The Framework Laptop 13 Is the Laptop for Computer Geeks

A laptop with desktop level customization

In a lot of ways, The Framework Laptop 13 looks like pretty much any other laptop out of the box—a silver rectangle with a logo on the lid, a chiclet style keyboard, and a built-in touchpad. But flip it over, and you’ll immediately pick up on the differences.

By default, the Framework Laptop 13 comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack and four USB-C ports, but aside from the headphone jack, those ports are all inset into the laptop, so they can be a little difficult for some cables to reach. The reason for that? It’s because you’re not really supposed to use them yourself, but instead plug sold-separately, modular “expansion cards” into them to customize your port layout.

Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt

There are options for pretty much everything you’d need, including USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet, DisplayPort, and MicroSD/SD card readers. The USB-C ports even come in multiple colors. I opted for an HDMI port, a USB-A port, and two USB-C ports, but your layout could look totally different from mine. I just suggest getting at least one USB-C module to help with charging (you can technically charge off one of the built-in ports, since all the USB-C expansion card does is essentially pass your signal through unchanged, but plugging a USB-C module into that port will make it easier to use).

It’s a bit of a bummer that these cost extra, but starting at $12 a pop per port, they don’t add too much to your purchase, while giving you plenty of flexibility.

You could even forgo a port and plug extra storage space into some of those slots instead, with a 250GB expansion card available for $45 and a 1TB card available for $125. That’s a bit pricey compared to comparable flash drives or external SSDs, but also a bit more convenient, since these will always be plugged into your laptop.

Your customization can stop there, but included with your purchase, you’ll notice a screwdriver that comes with a two-sided bit and a spudger (to help you pry open your laptop). By simply unscrewing the 6 fasteners on the bottom of the laptop (they won’t come out of the holes completely), then flipping it back over and lifting up the keyboard, you’ll be able to access your laptop’s internals.

Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt

Here’s the Framework’s real secret sauce: From here, you can replace your laptop’s memory, storage, or even processor. Mine came built in with 16GB of memory, 512GB of storage, and an AMD Ryzen 7 350 chip, but if I ever wanted to add more memory or storage down the line, or even upgrade the processor, this makes it super easy. If I wanted to, I could have even taken an old Framework Laptop 13 and simply upgraded it to make it on par with the most recent model. The best part? While the expansion cards and processor mainboards have to come from Framework’s store, you’re welcome to supply any compatible memory or storage you’d like.

For folks who love to customize their computers even after they’ve bought them, or who are worried about e-waste, this level of access is unprecedented, and easily makes Framework’s laptops the most repairable and future-proofed options out there. If you’ve got the knowhow, you could even take your laptop’s mainboard out of the shell and turn it into a miniature desktop computer at some point down the line, if you like. This is definitely the most “hack”-y computer I’ve tested here at Lifehacker.

Some bulk, and finicky expansion cards

For all that access and customization, though, there are a few downsides, especially for casual users. 

Case in point: Those expansion cards are a pain to remove. To swap out an expansion card, you have to hold down a button on the bottom of the laptop, then slip a fingernail into a slot on the module and pull like your life depends on it. It takes a lot of force, and more than one time, I asked my husband for help removing them. This makes me reluctant to actually mix and match my ports more than once, which I feel kind of goes against the point of the device. I love that the cards won’t fall out by accident, but there’s got to be a better locking solution Framework can come up with. 

Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt

Similarly, while it’s easy to open up the laptop, it’s not at all like opening up most other laptops. Usually, it’s the bottom of your laptop that comes off when you unscrew it, not the keyboard, so I tried in vain to take it off the bottom for the longest time before realizing I was doing it wrong. That’s my fault for not reading the instructions before trying to open this thing, but I felt it was worth mentioning—be careful not to hurt your laptop or yourself by trying to force anything (except the expansion cards, which will need it) here. I actually cut myself on the spudger while I was stupidly trying to open the Framework from the wrong side.

Granted, most people usually aren’t opening up their laptops these days, since most brands aside from Framework don’t actually make their internal laptop components replaceable anyway. But there is a reason aside from greed that the rest of the laptop industry doesn’t do this—size.

Asus Zenbook A14 sitting atop Framework Laptop 13 Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt

While the Framework laptop isn’t aggressively large, it’s a bit chunkier than the ultralight laptops you might have gotten used to from Apple or even Windows’ recent Copilot+ machines. That’s because, in order to let you swap out the memory, it can’t be soldered onto the motherboard, which makes for a thicker device. At 0.63 x 11.68 x 9.01 inches and 2.87 pounds, the Framework Laptop 13 doesn’t necessarily reach the bulk of gaming laptops, but it is a bit heavier and larger than you might be used to from a MacBook Air or other prebuilt competitors like the Asus Zenbook A14.

Strong performance

Some extra bulk might be worth it for reasons other than repairability and customizability, though. Put simply, the configuration my Framework Laptop came with was a miniature powerhouse, and I didn’t even have the best available chip or memory options.

On Geekbench 6, a synthetic benchmark for testing common computing tasks, I got a score of 2,866 on single-core tasks, a score of 12,153 on multi-core tasks, and a score of 23,514 for GPU-related tasks. While that’s still behind the latest M4 MacBook Air, it’s far above what I got on smaller Windows laptops like the aforementioned Asus Zenbook A14, and according to testing from Lifehacker sister site PCMag, on the higher-end when compared to other competitors in the category, like the Dell XPS 13.

That pattern held true across Cinebench, which tests graphics rendering, where I got 690 points on multi-core tests and 111 points on single-core tests. It also held up in Geekbench AI, which tests neural processing, where I got a quantized score of 6,955, which was higher than on computers marketed around their AI, like the MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Evo.

The Framework even held up when transcoding a 4K file to 1080p using the free program Handbrake, which it did in five minutes and 12 seconds. That’s MacBook-level speed.

And while it’s not marketed as a gaming computer, it moonlights as one surprisingly well. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, a game that’s still graphically demanding despite coming out in 2018, I hit an average of 29 fps running the benchmark at 1080p on high settings, and 47 fps running it at lowest settings. While not the fastest speeds I’ve seen, both are playable (although 29 fps is borderline).

Generally, I’d see these results push the Framework Laptop 13 above your typical thin-and-light machine, while not quite putting it on par with pro-level devices. Apple’s highly efficient M4 chips also still generally pull ahead, but if you need Windows, you’d do well here—especially if you opted for the more performant Ryzen 9 HX 370 chip instead.

Battery life is abysmal

Unfortunately, all the Framework’s power comes at a cost to battery life. Put simply, this is the shortest battery life I’ve seen in a non-gaming laptop yet.

Streaming a 24-hour video nonstop at 50% brightness with the balanced power preset on and all energy saving functions turned off (to ensure an even playing field), the Framework only lasted nine hours for me. I run this same exact test with pretty much every laptop I review, and while it’s not exactly scientific, it does a decent job mimicking a continuous, middle-of-the-road workload. Usually, I’m used to seeing 12 hours of battery life on the low end and as much as 18 or 20 hours on the high end, so no matter how you look at it—even if I were to give the Framework an unfair advantage by turning its battery saving features on—it just doesn’t hold up. The worst part? The battery is one part that isn’t upgradable, as all options are 61Wh. Keep your charging brick nearby with this one.

The display is easy on the eyes

There are two display options with the Framework Laptop 13, and while it doesn’t have an OLED option yet, the one I tried almost tricked me into thinking it was OLED.

That’s because it’s got a matte screen, which means fewer reflections and wide viewing angles. I tested it out by watching a number of music videos on it, and while the colors weren’t too vivid, the blacks were deep and the lack of a glossy finish was easy on my eyes, even in direct sunlight. If you do a lot of reading or typing, this should be a good fit, especially because it’s got a slightly taller aspect ratio than most laptops, with a 3:2, 2,256 x 1,504 resolution. It only goes up to 60 fps and around 400 nits of brightness, but that’s enough for me on a device like this.

Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt

That said, there is an upgrade available that will net you a slightly brighter 2.8K @ 120 Hz display instead, although I haven’t tested it out. Plus, for some aesthetic joy, Framework’s customization also extends to your screen’s bezel, as you can swap between multiple color options if you like, each available for $10 a pop.

Odds and ends

Before we get to pricing, let’s briefly go over the keyboard, webcam, and speakers.

Essentially, they’re all serviceable. You get chiclet style keys with a full function row and a fingerprint reader here, as well as 1080p selfies and stereo sound. 

On typing test Monkeytype, I was able to hit my usual 92 wpm, and as for the touchpad, I appreciated that it was split, so clicking the left side of the touchpad registered as a left-click and clicking the right side became a right-click. Plus, while I had an American English layout, Framework does sell keyboards for other languages starting at $29, with the option to swap between them using the laptop’s included screwdriver.

As for the webcam, it worked well enough for casual video calls—I actually took a German class with this laptop—but shots still usually came out grainy, despite the lighting conditions. I wouldn’t use this for your next Instagram modeling gig. On the plus side, though, it does come with a physical shutter, both for the camera itself as well as the Windows Hello sensor.

Speakers were also only OK. They’re bottom-firing, and there are two on either side, but while vocals were clear and melodies were easy to follow, the bass was tinny enough that I essentially couldn’t hear the best parts of my favorite songs, like “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd.

Tariffs are a concern

Framework has long stood as one of the most repairable laptop brands out there, which in turn put it on the cost effective side, but with the introduction of steep tariffs for goods coming into the United States, that’s changed a little bit, at least for U.S.-based customers. Generally, thanks to a recent reduction on tariffs for smartphones and laptops, the Laptop 13 is still on the affordable end, but there are a couple of details to keep in mind.

Essentially, when buying a Framework laptop, you can choose between two options: pre-built or DIY. Pre-built will include memory, storage, and a copy of Windows for you, while DIY comes with the option to either include memory/storage/Windows as well, or supply your own internal components and OS.

This means pricing can differ quite a bit. DIY models with the latest laptop chips, meaning the AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, start at $899, while pre-built models start at $1,099. Both are fair for the power you get, although DIY is really only worth it if you already have compatible memory and storage on hand, since picking the cheapest options at checkout but not bringing any of my own components still put me at $1,044, while giving me less than I would have gotten on a comparable pre-built.

Alternatively, Framework is still selling chips from older models, starting at $749 for the AMD Ryzen 7040 series, although I’d advise buying new if you can swing it, since your laptop will be more likely to last longer that way.

So, what’s the caveat? Well, aside from having to buy your expansion cards separately, which can add about $100 to your order depending on what you get, Framework recently warned that while its full laptops are generally skating through tariffs unharmed for now, some of its individual components aren’t so lucky. The company wasn’t too much more specific than that, but it is a thorn in the side of a computer where the whole selling point is being able to upgrade or repair it piece-by-piece over time, rather than having to get a completely new laptop every time you’re done with your old one.

Should you buy a Framework Laptop 13?

Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt

Even with tariff confusion and some minor hangups when swapping out expansion cards, the Framework Laptop 13 remains a great deal, especially since there’s still nothing else quite like it on the market. Framework’s dedication to making accessible, repairable computers is well worth applauding, and if you take care of your Framework Laptop 13, you can expect to see it hold up for years to come. Just be prepared for it to take up a little more space in your bag, and for its battery life to be a little shorter than you might expect from its less modular cousins.