Wait, Did I Actually Have Fun With a PC?

Framework 13 feels like more than the (relatively pricey) sum of its (many) parts, because there’s a sense of ownership that is more than just the receipt you take home with it. There’s a tangibility to the Framework 13. The more you come to understand an object, the more you mold it and personalize it, the more it becomes a part of you. It’s like a Lego set. You could buy a prebuilt model on eBay, but it has absolutely no personal connection to you since you have no idea what went into building it.

Just as Lego prices never seem to shrink, customizability will necessitate spending more than you normally would on a laptop of this size and power. My “DIY Kit” configuration sent to me for review included a 2.8K display, an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU, two 8 GB sticks of DDR5 memory, and a 1 TB M.2 2280 SSD. Take into account the expansion cards and a power adapter and my unit would cost around $1,680. If you go for the top-end AMD Ryzen AI 300 series chip, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, that same setup would cost closer to $2,000. That price is also ignoring the Windows license, which will set you back another $140. But if you feel Windows has become overloaded with automatic AI-enabled software, you can ignore the sticker price and finally try Linux. Framework recommends Fedora 41.

There’s one caveat to this customizability. You simply can’t expect the same performance for the price as you would for other laptops. The Framework with a Ryzen AI 7 350 beats a 2024 Dell XPS 13 with an Intel Core Ultra 7 256 V in our CPU benchmarks, but it couldn’t come close to Apple’s $1,000 MacBook Air M4, which remains the king of the benchmarks for this size and is still rated only marginally repairable by the experts at iFixit. But the performance isn’t enough that I would advise artists or 3D modelers to get this device, at least not without the Ryzen Ai 8 HX 370. Besides, at $1,600, you could grab a device with a discrete GPU. If tariffs weren’t disrupting both prices and supply, I would suggest such devices as the 2024 editions of the Asus TUF Gaming A14 or the ROG Zephyrus G14. Both those laptops have RAM soldered on, so the choice is between overt performance or upgradability. I can’t blame anybody who opts for more juice.

The hard part about a modular laptop is it has to look and feel—at the very least—as good to use as a non-modular device from any number of brands. Sometimes, a keyboard and trackpad make all the difference. Even though the input cover on the Framework 13 looks very, very close to your typical old-school Dell XPS (or whatever Pro or Pro Max they’re calling it nowadays). The Framework 13’s 1.5 mm depth and sturdy keys offered an excellent typing experience. The smooth trackpad offered just enough resistance that I didn’t feel like I was running my thumb over a sheet of ice.

Framework has also done more work to the system’s thermals this go around. Even when connected to an outlet and running benchmarks, the fans never became so loud they were distracting. It’s a comfortable enough laptop to actually use on your lap, though its bottom panel tends to get warm with any minor work. It even got toasty when using a single browser with a dozen tabs.

There are other aspects to this laptop that are just middling. The dual stereo 2W speakers will be good enough for YouTube viewing but it’s not what I prefer for watching a full-length film. Its built-in webcam offers grainy, low-res video especially in low light. The screen’s brightness is good enough for indoor settings, but even at its highest brightness settings it’s not a good contender for working from your porch in direct sunlight.

If this were any other laptop, I would say the price is way too high for what you get. However, the modularity and customizability more than make up for it. It’s enough I wish Framework went further with it and offered more outlandish color options. I’m smitten with the see-through plastic bezel, but Framework didn’t send me any of its new clear plastic expansion cards. That’s a shame because now all I want is a device full of translucent components. The fact that I can easily replace my keyboard with clear plastic keys speaks volumes to the joys of a modular design.

It’s enough to make me wonder why Framework doesn’t have more frame color options for its 13-inch and 16-inch models. Framework’s devices seem the perfect place to promote ostentatious color choices and materials you simply can’t get elsewhere. That’s why I’m intrigued by the Framework 12 2-in-1 laptop with its touchscreen and cool pastel colors. It will be a low-power device, and it will cost more than similar setups with those lower-power Intel i3 and i5 chips. After holding back U.S. preorders due to the impact of tariffs, those devices are available for preorder and now start at $550, more than similar entry-level Windows devices. But that’s the price you pay for modularity.

And Framework’s modular design has had an impact. More laptops like the Asus ROG Strix Scar for 2025 now sport tool-less carapaces to let you access battery and RAM. I’ve heard from Intel’s VP of Client Computing, Gokul Subramaniam, and now I can tell Intel is on the hype train for modular laptops as well. Even if Framework’s devices are too expensive, it’s a good thing the company exists in the first place. Building your own laptop is a legitimately fun experience, and I feel more connected with my tech because of it.