TL;DR: "Open source laptop" means different things. Framework leads in repairability and modularity—every part swaps out. System76 leads in open firmware—Coreboot runs before your OS. Purism focuses on kill switches and privacy. No laptop has fully open silicon (Intel/AMD keep secrets), but these get closer than anything from Dell or Apple.
What "Open" Actually Means for Laptops
A fully open laptop would have:
- Open firmware: The code that runs before your OS (BIOS/UEFI) is auditable. Coreboot and Libreboot are the main options.
- Open embedded controller: The chip managing battery, fans, and keyboard runs open code.
- Open schematics: Hardware design files are published so you can repair or manufacture parts.
- Open silicon: The CPU/GPU designs are auditable. (This doesn't exist for x86 laptops.)
In reality, you're choosing trade-offs. Framework excels at repairability but uses standard firmware. System76 has open firmware but uses standard laptop designs. Purism prioritizes hardware kill switches over raw specs. All of them run Linux perfectly.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Framework 13 | Framework 16 | System76 Galago | Purism Librem 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $849 | $1,399 | $1,299 | $1,370 |
| Screen | 13.5" 2256×1504 | 16" 2560×1600 | 14.1" 1920×1080 | 14" 1920×1080 |
| Open Firmware | Partial (EC open) | Partial (EC open) | Yes (Coreboot) | Yes (Coreboot) |
| Modular Parts | Yes (all) | Yes (all + GPU) | RAM/storage only | RAM/storage only |
| Kill Switches | No | No | No | Yes (3) |
| Made In | Taiwan (assembled) | Taiwan (assembled) | USA (assembled) | USA (assembled) |
| Discrete GPU | No | Yes (RTX 5070) | Optional | No |
Framework
Best for: Users who want a laptop they can upgrade and repair for 10+ years
Framework reimagined what a laptop could be. Founded in 2020, they ship machines where literally every component is replaceable: CPU board, screen, keyboard, battery, speakers, ports, hinges, bezels—everything. They sell individual parts and publish repair guides. They include a screwdriver in the box.
Framework Laptop 13 (2025)
Price: $849–$2,000+ (DIY or pre-built)
The latest version uses AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processors (Ryzen AI 5 340, AI 7 350, or AI 9 HX 370). The 2880×1920 120Hz display option ($140 upgrade) is excellent. Up to 96GB DDR5 RAM, 8TB storage.
Expansion cards are the killer feature. The laptop has four slots that accept hot-swappable modules: USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, SD card, or additional storage. Change your port layout based on what you're doing today.
Upgrade path: When Intel or AMD releases better chips, Framework sells new mainboards. The 2021 Framework 13 can run a 2025 processor by swapping a $600–$700 board. No other laptop offers this.
Framework Laptop 16 (2025)
Price: $1,399–$3,200+
The big one. 16-inch 165Hz display, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, and—critically—a swappable discrete GPU. The Nvidia RTX 5070 module ($699) plugs into the back. When RTX 6000 series ships, you can upgrade just the GPU. No other laptop has ever done this.
The keyboard is also modular. Swap layouts, swap between keyboard sizes, add a numpad or macro keys. The customization is genuinely unprecedented.
What's Open
Framework publishes schematics for their expansion card system and embedded controller firmware. The main board firmware is EDK2-based (open reference implementation) but not Coreboot. The EC is open source on GitHub.
This is less "open" than System76's Coreboot but more open than Dell, HP, or Lenovo. The real openness is in repairability—the parts are available, the guides exist, the company wants you to fix things.
Trade-offs
Battery life suffers compared to MacBooks (9–10 hours vs 15+). Fan noise is noticeable under load. Premium pricing. The modularity adds slight thickness. But nothing else lets you keep a laptop modern for a decade.
Buy from: frame.work
System76
Best for: Developers and Linux users who want open firmware out of the box
System76 has shipped Linux computers from Denver since 2005—back when "Linux laptop" meant fighting for days to get WiFi working. Their current machines run Coreboot firmware, their own open-source embedded controller firmware, and their Pop!_OS distribution.
Galago Pro
Price: $1,299+
14-inch ultraportable with Intel Core i5/i7 (13th gen), up to 64GB DDR4, Thunderbolt 4. The key feature: System76 Open Firmware based on Coreboot. The code that runs before Linux boots is auditable.
This matters because firmware is a prime target for persistent malware. Firmware rootkits survive OS reinstalls. Open firmware means security researchers can audit for backdoors. Intel's Boot Guard still protects the chain, but the UEFI replacement is transparent.
Pangolin (AMD)
Price: $1,099+
16-inch AMD Ryzen 7, better battery life than Intel options. Caveat: AMD laptops from System76 don't have Coreboot yet. They use standard proprietary firmware. System76 is working on AMD support but it's not ready.
If open firmware is your priority, stick to Intel models (Galago Pro, Lemur Pro, Darter Pro).
Thelio Desktops
System76 also makes excellent open-source desktops. The Thelio line runs Coreboot, uses an OSHWA-certified open daughterboard for fan/power control, and goes up to Ryzen 9 9950X with RTX 5060 Ti. Not laptops, but worth mentioning if you don't need portability.
What's Open
Intel models: Coreboot-based UEFI replacement, open embedded controller firmware, open keyboard firmware. Hardware schematics are not published (they use ODM designs like other vendors).
This is the most open firmware stack you can buy in a laptop without significant compromises. Intel ME is still present but neutered to minimal functionality.
Trade-offs
Designs aren't as premium as Framework or MacBook. Screens are good but not exceptional. No modularity beyond RAM/storage. AMD models lack open firmware. But if Coreboot matters, System76 delivers.
Buy from: system76.com
Purism
Best for: Users who want hardware kill switches and maximum privacy features
Purism is the paranoid option. Their laptops include physical kill switches that electrically disconnect the WiFi, camera, and microphone. Not software toggles—actual hardware disconnection. They also run Coreboot with Intel ME disabled as much as possible.
Librem 14
Price: $1,370+
14-inch with Intel Core i7-10710U (older gen), up to 64GB RAM. The hardware specs are dated compared to Framework or System76, but that's not the point.
Kill switches: Three physical switches on the side. One kills WiFi/Bluetooth. One kills the webcam/mic. Combined, they also disable GPS. Flip the switch, the hardware is dead—no firmware, no driver, no software can reactivate it.
Purism also ships with PureOS, their Debian-based privacy-focused distribution, and offers Librem Key integration for tamper detection. The laptop checks cryptographic signatures at boot and alerts you if firmware has been modified.
What's Open
Coreboot firmware, disabled Intel ME (to the extent possible), open embedded controller firmware. Purism pushed hard to eliminate proprietary blobs, though complete elimination isn't possible on Intel platforms.
Trade-offs
Older hardware (10th gen Intel in 2025 is a hard sell). Higher prices for lower specs. Build quality is good but not exceptional. Purism's fulfillment and support have been criticized (check recent reviews before ordering).
The company had serious delivery problems with the Librem 5 phone, and some customers waited years. Laptop fulfillment has been better but verify current ship times.
Buy from: puri.sm
Honorable Mention: Star Labs
UK-based Star Labs makes Linux laptops with Coreboot support. The StarBook Mk VI ($1,100+) and StarLite Mk V ($599+) run open firmware, have good build quality, and ship worldwide. Worth considering if you want European manufacturing.
Website: starlabs.systems
The Intel/AMD Problem
No matter which laptop you buy, Intel and AMD CPUs contain proprietary elements that can't be audited:
- Intel Management Engine (ME): A separate processor inside every Intel CPU running its own OS. It has network access and runs even when your laptop is "off." Security researchers have found vulnerabilities. Intel won't open-source it.
- AMD Platform Security Processor (PSP): AMD's equivalent. Same concerns.
- Microcode: CPU instruction patches loaded at boot. Proprietary, essential for security updates, can't be avoided.
Coreboot can disable much of Intel ME functionality (System76 and Purism do this), but not eliminate it entirely. The processors remain black boxes.
The only way around this is RISC-V (open instruction set, open implementations), but RISC-V laptops with equivalent performance don't exist yet. They're coming—check back in 2–3 years.
Which Should You Buy?
For Long-Term Ownership: Framework 13 or 16
If you want to buy one laptop and upgrade it for a decade, Framework is the only real option. Swap the mainboard when better CPUs arrive, swap the GPU when you need more power, replace any part that breaks. The initial investment pays off over time.
For Open Firmware: System76 Galago Pro
If auditable boot firmware matters to you—you're a security professional, journalist, or high-risk target—System76's Coreboot stack is the most mature. Intel models only; AMD support is pending.
For Physical Disconnection: Purism Librem 14
If you need hardware kill switches and verified boot (or just peace of mind that your camera is physically dead), Purism delivers features no one else offers. Accept the dated specs as the price of privacy features.
For Gaming/Power Users: Framework 16
The modular RTX 5070 is unique. No other laptop lets you upgrade just the GPU. If you need gaming or GPU compute and want something repairable, this is it.
For Budget Linux: Used ThinkPad + Coreboot
Not a new laptop, but worth mentioning: older ThinkPads (T440p, X230) have excellent Coreboot support, are dirt cheap used, and will run Linux forever. Not comparable in performance to new machines, but unbeatable value for basic computing with open firmware.
Linux Support
All of these laptops run Linux flawlessly—that's the point. Framework, System76, and Purism all actively contribute to Linux drivers and test on their hardware.
Best supported distros:
- Framework: Fedora (their recommendation), Ubuntu, Arch
- System76: Pop!_OS (their distro), Ubuntu
- Purism: PureOS (their distro), Debian
All three also support Windows if you need it, though that somewhat defeats the purpose of open hardware.