Framework Computer Inc. is an American computer hardware company that aims to make computer repairs and upgrades more accessible. Through its website, frame.work, it sells machines designed to be taken apart, along with components and replacement parts. Its approach rests on a simple idea: enabling users to replace a faulty or underperforming component rather than the entire device.
A company born out of a recognition of obsolescence
Founded in 2020 by Nirav Patel, formerly of Apple and Oculus, Framework made a name for itself with its first laptop, launched in 2021. In a market characterized by increasingly integrated components, the company chose to make internal parts easier to access and to publish repair guides. It serves individuals who want to keep their equipment, as well as developers and organizations concerned about its maintenance.
The Framework Laptop 13 forms the foundation of this approach. Its successive generations have notably enabled processor upgrades by replacing the motherboard while retaining a substantial portion of the machine. This continuity gives tangible form to the promise of upgradability, without implying that every part will remain compatible with all versions indefinitely.
Computers and an ecosystem of parts
The range includes preassembled configurations and editions that users can assemble or complete themselves. On its laptops, Framework makes it easier to replace parts such as the battery, screen or keyboard. Expansion cards allow users to choose some of their connectivity options: USB ports, video output and other functions can be tailored to their needs. The company also offers configurations intended for Windows and documents compatibility with several Linux distributions.
With the Framework Laptop 16, the company extended this approach to a larger format, incorporating a modular input system and a bay that can accommodate a graphics module, among other options. In 2025, it also introduced the Laptop 12, a convertible laptop, and the Framework Desktop, a compact desktop computer. This diversification broadens its positioning beyond the original laptop, with modularity choices specific to each product.
The parts store, called Marketplace, complements computer sales. It brings together upgrade components, repair parts and accessories. Framework also encourages the reuse of certain motherboards outside their original chassis through documentation and community projects.
What next?
Framework’s development will depend as much on the quality of its new computers as on continued support for older ones. Parts availability, compatibility between generations and upgrade costs will be decisive in turning repairability into a lasting advantage. The company must also win over users beyond technology enthusiasts, for whom working on a machine is already a familiar practice. As attention to the lifespan of equipment increases, its approach offers a distinctive alternative; however, its economic and environmental value remains tied to actual use and the devices’ real-world longevity.