Framework’s Modular 13-Inch Laptop Challenges Apple’s Grip with AMD Power and Endless Upgrades

Framework Computer’s latest twist on its 13-inch laptop drops AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 series processors into a chassis built for endless tinkering. Pre-orders opened in February 2025, with shipments hitting mid-year. And now, reviews confirm it’s faster than ever. But battery life? That’s the catch.

Take the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 top-end chip. Twelve cores. Integrated Radeon 890M graphics that handle light gaming. A dedicated XDNA 2 NPU pushing 50 TOPS for AI tasks. Framework starts DIY editions at $899 without RAM or storage. Add those, and you’re at $1,659 for a loaded config. Pre-builts begin at $1,099 with a base Ryzen AI 5 340. Framework’s site lists all options, including swappable mainboards from $449.

Performance jumps high. Ars Technica calls it “the fastest the Framework Laptop 13 has ever been.” Their tests on the Ryzen AI 300 board show it crushing prior generations in CPU workloads. Tom’s Hardware notes the same chassis as last year’s Intel Core Ultra model, but with Strix Point power that trades endurance for speed. “Increased performance at the expense of battery life,” they write in their April 17 review (Tom’s Hardware).

The display stays a 13.5-inch 3:2 IPS panel. Options hit 2880×1920 resolution at 120Hz, 700 nits brightness. Touch versions available. Keyboard? Framework revamped it—shallower travel, but snappier. New haptic touchpad. Wi-Fi 7 standard. Ports? Five expansion card slots. Mix USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet. Customize colors even. Battery sits at 61Wh. Not huge. Reviews peg PCMark office tests at 8.5 hours with the high-res screen at 200 nits. Ars Technica (Ars Technica) says it’s on par with last-gen Ryzen, but lags Intel Lunar Lake versions and MacBooks.

Repairability defines it. Swap the CPU board in minutes. Upgrade LPCAMM2 RAM to 64GB LPDDR5X. Storage up to 8TB PCIe 5.0 NVMe. Framework sells keyboards, screens, bezels separately. Existing owners drop in the new AMD board. No e-waste. The Verge praises this in their April 17 review: “Framework’s Laptop 13 continues its reign as the modular, upgradable, repairable notebook champion” (The Verge).

Linux users cheer. Ubuntu pre-install option. AMD’s open-source drivers shine. Phoronix tests and user reports on X highlight smooth ROCm support for AI. One AMD engineer swapped their M4 MacBook Pro for a Framework 13 running Gentoo: “don’t need my M4 128GB MacBook pro any more. Runs Gentoo out the box, can build all of ROCm locally” (X post by @AnushElangovan). Framework shared power measurements from a Linux user on their Ryzen AI 5 340 (X post by @FrameworkPuter).

Apple’s MacBook Pro looms large. M5 Pro claims 22 hours video playback. Framework’s prior Intel push hit 20 hours Netflix on a 74Wh pack, per Digital Trends. AMD version doesn’t match. PCWorld’s April 21 take: steep price for modularity, but Strix Point NPUs excel in AI (PCWorld). Laptop Mag rounds up reviews: power at a hefty price (Laptop Mag).

TechRadar tested a DIY Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 for field work. “The AMD Ryzen AI 300 series CPU, coupled with the AI 9 HX 370 GPU, are both surprisingly powerful for such a compact machine, enabling you to edit reasonably sized projects in Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve without too much issue” (TechRadar). Gaming? Radeon 890M runs Cyberpunk at low settings.

Prices climb fast. Base pre-built: $1,099. Mid-tier Ryzen AI 7 350: $1,529 DIY, $1,349 pre-built per PCWorld. Top HX 370 hits $2,099 pre-built. Competitors like Dell XPS or Lenovo Yoga offer similar power, locked internals. Framework bets on longevity. User Michael Swengel on X: “The Framework Laptop 13… is easily the BEST laptop I’ve ever used. Period.” Keyboard beats MacBook Pro. Repair peace of mind (X post).

Framework announced via X in February: “new AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors, Wi-Fi 7, a revamped thermal system, a next-generation keyboard” (X post by @FrameworkPuter). AMD echoed: modular fit for prior chassis (X post by @AMDRyzen).

So where does it win? Devs needing upgrades. Linux faithful. AI tinkerers. Battery-focused road warriors? Look elsewhere. Framework proves modularity scales. Six years in, it’s no gimmick. Sales data lags public, but preorder buzz and review scores—Verge’s 9/10—signal demand. Apple owns premium. Framework carves repairable niche.