The ability to upgrade or tinker with a Chromebook used to be a pipe dream, but thanks to the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition, it’s now a reality.
When was the last time a Chromebook piqued your interest? I’m sure I don’t remember. Sure, we’ve seen some interesting devices over the years, such as the Pixelbook and the Dragonfly, but have I ever literally jumped at the chance to review a Chromebook? That is until Framework introduced the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition.
The framework is a company that sells laptops with interchangeable internals that run Windows and Linux. You can replace every component of a Framework device, just like a desktop, and for some reason, Framework has decided to launch a ChromeOS model, which I find very exciting.
The framework has essentially taken its 12th-generation Windows/Linux machine and tweaked it with Google’s assistance to offer a fully-functional Chromebook, all while retaining its impressive internals, such as an actively cooled i5. Not only does it provide plenty of performance, but when these specifications become obsolete, you can simply purchase a new mainboard to upgrade to the latest CPU architecture.
The only catch is that this upgradeability comes at a cost; the Chromebook costs $999, and mainboard upgrade kits can cost the same, if not more. This wide-open freedom comes at a cost, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it for more than a few of you. Let’s get started.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Color: Silver
- Storage: 256GB NVMe (upgradeable to 1TB)
- CPU: i5-1240P (Up to 4.4 GHz, 4+8 cores)
- Memory: 8GB DDR4-3200 (upgradeable to 64GB)
- Operating System: ChromeOS
- Battery: 55Wh, 1000 cycles to 80% capacity
- Ports: USB-A, USB-C, DisplayPort, microSD, HDMI, Ethernet
- Camera: 1080p 60fps (privacy switch)
- Display (Size, Resolution): 13.5” 3:2 2256 x 1504, 100% sRGB color gamut, and >400 nit
- Weight: 2.9lbs
- GPU: Iris Xe Graphics
- Auto Update Expiration (AUE): June 2030
- Form: Laptop
- Dimension: 15.85mm x 296.63mm x 228.98mm
- Network: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
- Speakers: 2 x 2W speaker
- Price: $999+
- Board: banshee
Framework Laptop review: Design and Hardware
The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition’s overall design is reminiscent of many white-label Linux machines. Aside from the Framework logo on the lid, there’s nothing particularly stylish about it. The body is made of 50% post-consumer aluminum and feels thin and cheap. Even the fan intake cutouts along the underside look like they belong on a $300 laptop rather than a $999 device, and the metal finish leaves something to be desired.
The good news is that, despite the aluminum’s cheap appearance and general feel, the entire thing is incredibly strong. The laptop can be held by a single edge and will not bend in any way. It’s very rigid, and I imagine it’ll withstand some abuse when folded. Essentially, the aluminum’s cheap feel and appearance are purely cosmetic. No functionality is jeopardized.
The machine makes full use of its Intel i5-1240P processor. However, because of the internal fan, placing the intake underneath means it will be easily blocked when you place the device on a mattress or blanket. Although this is unlikely to be an issue for most users, it is something to consider when side intakes/vents are present. Then again, I wouldn’t want to give up the modular ports on each side, so Framework didn’t have much to work with.
Fortunately, Framework has made excellent use of the Chromebook’s side edges. As they function like expansion cards slotting directly into the chassis, there are four open slots to choose where you want to place your port adapters and which types. You can connect via USB-A, USB-C, Ethernet, microSD, DisplayPort, or HDMI. You can even select these when checking out on the Framework store to ensure you get the ports you need, as you can buy four for $999.
If you want more ports, they range in price from $9 for USB-C to $39 for an Ethernet adapter. There is currently a bug with the Intel Thunderbolt retimer behavior when using a display adapter and a USB-A adapter or any USB 3.2 adapter, such as the microSD or Ethernet adapter. Framework is currently working on this issue with Google and Intel.
The modular ports easily lock into the chassis, and there’s a small button on each side of the Chromebook to unlatch them when you want to remove a particular port. I can say they fit snugly but are difficult to remove. The ports each have their own USB-C male connector, but the laptop’s chassis secures them. I even tried plugging the microSD adapter into another Chromebook’s USB-C port, but nothing happened; it didn’t work. As a result, you must use them exclusively with the Framework.
Framework Laptop review: Screen, keyboard, and trackpad
The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition is more like a traditional laptop in this regard because the screen does not support touch, which makes sense given that the product is a modification to the Windows/Linux line of Framework Laptops. The screen appears to be one of the few things on this laptop that cannot be changed.
The 13.5-inch 3:2 screen offers a 2256×1504 resolution despite not supporting touch. Although modern media, including games, streamed through services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Geforce Now, will be letterboxed, the squarish shape is great for fitting long windows with text. If you prefer playing classic emulated games, the shape is still close to 4:3, so it works well.
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Overall, the screen has rich colors and is sharp enough for work and play while consuming less battery life due to its lower-than-expected resolution. With 400nits, you can easily see the screen outside, making it the ideal happy medium, especially if you like the 3:2 screen ratio.
Due to the fact that this is a Chromebook, it has a Chromebook-style keyboard (there is no F-row) with all of the standard shortcuts for volume, screen brightness, and keyboard backlight. The keys have a 3–4 mm travel range and a faint tactile response to let you know when you’ve pressed one. Therefore, using the keyboard for extended periods of time is perfectly feasible on the device; even while writing this review, I never felt restricted.
The trackpad is large and responsive, as is customary for Chromebooks and contemporary laptops. For navigation, there is plenty of room to slide, tap, and pinch your fingers, and everything clicks with a satisfying feel that doesn’t require a lot of pressure.
Framework Laptop review: Software, performance, and battery life
The device runs ChromeOS, so most people will know what to anticipate in terms of the software. With few features and distractions, the OS is still simple to use. It has a straightforward user interface, and I decide to use the tiny corner app drawer that closely resembles the Windows desktop design. You can download Android apps from the Play Store, of course. For those brave enough to switch the device to the beta channel, you can also enable Linux support in the settings to make use of Linux applications on the device, such as Steam.
When the Steam beta was up and running, I installed Stardew Valley and was able to maintain 60FPS with a few tweaks, despite my hesitancy to test out Steam on a machine with integrated graphics. I have 10th-generation Intel machines running Windows that can’t maintain 60FPS in the game, not even the i7s. Perhaps it’s the Iris Xe graphics punching above their weight. Although you’ll have to limit the games you play because of the integrated graphics on Chromebooks, Steam appears to be promising. Octopath Traveler was a slideshow even when I reduced the game’s resolution from its native setting.
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Even so, more than just the fact that the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition can run a few games, I’m quite impressed with its performance. Since I increased my RAM to 16GB, using Chrome and opening countless tabs has never been a problem. There has also been no noticeable slowdown when switching between a busy browser, an image editor, and Slack while performing heavy work. Under a heavy load, the fan will indeed quickly ramp up, and you’ll hear it. However, compared to a machine that is passively cooled, you get much more performance because of this active cooling.
| Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition | ASUS Chromebook Flip CX3 (CX3400) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 | 209 | 130 |
| Jetstream2 | 231 | 131 |
| MotionMark 1.2 | 1020 | 420 |
The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition clearly outperforms the recently reviewed ASUS Chromebook Flip CX3 in these performance tests (CX3400). Sure, you’ll have to pay a premium for this performance. However, when compared to devices like the ASUS Chromebook Flip CX3 (CX3400) and it’s passively cooled 11th-gen i7, an actively cooled 12th-gen i5 easily outperforms that performance. A fan can make or break a situation.
The good news is that, despite the fact that the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition will be drawing a lot of power to provide such high-end performance for a Chromebook, the battery life is excellent. One major reason for this is that Google requires Chromebooks to meet specific criteria, such as 10 hours of active use and 14 days of standby time. While I never used it for 10 hours, I did get past 8, which is a full workday. That is acceptable, if not appealing.
Framework Laptop review: Should you buy it?
Are you a fan of Chromebooks and ChromeOS? Are you a techie at heart who enjoys experimenting with new technology, such as a fully upgradeable laptop? The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition, on the other hand, is easily one of the most unique and performant Chromebooks to cross my path. Sure, $1000 is a lot to ask, especially for a niche Chromebook; this isn’t a device for the masses.
Aside from the high price, the only real drawback is that upgrading the mainboard is not cheap. They aren’t off-the-shelf motherboards (they must be purchased directly from Framework), with some costing more than the laptop itself (though these are i7 boards, so the price is warranted). Still, there aren’t many other laptops on the market that make upgrading so simple. You can also completely reconfigure your unit with a Windows/Linux board, though you’ll probably want to replace the keyboard as well. What you get with the Chromebook is very specific to the operating system.
