Framework Computer announced back in August that the Framework Laptop 16 would be rolling out upgrades to the AMD Ryzen AI 300 series and a GeForce RTX 5070 graphics option. Today the review embargo lifts on these new Framework 16 laptop upgrades and some Linux benchmarking of the new hardware.
The Framework Laptop 16 that originally launched back in January 2024 was able to be equipped with up to the Ryzen 7840HS processor and Radeon RX 7700S discrete graphics for this larger yet still modular/upgradeable laptop. In the time since, the Framework Laptop 13 rolled out the Ryzen AI 300 series option back in April while the Framework Laptop 16 remained with the older Zen 4 SoCs. But that’s now changing with the Framework Laptop 16 having the Ryzen AI 300 series “Strix Point” motherboard upgrade as well as the option of the GeForce RTX 5070 discrete graphics.
For new Framework Laptop 16 customers or those upgrading an existing model, the laptop can now be equipped with a Ryzen AI 7 350 8-core or Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 12-core option. Just Strix Point with no Ryzen AI Max (Strix Halo) option being available – for the latter there is just the Framework Desktop. You can reuse your existing DDR5 memory, NVMe storage, and other existing components from the Framework Laptop 16.
For those not interested in the GeForce RTX 5070 graphics, the integrated AMD Radeon graphics can be used and simply using the empty expansion bay shell. Or there is also the option of a second generation Radeon RX 7700S discrete graphics. Framework Computer supplied the RTX 5070 for testing and will be featured in its own separate article.
The Framework Laptop 16 also now has a second generation keyboard design too for the Framework Laptop 16 that can be upgraded.
At the moment the Framework Laptop 16 Ryzen AI 7 350 and Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 options are all sold out of their first seven batches. The next batch of components is expected to ship in December.
