(Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)
It's a good sign when you try a new product and immediately tell yourself, “I want it.” That’s what I felt while trying Framework Computer’s supposed MacBook Pro killer, the Laptop 13 Pro, which can run either Windows 11 or even Ubuntu Linux.
We tried out the new laptop during a press event in San Francisco today, and the Laptop 13 Pro looks poised to take on other premium notebooks, all the while offering the customizability and upgradability that Framework products are known for.
The Pro model has the same dimensions as the original Framework Laptop 13. All the components inside are even cross-compatible with older models. But the company’s newest laptop stands out by amping up the premium feel, thanks to a sturdier aluminum casing, a crisp touch screen, powerful speakers, and the option for a sleek black color way or silver.
(Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)The 13 Pro is the company’s first to be “fully machined out of extruded blocks of 6063 aluminum,” and it shows. The 13 Pro feels like a block of solid metal when you hold it up. Although the original Framework 13 also featured an aluminum chassis, the Pro model boasts a thicker and stronger base where the keyboard is installed, minimizing any wobble, especially at the lid and hinge, if you shake it.
(Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)I could feel the difference as I held both the Pro and an older 2022 and 2023 Framework 13 in my hands. Despite the sturdier base, the Pro version is a still-portable 3.1 pounds. The brushed aluminum is also pleasant to touch; it feels more like carbon fiber. The whole package is enjoyable to type on and look at, making it a winner in the aesthetic category for me.
Framework also packed in a Dolby Atmos speaker system that was loud enough to hear YouTube videos clearly, even in a noisy demo room. The laptop is also the first to offer touch-screen support, fulfilling a long-standing customer request. It worked well on Windows 11, offering a convenient way to open and close browser windows.
(Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)I was also impressed to see the laptop running Cyberpunk 2077 on medium graphics with Intel’s “Panther Lake” Core Ultra X7 358H chip, no discrete GPU required. A benchmark showed the game running at around 69 frames per second.
The fact that you can buy all this starting at $1,499—and still upgrade and swap out the parts as much as you’d like—definitely makes the Laptop 13 Pro worth checking out, especially if you're a Linux user. Framework says it's the first to be certified for Linux Ubuntu.
Still, the product can increase in price significantly if you opt for the prebuilt Intel Core Ultra X7 358H model with 32GB of RAM, which starts at $2,099. Customers can also configure the laptop with AMD's Ryzen AI 300 chips. But the prebuilt AMD models also go for either $2,099 or $3,099, depending on the processor.
(Credit: Framework)You can try to lower the price with Framework's DIY models, which let you configure more specs and OS. But you're still looking at paying over $2,000 as you beef up the components, thanks to the ongoing memory shortage inflating prices for RAM and storage.
It's also important to note that the 13 Pro only offers four Thunderbolt 4 interfaces, although you can still customize them with Framework’s Expansion card system.
(Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)Of course, we’ll need to put the 13 Pro through our more rigorous performance tests during our review. The company designed the product to excel, especially in battery life; Framework’s own tests show it can run for over 20 hours of 4K Netflix streaming. So we’ll be paying close attention to how it performs in other battery-life tests.