Framework Laptop 13 (2023) Review

Started up as something of a novelty in 2020, the Framework Laptop 13 was a sustainability project that challenged conventional laptop designs as an ultraportable laptop that could be upgraded and repaired extensively after purchase. We've been impressed by the commitment to that vision: Framework now has a line of products and an ecosystem of replaceable parts just two years following the first model. Today, Framework's concept has proved to work exceptionally well—and now, it's equipped with Intel 13th Gen processing.

The pre-built 2023 Framework Laptop 13 (starts at $1,049, $1,507 as tested) is an excellent notebook on its own, being just as capable, portable, and customizable as before. Naturally, the core of this update is the new Intel 13th Gen mainboard, which (thanks to Framework's commitment to year-to-year compatibility) any existing Framework Laptop can be upgraded to. That path will cost less than half the price of the system we were sent for testing. 

We'll repeat that: If you already have a Framework Laptop, you can upgrade to the model in this review for less than half the cost of buying it new. It's an undeniable validation of everything Framework has preached, proving that the repairable design is a winner, both for saving the planet and some cash. For all of that, the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) earns an Editors' Choice award among ultraportables.

Three Configurations to Choose From

The new 13th Gen Intel Framework 13—the company's 13-inch laptop—looks just like the 12th and 11th Gen models from 2022 and 2021, and that's by design. This laptop uses the same repairable design, with swappable parts and interchangeable port expansion cards. That remains its marquee feature.

If you're buying a pre-built model, the Framework 13 starts at $1,049 with an Intel Core i5-1340P processor, 8GB of memory, 256GB of solid-state drive space, and a Wi-Fi 6E module included. The laptop also has a smaller 55Wh battery than Framework's more expensive options. This starter configuration is called the Base model, with Performance and Professional configurations selling more powerful parts at higher prices.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

Our review unit is the Performance model, with an Intel Core i7-1360P processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It comes with the larger 61Wh battery and starts at $1,469. Our review unit also came with a handful of expansion cards for mixing and matching the ports on the laptop (I'll discuss this in more detail later), and the mix of connectors adds $74 to the configuration price.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

You can also swap out the SSDs by picking up a different M.2 SSD—Framework sells a 250GB expansion card for $69, and a 1TB card for $149, which is actually reasonably priced.

Finally, at the top of the heap is the $2,069 Professional model, which uses a different Core i7 CPU (the Intel Core i7-1370P), 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. Other pro features include vPro built into the CPU for business-class security and Windows 11 Pro instead of the Home version included on the cheaper models.

Want something else? Framework also has DIY versions that let you pick and choose the parts (including different CPU options, like older Intel chips and AMD alternatives) as well as load your own operating system. You can even build a desktop-like unit from a Framework mainboard. You'll find a thriving community of DIYers making 3D-printable parts and accessories, so the options are nearly endless.

Huge Savings for Upgraders

Of course, it's worth noting that these aren't your only choices for the new 13th Gen models. If you already have an older Framework Laptop, whether it's the original from 2021, the upgraded 2022 version, or even the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition from earlier this year, you can upgrade for considerably less by simply swapping out the mainboard. After all, this laptop is made to do exactly that.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

You can buy mainboards for all of the Intel configurations mentioned above, powered by Intel's 13th Gen Core i5-1340P ($449), Core i7-1360P ($699), or Core i7-1370P ($1,049). This can save you anywhere from $400 to $1,020, depending on the model.

Using the included screwdriver and installation guide, it's relatively simple to access each internal component. First, you open up the Framework's chassis, and disconnect the keyboard, audio, video, battery connectors, Wi-Fi module, and M.2 SSD card. Then, you unscrew the mainboard from the chassis before you drop in the new board, reconnect everything, and close the laptop back up.

(Credit: Framework Computer)

Admittedly, that's still a much more involved process than most laptop users will be comfortable with. However, unlike models from most big-name manufacturers, this laptop is built to let you make these more impactful swaps, and makes the process as transparent and accessible as possible.

For a specific example, say you already own a 2020 or 2021 Framework, but want the processor like the one inside our 2023 review model. Opting for the new Intel Core i7-1360P mainboard alone would save you $770 versus a brand-new $1,469 Performance model Framework Laptop just to get a better processor. Suddenly, the Framework DIY upgrade approach is making a lot more sense three generations in.

Framework's Sustainable and Repairable Design

Framework, perhaps more than any other laptop maker, is a company with a mission: Sustainable and user-repairable designs are its raison d'etre. We have pointed out in past reviews the remarkable level of accessibility and modularity in the Framework design to meet this end. None of this has changed with the new model, and from the outside, you wouldn't even know that it was a new model, because all of the changes are internal.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

Regardless, sitting down with another Framework Laptop, I'm still struck by how absolutely normal this product seems. I see no sacrifices made in the name of reparability. The laptop simply looks…normal. Its keyboard looks and feels like a regular laptop keyboard. From the webcam to the touchpad, the Framework is surprising in how solidly built it is, and how low key its innovative design is from the outside.

While I love a fun, stylized gaming laptop, or a chunky, rugged machine, laptops with this sort of normal, everyday design have their place. It's not overly different from a basic Dell or HP laptop, and it's arguably more boring. The goal isn't to entice you with a jazzy new design each year, but to skip the FOMO and let you upgrade just the parts that need an upgrade. Keep your screen and ports and everything else until you need something different there.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

The CNC milled aluminum chassis is still pretty pleasant to feel and look at, measuring 0.62 by 11.7 by 9 inches and coming in under 3 pounds, making it light enough to call an ultraportable.

Other specifics of the design will also be identical to past Framework Laptops: A 13.5-inch IPS panel with a 2,256-by-1,504-pixel resolution and a 3:2 aspect ratio. You won't find a touch-screen option (yet), but the plastic screen bezel is magnetically attached, so it's easy to peel off and swap to another color, yet secure enough that you won't have to worry about things coming apart without your say-so.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

Framework includes a 1080p, 60 frames-per-second-capable (fps) webcam, a built-in mic, and a backlit keyboard. You can even swap keyboard modules with black or clear keycaps for a truly distinctive look, or change it out for a different language and layout entirely. Every other core component of the laptop can be swapped or accessed for repair: the Wi-Fi antennas, the cooling fans, the lid hinges, the speakers, the touchpads, the webcam, the battery, and the fingerprint reader are available through the Framework marketplace(Opens in a new window).

Swappable, Customizable Ports and Expansion Cards

The other smart innovation used by Framework is the swappable port system. Framework leverages the flexibility of the simple high-bandwidth USB-C connector to let you pick exactly the ports you want, using USB-C adapters that slot into the side of the laptop instead of giving you a handful of simple USB-C ports and calling it a day. (I'm looking at you Dell, Apple, and…well, everybody.)

(Credit: Molly Flores)

If you want USB-C for power or whatever else, you can do that. If you want a full-size USB-A, HDMI, or DisplayPort, you can do that. If you want an Ethernet port, a microSD card slot, or even a second headphone jack, you can do that, too. The mix-and-match approach lets you have exactly the port lineup you want, complete with the flexibility to move a port to the other side of the laptop, or carry a spare for those times you want something else.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

The only downside is that you'll need to order these expansion cards at the time of configuration, or buy them separately, or even make your own. (You'll find a thriving community of Framework tinkerers making their own homebrew adapters and 3D-printed expansion cards, and Framework is noticeably supportive.) Some shoppers won't want to go to the trouble, but many will see the value of having exactly the ports you want.

Testing the 2023 Framework Laptop 13: A Modular Flagship Rival

For this review, we're comparing the Framework 13 with the original Framework Laptop from 2021, as well as some of our favorite ultraportables, such as the Acer Swift Go 14, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, and the HP Pavilion Plus 14, our Editors' Choice award holder for mainstream laptops. Some of these are comparable in terms of price, but others might seem a little far afield—until you remember that upgrading an existing Framework Laptop with the new 13th-Gen mainboard can be done for hundreds of dollars less, making it much more budget friendly.

Productivity Tests 

We run the same general productivity benchmarks across both mobile and desktop systems. Our first test is UL's PCMark 10, which simulates a variety of real-world productivity and office workflows to measure overall system performance and also includes a storage subtest for the primary drive.

Our other three benchmarks focus on the CPU, using all available cores and threads, to rate a PC's suitability for processor-intensive workloads. Maxon's Cinebench R23 uses that company's Cinema 4D engine to render a complex scene, while Geekbench 5.4 Pro from Primate Labs simulates popular apps ranging from PDF rendering and speech recognition to machine learning. Finally, we use the open-source video transcoder HandBrake 1.4 to convert a 12-minute video clip from 4K to 1080p resolution (lower times are better).

Finally, we run PugetBench for Photoshop by workstation maker Puget Systems, which uses the Creative Cloud version 22 of Adobe's famous image editor to rate a PC's performance for content creation and multimedia applications. It's an automated extension that executes a variety of general and GPU-accelerated Photoshop tasks ranging from opening, rotating, resizing, and saving an image to applying masks, gradient fills, and filters. (See more about how we test laptops.)

Compared with the older 2021 Framework Laptop and the budget-friendly Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, the Framework 13 is a powerhouse. This model produced dramatically better scores in tests like PCMark 10, Cinebench, and Geekbench. In most of these tests, the HP Pavilion 14 and Acer Swift Go 14 delivered better scores, but that wasn't true across the board. In Adobe Photoshop, the Core i7-powered Framework 13 actually posted the top score, while the HP sat in second place.

Graphics Tests 

We test Windows PC graphics with two DirectX 12 gaming simulations from UL's 3DMark: Night Raid (more modest, suitable for laptops with integrated graphics), and Time Spy (more demanding, suitable for gaming rigs with discrete GPUs). 

To further stress GPUs, we run two tests from the cross-platform GPU benchmark GFXBench 5, which stresses both low-level routines like texturing and high-level, game-like image rendering. The 1440p Aztec Ruins and 1080p Car Chase tests, rendered offscreen to accommodate different display resolutions, exercise graphics and compute shaders using the OpenGL programming interface and hardware tessellation respectively. The more fps, the better.

With Intel Iris Xe Graphics, the Framework 13 is capable of decent graphics performance for an ultraportable. Not only did it top the older and lower powered systems, like the 2021 Framework and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, but this laptop outpaced the leading HP Pavilion Plus 14. The only system to score higher in the graphics benchmarks was the Acer Swift Go 14, its integrated graphics performance likely boosted a bit by its group-leading 13th Gen H-series CPU.

As ever, it's worth pointing out that integrated graphics don't hold a candle to a system with a dedicated GPU. (Framework has that coming in a different model.) Of course, it's more than enough for daily use and streaming media.

Battery and Display Tests 

We test laptop battery life by playing a locally stored 720p video file (the open-source Blender movie Tears of Steel(Opens in a new window)) 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 evaluate display performance, we use a Datacolor SpyderX Elite monitor calibration sensor and software to measure a laptop screen's color saturation—what percentage of the sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 color gamuts or palettes the display can show—and its 50% and peak brightness in nits (candelas per square meter).

Where the 2023 Framework really impressed was in battery life, where it lasted more than 11 hours in our video playback test. Only the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 lasted longer, and it's a full 2 hours longer than the first Framework Laptop delivered in 2021.

The display is exactly the same as in the older Framework models, but that's no drawback. (However, it appears to have been made brighter, based on our tests.) In fact, that puts it right alongside most other ultraportables in terms of screen quality. If you want something that's higher in quality, you'll have to look to systems with premium OLED panel options, like the HP Pavilion Plus 14, but it's an effective display for an IPS panel.

Verdict: Framework's Mic Drop Moment

With the latest version of the Framework Laptop 13, the user-upgradable paradigm that Framework pioneered truly proves itself as a game-changing laptop concept. As a pre-built system, the 2023 Framework is impressive, coming in an excellent ultraportable design, with a customizable port selection, and capable of speedy performance in almost every area.

Plus, upgrading an existing Framework Laptop to the new 13th Gen mainboard is so much more affordable, it's impossible to ignore this level of value. Any Framework Laptop on the market now can get this same level of performance and features for less than half the price. That's an astonishing value, and it more than makes up for the small premium paid when buying into the nascent Framework ecosystem.

Framework has some other cool stuff coming to market in the immediate future, but this simple iterative step in its humble repairable laptop is a mic drop moment, proving the concept has legs. (Frankly, we're surprised more laptop makers aren't trying to take on the idea.) If you want the best long-term value in ultraportable laptops, the latest Framework makes the strongest case yet in 2023.