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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Framework’s new Laptop 13 Pro is a new product with a redesigned chassis.
- It features premium elements like a haptic touchpad, an improved battery, and is pre-loaded with Ubuntu.
- It’s fully modular and backward-compatible, starting at $1,199 for the DIY version.
Framework, makers of modular, repairable laptops, just announced an all-new product: the Framework Laptop 13 Pro, a thin-and-light modular laptop with a redesigned chassis, Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, significantly improved battery life, and premium touches like a haptic touchpad.
Dubbed the “MacBook Pro for Linux users” by Framework CEO Nirav Patel, the Laptop 13 Pro comes pre-loaded with Windows or Ubuntu and breaks from the DIY aesthetic of Framework’s other laptops with a sleek, extruded aluminum build.
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I got my first glimpse of the Laptop 13 Pro on a video call with Patel, who made clear this laptop is the result of six years of user feedback. “The 13 is the ultimate developer machine,” he said. “It gives you the battery life and performance for power users, while still being repairable and upgradable.”
And that it is, while pushing a sleeker, more design-forward build but making no concessions to Framework’s existing mission. It’s priced accordingly, starting at $1,199 for the DIY version, $1,499 for the pre-built with Ubuntu, or $1,699 for the pre-built with Windows. If you already have a Framework Laptop 13, it’s just $449 for the new mainboard.
Modularity, meet battery efficiency
Patel says the biggest leap forward is the 13 Pro’s battery life. I tested Framework’s 12-inch and 16-inch laptops last year and noted mediocre longevity on the 16-inch model. The 13 Pro sets out to change all that, with a 74Wh battery and Intel’s Panther Lake chips, providing over 20 hours of video playback in its test — longer than a 14-inch MacBook Pro M5.
There are three configurations of the Laptop 13 Pro with Panther Lake: Core Ultra 5, X7, and X9, with the highest-performing integrated GPU on a Framework laptop, which Framework says enables AAA gaming performance in titles like Cyberpunk 2077. Of course, you don’t have to commit to an Intel SoC — with the option for an AMD Ryzen AI 300 series.
Also: Lenovo showed me its modular ThinkBook laptop, and I wish it wasn’t just a concept
Another big contributor to battery efficiency is the RAM. The Laptop 13 Pro uses the LPCAMM2 (low-power compression attached memory module 2) format, enabling higher memory bandwidth (module speeds up to 7467 MT/s) in a power-efficient package while maintaining an upgradeable format.
The laptop will come in either a 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB configuration, and crucially, is upgradable down the line — a major draw as RAM prices continue to skyrocket.
A better display, but still no OLED
Patel said that Framework developed the display entirely from scratch, customizing it for programming and productivity. It’s a 13.5-inch touchscreen LCD display with a 2880 x 1920 (3K) resolution, 700 nits of brightness, and a 30-120Hz variable refresh rate.
There’s still no OLED option, however, and that’s due to both price and battery life. “We built from scratch the best looking LCD that we could, that’s also extremely power efficient,” he said. Noting the $1,699 price of the pre-built with Windows, this would certainly push it closer to $2,000.
Also: How this DIY Windows laptop stole my heart from more expensive models (and it works with Linux)
The modular nature of Framework’s components means parts can be swapped between devices, essentially allowing the Laptop 13 Pro’s display to be slotted into earlier models or vice versa.
The more subtle touches
Framework’s laptops weren’t exactly known for being thin and lightweight — the Laptop 16 is nearly five pounds — but the Laptop 13 Pro weighs three pounds and is 0.6 inches thick. Its aluminum graphite chassis is new and explicitly MacBook-esque, particularly the keyboard and an optional haptic trackpad, a first for Framework.
“Windows laptops have historically fallen behind Macs in this area,” Patel said, citing a renewed focus on mechanical firmware for a more premium experience. Customizability is where Framework differs; however, with gray and orange colorways available for the keys, along with a fingerprint reader with Linux support out of the box that breaks up the corporate black and silver with its signature DIY aesthetic.
Also: My perfect MacBook Pro replacement is this powerful Windows laptop I didn’t see coming
The build supports other cosmetic customizations as well, including bezel plating around the edges in bold color options like orange or translucent. Like older versions, the Laptop 13 Pro will also come with four Thunderbolt 4 interface ports, connected through the expansion card system that allows you to hand-pick each port and its placement (and color).
All of these elements are compatible with the existing Laptop 13 product, despite the design overhaul. Both the mainboard and display from the 13 Pro can be dropped directly into an existing system, but the bottom cover is slightly larger thanks to the improved battery.
It comes with a new chassis upgrade kit that includes the haptic touchpad, committing to the per-component modularity that allows users to swap and upgrade components piece by piece. Even better: “Every part is swappable with a single screwdriver,” Patel said.
Other announcements
Besides the Laptop 13 Pro, Framework also announced upgrades to its Laptop 16, which now feature an optional haptic touchpad, new bezel colors, and an AMD Ryzen 5 3400U processor for a more accessible starting price — a critique I had with the existing Laptop 16, which started at $1,500.
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Additionally, Framework is launching its OcuLink dev kit, which includes an adapter board, graphics module dock, and PCIe dock that enables the use of an off-the-shelf PCIe card like a graphics card, 100Gbp/s network cards, and video capture cards. It functions like a kit, with 3D-printable designs for deep user customization and setup.
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