Framework held their [Next Gen] event on April 21. Their CEO, Nirav Patel, walked through what's coming next: a new laptop, new keyboards, new accessories, and a few partner cards. He also showed DockFrame.

We weren't expecting that. We've spent the last few months designing a USB-C hub that takes Framework Expansion Cards and adds our own Tool Cards (multimeter, power supply, MCU dev board). Getting mentioned in a Framework keynote, next to the Laptop 13 Pro launch, was a surprise. We're really happy about it. Thanks to the Framework team for the shoutout.

What Framework announced at [Next Gen] 2026

Short version, so the rest of the post makes sense:

■ Framework Laptop 13 Pro. New CNC aluminum chassis in Graphite, Intel Core Ultra Series 3, LPCAMM2 memory, haptic touchpad, around 20 hours of battery life.
■ Framework Laptop 16 updates. One Piece Haptic Touchpad (124 x 77 mm, software-adjustable feedback), One Piece Keyboard, Ryzen 5 340 mainboard, Translucent Smoke Gray bezel.
■ 10G Ethernet Expansion Card. Built with WisdPi. Plug-and-play on modern Linux.
■ Framework Wireless Touchpad Keyboard. Multi-host over Bluetooth LE and USB. Open source firmware on ZMK. Full key remapping.
■ Framework OCuLink Dev Kit. PCIe through the Expansion Bay for eGPUs, fast networking, storage, and other experiments.
■ Framework Laptop Sleeve. Padded sleeve for the Framework Laptop 12 and 13. Slots for Expansion Cards, a stylus, and a screwdriver.

The common thread across the lineup is what got us into Framework in the first place: open, modular, repairable, with outside hardware using the same standards. Seeing DockFrame on that list told us something good. The ecosystem is starting to make room for projects from outside Framework, not only Framework's own hardware.

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What you've been asking for

Since we went public in December, more than 1,300 of you signed up at dockframe.com and left written feedback. We've read every line. Here is what came up the most.

The dock people actually want

■ A way to reuse the Framework cards we already own. This is the top reason people sign up. Spare USB-A, SD readers, HDMI, Ethernet, and storage cards from previous swaps. People want them on the desk instead of in a drawer.
■ A dock that doesn't die. "I've burnt through several cheap docks I bought on Amazon" showed up word for word from more than one person. That's a big part of why people are willing to pay more for something they can repair.
■ A bench tool, not just a port replicator. Engineers, electricians, students, ham radio operators, and makers see DockFrame as the bench dock, with a multimeter and power supply on it.
■ Works with anything, not only Framework. Mac, Steam Deck, iPad, phones, work laptops, even old machines through USB-A adapters. If it has a USB-C port, people want their cards to work.

Tool Cards people want beyond the launch set

■ Listed roughly by how often each one came up:
■ Logic analyzer, and oscilloscope / DSO modules
■ GPIO / UART / I2C / JTAG breakout
■ SDR, and SWR analyzer for radio work
■ Function generator, LCR meter, capacitance meter
■ Multi-channel DAQ (thermocouple, voltage)
■ PoE module
■ Battery and charger card
■ Smaller asks: NFC reader, fingerprint, macro buttons, rotary encoders, sliders, wireless phone charging surface

Hardware features people keep asking for

■ More slots. Four is fine. A lot of you want 6 or 8 in a bigger desk version.
■ 240 W USB-PD passthrough. Especially Framework Laptop 16 owners. 180 W is the floor.
■ USB4 or Thunderbolt 4. A big piece of engineering, not a quick add. We hear you.
■ Stackable or chainable. Magnets or Lego-style coupling so two docks can act as one.
■ A metal chassis option. Heavy enough that it doesn't slide when you plug things in.
■ DIY enclosure files so you can 3D print your own case.
■ Hardware controls on the power supply card so you can set a voltage without opening any software.
■ Galvanic isolation on the measurement cards. Already part of the design.

What you'd expect to pay

Most of you put the empty hub somewhere between $50 and $150, with a few outliers high and low. Tool Cards land around $20 to $70, depending on what's inside. Treat those numbers as a community reference, not our target. Final pricing depends on what we put in each card.

A favorite line from the form

"Modular IT dock with a multimeter not lost in a drawer. Yes please."

That sums it up.

What this means for us

Our plan doesn't change because of a keynote. The deadline pressure does go up, though. Over the next few weeks, a lot of Framework users who hadn't heard of us a week ago will look at DockFrame for the first time, and they'll be comparing it to what Framework showed on stage. We want to be ready.

The plan is the same as before. The USB 3.0 SuperSpeed backbone is routed and being checked against impedance test coupons (we wrote about that work here). The Multimeter Tool Card is in active layout review, with isolated front ends and ESD-protected inputs. The Power Supply Tool Card is being designed so it works as a proper bench supply, with controls on the card itself and no PC needed for basic use. We're not cutting corners on isolation or input protection. These cards sit close to dangerous voltages, and they need to be safe.

Keep telling us what you want

Everything above came from people writing in after seeing a one-line render of DockFrame. That feedback is what told us the multimeter card needs proper isolation, that 240 W passthrough is not optional, and that the case should be metal. If you have an idea, a Tool Card we haven't thought of, a port combination you can't find anywhere else, or a workflow we should design around, drop it on the form.

Leave your feedback at dockframe.com

You can also see everything Framework announced at frame.work/nextgen.

#DockFrame was featured at Framework [Next Gen] 2026 by CEO Nirav Patel, and we're incredibly proud. It gives us even more motivation to build the product this community deserves.

DockFrame is a modular USB-C hub for Framework laptop users, makers, and engineers. Open source hardware, open process. Find us on GitHub, join the Discord, or tell us what you want to see.

Support Us on Crowd Supply

We’re on Crowd Supply, and we need your help to bring DockFrame to more people. Your backing makes it possible to keep prices low and quality high, so everyone can enjoy the power of an open-source modular USB Hub ecosystem.

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Check out the campaign and get involved: DockFrame on Crowd Supply