{"id":74964,"date":"2023-07-21T00:02:35","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T23:02:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smartmileco.com\/framework-laptop-13-2023-review\/"},"modified":"2023-07-21T00:02:35","modified_gmt":"2023-07-20T23:02:35","slug":"framework-laptop-13-2023-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartmileco.com\/framework-laptop-13-2023-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Framework Laptop 13 (2023) Review","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"
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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\u2014and now, it's equipped with Intel 13th Gen processing.<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The new 13th Gen Intel Framework 13\u2014the company's 13-inch laptop\u2014looks 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\n(Credit: Molly Flores)<\/small>\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\n(Credit: Molly Flores)<\/small>\n<\/p>\n
You can also swap out the SSDs by picking up a different M.2 SSD\u2014Framework sells a 250GB expansion card for $69, and a 1TB card for $149, which is actually reasonably priced.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\n(Credit: Molly Flores)<\/small>\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\n(Credit: Framework Computer)<\/small>\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Framework, perhaps more than any other laptop maker, is a company with a mission: Sustainable and user-repairable designs are its raison d'etre<\/em>. 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n(Credit: Molly Flores)<\/small>\n<\/p>\n 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<\/em>. 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n(Credit: Molly Flores)<\/small>\n<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n(Credit: Molly Flores)<\/small>\n<\/p>\n