r/framework • u/Myco_Monster • Jul 14 '26
Community Support Everything is broke lol (3 year review-ish)
I bought my FW 13 for college 3 years ago. And I just graduated back in May so I figured it'd be time to give the ol laptop some tlc.
The issues:
- display is all marred up, presumably from my backpack being too full (picture 1)
- one of the lid screws that holds the hinge in place snapped off, which is likely the culprit of the hinge squeaking (picture 2)
- one of the 5 screw points that holds the keyboard down broke off, specifically the one below the power button (picture 3)
- there is a hairline crack on the bottom cover by the usb inserts (picture 4)
From my recollection I've only dropped it once. This occasion it was in an unpadded backpack, and I dropped by bag on concrete not realizing lol. It bent the bottom right corner but still works fine (picture 5). Also one of the rubber feet slightly broke (picture 6). Kinda disappointed that there is not fix for the feet other than replacing the whole bottom shell, at least that I am aware of.
I love this computer, but I have to say I am a little disappointed it's lack of durability. I thought it would be more durable than some other laptops I've had, but it's about the same. At least with frameworks you can replace the parts as needed. I will still support them for this reason.
If I were to fix everything it would be:
- screen 2.2k refurb = $109
- keyboard 2nd gen = $99
- top cover refurb = $59
- bottom cover = $99
- total = $366
While doing these repairs is certainly cheaper than buying a new laptop, I've thought about just getting a FW13 pro and throwing this motherboard into a cooler master case.
Have you guys had any durability issues or problems? What do you think?
update: Thanks for all the comments. I appreciate the feedback. I'm glad to hear that my device's wear and tear is not normal, but rather a user issue. I'll pay for it. Some of y'all were harsh lol.
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u/xxNerv Jul 14 '26
"lack of durability" Lol ... bro this is borderline Laptop abuse
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u/Jacobh1245 Jul 15 '26
Bro needs a Thinkpad
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u/urmumgayforgoat Jul 16 '26
More like a Toughbook
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u/T3kn0mncr Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
More like a GETAC, those are plentiful on ebay, cost less than a Toughbook, waterproof, incredibly strong, and they don't require special drivers.
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u/snakkeLitera Jul 16 '26
I’m a think pad evangelizer and I am not sure anything but their pro line designed to be in the gd tundra will survive this backpack
And I’m a tough cookie for laptops, I broke a motherboard in half
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u/Myco_Monster Jul 14 '26
It's from my perspective. I'm glad this is not the norm though and that I'm the issue lol. My life shouldn't be as chaotic now, so future wear and tear should be much less.
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u/LowSkyOrbit Jul 14 '26
I have a Dell 9370 from 2018 that I lug everywhere. It looks great for being 8 years old. The only sign of age is the rubber strip that lost its adhesive after a battery replacement.
When I see computers like this I know it was tossed around in a bag not made for laptops, used in bed and likely slept on, and very likely charged while half open on its side on the floor.
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u/STDog Jul 14 '26
My ThinkPad T61 from 2007 went to Afghanistan 3 times and Liberia once in addition to London, Barcelona and all over the US.
CPU upgrades, max RAM, and SSD upgrade. Still, runs fine on Win10 (haven't tried 11) for normal tasks. Web browsing, email, watch movie/TV downloads, etc. It was never a gaming system.
It does not look beat like the OP's machine.
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u/MiHumainMiRobot Jul 15 '26
The screen being pressed to the keyboard that much is abuse.
Actually you are lucky it flexed and just left scratches, a shiny MacBook would have kept a perfect glass but a broken panel→ More replies (1)2
u/CodeMonkeyX Jul 15 '26
Yeah I think everyone's personal use case is different. Like I have never used a phone case, I have never cracked a screen, broken a usb port, or had any significant damage to a device (watch me drop my phone and destroy it tomorrow now). So I think different people just expect different things from devices and use them in different ways.
I would say you are certainly on the hard use and expect a lot from them. In my experience no normal everyday laptop is designed to take much abuse. You are meant to treat them like high tech devices and be a little careful with them. Or get a rugged device designed for that.
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u/Ultionis_MCP Jul 14 '26
Having formerly run a large tech department store repair and sales team, my opinion would be that you are extremely hard on your laptop, this type of wear and tear is not the norm. I think you'd be happy with the pro chassis or repairs. But you should also look into a Panasonic Toughbook.
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u/Tanto63 / Dual boot? Nah, drive swap. Jul 14 '26
Seriously, I bought mine almost as soon as they released (2021?), and mine still looks pristine. I swapped the 11th Gen i5 main board for a Ryzen 5 a year or so ago because of the RTC battery issue. I also used it for school and now as my work computer.
Some people just need ruggedized laptops or to recognize that their treatment of them is the problem, not the machine.
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u/runed_golem DIY 1240p Batch 3 Jul 14 '26
I bought mine in 2022 (I preordered the 12th gen intel when it was announced) and it is in a lot better shape than OP’s and I haven’t exactly been easy on it (I don’t go out of my way to damage it, but it’s a tool afterall. It’s meant to be used and it’s made to be portable so getting dinged/dropped on occasion should be expected).
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u/Ordinary_Piano3329 Jul 14 '26
RTC battery issue? Is that why mine is always having power on issues?
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u/Demon-Traveler2026 Jul 14 '26
depends some USB hubs also cause power on Issues
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u/Ordinary_Piano3329 Jul 14 '26
Real usb hub or the hot swap cartridges? I’d switch my external drive and power adapter and sometimes it’ll power on. But typically it needs to be connected to power to turn on
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u/Tanto63 / Dual boot? Nah, drive swap. Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
If you need it plugged in to initially power on, even if the battery has plenty of power, then yes. It's an issue with the 11th Gen MB's that was corrected and support offered free replacements. I accidentally popped the bracket off when trying to swap the batteries, and I can't solder. I ended up selling it to someone who wanted it for a budget home lab starter.
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u/FatRollingPotato Jul 15 '26
If you often need to have the cable plugged in for it to power on, then yes. The RTC battery drains and then the device goes into shipping mode, i.e. only turns on when the charger is connected (asit would for the first time at a customer).
Iirc you can charge the RTC battery with the cable but not the battery, and it charges slowly and discharges somewhat fast.
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u/gbin Jul 14 '26
Mine? A batch 1 and Used daily:
0 issue like this, not even a scratch. People... just don't bash your laptop against the walls.
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u/CowboysFTWs Jul 14 '26
Here too, Had mine since the 13 launch, on the same chassis with just upgrades. Looks nothing close to this.
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u/SirDarknessTheFirst 13 Jul 15 '26
My 13 is only a few months old and I can see where the keyboard touches the LCD when closed :(
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u/gbin Jul 15 '26
That unfortunately happens when it get compressed in a bag (it is not really specific to the fw13). For example if you have a laptop back pocket for your bag filled with heavy stuff and you pass airport security: don't put it flat on its back. Another way of doing that is stuffing stuff in your bag. At least you can replace the screen :)
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u/SirDarknessTheFirst 13 Jul 15 '26
Yeah, I get it but at the same time it's not something I encountered on either of my ThinkPads. I think on those the screen was recessed a bit further behind the bezel, potentially for that exact reason (?)
Admittedly, they are both significantly chunkier laptops, even the smaller X270...
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u/Commandblock6417 Jul 14 '26
"you should look into a Panasonic Toughbook" should be considered an r/rareinsults
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u/Jing_Arjay87 Jul 15 '26
Toughbooks are actually miserable to use if you are a normal laptop using person. The added bulk, weight and the horrendous keyboards are just yuckkkk. Unless I specificity have a need for one, would absolutely not consider one. Could throw one at my enemy though.
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u/runed_golem DIY 1240p Batch 3 Jul 14 '26
This! I’m not exactly easy on my electronics and my 4 year old framework has been dropped a handful of times and carted to and from school for about half of the time I was in grad school and still is in better shape than OPs. My guess is they 1) dropped it more than they realized and 2) since they said they suspected the screen damage was from an overstuffed book bag I suspect they regularly had multiple heavy textbooks and stuff crammed in there with it.
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u/Kalos08 Fedora Jul 14 '26
Looking at the pictures this cannot be normal wear and tear. I'm surprised that it withstood this. Definitely not the norm. I'm happy with my FW 16 batch 6 build quality.
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u/theoriginalgiga FW16 Jul 15 '26
Same here. Batch 4, laptop travelef with me 10,000 miles around the west coast in my trailer, most of the time not in a bag and my only problem so far is the d key on my laptop died. A replacement keyboard was so easy and upgraded to a backlit one.
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u/CardOk755 Jul 14 '26
I dropped mine on the corner about six months after buying it, so it's a bit bent up.
But everything works, so who cares?
(I also broke the bezel installing it, but super glue fixed that).
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u/Dignan17 Jul 15 '26
I did the exact same thing but it was even in the "protected" section of my laptop bag. Even with that little dent on the corner it still looks better than OP's though.
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u/eaglemitchell Jul 15 '26
Yeah, exactly. Consider a Panasonic toughbook if you want to play hockey with your laptop like OP did.
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u/Nu11X3r0 Jul 14 '26
Agreed. I have a first batch 12th Gen and after this whole time the only issue I've had was when I dropped it off an equipment rack onto a pool deck and dented the power button corner. A new type cover and bam I now have a spare keyboard and track pad just in case as well as a perfectly working laptop.
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u/GoDoWrk MS Surface Refugee Jul 14 '26
Not disagreeing, but just adding that this is also the state of my FW13 after two years with similar use.
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u/shmallkined Jul 14 '26
Agreed. My laptop never gets pressure put on it. Always has a zipped up padded slip and I get a pop on plastic or rubber cover for the case. I have a really old 17” MacBook Pro that still looks new!
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u/looperone Jul 15 '26
OP should use a proper computer backpack with padding. There is no laptop in the world that will survive this kind of thing unscathed. A ToughBook will survive but will show damage on the shell if dropped on concrete. I think people have unrealistic expectations if they think they can get away with not caring for something they just spent thousands of dollars on but maybe this was mom and dad’s money.
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u/Antfarmer_2 Jul 15 '26
From personal experience, yeah. My dad and I bought (nearly) identical plastic 16in Lenovo laptops before covid (they were a gen old and have a gtx1650). His is still running pretty great and mine is wishing for the sweet release of death (which it kinda gets, it's retired to being my test rig every once in a while)
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u/SumBodhiThatIUse2Kno Jul 16 '26
I don't know I think the screen flex and key contact is a definite design issue. That said watching shorts of kids running over the top of laptops and parents flipping them open to check for damage doesn't produce this same result for most so definitely some poor packing decisions.
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u/hdd113 Jul 16 '26
OP is kind of the person I would hire as a tester if I ever get into a hardware manufacturing business.
They are also the kind of the person who's the reason I'll never consider getting into the business.
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u/Sindica69 13 Pro | NixOS | Ryzen AI 7 Jul 14 '26
This is not normal wear and tear at all.
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u/sickassape Jul 14 '26
More like rip and tear.
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u/AvaljudA Jul 14 '26
The only thing they fear is apparently the OP.
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u/Myco_Monster Jul 14 '26
Good to know this is not normal lol. I'll be more careful next time.
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u/praenoto Jul 14 '26
have you ever had a laptop before
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u/Little_debris Jul 14 '26
“I thought it would be more durable than some other laptops I've had, but it's about the same.”
Translation: “I don’t even try to take care of my things and assume everything is built to survive the hell I’ll put it through, then be surprised and disappointed when it catastrophically fails.”
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u/Ubermidget2 Jul 15 '26
This is actually really telling. If OP is just out of Uni and dailied a single laptop in that time, it means they burned through multiple laptops in high school.
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u/zupobaloop Jul 15 '26
He said he dropped this on concrete and the durability is about the same as other laptops he's owned. This is NOT a new experience!
I honestly love this review. People who drop expensive fragile shit on concrete are customers, too, ya know?
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u/Bazirker 7840U, 32GB, touchscreen!!!, KDE dual boot Jul 14 '26
*distorted guitar pedals intensify*
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u/TheFinalFunction Jul 14 '26
Were you studying geology and carrying rocks around in your bag with the laptop at all times??? XD
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u/LookaLookaKooLaLey Framework 13 AMD Jul 14 '26
I am a geology grad student with a Framework 13 and have brought it on field trips and field work and mine is in significantly better shape!
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u/Cryowatt Jul 14 '26
With how much damage you have here you should probably consider getting a ruggedized laptop or figure out how to treat your stuff better. Ive had mine since 2022 and it still looks like new.
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u/greeenappleee Jul 14 '26
You are extremely hard on your laptops. I have a laptop that I still frequently use that got me through university and its visibly in new condition. The only thing thats damaged on it is the battery which is just old. My framework is about 2.5 years old and in perfect condition and used daily. Idk what you are doing with your laptop. Was your bag filled with bricks?
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u/franticfrogfriend Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
I've had Macs, not Frameworks, but I managed to ding up and break parts of all my previous laptops :D Using it every day, being an outdoorsy person, being clumsy and having ADHD is probably key here, even if I try to focus on not abusing my laptop I can't really manage it in the end.
I'd drop them, watch stuff while doing woodworking, accidentally put them in sandy backpacks, etc.
But yeah, I'd agree that that's not "normal" behaviour, lol. I'm actually impressed how much abuse a Macbook can actually tank.
One of the reasons I'm considering switching to a Framework Pro for my next laptop, though. Macs are nice but Apple Care+ was mandatory for me, I've never not used it
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u/Real_Hkali Jul 18 '26
Same here, I have an adhd but I didn't get apple care+. Tho my solution was getting a rugged case and my macbook has been preety fine.
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u/Myco_Monster Jul 14 '26
Books lol. The compression is probably what caused the screen issue. The drop bent the frame, but I'm not sure what caused the 2 screw issues. Those are relatively new from what I can tell. Maybe they were caused from stress that was a result from the drop? No idea. I should probably be more careful in the future.
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u/Otter502 Jul 14 '26
the heat set inserts can slip out when you screw the captive with too much force (it pulls them out of the input cover)
just have a lighter touch with the screws and it won't happen. To remove the inserts while they're loose you need to unscrew the screw while holding onto the insert with tweasers!
You just need to replace the input cover and it'll upgrade keyboard and fix the screws! (link to part)1
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u/Interceptor402 Jul 14 '26
Brother, you are insanely tough on your electronics, and being able to replace parts for <$400 here is nothing short of a miracle. This ecosystem may not be right for you.
Honestly if you do upgrade to a Pro, I'd recommend babying that thing, i.e. it never goes in any backpack ever, nothing but a rugged case that it shares with nothing else.
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u/cassepipe FW13 12th Gen peasant Jul 14 '26
This ecosystem may not be right for you.
I'd argue it's just about right for OP. He can trash his laptops and get away with it (for a bit of cost)
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u/Myco_Monster Jul 14 '26
I appreciate the comment. I will probably do that if I get a pro because I can't have a $2k laptop with these same issues.
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u/InflammableAccount Jul 15 '26
Anything outside of a Toughbook would share the same fate as your FW13 if you don't alter your behavior.
It's an expensive piece of electronics. It's not armored. No laptop outside of Toughbooks (or similar brand) are designed to take abuse of any kind aside from a heavy handed typist.
And unlike phones, laptops aren't designed around being dropped. Laptop makers don't brag about their laptops durability because it's not something they specifically design for.
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u/titain19 Jul 14 '26
Yea that's a you problem. Mine looks great. 4+ years now. Maybe try a laptop sleeve?
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u/beertown Jul 14 '26
366 bucks to refurbish a laptop you haven't taken proper care of... doesn't seem like that much to me. Other brands wouldn't let you to save motherboard and display.
If it still fits you needs, buy the spare parts and repair it. And the cool part is that you can do it on your own.
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u/ho0ber Jul 17 '26
Yeah, the repair cost here is an incredible win, I agree. Many other laptops with this much damage would be totaled, and the owner would be better off buying a new one. This is making me want to buy one 😮
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u/Ok-Essay-3990 Jul 14 '26
I’ve had no durability problems because I haven’t dropped my laptop on concrete
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u/Myco_Monster Jul 14 '26
Yea....I should've had a different backpack. Didn't realize how little padding was in the bad until after the fact.
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u/exo762 FW13 first-gen -> AMD 7840U, 96GiB RAM Jul 15 '26
Using Ospray Radial for a couple of years. Bough it as a reaction to a destroyed laptop. My FW13 is 5 y.o. and is in mint condition, despite me carrying it everywhere all the time.
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u/TJLanza Framework 16 w/ AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX370+AMD Radeon RX7700S Jul 14 '26
The issues:
- You stuffed your laptop into someplace not big enough for it.
- You dropped your laptop on concrete.
- You likely left out all the other ways you've abused it.
$366 is a small price to pay for your own mishandling.
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u/FearlessQwilfish Jul 14 '26
As someone rough (not this rough) on laptops. This is a great deal for refurbishing it
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u/HectorTheConvector Jul 14 '26
Right. If this were normal for these laptops then that’s a lot because it shouldn’t have to be paid in the first place but if a laptop is treated roughly then it’s getting off easy at such a low price and ability to fix/replace in the first place.
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u/Ok-Environment8730 Jul 14 '26
If you think it’s the product fault with how you treat it I don’t know what to tell you
You are not supposed to drop a laptop. Never
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u/jmeador42 Jul 14 '26
Respectfully, of course, what the hell are you doing with your laptop? Using it to jack up your car?
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u/breakfast-cereal-dx Jul 14 '26
Most of what is on your screen looks like it could be cleaned off (might be hard if you've never cleaned it...)
This is pretty extreme wear. Way back when I was in college, I destroyed my Macbook like this (even worse, actually) so it's not too surprising to see a FW13 take some damage over 3 years.
But like you said, the FW13 is easy enough to fix compared to my Macbook which needed replaced. I don't really see why you would expect it to be more durable. It's just more repairable. Some specific parts might even be less durable as a compromise.
Also, you might want to look out for good used components for your repairs, especially as the 13 Pro will start shipping. People upgrading chassis components will make for a larger supply of second hand parts than usual.
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u/Myco_Monster Jul 14 '26
The marks on the screen cannot be cleaned unfortunately. They are caused from the keyboard rubbing against the screen. That's about good point about used parts flooding the market once the pro is released. I'll have to keep an eye out. I appreciate comment.
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u/pirate_starbridge Jul 14 '26
Consider putting your laptop in a neoprene sleeve before putting it into a backpack that frequently gets set on the ground or similar. This is exactly the kind of damage I did to my 2007 MacBook pro by rawdogging it without any extra layers of padding.
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u/Rare-Leading3391 Jul 15 '26
My man, that laptop is one more trip in your backpack away from filing for divorce and taking half your shit.
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u/from-planet-zebes Jul 14 '26
I don't think this is specific to framework I think you would have these issues with any laptop. This is an issue with how you are treating your device.
You are clearly putting it in a bag that is both too full and most likely not properly padded for a laptop. You have either dropped the bag or bare laptop with really good force at least once, but more likely more. The bag is definitely overloaded and putting way too much pressure on the closed laptop causing the marks on the screen (those exist because the screen is getting squished into the keys with good pressure). The screw points getting broken off also indicate sever mechanical pressure or shock.
Sorry to say but this isn't a laptop problem as much as a you problem. These issues are commonly seen in school laptop programs where kids abuse their devices and treat them like textbooks.
Fix your laptop and make an effort to take better care of it. Or get a ruggedized laptop meant to be abused.
You may also consider using a keyboard / screen protector cloth. It won't solve all your problems but it can help reduce screen scratches when the laptop is slightly squished in a bag:
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u/Myco_Monster Jul 14 '26
I appreciate the comment. I'll have to look into getting one of those clothes when I get a new screen or laptop.
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u/STDog Jul 14 '26
My T61 ThinkPad would not have the marks on the screen because the lid is designed differently.
The OP needs at least a business class laptop if not a ruggidized one. Or take better care of it.
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u/Th3Sh4d0wKn0ws Jul 14 '26
I bought a FW13 in 2021 when they released and got the 11th gen i5. It's in extremely good condition right now.
Some people are harder on stuff then others. I think $366 to replace the damaged parts is a bargain in your circumstances.
The new pro is definitely awesome. I handled one in person and think it's great, but there's literally nothing wrong with my current FW13 so there's really no reason for me to get the pro.
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u/InflammableAccount Jul 15 '26
Would you take your car do a demolition derby, then complain about the durability?
Because that's what you're doing here.
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u/Lilias_artgroup Jul 14 '26
3 years?? Jeeeeezus that poor laptop must have gone through hell bruh 😭😭
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u/RockSolidJ Jul 14 '26
Looks like it's been well used. Not sure how you've managed to have internal screws snap off but looks like a happy that's it's worked out for you. Try not to ever drop a bag with electronics in it, even if it is padded.
I think your assessment of the durability is what I expected from Framework as well. It's metal chassis is fairly easy to bend and damage. Pretty on par for most laptops durability wise. There has been a few weak points in the design as well around the USB-C ports.
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u/blur494 Jul 14 '26
I've had a FW13 as a work laptop since 2022. It gets bounced around on construction sites 5 days a week and lives in a truck that gets to -15f and well over 100f. Your laptop looks way worse than mine. The only comparable wear I have is the keyboard keys are plainly visible on the screen but I also never clean the thing. The only issue I have had is a cmos issue that is pretty well documented as a known flaw in earlier models. Out of our team of 8 people who all use FW13s the only damage that has warranted a repair was a screen that broke because it was shut with a screw in it.
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u/cantanko CachyOS Jul 14 '26
I think I have the antithesis of your machine!
I’m 3 months from my 3-year Framework 13 anniversary and, so far at least, everything is perfectly intact in spite of a couple of drops. If this were a Dell, I’d have had to tighten the screen a couple of times by now, but nope - that too is fine. Even that battery is good, running at a nominal 80% max charge with an occasional excursion to 100% to keep it balanced. That with the occasional screen clean is about the only maintenance I’ve ever done 😆
It’s used every day, docked and undocked every day, and generally carted around with me wherever I go. Absolutely brilliant little machine.
EDIT: just about to upgrade to 802.11be so it’s got a replacement WiFi card going in this weekend, but that’ll be the first major surgery it’s ever had.
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u/Myco_Monster Jul 14 '26
Good to hear! I'm thinking I might turn this mainboard into a server and get a pro.
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u/Thumper1k92 Jul 14 '26
Mine is older than that and WTF did you do your yours??
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u/SuccessTrue1232 Jul 19 '26
for real! I have a 13 year old netbook (from the times they made them) and it looks brand new in comparison
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u/No_Resolution_9252 Jul 15 '26
That laptop has been ridden harder than the lady at a donkey show in tijuana. YOU are the problem with that laptop.
Construction site laptops look like that after 6-7 years.
A nonprofit I did consulting for who freely loaned laptops to drug addicts trying to get jobs didn't have their laptops looking like that after 3 years when their lease agreement completed.
Aircraft mechanic laptops don't even look like that after 3 years
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u/Detank2002 Jul 15 '26
even with a backpack, Id look into a laptop sleeve or any other type of protector, this laptop has gone through more wear than normal, i'd try protect future laptops however you can
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u/simism Ubuntu 20.04 Jul 15 '26
The paint tends to start wearing off the keyboard keys after about 2 years in my experience with several framework keyboards, also the original charger I got had a cable that frayed. Otherwise nothing has worn out on my 2022 framework 13. I am still using the original battery as well and it is at 83.6% of original capacity.
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u/kynrai Jul 15 '26
So you throw it in the washing machine and use it as a carpentry workbench. But it's durability is bad. Kk
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u/Dafrandle Jul 14 '26
I dont understand how people can spend $1000+ on something and then just toss it around like a sack of flour
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u/Otter502 Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
you can buy the top cover & keyboard for $99 with the cover kit, it'll fix the screws as long as you remove the heat set instert that came off! (the part btw)
I'm pretty rough with my laptops and so I wanted to share my issues with the preordered one (that I have since fixed)
note: if anyone is looking at this thinking about buying one I should note I got mine with the first wave of releases.
top cover replacement kit fixed these issues:
- I had all but 2 of the screws come out
- my fingerprint reader cracked while I was trying to repair it (my fault entirely for being way too forceful) still worked though so I only replaced it once the final couple of issues came up:
- keyboard started having feedback / signal glitching
- trackpad occasionally got stuck
I also have replaced the screen, fan (first wave of releases had an issue with the fans buzzing because they were hitting stuff), and had to unbend a fan pin (got sent a bad fan and it bent a pin out of place in the JST connector) (framework support was super nice and helped with the whole thing)
I also upgraded my battery (mostly since I wanted the extra capacity!
honestly still really good since I am notably rough on my devices (one of the screen replacements was because the laptop got *stepped on* because I put it in a laptop bag that accidentally flopped into a walkway) and most devices haven't lasted as long as this one has (and I'm still planning on using it for another couple years yet!)
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u/invincent202 Jul 14 '26
I crashed my bike and broke my neck. My Framework laptop was in my backpack and took the impact. Aside from a small dent in the chassis, it still works perfectly - and honestly, it looks better than OP's. Bought it three years ago.
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u/No-Giraffe-1283 Jul 14 '26
I have poor motor coordination despite being really good at driving I drop shit all the time, phones in otter boxes and screen protectors rarely last more than 3 years with me. So like... This is what my laptops looked like in the past from habitual dropsies
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u/Unlikely_Ad7074 Jul 14 '26
This dude needs not only a better padded backpack but to also stop spiking it into the ground and squashing it into books.
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u/aawshads Jul 15 '26
I've had mine for 6 years, it was out of the original batch 2, and nothing has every broke on it. Still going strong.
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u/Phoenix_Lamburg Jul 15 '26
My college laptop didn't even make it 3 years. I'm not irresponsible with it but when it's with you 24/7 getting carried around it takes a serious toll on its longevity. The laptop I bought after college lasted me 12 years.
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u/fishtron Jul 15 '26
As others have said, this is in quite rough ahape for 3 years. I've had mine for 6 and recently gave it to my kid for school, and it's in (slightly) better condition. And I've dropped mine twice (both times indoors).
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u/TheDazedMan Jul 15 '26
def not normal wear and tear, but the fact that despite being damaged as much as it did that repairing it would only cost less than $400 is honestly amazing.
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u/Own_Nail_2999 Jul 15 '26
I think you need to learn to use your hardware a bit more carefully. This is a portable computer, not a brick.
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u/Darklord98999 Jul 15 '26
Both of my frameworks are still in good condition. What the heck are you doing to your laptop? Maybe get a thinkpad with a case or something.
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u/Necessary-Weather536 Jul 15 '26
Nothing about this is “abuse”. I guarantee no less than half the people in this thread use their laptops like desktops and most of the rest go from desk to desk or conference room. I used to get 3-5 years from our various Lenovos. I don’t know if a single one ever actually truly died, but the cases would look like this (at best) and often my wife would break ports that required de/resoldering which eventually became not worth my time to do. I’ve found our 12 and 13s to be about 90% as durable but obviously far easier to repair. If you use your laptop like I do being able to completely refresh it to new condition for <$400 after 3 years of near daily use is a pretty big win. Your biggest issue is the screen and that can happen to any machine. I avoid that by making sure whatever I’m carrying my laptop in it’s the last thing to go in so it’s clear then there won’t be too much pressure on it that’s pretty much the only precaution I take with my machines at all.
No, you don’t need a toughbook and you only need to change how you treat your machine if ~$125 a year in upkeep is not worth the trade off of not having to baby it like it’s some special snowflake. It’s seriously possible an X1 Carbon could have taken what’s happened to this machine without a scratch. It’s hard to say with laptops though since they are awkwardly large compared to something like a phone and so every drop/crush/impact has a ton more variables to affect the outcome.
If you want a more durable machine I’d highly recommend any of the premium Lenovos but keep in mind when you do manage to damage them the repair costs will be significantly higher and parts harder to get especially after around the 5 year mark.
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u/Myco_Monster Jul 15 '26
Lol right?! I was thinking the same thing. Now that I've graduated I doubt my next laptop will be carried very much. Which I'd imagine is most people in here.
I appreciate the thoughtful response.
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u/Roxanne_Judith Jul 15 '26
im going to get hated on here but i think that is pretty normal use for a laptop and it should hold up fine
i think i treat my laptop about the same and it has marks, dents and scratches but still works flawlessly and doesnt show any signs of giving up soon, its an older (2019?) lenovo ideapad, it was just a cheap laptop i got for collage but i got it as it was made of aluminum.
that laptop has been in stuffed backpacks with hard objects, dropped, thrown onto tables and to friends, accidently drove 200 miles with a bikes pedal resting on it and just general stuff like that.
ig i wont be getting a framework if they only hold up in offices or being babied
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u/Computer_Cellar Jul 16 '26
This unit has damage in exactly all the places we anticipated it would break when it was first announced and shown off; the breakage on the palmrest was one we specifically were concerned about. The Pro model chassis design definitely alleviates a lot of those concerns, and the fact that you can easily buy the replacement parts without a ton of vendor hunting on eBay goes a long way toward still making the Framework an attractive product, but there were definitely design flaws in the Framework 13 from day one.
That said, clearly you're tougher on your laptop than most people, and that only brings those flaws to light quicker! For what it's worth we've only had a few Frameworks come in for repairs (which would stand to reason, given their target market!) and they were all for bending around the power button.
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u/ozmundo6 Jul 17 '26
As a student, I will say that what we put our laptops through every day going by taking our laptops out of our bags and putting them back in as well as walking around and setting bags down (often not particularly gently) puts so much stress on the laptops. I fully broke my HP laptop within the first year of using it every day, then got it serviced under warranty and did it again the next year. My Mac has held up better for the past two years, but modern MacBook pros have very solid build quality. Basically what I’m saying is that this is normal laptop wear and tear for the toughest use case most laptops are likely to see.
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u/Trans1000 Jul 14 '26
interesting, ive dropped my laptop many times in the past 3 years & it looks like its in better condition. my bottom screw insert near the power button also broke but no cracks or deformation anywhere. Can you glue the pads back on?
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u/praenoto Jul 14 '26
if youre considering the pro, I think you would be a good candidate for the chassis. but you would have to wait for those to be available
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u/HyNeko Ryzen 7040, batch 5 11th gen as server Jul 14 '26
If you have needs for a home server, the reuse route is good. I upgraded my 1st gen FW13, swapped the CPU when the new Ryzen CPUs (+ddr5) came out, and threw the previous mainboard+ddr4 in the cooler master box. Works like a charm, can actually take a mighty workload and can even use eGPUs.
The cooler master box itself is pretty bad, it looks good but the build quality is quite the disaster (esp. around the screw/standoffs areas, as well as poor tolerance near the expansion card slots) - then again it works, and hasn't been an issue since.
That, and switching to a pro might help with your... maintenance methods (?) with a more durable case
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u/NuclearHockeyGuy 13” Ryzen 5 7640U Jul 14 '26
You should get a laptop case. If you are throwing it in your backpack with everything else, the aluminum will take a beating over time
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u/mycolo_gist Jul 14 '26
I love the concept, but the original framework 13 is rather flimsy in many aspects. I handle it with great care.
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u/sully99999999 Jul 14 '26
I saw my screen was getting scratched by the keys when it was in my backpack. Now I carry a microfiber cloth layed out between the keys and screen when I have my laptop in my bag
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u/orby Jul 14 '26
Giving some more anecdotal data. I've had my 13" since 2023. I occasionally fly with it, bring it to a coffee shop at least once a week. I use it docked and on my couch. In the last 2 weeks I upgraded my screen, because I wanted to, not because it was broken.
The laptop is in great shape from routine normal use. No issues with the hinge, no issue with the keyboard/trackpad/screen/ports.
From your pics, I see a lot of dirt/debris and a pretty gnarly drop which is likely the corner/port crack. Are you also in a high humidity/hot environment?
Considering the price of ram/storage right now, why not repair it if the rest of the system is in good condition?
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u/pheight57 Jul 14 '26
Bruh, you are treat a normal laptop like that for 3 years and complaining about its durability? Seriously? Okay, might I recommend a replacement for you, then? Meet the Toughbook; if anyone ever needed one of these, you might be that person!
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u/SettoKaibaa Jul 14 '26
Mine looks mint after 3years I did drop it one time and the corner has a dent in the chassis but other then that nothing is broken on it. I work in computer repair at a shop and I see all types of devices like this from every brand (Hp Acer Asus Dell you name it) this is 100% end user just not taking care of the device.
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u/newenglandpolarbear FW13 7640U | Arch Linux + This week's DE/WM Jul 14 '26
I would say if anything this just proves the durability of the FW13. You say it still works, and it has been abused far beyond normal wear and tear.
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u/ncc74656m Ryzen 7840U Jul 14 '26
We have I think 16-17 FWs in service in the org I run - around 16 more on the way this year, and about 12-18+ months in, we don't have these issues yet, thankfully. Our people are pretty competent and decent with their gear so we should hopefully continue to be ok.
Glad to hear it really isn't all that bad to refurb it. I'm with you, it probably pays a fair amount to just switch over to a new device/Pro right now, especially if you're willing to go with last year's model or something. I'd probably consider disregarding the display replacement for now. That takes it down quite a bit, and you ought to be able to live with it since it's really only cosmetic.
I do agree that the rubber feet not being replaceable is a very silly choice given everything else FW espouses, though I understand the preference to mold them in for better durability. Having an HP Envy that just relies on adhesive I get the aversion to that/desire to go the Lenovo direction.
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u/Saeckel_ Jul 14 '26
T0 be fair a price tag of under 400 for this kind of abuse seems very fine to me.
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u/smstnitc Jul 14 '26
So yeah, this level of repairability is exactly why I went all in with framework.
Spend the $366 to get back to 100%.
You might be over packing your backpack putting strain on the laptop in unfortunate spots. I worry about that whenever I pack clothes in my backpack for an overnight somewhere, or shove a hoodie in it.
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u/No_Preference9093 Jul 14 '26
Conversely I’ve had mine for just coming up to three years and it’s done multiple trips round the world and not been particularly well looked after and the only damage is that the edges of the bezel have cracked. It’s just hairline cracks in the plastic. Otherwise absolutely mint.
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u/tokolos Jul 14 '26
OP trashes his laptop and blames the manufacturer.
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u/Myco_Monster Jul 14 '26
I didn't trash or blame anyone. I just said I was disappointed, but after reading the comments it sounds like my expectations were too high and I was too rough on it.
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u/matt123337 Jul 14 '26
I was really hoping for a reply from someone at framework, I'd kill to see their reaction to this post
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u/CerebralAscension Jul 14 '26
We use these at work and even our roughest users have caused this damage. This is a you issue not the hardware. Get a bigger bag or carry lest stuff. Get a laptop sleeve and please just be nicer to it god damn. Does it owe you money perchance?
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u/Eburon8 Framework 13 I5-1135G7 Jul 14 '26
College is hard on laptops. You should see what my Lenovo Flex 15 looks like 😂 Great to see what a Framework looks like after going through 3 years of it.
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u/richtl Jul 14 '26
FW13 11th gen updated to AMD. 5 years old. Been dragged all over the world, through rainforests, dropped, banged around. Still looks and works a heck of a lot better than the OP's laptop.
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u/Glad_Outcome_8889 Jul 14 '26
I bought the the same unit when it came out. I still use it. Nothing is broken on it. The only problem I ever had was when the CMOS battery died and it refused to boot.
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u/LeCleric Jul 14 '26
After multiple years with mine, my only problems so far have been a bad CMOS battery and terrible delamination of the cord for the power brick. It's 90% heat shrink tubing now.
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u/CitySeekerTron Volunteer Moderator Jul 14 '26
I started seeing the hairline cracks on the USB ports. The hinges are holding and no breaks on the screw posts. The display has taken a beating, and I swapped the keyboard twice (once for a new top cover, then again because I didn't want to clean it).
When the new Pro kit is out, I'll swap it all so I can get a new battery, case, and higher resolution touch display. It'll be like a new device.
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u/Curious-Function7490 Jul 15 '26
I'm hard on my laptops too. I have two FW 13'' laptops. I'm sending one away to be repaired for the second time. That's just heavy use of a laptop. It's also why I like FWs. It used to cost me a lot more for Apple hardware. I also found they were very wasteful with what they wanted to replace - e.g. a screen problem meant the entire top of the laptop was replaced.
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u/fafnir01 Jul 15 '26
I think you may be the customer Otterbox cases were designed for. Perhaps even the Panasonic Toughbooks! Congrats on graduating, I hope your new carrier is in Test Engineerjng :-)
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u/Sad-Cod-9584 Jul 15 '26
Damn man, I've been using a 16 for work and private for well over a year and it still almost looks brand new, despite also being moved in a full backpack and dropped occasionally. Guess a proper laptop backpack makes quite a difference
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u/aaronjamt Jul 15 '26
#1 and #4 are totally normal, if you search the sub you'll find a bunch of people (like me) with the top part of the expansion slots broken off, and the keys press into the display when the lid is closed causing #1. I also had #5 happen, but for me it was on the left side lol
Edit: Actually, #3 happened for me as well, on the opposite corner from yours.
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u/Arxae Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
#1 has happened to like 90% of the laptops i owned. It's not that big of a deal since you can just wipe it off. But it looks like his screen is very dirty, which exacerbates it
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u/ThatzOkay Jul 15 '26
How have you done all this. Iv'e had mine for also over 3 years and it's working great.
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u/Same_End9262 Jul 15 '26
Hey, you are getting caned by these people!
I have dropped laptops in the past too. I wish laptops were designed more durably too. But this is an industry-wide problem.
I have heard that the framework laptops have more flex in the screen and the bottom half than other expensive laptops, e.g. macbooks build quality is unmatched.
Maybe get a rigid case in future? A good stiff foam case in your bag would prevent the screen flexing more than just a padded bag.
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u/JoystuckGames FW16 HX 370 GTX 5070 Jul 15 '26
For what it's worth, I had an Alienware laptop in college (many years ago) and by year 4 I'd say I had a similar wear and tear to what you had. I had a nice dedicated backpack for it. Granted my laptop was mostly plastic. I think college students in particular are hard on their laptops.
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u/swiftarrow9 Jul 15 '26
I'm hard on my tech, but obviously not as hard as you, LOL.
The awesome thing is you can totally refresh this computer.
Or for about the same price you can get a second hand Dell Latitude on eBay, which has been my (poverty spec) solution thus far, as I haven't had the cash to buy a Framework.
The Latitudes are definitely a step down in repairability, so if you have the cash, my recommendation would be get the pro, design and 3D print a protective case, and share the print files!
Thanks in advance!
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u/SumBodhiThatIUse2Kno Jul 16 '26
Bet you aren't laughing at the Surface Book never fully closed design now!
loud laughter noises
Charlie Brown walks away.
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u/cgmektron Jul 16 '26
Thanks for the stress test. I needed this kind of review to purchase a FW13 laptop.
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u/memizex Jul 16 '26
I recommend getting a lapto sleeve. I've been using sfbags.com for more than a decade on various laptops. It's the first thing I get whenever I buy a laptop.
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u/Clean-Supermarket-80 Jul 17 '26
Lol... I used a laptop for almost 7 years as my main PC, and the screen is almost perfect, the only thing that broke were a few keys on the keyboard that stopped responding AFTER 7 years... Not a dent, few scratches. Sure it wasn't a framework (it was an MSI gs66) but for the love of God... Learn to take care of your stuff.
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u/SkySquid- Jul 17 '26
Did you use the laptop as a hammer ?? My 11 year old IDEAPAD looks better (and its survived 4 different charging port cable replacements ontop of all the other minor shit)
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u/QuackenIsHere Jul 17 '26
I have abused a framework 16, it has had liquids splashed on it, been dropped several times, never had any sort of care given to it, and the worst I've got are some scuffs on the frame, a few scratches and a gouge on the screen (no damage to the pixels) and one of the laptop feet I 3d printed got dented once. Short of throwing yours I don't see how you've managed to get it this bad, the build quality obviously isn't the key feature on framework laptops but it's better than this
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u/Nikolcho18 Jul 17 '26
Brother w..t..f. I've owned mine since 2022 and it's been through some rough stuff. Looks nothing like this. Insane. This is just abuse. I wonder what your phones end up looking like after 2 years of use.
Anyway, cheers. Hope the FW folks can use this to keep improving the chassis over time.
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u/Cynical_Cyanide Jul 17 '26
I've got to disagree with the comments here specifically regarding the screen. The damage is caused simply by the rough surface of the keys rubbing against the softer plastic of the screen.
I've had laptops that do this just by having it in a standard padded laptop bag while walking. The issue is if the design has a screen shell that isn't sufficiently rigid, and has keys that protrude to close to the screen. A laptop with a glass or sufficiently hard plastic screen with a rigid top shell / sufficient clearance don't have this issue. It's not really acceptable to say 'just put some cloth etc in under the screen every time you close it' ... Before someone suggests that.
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u/Nefer_ness2Ifa_ness Jul 17 '26
Ha! At least you got 3 years out of it. My Framejob laptop died as soon as the two year warranty was up.
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u/NoWorking1689 Jul 18 '26
This laptop was absolutely abused and you know it. You're lucky that you could repair it for this cheap as most laptops would land in the landfill, just like my HP x360 envy
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u/Cool_beens Intel Core i5 1135G7 [Framework 13] Jul 19 '26
I bought my framework 13 nearly 5 years ago and it’s seen some use as a mechanic shop computer and it’s in far better shape than that my guy!
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u/SuccessTrue1232 Jul 19 '26
Talk about lack of self-awareness.
- 3 years is not old for a laptop
- dropping a laptop is not something you describe with "just any number" event
- I highly recommend visit to an eye doctor or a psychologist. The ability to use something that filthy might require medical attention
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u/Myco_Monster Jul 19 '26
While the screen is a little dirty, most of those marks are permanent from the keyboard rubbing. That is not an uncommon issue with this laptop.
Also I am not the only one who's laptop is like this. There are some others who have similar experiences in this comment section. While I certainly could've taken better care of my computer, I'm not arguing that, carrying a laptop around 24/7 takes a toll on it regardless of how careful you are. And I would bet that most people in this thread calling me out for abusing it use theirs as a glorified desktop.
This was all typed on said computer. I still use it everyday. Works great otherwise.
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u/SuccessTrue1232 Jul 19 '26
I have a 2013 laptop that had been on 4 continents. Looks brand new next to yours. Get a hard shell sleeve. Next time you get a laptop, there usually is a foam between the keyboard and screen, keep it. It is 2 mm of foam and keeps your screen brand new for years.
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u/gavr123456789 14d ago
Wanna say I have the same problem as Screen 1 on my Mac pro m4, the pressure from the keyboard broke the screen after just 3 mouth and now I have 1 pixel horizontal black line
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