Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
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GENERAL USE: Good—7.5/10
GAMING/AI: Fair—6.3/10
ENG/DESIGN: Good—7.3/10
SOFTWARE DEV: Good—7.6/10
CONTENT CREATION: Good—7.5/10
PORTABILITY: Very Good—8.8/10
BATTERY: Good—7.4/10
OVERALL SCREEN QUALITY: Good—7.5/10
OVERALL PERFORMANCE: Good—7.3/10
SIZE: 13.5"
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) with an Intel i5 processor and integrated Iris Xe graphics offers a midrange price and is suitable for general use and light engineering work. It has 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, which should be sufficient for everyday tasks and moderate multitasking. A highlight is its repairability and customizability, allowing you to upgrade components. It has a 13.5-inch IPS display, which does not feature a touchscreen but provides good screen color and a 3:2 aspect ratio ideal for productivity. Weighing under 3 pounds and less than an inch thick, it's very portable, but battery life is moderate. It doesn't have a number pad but comes with a backlit keyboard, a fingerprint reader, USB-C charging, and both USB-C and Thunderbolt ports. It's not designed for intensive gaming or heavy 3D/machine learning tasks, so if those are priorities, you may want to look elsewhere. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Evaluation
Pros
- Highly customizable and repairable
- Multiple USB-C and Thunderbolt ports
- Very good build quality
- Excellent webcam quality
- Lightweight and portable design
Cons
- Fair for 3D and machine learning tasks
- Average battery life
- No touchscreen or number pad features
- Not optimized for high-end gaming
Ratings by Category
Portability:4.7
PerfectRec’s portability rating takes into account the volume and thickness of the laptop as well as its weight.
Keyboard Quality:4.6
The Keyboard Quality score is based on the PerfectRec experts’ assessment of tactile feedback, typing comfort, keyboard reliability and typing noise.
Software Development:4.3
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software development.
In addition to a strong emphasis on overall performance, this score also places very high importance on screen quality. Heat management, storage, keyboard and speaker quality are also incorporated, with fan noise rounding out this score.
General Use Screen Quality:4.3
The general use screen score is based on the screen technology, contrast ratio, resolution, brightness, color gamut and color accuracy. This score does not take into account specialized display features for specific use cases, such as high refresh rate for gaming.
Build Quality:4.3
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, chassis rigidity, and overall reliability.
Our assessment of build quality includes many details that are difficult to quantify.
Our laptop experts use their best judgment to produce the final score.
General Use:4.2
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
The most important factors in this score include CPU performance, amount of RAM, screen quality, storage, and battery life.
Keyboard quality, speaker quality, low fan noise, heat management, and to a lesser extent webcam quality are all moderately important factors for this score.
Content Creation:4.2
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, and video editing work.
In addition to a strong emphasis on overall performance, this score also places very high importance on screen quality. Heat management, storage, keyboard and speaker quality are also incorporated, with fan noise rounding out this score.
Battery Life:4.2
PerfectRec’s Battery Life rating is based on hours of battery life in typical usage scenarios.
Operating Noise:4.2
PerfectRec’s Operating Noise Score is based on fan noise measurements. Laptops with a fanless design, such as Macbooks, receive the maximum score.
Engineering & Design:4.1
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is equipped with a capable processor and integrated graphics, sufficient for engineering and design tasks, alongside quality display features such as a high-resolution, bright IPS screen with strong color accuracy and contrast, enhancing visual work. Its repairability and customization options also cater to specific engineering needs, while its slim, lightweight design aids portability without sacrificing keyboard or build quality.
Gaming & AI:3.4
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is limited in gaming and 3D rendering due to its integrated Intel i5-1340P Iris Xe graphics, which offer less power than dedicated gaming GPUs, and its standard 60Hz screen refresh rate that provides less fluid visuals compared to higher refresh rates often sought by gamers.
Full Specs
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
| Price | $1,079 | ||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | ||
Overall Dimensions | 11.7'' x 9'' x 0.62'' | ||
Weight | 2.95 lbs | ||
Width | 11.7" | ||
Depth | 9.01" | ||
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | Intel i5-1340P | ||
RAM | 8 GB | ||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | ||
RAM Slots | 2 | ||
Storage | 256 GB | ||
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | 7.5 Hours | ||
Battery Capacity | 55 Wh | ||
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | 13.5" | ||
Display Technology | IPS | ||
Resolution | 2256 x 1504 | ||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | ||
Display Brightness | 472 nits | ||
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score  | 7.8/10 | ||
Portability Score | 8.8/10 | ||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | ||
Premium Business Laptop | No | ||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | ||
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | ||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | ||
Webcam | 1080p | ||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | ||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | ||
Number Pad | No | ||
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | 1 | ||
USB-C ports | 2 | ||
USB-C Charging | Yes | ||
Display Outputs | 2 | ||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | ||
Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
Wired
Scott Gilbertson | July 2023
"If you’re thinking of investing in your first Framework, now is the time. The kinks and rough edges have all been smoothed out and this is a very nice machine with a bright, upgradable future. The only reason I can think of to wait is the AMD model, which I’ll be sure to test as soon as I can get my hands on one."
Comparison charts
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