Almost Found My Ideal MacBook Pro Replacement — Until RAM Issues Hit

Framework laptops are known for their unique DIY approach, which often comes with certain trade-offs. While they may cost more than sleeker alternatives from other brands, the ability to swap out ports, easily repair components, and upgrade parts makes those minor flaws easier to overlook. Enter the Framework Laptop 13 Pro, a standout in the notebook arena that addresses many of the original model’s shortcomings.

The 13 Pro features a vibrant and sharp touchscreen, an exceptional haptic trackpad that rivals even Apple’s best, and a solid, premium build quality. Pair that with a powerful Intel chip and innovative user-replaceable LPCAMM2 memory, and you have a device that strikes a remarkable balance between performance and impressive battery life.

However, the ongoing rise in tech prices has hit hard. The higher-end prebuilt review unit I received, which was initially priced at $2,299, has skyrocketed to a staggering $3,099 due to recent memory price hikes. An $800 increase before it even reaches the consumer is a tough pill to swallow, especially in a market already grappling with price shocks.

Component report card:
* Screen: B
* Webcam: B
* Keyboard: A
* Trackpad: A
* Port selection: A
* Speakers: C
* Number of ugly stickers to remove: 1 on the Windows prebuilt (but only on the bottom)

The Laptop 13 Pro boasts an all-black design with a sleek matte finish that truly looks black rather than a dark gray. It feels robust and well-constructed, a step up from the more utilitarian design of the Laptop 16 and the standard Laptop 13. Inside, it houses the latest Intel Panther Lake chips with LPCAMM2 RAM, or you can opt for last-gen AMD processors with slower SODIMM DDR5 memory. My review unit came equipped with a 16-core Intel Core Ultra X7 358H CPU, a 12-core Arc B390 integrated GPU, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and four modular USB-C ports. Each port supports Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort 2.1, and up to 140W charging, allowing for unrestricted use of modular expansion cards.

The build quality is impressive, with no flex in the chassis or keyboard deck, despite the ease of disassembly with just a few screws. The keyboard offers a satisfying typing experience with 1.5mm key travel, enhanced by a new one-piece aluminum frame. The 1080p webcam, carried over from the previous model, delivers solid performance, though it can appear slightly grainy in certain lighting conditions.

Significant upgrades in the 13 Pro include the new haptic trackpad and touchscreen. This trackpad is the best non-Apple option I’ve encountered, providing responsive clicks across its surface. The 13.5-inch matte-finish 120Hz IPS display maintains a resolution of 2880 x 1920, offering a bright (700 nits) and touch-enabled experience, a feature previously exclusive to the more affordable Laptop 12.

The audio experience comes from side-firing stereo speakers, which were a weak point in the standard Laptop 13 and remain the 13 Pro’s biggest flaw. While the side-mounted design offers a bit of soundstage, the overall audio quality is somewhat thin and lacks bass. A helpful tip from a reader led me to the open-source app FxSound, which significantly enhances the audio quality, though it’s only available for Windows users.

The combination of the Intel chip and LPCAMM2 memory delivers excellent performance and power efficiency. This newer memory technology is advantageous for both speed and efficiency, similar to LPDDR5X, but without being soldered to the motherboard. However, LPCAMM2 tends to be pricier than DDR5.

Thanks to this memory and the power efficiency of Intel’s Panther Lake chip, the Laptop 13 Pro excels in battery life. Framework claims it can last up to 17 hours during active web use, though that’s at a brightness of 250 nits. Even at higher brightness levels, I managed around 10.5 hours while multitasking with numerous Chrome tabs and streaming music, which is a significant improvement over the AMD-powered Laptop 13.

Performance from the Ultra X7 358H is solid, though it doesn’t quite match up to Apple’s more affordable laptops. However, it holds its own, especially in graphics-intensive tasks like Blender, where the 12-core integrated GPU shines. While I was surprised by its lower scores in the PugetBench test for Adobe Premiere, real-world performance remained satisfactory. The 13 Pro handled Adobe Lightroom Classic well, taking just over seven minutes to import nearly 2,000 66-megapixel RAW images and rendering previews in a similar timeframe.

Although not specifically designed for gaming, the 13 Pro’s Windows 11 environment gives it an edge over Macs. Its integrated graphics can handle 1080p gaming at low to medium settings, achieving 50 to 60fps in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Battlefield 6, and even reaching the full resolution in Cyberpunk with frame generation.

Under heavy load or during demanding gaming sessions, the laptop can get quite hot. While it’s comparable in thickness to a 14-inch MacBook Pro, it can feel uncomfortably warm during intense use. Thankfully, the keyboard remains cool in the home row and WASD areas, but temperatures near the hinge can spike to 57 degrees Celsius / 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

Despite its many strengths, the Laptop 13 Pro’s steep price and the surrounding market turmoil are hard to ignore. Framework has raised prices across its lineup, and the 13 Pro is no exception. Recent changes have even reduced some preorders from 32GB of RAM to 16GB while increasing prices by up to $800. The sentiment among dedicated fans on forums reflects a growing concern about affordability and the potential impact on the future of niche tech products.

On a brighter note, existing Framework Laptop 13 owners can upgrade to many of the new components individually, from the Intel mainboard with LPCAMM2 to the enhanced touchscreen and haptic trackpad. While these upgrades aren’t cheap, they offer a more economical alternative to purchasing a new laptop. This flexibility embodies the core philosophy of Framework. While non-upgradeable laptops like the MacBook Pro may offer better performance per dollar, they remain fixed in their initial configurations.

It’s hard not to appreciate the Framework laptops for their innovative design and features. The 13 Pro stands out as the most refined model yet, with fewer compromises compared to its predecessors. It would be an excellent choice even without its upgradeability and modular features. However, the price remains a significant hurdle, leaving me to ponder what could have been without the current market challenges. The hope is that one day, prices will stabilize, but for now, that safe harbor seems elusive.

Framework Laptop 13 Pro specs (as reviewed):
* Display: 13.5-inch (2880 x 1920) 30-120Hz IPS touchscreen
* CPU: Intel Core Ultra X7 358H
* GPU: Intel Arc B390
* RAM: 32GB LPCAMM2
* Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe
* Webcam: 1080p 30fps with privacy switches (mic and camera)
* Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6
* Ports: 4x modular USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 ports for Framework Expansion Cards
* Biometrics: fingerprint sensor in power button
* Weight: 3.17 pounds / 1.44kg
* Dimensions: 0.62 x 11.68 x 9.01 inches / 15.85 x 296.63 x 228.98mm
* Battery: 74.45Wh
* Price: $3,099 (with $200 Windows 11 Pro license)