has already been done. I haven't tried it, but it looks neat!
Maybe try SteamOS on the Framework hardware first? Does the Deck have special power hardware to pull off its tricks or is it something any similar SoC lets you do if you hook up the right calibration factors and UI?
I think there TDP limiting bits are hardware-specific, but I don’t know for sure. Don’t really feel like spending money to check.