Framework Laptop 13 Pro Refines Repairability With Practical Upgrades

Framework’s Laptop 13 Pro is a nice move in the right direction for users who want a laptop that won’t turn into a pile of outdated tech in a few years. Engineers took everything they learnt from the original, which is now five years old and still going strong, and transferred it immediately to the new model. So the aluminum casing is now carefully CNC machined to make it extremely sturdy without adding bulk. A new graphite finish adds a deep black tone to the exterior, which many users will prefer over the earlier silver option.

The battery size is where the major breakthrough has been made, as it has now reached 74 watt-hours, which is enough to power the laptop for almost twenty hours of uninterrupted 4K video playback under normal conditions. Even after a thousand full cycles, the battery still holds 80% of its initial charge. Finally, a 100-watt charger is included, which can swiftly recharge the system. They managed all of this without increasing the laptop’s thickness, which remains at a modest 15.86mm. Despite weighing 3.09 pounds, this gadget fits effortlessly into most bags.

You can select the processors from Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 family, popularly known as Panther Lake. For regular tasks, there’s the Core Ultra 5 325, the Core Ultra X5 358H for more serious situations, and the limited-run Core Ultra X9 388H for when you just want to go big. If you prefer AMD, you can still select a Ryzen 3 300 mainboard. They all support PCIe 5.0 and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, so data transfers more faster on this machine, both internally and externally. The inbuilt graphics are actually rather good, capable of handling common apps as well as newer titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 at reasonable settings, as long as you have enough memory.


Overall, screen performance has significantly improved. The 13.5-inch panel maintains the practical 3:2 aspect ratio, which is ideal for documents and code windows. The resolution is now 2880 by 1920 pixels, the brightness has increased to 700 nits, and the contrast has risen to 1800 to 1. They’ve also incorporated variable refresh rates, so the screen will automatically shift from thirty hertz to one hundred twenty hertz based on what’s on the screen. Yes, it finally has touch input, even on smaller chassis sizes, with no additional thickness added. There’s also an anti-glare coating to reduce reflections in bright surroundings, and each screen is individually calibrated before it leaves the factory.

Input devices also received some attention, as they replaced the previous mechanical trackpad with a haptic one, which employs four piezo elements to provide a true click and vibration under your fingers that feels consistent across the surface. This also provided them some extra space inside to accommodate the larger battery. The keyboard now has 1.5mm of key travel, and you can choose from three various keycap color schemes, ranging from classic black and white to a more pastel look with lavender or gray-and-orange highlights. Fingerprint recognition is still useful for rapid logins. The speakers have also been repositioned to the sides and now support Dolby Atmos on Windows computers, resulting in a much wider, crisper sound while making calls or watching movies.


Memory comes to life in the LPCAMM2 modules, which operate at an LPDDR5X speed of up to 8533 megatransfers per second. These machines can be configured to hold up to 64GB, and users can install or replace them as needed. Storage slots are totally standard, so customers can simply insert a drive without having to visit a repair centre. With four expansion card bays, users can select the exact ports they require on a regular basis. A brand new ten-gigabit ethernet card has recently been added to the range, for individuals who require a significant speed boost over their network, and all of these elements are linked together using the same modular approach that Framework has built over numerous generations.


Upgrading and repairing the laptop remains entirely straightforward. Mainboards from the new 13 Pro simply plug into earlier Framework 13 enclosures, and older boards function in the new casing after a simple BIOS update. Displays, hinges, and the majority of internal components are interchangeable over five years of models. Most typical jobs require only a basic tool, and Framework continues to sell individual replacement parts at reasonable costs. It all means that when one component wears out, the laptop remains functional; instead, users may just replace what is required. The pre-builts come with Ubuntu Linux pre-installed and certified, marking the first time Framework has provided a complete Linux experience out of the box. Windows is still an option, but it will cost you an extra $100.


You can still get a decent deal on the lineup, since the do-it-yourself edition starts at $1,199 and includes the Core Ultra 5 processor and chassis but no memory, storage, or operating system. Fully completed Ubuntu machines start at $1,499.99. If you choose a more powerful CPU, the price will rise proportionately, with the top X9 configuration costing approximately $1,799 USD. Pre-orders are already open, and the first shipments will arrive in June. For further peace of mind, a three-year warranty extension is available in the United States.
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