The replacement cycle for laptops is relatively long, with many people considering an upgrade only after five to six years of use. However, with the rapid advancement of technology and frequent hardware updates, some new features make many users long for the latest models. But due to the high integration of laptops, many important components cannot be easily replaced like in desktops. For example, if you want to upgrade to a more powerful CPU and GPU, you usually have to buy a new laptop, which is undoubtedly a significant expense.
Therefore, discussions about modular laptops have resurfaced, especially in today’s rapidly evolving tech environment, where modular laptops should become a trend. Here are four main reasons why modular laptops should become a trend.
01
Modular Laptops Are Not Difficult to Manufacture
If you’ve been following the international laptop market, you might have heard of the Framework Laptop. This startup designs laptops with repairability and upgradability in mind. The first model, launched in 2021, can be upgraded to the latest versions with all the new features. For example, you can buy a motherboard with an Intel Core Ultra 7 to upgrade from the original model’s 11th-generation processor. This design is not limited to just processor upgrades; users can also choose to upgrade the screen, camera, ports, and even the screen bezel. The 16-inch model even allows for the addition of a dedicated graphics card.
Although Framework has done an excellent job, it is not enough to change the entire industry. If large companies invested more engineering capabilities and funds, the modular design of laptops could become more fashionable and diverse. As the Dutch company Fairphone has demonstrated in the smartphone sector, even phones can be made repairable.
02
More Environmentally Friendly
Nowadays, major brands emphasize their environmental awareness when launching new products, but the real way to reduce waste is to improve product upgradability and repairability. The current laptop design model often makes users feel that it is more cost-effective to buy a new device when faced with repairs or part replacements. This leads to situations where even a small part damage may result in discarding the entire laptop, many components of which require special recycling or disposal.
Modular design can reduce waste. For example, if the screen is damaged, you can directly replace the screen instead of the entire display assembly. The concept of modular design should be refined as much as possible to minimize waste. Acer’s recent Vero series is a notable example, but there is still room for improvement.
03
Cheaper Hardware Upgrades
Imagine if a laptop component fails, instead of spending thousands on a new device, you only need to pay a few hundred or even less to replace the damaged part. This not only saves consumers money but also reduces unnecessary waste.
While companies certainly want to profit from hardware sales, predatory pricing is not the solution. Instead, giving consumers the option to repair their devices and save money is a more reasonable approach.
04
Driving Innovation
Although brands want consumers to believe that the integration of hardware components is essential for laptop design and compactness, this is not the case. Many people habitually think that high repairability must come at the expense of modern design, but the Framework Laptop has shattered this stereotype. This fully upgradeable laptop, with its impressive modular features, maintains a thickness of just 16 millimeters and a weight of only 1.3 kilograms in its 13-inch model, proving that highly repairable laptops can also be modern and compact in design.
In fact, considering repairability in the design process can actually lead to more innovation. For example, the CAMM memory module is more compact and faster, and it has already been adopted by Dell in some mobile workstation models. MSI also showcased a series of products at COMPUTEX 2024, which are examples of how modularity drives innovation.
05
Conclusion
Although it will take time for modular laptops to become widespread, and the industry won’t change overnight, as technology costs become increasingly scrutinized, the pressure on companies will continue to grow. Modular design is expected to bring more meaningful changes in the future.
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