Framework has released the 2023 version of its 13-inch modular laptop. And folks, it’s exactly the same as the 2022 model.
ok i mean it’s not very truth. There’s an AMD option now, but I can’t review it yet. I’ve been testing pre-built Intel models, including the 13th Gen Core i7-1360P. The battery is also bigger, at 61Wh. There are a few other small points regarding the chassis. There is a new matte display option and a new speaker system. But let me tell you, the 2023 Framework Laptop 13 feels exactly the same as the 2022 Framework Laptop. The experience is basically the same.
And it’s mostly good. Last year’s laptop was fine. Not to mention it looks flimsy and more plastic than you’ll find in this price range, which I didn’t like, but it was fine. I’ve always found Framework to be a company that’s very responsive to their customers’ needs, and customers may value ease of repair and upgrades more than premium builds.
Still, some of the perks that last year’s chassis brought are still there. The bright 2256 x 1504, 3:2 display is second to none. The speakers are great. This laptop is extremely portable and weighs just under 3 pounds. But most importantly (at least for me), Framework solved my biggest gripe about laptops last year. I used to have bad battery life. And dear readers, it’s okay.
My favorite thing about Framework laptops has always been port selection. Specifically, you choose a port yourself and insert her 4 expansion cards of your choice into the deck. What fun! That’s boring, so I opted for USB-C and USB-A on both sides, but the Framework has “re-optimized” the HDMI and DisplayPort expansion cards for the 2023 model to make the device more sustainable. bottom. They are in a low power state so you can choose them if you want to be adventurous. (MicroSD, audio, Ethernet, and storage expansion are also possible.)
I can’t say enough good things about this 13.5-inch, 3:2 display. The extra vertical space is plenty for multitasking, and I appreciate how much text I can see at once when I’m writing long drafts (like this one). I also prefer the new matte screen because it has less glare than last year’s glossy screen, but the nice thing about the framework is that you can choose what you want. The bezel can be customized with different colors. It’s currently black, white, and orange, but green, purple, red, and translucent are also planned. See, I’m not a DIY person. But if you give me a purple bezel, I might have to buy this.
The touchpad maintains a smooth click feel. Note that this is the only part of the chassis that actually gets dirty. After about a week of use, there was a very noticeable smudge in the middle. The keyboard was backlit, had a satisfying amount of travel and clicks, and was easy to keep clean. I wish I could customize the touchpad the same way I could customize the keycaps, but Framework sells at least a cable and kit for the touchpad so if it breaks (or gets too bad) ) can be replaced.
New speakers are better. Whereas last year it offered somewhat diluted audio, this year’s model sounds much richer and easily fills a large room at maximum volume. My measurements didn’t reach an average of 80 decibels (which Framework claims we can see), but the speakers are pretty close. Shoppers should note that the new speakers are specific to Framework 13 Intel models. AMD systems will continue to feature the original kit, with the framework claiming it is “tweaking the audio circuitry.”
The rest of the video call experience is perfectly acceptable. The 1080p, 60Hz webcam continues to be a little grainy, but overall provides a good image. No problem with dual mics. Both the camera and the mic have hardware privacy switches on the top bezels which is nice but to be subtle, they’re the same black color as the surrounding bezels so it’s kind of annoying to tell them apart It can get difficult. I literally shone them with my phone flashlight a few times because I didn’t want to be bothered with my surroundings.
Under the hood, the framework performance is strong. Of course, you can basically configure the device with any combination of specs you want, but what I got was a $1,469 price tag with a Core i7-1360P, 16GB of memory, 512GB of storage, and 61Wh of battery. This is the expensive side. The Dell XPS 13 has the same specs, but the slightly less powerful Core i7 costs just $1,099 at the time of this writing. However, if you have some parts on hand and can replace them, you can save a little money. Build your own DIY kit.
Personally, if I were to buy this, I would probably choose the Core i5-1340P / 8GB / 256GB Base model. The only difference is that the battery is significantly smaller and the battery cannot be upgraded without upgrading the processor to a Core i7. , even if you buy a DIY kit. (There’s clearly a complicated assembly line reason for this, it’s a whole thing.)
The 1360P I’m testing is good enough for Chrome based workloads. I didn’t notice any heat or fan noise while working with dozens of Chrome tabs and a few other apps, often with Spotify streaming over the top. In fact, even in battery saver mode, the fans didn’t spin at all. It’s certainly a much quieter experience than the Dell XPS 13. Even light photo work in Lightroom was comfortable and fast.
Benchmark testing is still in progress and we don’t have a full suite ready for this review, but we hope to have one to report later today. For now, suffice it to say that this performance framework build should be more than enough for anyone doing standard office and leisure tasks. My workload was clearly not giving the Core i7 anything close to working out.Even light photo editing
And then we come across the most pleasant surprise this Framework laptop has to offer. Well, it actually wasn’t surprising. As we mentioned earlier, the Framework equipped the Performance system with a 61Wh battery, whereas last year’s model he had 55Wh available. (As I said above, the latter also comes with the base model, and it’s reasonable to assume that it will have less life than this performance configuration.) It also claims “20-30% better battery life.” claimed. Across a variety of real-world use cases. ’ Still, I will never see such claims, and I have certainly been burned before. So, I’m happy to report that I averaged 9 hours and 12 minutes of continuous use with this device. This is one of the longest lifespans of any Intel laptop I’ve ever seen… I don’t even know how long. for a while. it’s great.
There were basically two concerns with the Framework Laptop we reviewed last year. Repairability was tempting and admirable, but the poor battery life and thin audio made it a poor product for the price. Market research for Framework must have uncovered similar complaints as it solved both problems to a large extent. Basically, the only problem with this device is its generic plastic look and feel. Of course, they are not a problem for everyone.
These changes make the framework look like a far more compelling purchase compared to the likes of the XPS 13 than it did last year. XPS is beautiful and robust in ways that frameworks aren’t. But apart from upgradability, this framework has many other advantages. Better screens, better port selection, better audio, many A quieter, cooler chassis and longer battery life. Of course, frameworks are also pretty expensive. I think it’s an apt reminder that true user-serviceability still comes at a price, even in a world where every company is pushing sustainability as a core element of their gadgets.
Photography: Monica Chin
