Framework, the company which manufactures laptops designed for optimal repairabilityannounced a new version of its main product, a laptop with a 13-inch screen. It’s called Framework Laptop 13 Pro, and it has much better battery life, a touchscreen and haptic touchpad, and is equipped with Intel processors.
At an event in San Francisco today, Framework CEO Nirav Patel introduced the company’s new technology, starting with a joke about creating Framework AI, which the company absolutely does not do. After all, the goal of Framework is to give users control over the physical technology they use.
“This industry is fighting for you to own nothing, and they own everything,” Patel said of the AI industry. “We are fighting for a future where we can have everything and be free.”
Framework took advantage of the event to detail other updates coming to its 16-inch laptop. He also showed previews of an official development kit and a wireless keyboard for controlling your rig from the couch.
Frame 13 Pro
The Framework 13 Pro laptop.
Courtesy of Framework
As the name suggests, the 13 Pro is a step up from the company’s last version, the Frame 13. It’s also more expensive, starting at $1,199 for a DIY edition that requires assembling the computer yourself. Prebuilt units start at $1,499 but can be upgraded with more features. Framework says it will start shipping the 13 Pro in June.
The particularity of Framework for its products is the ability to disassemble the object. The 13 Pro is designed with this in mind, so its parts can be easily swapped, upgraded, or replaced. Four Thunderbolt 4 interfaces let you choose which ports (USB-C, HDMI, etc.) you want, then choose where to place them. Framework claims to have planned the laptop with cross-generation compatibility in mind, so current Framebook 13 laptop owners will be able to take the new 13 Pro parts such as the motherboard, display and battery, and integrate them into their existing machine.
The big changes to the 13 Pro’s innards come from Framework’s switch from using an AMD processor to one from Intel. Ultra Series 3 Core processors, which Framework described in its press release as “simply incredibly efficient.” This efficiency, coupled with a larger battery, translates to over 20 hours of battery life when streaming 4K Netflix videos, or so it’s claimed. That’s almost 12 hours more than Framework 13.
Courtesy of Framework
Courtesy of Framework
The screen now functions as a touchscreen. The 13.5-inch screen is a 3K (2880 x 1920) resolution panel, similar to what you would see on a 13-inch tablet like an iPad Or Microsoft Surface. It can reach up to 700 nits of brightness and is paired with an anti-glare matte polarizer to help see the screen in broad daylight. Framework says the display is optimized for productivity and programming because its customers are typically coders or people working.
The frame is an aluminum chassis, about the same size as the previous model, at just under 0.62 inches (16mm) thick. At 3 pounds (1.4 kg), it’s relatively light. It also comes in new colors, like anodized graphite. This is also Framework’s first laptop with a haptic touchpad and Dolby Atmos speakers. It is also the first Ubuntu-certified Framework laptop. It can also run Linux or Microsoft Windows.
“We spent six years learning how to build the most repairable and scalable computers on the planet and took this one to a new level of refinement,” Patel said. “It’s the ultimate expression of our vision, and we can’t wait to see what you think.”
Framework Laptop 16 and wireless touch keyboard
Framework also brings some updates to its existing 16 inch laptop. It features a new haptic touchpad and keyboard options, an option to use AMD’s Ryzen 5 processor, and a new color called Bezel.
The company also previewed an OCuLink development kit that it says can connect to external graphics cards to add some extra graphics oomph to your system. (Unlike 13-inch models, 16-inch laptops support discrete graphics.)
Although it won’t be released anytime soon, Framework also previewed its plans for a wireless keyboard that you can connect to your laptop and use remotely. This is the same mechanical key structure used in the Framework 12 keyboard and can be used with a dongle. Framework invited users to help develop the keyboard via open source keyboard firmware ZMK.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.