This Panther Lake-led 'semi-modular' laptop computer is taking a web page from Framework's very upgradable ebook and I'm all for it
With Framework manning the helm for years now, it looks as if extra modular laptops are on the best way, or a minimum of semi-modular.
Introduced at CES 2026 (through Wccftech), Schenker has proven off the primary semi-modular laptop computer primarily based on Intel’s Panther Lake. Final yr, Intel unveiled a reference semi-modular design in its weblog, and this Schenker design is the primary to roll out a completed product with it.
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Naturally, this could require Intel supporting these modular motherboards, so it is not at all times a assure. The display screen would not look like simply replaceable, however the Factor 16 has a 16:10 2560×1600 panel, which is fairly stable.
Early photographs do recommend it is a bit of a chunky system, nearer in measurement to a gaming laptop computer than I initially anticipated. We’re, nonetheless, unlikely to get a gaming laptop computer with this reference design for a while, if ever.
Framework, the largest participant within the modular laptop computer area proper now, took its time to really get modular gaming components, and even now, it is fairly restricted. The Framework 16 that launched in 2024 bought a modular Radeon 770S GPU graphics enlargement card, however we did not obtain one other one till the RTX 5070 enlargement within the latter half of 2025.
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Modular graphics card upgrades are area of interest by nature, which implies a sure person base must exist to ensure curiosity from firms. In addition to this, many laptop computer designers who work off reference designs could be higher served promoting total laptops, slightly than singular components. An upgradeable machine might final you a really very long time with an excellent improve plan, however a singular unupgradable laptop computer could solely final you just a few years.
Nonetheless, if Panther Lake lives as much as expectations, it might function a stable base for a productiveness laptop computer with some gaming, as Intel argues the Sequence 3 has “a much bigger GPU in a category of its personal.” Intel’s earlier desktop choices weren’t nice within the gaming division, however its laptop computer chips have been actually spectacular. Here is hoping it comes with sufficient reminiscence and storage that you just will not want to instantly improve it.
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