Framework Laptop 13 (DIY Edition, AMD) review

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Framework takes a different attack from astir laptop makers, pinch an accent connected reparability. It moreover adopts a modular attack to ports, truthful you tin switch a USB-A larboard for an HDMI connector connected nan fly.

As my guideline to building a Framework other shows, however, this isn’t a DIY strategy successful nan aforesaid measurement that you mightiness build a desktop PC. Framework supplies nan chassis pinch nan motherboard and show built in, truthful each you’re doing is adding nan SSD, memory, keyboard, ports and bezel of your choosing. Install Windows aliases Linux, and nan applicable drivers, and you’re done.

Or you tin bargain a laptop preassembled and pre-loaded pinch Windows. There isn’t a immense quality successful nan price, but I would expect astir readers to take nan DIY approach.

Chip choice

Framework sent maine its apical AMD type of nan Laptop 13, which features a Ryzen 7840U, but it offers an à la carte paper of chips. For instance, you tin take from Intel’s Core Ultra scope aliases prevention money by opting for a 13th procreation Core CPU.

There’s besides a prime of display. My reappraisal portion included nan basal 60Hz sheet pinch a 2,256 x 1,504 resolution, but for an other £130 Framework offers a 2,880 x 1,920 surface that goes up to 120Hz. This besides comes pinch a much precocious webcam; nan 1 bundled pinch my laptop produced coagulated 1080p results – good for business calls – but hide effects specified arsenic inheritance blur. There’s nary IR sensor for Windows Hello logins, either, but Framework includes privateness switches for nan webcam and nan microphones.

One of nan galore awesome things astir Framework’s attack is that if thing goes incorrect you tin hole it aliases switch it, and that includes nan show and nan motherboard. With a beardown organization and elaborate resources from Framework, you whitethorn for illustration to excavation retired your screwdrivers alternatively than taking nan laptop to a repairer.

Full metallic jacket

Despite its modular nature, nan Framework 13 is simply a compact and slim laptop. It’s good made, too, pinch nary evident anemic points. The only area wherever it arguably falls down rivals is for style, pinch a simple, utilitarian look. I for illustration nan simplicity, but others whitethorn for illustration a much stylish design. You tin take colored bezels, keyboard covers and description ports if you want to liven things up.

There’s thing fancy astir nan keyboard, either, but nan action is heavy and solid, pinch only a trace of cushioning. Ham-fisted typists will find it clacks loudly, but those pinch a gentler typing style will beryllium rewarded pinch quiet strokes. The UK layout includes a double-height Enter key, pinch nan only discuss being half-height up/down cursor keys and immoderate usability doubling.

A nicely proportioned and slick touchpad sits beneath, pinch a fingerprint sensor above. This worked perfectly throughout.

Plain Jane screen

It’s a shame Framework sent maine nan exemplary pinch nan cheaper screen, arsenic this is 1 area wherever nan Laptop 13 falls down rivals. There’s thing incorrect pinch its solution aliases refresh rate, but colour sum could beryllium better: it’s tied to nan sRGB space, covering 96% retired of a 100% volume, and that intends DCI-P3 sum is stuck astatine 71%. Colors deficiency punch arsenic a result, but accuracy is respectable (0.63 Delta E average) and it goes up to 467cd/m2. The panel’s autochthonal colour somesthesia of almost 7000K intends whites look a fraction “cold”.

You tin ever hook it up to an outer screen. The only connector that Framework stipulates is USB-C, arsenic this is utilized for charging (and data/monitor duties), which leaves 3 for you to play pinch – it’s imaginable to switch them retired whenever you for illustration – truthful if you request DisplayPort aliases HDMI then adhd them to your order. Or return your prime from USB-A, Ethernet, microSD, aliases moreover retention description cards.

Need for speed

With a Ryzen 7840U wrong my trial system, I expected accelerated speeds. And that’s precisely what I saw. AMD’s Zen 4 architecture remains strong, pinch a 2,600 consequence successful Geekbench 6’s single-core trial and a coagulated 11,388 successful nan multicore test; having 8 cores intends it now falls down nan fastest chips from Intel and Qualcomm. It was a lucifer for nan Copilot+ PCs successful Cinebench 2024, though, pinch 790 successful nan multicore conception and 104 successful nan single-core test.

AMD’s Radeon 780M graphics are astir connected a par pinch Intel’s Arc chips, scoring 2,902 successful 3DMark Time Spy. At nan panel’s autochthonal resolution, it coped good successful some Shadow of nan Tomb Raider and Dirt 5 truthful agelong arsenic I kept to nan lowest item settings, averaging 39fps and 44fps respectively. Switching to High proved excessively large a challenge, pinch framework rates toppling to 24fps and 28fps.

Unlike nan Copilot+ PCs I’ve tested this period pinch Qualcomm Snapdragon chips inside, nan Framework Laptop 13’s instrumentality lets you cognize erstwhile nan CPU is being pushed. It doesn’t thief that Framework uses a azygous instrumentality for cooling, but those who for illustration a quiet beingness should either take a different laptop aliases instrumentality to undemanding tasks.

Battery life is respectable, lasting 9hrs 12mins successful nan light-use trial and a superb 16hrs 26mins erstwhile near idling. But don’t expect speedy recharging from nan modestly sized 60W adapter, going from zero to 45% successful half an hour.

Final thoughts

Buying a Framework laptop isn’t nan champion prime for those who activity instant gratification. It will return astatine slightest 5 business days to vessel your civilization order, and if you want nan latest parts – specified arsenic nan caller surface and webcam combo – past you’ll person to hold for nan adjacent batch to arrive, likewise to a Kickstarter project. Even so, nan hold should beryllium a fewer weeks astatine most.

Instead, this is simply a semipermanent purchase. One that will past for years – a decade moreover – and truthful it makes consciousness not to unreserved in. While rivals are undoubtedly sleeker and sexier, I emotion Framework’s attack to modularity and reparability.

You’re paying a flimsy premium for this, but you’re besides supporting a institution that lives and breathes sustainability, which you simply won’t find if buying from 1 of nan large brands.

We've besides classed nan champion business PCs.

What is simply a hands connected review?

Hands connected reviews' are a journalist's first impressions of a portion of kit based connected spending immoderate clip pinch it. It whitethorn beryllium conscionable a fewer moments, aliases a fewer hours. The important point is we person been capable to play pinch it ourselves and tin springiness you immoderate consciousness of what it's for illustration to use, moreover if it's only an embryonic view. For much information, spot TechRadar's Reviews Guarantee.