Framework Laptop 13 review: Build your own laptop

The Framework Computer computer 13 is outlandish. This isn’t factual any other computer computer: It’s a tool designed for upgradability, modularity, and repairability. With the DIY model, you scheme the computer computer yourself. Which manner you’re accountable of inserting the RAM and storage, screwing on the keyboard, and selecting which ports you’d like on the facets of the computer computer.

I reviewed the most popular Framework Computer computer 13, which contains an Intel Core Ultra Series 1 processor — that is Intel’s Meteor Lake hardware. I got my hands on the DIY model, but you would possibly perchance additionally catch this computer computer in prebuilt scheme. You would possibly perchance additionally additionally catch an toughen equipment and put it to use to augment your outdated generation Framework Computer computer 13 to the most popular CPU.

Framework’s laptops are laborious to search out out about because they’re so outlandish. As any individual who’s constructed desktop PCs, that is the closest skills I’ve had with a computer computer. Furthermore, Framework laptops present originate-source firmware and are designed with moral red meat up for Linux.

Extra reading: Ultimate laptops 2024: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1s, and extra

Replace the Framework Computer computer 13’s specs are as a lot as you. Framework’s configuration web website will aid you opt exactly what hardware you’d like. You would possibly perchance catch this computer computer in a single in every of two forms: Pre-constructed with Windows preinstalled, or in DIY scheme. Whereas you bound DIY, you’ll have to assemble the computer computer yourself and set up regardless of working device you prefer — Windows or Linux. I went the DIY route and place in Windows 11 so I’d flee PCWorld’s odd benchmarking instruments on this methodology.

The Framework Computer computer 13 feels esteem a computer computer from any other actuality.

The Framework Computer computer 13 DIY package Framework loaned to me incorporated an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, despite the indisputable truth that this methodology shall be on hand with Core Ultra 5 125H and Core Ultra 7 165H CPUs. The CPU and mainboard comes “preinstalled” within the computer computer’s chassis. This computer computer is most productive on hand with Intel Arc graphics — for a devoted GPU, you’ll desire to glimpse at the bigger Framework Computer computer 16.

Framework also despatched along an total of 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD, both of which I place in myself. Set up is easy — the RAM sticks trip in and snap down, whereas the SSD slides in and wants a single screw. (Framework comprises one of the best screwdriver you’d like within the package.) You would possibly perchance settle a diversity of other RAM or storage alternate suggestions within the configuration instrument — or elevate your get correctly matched components. Here’s the legit book to the meeting direction of for the DIY model, which used to be straightforward to love a look at. Framework says this direction of will rob ten to twenty minutes. It took me round twenty minutes — but I was snapping photos your total time.

Ports can even differ, as you would possibly perchance settle the ports you’d like on your computer computer. They’re minute rectangular blocks that snap into the slots on the bottom of the computer computer. You would possibly perchance swap these out later — no have to originate the computer computer.

There are also a diversity of other alternate suggestions you would possibly perchance configure, along with the actual keyboard you’d like on your computer computer and the coloration of the bezel.

Lastly, unlike with every other computer computer I’ve ever considered, the fresh Intel Core Ultra Series 1 and mainboard are on hand as an toughen you would possibly perchance set up in your reward Framework Computer computer 13. That’s magnificent chilly.

• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H
• Reminiscence: 16GB DDR5 RAM
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Arc graphics
• Ticket: 13.5-dart 2880×1920 IPS point to with 120Hz refresh rate
• Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD
• Webcam: 1080p webcam
• Connectivity: 4x configurable and swappable ports, 1x combo audio jack
• Networking: Wi-FI 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
• Biometrics: Fingerprint reader for Windows Hi there
• Battery ability: 61 Watt-hours
• Dimensions: 11.68 x 9.01 x 0.62 inches
• Weight: 2.87 kilos
• MSRP: $1,643 as tested (Windows license no longer incorporated)

Framework Computer computer 13: Invent and scheme quality

The Framework Computer computer 13’s invent is basic: A 13-dart computer computer with a silver steel body and dark keyboard. The gear-fashioned Framework logo on the lid is recognizable to folks conversant in these laptops. It’s a super-having a glimpse logo.

The invent can catch vivid while you’d like it to. The bezel across the point to is removable — you’ll be attaching it yourself while you assemble a DIY computer computer. Whereas you would possibly perchance bound with a dark bezel, you would possibly perchance additionally additionally bound for other colours esteem orange or red. Framework equipped an orange bezel for our evaluate.

Furthermore, the swappable ports on the facets of the laptops are on hand in either a silver steel or a vivid plastic, letting you add coloration to the facets of the computer computer as correctly. You would possibly perchance invent it vivid or follow silver and dark, it’s as a lot as you.

The scheme quality of the computer computer is amazingly sturdy, which is impressive pondering how straightforward it is to catch the keyboard on and off and catch access to the internals of the computer computer. It feels esteem a median popular 13-dart computer computer, which is a enormous accomplishment pondering its internals are so a lot more straightforward to catch access to. Thanks to the all-steel building of the chassis, the computer computer feels sturdy and has no irregular flex to it. Framework says the computer computer weighs in at 2.87 kilos, so it’s no longer even a lot heavier than a extra “primitive” computer computer.

Framework presents a wide diversity of components and step-by-step guides for repairs and upgrades. Whereas I’ve cracked originate laptops and upgraded the RAM and storage earlier than, Framework’s invent makes it so a lot more straightforward. There are factual a couple of screws to loosen. You don’t have to insert a “spudger” and pry the computer computer originate, as you attain with so many popular programs that aren’t designed to be opened.

Framework Computer computer 13: Keyboard and trackpad

The Framework Computer computer 13 comprises an ethical keyboard. It has a white backlight along with chiclet keys. With 1.5mm of key trudge, this keyboard in all fairness pleasant to kind on, but it’s no longer quite as fast and top rate as laptops with bigger key trudge. The invent of the computer computer would possibly perchance be entering into the diagram of adding extra key trudge. But it undoubtedly’s an ethical keyboard. It didn’t slack me down and it isn’t mushy esteem it is on a couple of of the worst computer computer keyboards I’ve dilapidated.

The trackpad shall be moral. It’s a pleasant, reasonably sized rectangle of steel beneath the keyboard. Curiously ample, that is the most productive enlighten or no longer it shall be essential to personally connect a cable to when placing the computer computer together. (You are going to connect a cable from the touchpad to the mainboard after which flip the keyboard over for the period of the DIY meeting direction of).

After installing Framework’s driver package for Windows, the trackpad labored correctly, total with multi-finger swiping gestures. The clicking feels enticing, despite the indisputable truth that it’s no longer as nice as the haptic trackpad on some popular laptops esteem the Surface Computer computer. That particular kind of trackpad isn’t namely basic but, despite the indisputable truth that it might most likely be nice if it had been.

Framework Computer computer 13: Ticket and audio system

The Framework Computer computer 13 we reviewed incorporated a 13.5-dart 2880×1920 IPS point to with a 120Hz refresh rate and over 500 nits of brightness and a matte attain. (You would possibly perchance additionally additionally decide for a 2256×1504 point to with a 60Hz refresh rate and a minute less brightness to construct some money). Critically, the Framework Computer computer 13 would no longer include a touchscreen, as many popular 13-dart laptops attain.

It’s a interesting point to with excessive pixels per dart that Framework appears to be like tickled with, and the aggregate of a matte attain and an ethical amount of brightness helps it resist glare. After all, every other laptops would possibly perchance presumably provide 4K displays, vivid OLED screens, or bigger refresh charges and many folks would possibly perchance presumably prefer these.

The Framework Computer computer 13 comprises stereo audio system. They provide particular audio, especially for speech and dialog with out a distortion. The quantity isn’t snide, despite the indisputable truth that I’ve heard a lot louder from some within the same diagram sized laptops lately. Lack of bass is a topic, as standard with computer computer audio system, so this isn’t the splendid manner to evaluate a Hollywood movie or hear to bass-heavy song, despite the indisputable truth that the audio system will attain correctly for on-line conferences, YouTube movies, and some informal TV repeat and song streaming.

Framework Computer computer 13: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

The Framework Computer computer 13 comprises a 1080p webcam. Framework says that it’s the utilization of the webcam in a mode that delivers “improbable 1080p performance, especially in low-light instances.” Whereas I haven’t dilapidated a outdated-generation Framework Computer computer webcam, the webcam right here equipped an ethical describe and I’d be overjoyed to make utilize of it in on-line conferences.

No topic the utilization of a Core Ultra “Meteor Lake” chip with a neural processing unit (NPU,) on the opposite hand, this computer computer would no longer present Windows Studio Effects, a package of “AI” webcam outcomes. You won’t have the ability to enable outcomes esteem faux secret agent contact.

Framework says this computer computer has “lower-noise microphones for higher audio clarity” than the outdated generation model. The microphones looked reasonably particular, despite the indisputable truth that the amount used to be on the low facet unless I adjusted the Windows microphone volume settings. (It used to be enticing after that).

Above the point to, you’ll catch two separate switches: A webcam privateness shutoff swap and a microphone privateness shutoff swap. These are switches that electrically disconnect the hardware. That’s a huge deal. When laptops attain present webcam privateness switches, it’s extremely rare to glimpse a bodily swap that shuts off the computer computer’s constructed-in microphone. Framework ought to be commended for this and I am hoping extra computer computer manufacturers note in its footsteps right here.

The Framework Computer computer 13 comprises a fingerprint reader constructed into its energy button at the upper-factual nook of the keyboard tray, above the delete key. It if truth be told works correctly for signing into Windows with Windows Hi there. There’s no IR camera for facial recognition.

Framework Computer computer 13: Connectivity

The Framework Computer computer 13’s connectivity alternate suggestions are mostly as a lot as you. On the left facet, you’ve got two swappable ports and a combo audio jack. On the factual facet, you’ve got two swappable ports. That’s it. Four swappable ports total plus an audio jack.

You’ll have to bound the computer computer in to fee by job of USB-C, so that you’ll desire to settle as a minimal one USB Style-C port.

On hand growth playing cards for ports include USB Style-C (Thunderbolt 4/USB4), USB Style-A (USB 3.2 Gen 2), HDMI (third gen), Ethernet (2.5Gbit/s), DisplayPort (2nd Gen), a microSD reader, and an SD card reader. They’re straightforward to swap out — you don’t have to originate the computer computer to swap the ports.

The flexibility to customize your ports is improbable chilly. It doesn’t even require opening the computer computer. Soundless, you’re most productive getting a maximum of 5 ports (four plus that audio jack) at any given time. Would some folks be higher off with a computer computer that beneficial properties extra constructed-in ports? Presumably so. But you would possibly perchance repeatedly swap out the computer computer’s ports while you’d like diversified ones.

On the wireless radio front, you’ve got Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 hardware. The Wi-Fi labored correctly, despite the indisputable truth that it might most likely be nice to launch seeing Wi-Fi 7 red meat up on popular laptops. Fortunately, the Intel Meteor Lake hardware in this methodology ought to be the ideal generation of CPUs that sticks to Wi-Fi 6E as odd.

Framework Computer computer 13: Efficiency

The Framework Computer computer 13 performed correctly in day-to-day utilize and is on par with other Intel Core Ultra 7 155H-powered laptops I’ve dilapidated. The followers had been composed in odd computer utilize, most productive turning into namely loud for the period of benchmarks and heavier workloads.

As repeatedly, though, we ran the Framework Computer computer 13 thru our odd benchmarks to glimpse the diagram it performs.

First, we flee PCMark 10 to catch an blueprint of total device performance. This benchmark is designed to measure total computer performance, but it’s namely targeted on CPU performance.

The Framework Computer computer 13 delivered an total PCMark 10 rating of 6,171. That’s within the heart of the pack for Core Ultra-powered laptops — faster than the rating the HP Spectre x360 14-dart 2-in-1 delivered for us, but no longer as fast as the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon.

Next, we flee Cinebench R20. This is a carefully multithreaded benchmark that focuses on total CPU performance. It’s a transient benchmark, so cooling beneath prolonged workloads isn’t an component. But, since it’s carefully multithreaded, CPUs with extra cores like a huge earnings.

With its Cinebench R20 multi-threaded rating of 4,280, the Framework Computer computer 13 landed within the heart of the pack again.

We also flee an encode with Handbrake. This is any other carefully multithreaded benchmark, but it runs over an prolonged period of time. This demands the computer computer’s cooling kick in, and many laptops will throttle and slack down beneath load.

The Framework Computer computer 13 completed the encode direction of in 1,367 seconds on moderate — that’s just about 23 minutes. This rating is within the heart of the pack, but it’s sooner than every other laptops that had been beating it within the PCMark and Cinebench R20 benchmarks, demonstrating that the Framework Computer computer 13 has an excellent moral cooling setup for sustained performance beneath load.

Whereas it’s no longer a namely thick computer computer, it’s thicker than the standard popular ultra-thin computer computer that packs components in as tightly as that you would possibly perchance deem of, so this does invent sense and sure improves thermal performance.

Next, we flee a graphical benchmark. This isn’t a gaming computer computer, but it’s aloof moral to look at how the GPU performs. We flee 3Dmark Time Watch, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU performance.

This computer computer’s Intel Arc graphics delivered a rating of three,453. That’s the heart of the pack as soon as extra — but sooner than a couple of of the laptops that had been beating it beforehand. Admire the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, this computer computer’s thicker body likely helps it aid cooler beneath load, boosting performance.

Overall, the Framework Computer computer 13 delivers magnificent odd Intel Core Ultra “Meteor Lake” performance. It’s no longer the quickest on some benchmarks that measure top speeds, but it has higher sustained performance than thinner Core Ultra laptops thanks to its extra succesful cooling device.

Framework Computer computer 13: Battery life

The Framework Computer computer 13 comprises a 61 Watt-hour battery. Many popular laptops like bigger batteries and there are no longer any customization alternate suggestions to catch an even bigger battery within the Framework Computer computer 13. Whereas Intel’s Meteor Lake-powered Core Ultra hardware used to be speculated to be extra targeted on performance, outcomes were jumbled together the exact world.

Furthermore, many laptops are getting a battery life enhance from the utilization of soldered RAM, and the user-swappable RAM in a tool esteem this will likely utilize extra energy. So, going into the battery life benchmark, I’d request it to be a minute on the low facet. But it undoubtedly used to be higher than anticipated.

To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Metal on repeat within the Motion photos & TV app on Windows 11 with airplane mode enabled unless the computer computer suspends itself. We position the camouflage camouflage to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmarks. This is a easiest-case space for any computer computer since native video playback is so atmosphere friendly, and exact battery life in day-to-day utilize is repeatedly going to be lower than this.

The Framework Computer computer 13 lasted a median of 714 minutes in our battery life benchmark. That’s factual beneath 12 hours. That’s quite odd for a Meteor-Lake powered computer computer — even perhaps a minute on the excessive facet — which I was satisfied to glimpse.

Soundless, this computer computer isn’t going to explain one of the best battery life. Arm-essentially based mostly Snapdragon X-powered laptops esteem Microsoft’s Surface Computer computer are posting a lot bigger numbers in our battery life benchmarks. And, whereas 12 hours sounds esteem quite a couple of battery life, you’re going to catch less within the exact world as you utilize the PC.

This computer computer would possibly perchance presumably no longer ideal you via an eight hour workday, reckoning on your workload. That’s no longer a deal breaker while you’re able to bound in in some unspecified time in the future within the workday — it’s factual something to take care of in mind.

Framework Computer computer 13: Conclusion

The Framework Computer computer 13 feels esteem a computer computer from any other actuality. It’s a computer computer from a global where you assemble your get computer computer equivalent to you’d scheme a desktop PC. It’s a machine you would possibly perchance without complications screw originate to change components — and even toughen the hardware to the following-generation. And as well you catch to swap out the ports for the ones you esteem easiest.

Need to catch internal the computer computer and assign something? Framework will promote you components and present detailed DIY guides. You’re no longer digging thru forum threads and searching for OEM components on the market on eBay. You’ve got an originate-source firmware on your machine as correctly as mighty compatibility with Linux as correctly as Windows.

If that’s what you’re having a glimpse for in a computer computer, Framework delivers.

Whereas you aren’t equipped on the imaginative and prescient, though, you would possibly perchance quibble. It’s a minute on the thick facet and some folks will desire a thinner computer computer. Whereas you’re having a glimpse for a devoted GPU for higher graphics performance, Framework doesn’t provide that as an possibility. You would possibly perchance enhance battery life in completely different locations — optimistically Intel will factual the ship and turn into extra competitive on battery life with its upcoming Lunar Lake hardware.

The associated fee shall be on the excessive facet. The package we got charges about $1,643, and that’s without the Windows license, which you’ll have to aquire from Framework or aquire in completely different locations. If cost is what you’re having a glimpse for, you don’t have to bound far to search out a computer computer with the same specs that’s an total bunch of bucks more reasonably priced. You’ll catch many of them on PCWorld’s checklist of one of the best laptops.

But this computer computer isn’t designed to be the absolute most cost-efficient computer computer. If the Framework Computer computer 13 appeals to you and you’d esteem it with Intel Meteor Lake hardware, that is a super machine.

Author: Chris Hoffman, Contributor