Pros & Cons
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- Light, compact build
- Customizable before and after ordering
- Repairable, upgradable, sustainable design
- Aggressively priced DIY Edition
- Support for AMD Ryzen AI 300 processors
- 14-hour battery life
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- Price premium for prebuilt Windows system
- Some fine print for setup and compatibility
- Display is workable, but not a standout for the price
Framework Laptop 13 (2025) Specs
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 1 |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Class | Ultraportable |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 0.62 by 11.7 by 9 inches |
| Graphics Processor | AMD Radeon 860M Graphics |
| Native Display Resolution | 2,880 by 1,920 |
| Panel Technology | IPS |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 |
| RAM (as Tested) | 16 |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 120 |
| Screen Size | 13.5 |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 14:02 |
| Variable Refresh Support | None |
| Weight | 2.86 |
| Wireless Networking | Bluetooth |
| Wireless Networking | Wi-Fi 7 |
Framework is back with an impressive update of its 13.5-inch Laptop 13 (starts at $899; $1,627 as tested). It's not only a top-notch model in itself, but it also reinforces Framework's place as the clear leader in modular laptop design: Its machines have components that can be swapped out and upgraded easily—even by novice users—giving the laptops much more flexibility and a longer working life.
The new Laptop 13 model moves the family up to AMD's robust Ryzen AI 300 processors and adds some chassis improvements, while delivering efficient performance and Framework's ever-clever swappable expansion ports. For our review, we put together a DIY Edition, rather than a prebuilt model. And, yes, DIY means exactly what it sounds like: You assemble part of the machine yourself.
The laptop design made the process a breeze, and putting the machine together myself highlighted the Laptop 13's ample improvements and other positives. If you decide to order one of these machines, you'll need to wrap your head around a few unique details. But the new Framework Laptop 13 is more versatile and useful than ever, and will save you money in the long run. Once again, it earns our Editors' Choice award.
Configurations: Components and the DIY Edition
If you’re unfamiliar with the Framework, here’s a summary before getting into the components. The company’s laptop designs are entirely modular, meaning the user can replace every component (the motherboard/processor unit, the memory, and storage) and part (even the lid hinges, speakers, battery, and touchpad, among others) after purchase. (More on that modularity below.) Framework’s presence is a big win for the right-to-repair movement, overall tech sustainability, and future cost savings.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)I've been a fan of the Framework Laptop since the initial model, and we have positively reviewed newer 13-inch and 16-inch models since. As noted above, the 2025 version of the Framework 13 has gotten chassis improvements and the latest AMD Ryzen processor options. Let's look at the chips first.
The upgraded Laptop 13 is the company’s second iteration with AMD processors. The last 13-inch model we reviewed ran on the Intel Core i7-1360P, while Core Ultra 100 options are still available. This new model adopts the AMD Ryzen AI 300-series chips, a recent AI-ready platform that runs on AMD's "Zen 5" architecture.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Framework sells models with the Ryzen AI 5 340 (six CPU cores, 12 threads, four graphics cores), the Ryzen AI 7 350 (eight CPU cores, 16 threads, eight graphics cores), or the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (12 CPU cores, 24 threads, 16 graphics cores). Our test unit packs the Ryzen AI 7 chip.
How much do these variations cost? It depends on whether you want to go DIY or not. Framework sells this laptop in fully prebuilt form, or as the DIY Edition. The latter, which we were sent for this review, includes all of the required components, but you’ll need to install some of them into the chassis (with an easy-to-follow guide available). The Ryzen AI 300 Series DIY Edition starts at $899 (without an OS), while the prebuilt model starts at $1,099.
In the DIY Edition, the mainboard and other key parts are already installed into the laptop’s casing, but it was up to me to attach the memory, storage, keyboard, and screen bezel. Everything comes nicely packaged and is labeled clearly—we’ll get to the installation down below.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)When talking about price, though, we need to mention modularity, part of the value added by Framework design. Suppose you already own a Framework Laptop and just want the latest processor (or any other updated parts) but not a whole new machine. Framework sells the discrete parts you need individually, or in a kit to get you everything you’ll need to upgrade across generations. You can buy the new Ryzen AI 7 350 chip/motherboard unit on its own for $699, for instance, and not have to replace the rest of the system. (If you have an older laptop, you’ll need to update to DDR5-5600 memory and AMD RZ717 Wi-Fi 7, but more recent Ryzen 7040 series or Core Ultra 100 series should already be compatible.)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)If you opt to order the DIY Edition, you can still select different components to create your laptop's core. The display comes in a 13.5-inch, 2,256-by-1,504-pixel, 60Hz matte panel or a 13.5-inch, 2,880-by-1,920-pixel “2.8K” screen refreshing at 120Hz. You can order from 8GB to 96GB of DDR5 memory, while storage runs from a 500GB to an 8TB M.2 SSD.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Crucially, in the DIY Edition, you can opt out of ordering any memory or storage and save money if you can bring your own compatible parts. Or provide your own operating system: The prebuilt system comes with Windows, but when you get the DIY version, a preinstalled OS is optional. So you can skip the extra cost if you want to install Linux, or if you already have access to a Windows license. (You can also add a Windows 11 Home or Pro download key if you still need a license.)
Finally, you'll find customization options for the bezel (color or colored translucent options), keyboard (layout and language), and Expansion Cards (Framework's name for its port modules). You can add as many additional modular plug-in ports (one of the Framework Laptop’s calling cards) as you’d like with your order. (If you've never seen these Expansion Cards, they are basically little cartridges you swap in and out of the laptop's edges to provide different ports, like HDMI or USB.) If you have another charging solution, you can also save $60 by removing a power adapter from your order.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Among these myriad options, we received the following package for review: a Framework 13 DIY Edition with the 2.8K display, no OS included, an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor, 16GB of memory (two Crucial 8GB DDR5 modules), and a 1TB WD Black M.2 SSD. This laptop came with three USB Type-C ports, one USB Type-A port, one HDMI connection, and one DisplayPort connection for port expansion cards. At the time of review, the total price for our unit is about $1,627.
It’s important to note that this pricing reflects both what it was at the time of writing and an estimation, due to economic uncertainty caused by the Trump administration’s tariffs (with some ephemeral exceptions). Costs of both materials and finished goods are subject to fluctuation. Framework itself was one of the first PC companies to announce changes to pricing and release plans, ceasing sales of some of its base-model laptops and delaying the launch of others.
Design: An Accessible Modular Build
Since we were provided a DIY Edition for review, let's go into some more detail on how those models are set up. When I opened the laptop lid for the first time, most of the core parts—including the mainboard, battery, and speakers—were already in place. That left me with the input cover (keyboard and touchpad connection), screen bezel, memory, storage, and ports to install. Everything comes neatly packaged and labeled clearly.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)To help get a DIY system up and running, Framework provides an easy-to-follow online guide (complete with short video demonstrations), as well as scannable QR codes on every component. With that help, as well as the included screwdriver, you can get everything installed in under half an hour. It may be intimidating if you don’t have experience with PC parts, but the prebuilt option caters more to that crowd, and the DIY is super-accessible if you want to get your feet wet.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Installing the memory and storage is a breeze; clipping the modules into place and screwing the SSD into position take just a few seconds each. Connecting the input cover is only slightly more complicated, but it's just one cable, a helpful finger loop, magnets, and screws. The bezel is perhaps the most finicky part: Lining up the bottom portion and sticking adhesive to the frame may require a little trial and error, but it installs only one way.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The swappable port modules are one of the most satisfying aspects of Framework’s modular design. The laptop chassis has four bays with USB-C connectors inside them, awaiting the different Expansion Cards; each of these Cards has a female USB-C head that plugs into the bay connector, with an outward-facing port on the other end.
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(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Since you can order whichever types of ports you want, the Framework can have various configurations for multiple USB ports, video-out connections, SD cards, and even Ethernet. Slotting these into place is simple and oddly fun, like building Legos. This feature remains one of the most inspired aspects of Framework’s design. You can buy these cards in translucent colors, too, while one of ours is solid green.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)What's new with this upgrade? For one thing, all four of the port bays on the Ryzen AI 300 now support charging (over USB-C) and display output. You'll find a few minor caveats regarding differences in connection bays: The back two corner ports draw higher power consumption with USB-A, but these two can support USB4, as well. (The other two slots support USB 3.2.) Additionally, slot number two (the left-side bay closer to the front of the laptop) supports DisplayPort 1.4, whereas the others support 2.0.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The keyboard, meanwhile, now has 1.55mm of key travel. The keys feel lightweight but produce enough feedback and bounce for an enjoyable typing experience. The speakers have also received a boost in volume, and while they won’t win any audio quality awards, they get plenty loud at maximum volume, without irritating tinniness.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Another improvement: the internal thermal design. The board with the cooling system has a new layout with a different heat-pipe structure, a Honeywell phase-change thermal material, and improved fan operation algorithms for more efficient cooling.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Considering the new changes, the laptop’s overall quality is impressive, especially for one I partially put together myself. It’s sturdy enough, but lightweight; the internals are clearly labeled and removable; and the inputs are comfortable and reliable. All assembled, the laptop measures 0.62 by 11.7 by 9 inches (HWD) and weighs 2.86 pounds, which is plenty portable. The display is serviceable but nothing to write home about: Its brightness is high at maximum, but even at 2.8K resolution, the matte finish doesn’t look as sharp as others.
The final step of setting up the Framework is installing Windows with the DIY Edition. Framework has a separate guide for this, including some slightly technical steps. First, you need to download and use third-party software named Rufus. (Obviously, you can skip this step if you're getting a prebuilt, preloaded system, or if you opt to run Linux instead.) Still, it isn't difficult to provide a Windows license and follow the instructions carefully. Be sure to download and install the requisite Windows drivers to get your system up and running, too. This is potentially the most intimidating portion to less-savvy users, but it shouldn't be an obstacle to taking the plunge, thanks to the helpful guides.
Benchmark Performance Testing: Sacrificing Nothing for Modularity
To judge the performance of our newly assembled Framework Laptop 13, I put it through our usual benchmark suite and compared the results against the following group of relevant, similarly sized laptops.
Here, we have three 14-inch laptops with different processors: the Acer Swift AI 14 ($1,299.99 as tested), the Asus Zenbook S 14 (used for our first Intel "Lunar Lake" tests), and the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (7441) ($999.99 as tested). You'll also notice one 13.4-inch laptop, the Dell XPS 13 (9350) ($1,699.99 as tested), with a competing Intel Core Ultra 200V-series chip.
Productivity and Content Creation Tests
Our primary overall benchmark, UL's PCMark 10, tests a system in productivity apps ranging from web browsing to word processing and spreadsheet work. Its Full System Drive subtest measures a PC's storage throughput.
Three more tests we run are CPU-centric or processor-intensive. Maxon's Cinebench 2024 uses that company's Cinema 4D engine to render a complex scene; Primate Labs' Geekbench 6.3 Pro simulates popular apps ranging from PDF rendering and speech recognition to machine learning; and we see how long it takes the transcoding freeware HandBrake 1.8 to convert a 12-minute clip from 4K to 1080p resolution.
Finally, workstation maker Puget Systems' PugetBench for Creators rates a PC's image editing prowess in various automated operations in Adobe Photoshop 25.
The Framework Laptop 13 largely performed well compared with this group, consistently second to its step-up counterpart, the Ryzen AI 9 365 chip in the Swift 14. Framework's laptop generally posted higher scores than the rest of the systems, with no apparent performance downside from being modular and self-assembled. This class of ultraportable laptops is hardly for content creators or media editors, but for moderate and mainstream workloads, the Framework can get the job done quickly and efficiently.
Graphics Tests
We challenge laptops' graphics with a quartet of animations or gaming simulations from UL's 3DMark test suite. Wild Life (1440p) and Wild Life Extreme (4K) use the Vulkan graphics API to measure GPU speeds. The Steel Nomad Light subtest—the Dell balked at the primary, higher-stress Steel Nomad benchmark—focuses on APIs more commonly used for game development, like DirectX 12, to assess gaming geometry and particle effects. A fifth test, Solar Bay, emphasizes ray-tracing performance.
The Framework Laptop 13’s scores were on the lower end of a group that's already graphically weak. These machines—with their integrated graphics—just aren't built for 3D work or gaming. You’d be pressing your luck with any legitimate 3D workload on the Laptop 13, while only light gaming is plausible—either simple titles or better-optimized games on low settings. Framework's 16-inch model has the option for a discrete GPU module geared toward gaming or content creation on a modular laptop.
Battery Life and Display Tests
We test each laptop's battery life by playing a locally stored 720p video file (the open-source Blender movie Tears of Steel) with display brightness at 50% and audio volume at 100%. We make sure the battery is fully charged before the test, with Wi-Fi and keyboard backlighting turned off.
To gauge display performance, we also use a Datacolor SpyderX Elite monitor calibration sensor and Windows software to measure a screen's color saturation—what percentage of the sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 color gamuts or palettes the display can show—as well as its 50% and peak brightness in nits (candelas per square meter).
The Framework’s battery life is objectively long, though it was the shortest among this specific pack of comparison systems. If you need extra-long battery life (a legitimate concern in today’s working world), you have options, but this Framework should get you through a workday nonetheless. Meanwhile, the eye test on the display backs up these results: The screen is plenty bright at maximum, but the color coverage is a bit lacking.