SPECIFICATIONS
- Display: 13.5-inch 3:2 (2,256 x 1,504 pixels)
- CPU: 13th Gen Intel Core i5 – i7 OR AMD 7040 series
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics or AMD
- RAM: 8GB – 64GB
- Storage: 256GB – 4TB SSD
- Weight: 2.8 pounds
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What you need to know
When it came out we called the Framework Laptop the Anti-MacBook because it’s everything Apple doesn’t do in laptops: Repairable, upgradable and respectful of your rights as an owner.
I was initially excited about those promises but dubious the company could deliver on them without some glaring sacrifices. But now that I’ve used one myself, I’m happy to report the Framework Laptop is as good as advertised. The updated Framework Laptop 13 the company shipped in 2023 only reinforced my opinions. With its intentionally easy-to-repair design (you can pop pieces off this laptop and get at the innards in minutes, with no tools besides the spudger it comes with) and super cool swappable Expansion Card ports, the Framework Laptop 13 is a versatile ultraportable that’s one of the best laptops you can buy if you care about your right to repair and tinker with your devices.
Design: The Framework sports a simple silver aluminum chassis that blends right in with all the other laptops in the coffee shop, until you spot the Framework gear logo on the lid. At 11.67 x 9 x 0.62 inches in size and just 2.8 pounds, this DIY ultraportable is just as thin and even a hair lighter than Apple’s MacBook Air with M1, an especially incredible feat when you realize the Framework achieves that 0.62-inch thinness while still being modular and full of easy to access, mostly user-replaceable parts that, unlike a MacBook, aren’t needlessly soldered to the mainboard in a way that makes repairing or upgrading a MacBook nearly impossible.Â
Display: The Framework’s 13.5-inch display is sharp and functional, and its relatively7 rare 2,256 x 1,504 resolution (a byproduct of the 3:2 aspect ratio) is well-suited for viewing webpages and text. It also gets plenty bright in person, though you’ll probably be frustrated if you try using it outdoors in direct sun.
Performance: While the Framework I tested performed well under pressure, the cooling fans are awfully loud and sometimes kick on even when doing light work like browsing the web. It also underperformed a bit in our performance benchmarks compared to a lot of its contemporaries. Our unit also fell a bit behind its contemporaries in our performance tests, so while it’s great for work and some light gaming I wouldn’t try taxing it with anything more serious.
Battery life: The Framework’s battery is good enough to get you through a day of work without needing to pack a charger, which is great to see in a productivity laptop. The Framework lasted 11 hours and 38 minutes in our battery test, which as you’ll see from the chart of test results is quite good compared to some other laptops on this page.
Read the full review:Â Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
| Test | Results | How it stacks up |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 11:38 tested battery life | ★★★★☆ |
| Performance | Speedy enough for work and light gaming | ★★★☆☆ |
| Display | Functional, sharp display | ★★★☆☆ |
| Design | Elegant, unassuming chassis belies useful complexity | ★★★★☆ |
