Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
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GENERAL USE: Good—7.9/10
GAMING/AI: Fair—6.7/10
ENG/DESIGN: Good—7.8/10
SOFTWARE DEV: Very Good—8.0/10
CONTENT CREATION: Good—7.9/10
PORTABILITY: Very Good—8.8/10
BATTERY: Good—7.8/10
OVERALL SCREEN QUALITY: Good—7.5/10
OVERALL PERFORMANCE: Very Good—8.0/10
SIZE: 13.5"
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) offers modularity and repairability, with a midrange price, ample storage, and generous RAM. It's powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and boasts an AMD Radeon GPU, making it suitable for general use and capable of handling engineering tasks. The 13.5" IPS display has a 3:2 aspect ratio and does not support touch. It's relatively light and thin, increasing its portability. With a large battery capacity, it should offer substantial battery life. It runs Windows 11 Home and features a high-quality keyboard and webcam, but its gaming and 3D/machine learning capabilities may be limited compared to dedicated gaming or workstation laptops. 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
- Customizable and repairable design
- Lightweight and portable
- High-resolution screen
- High screen brightness
- Multiple USB-C ports, USB4 support
Cons
- Limitations in 3D and machine learning tasks
- Average battery life
- No thunderbolt support
- No dedicated numpad
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.
General Use:4.4
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.
Software Development:4.4
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.
Content Creation:4.4
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.
Engineering & Design:4.3
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design, CAD and 3D 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:4.3
PerfectRec’s Battery Life rating is based on hours of battery life in typical usage scenarios.
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.
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.
Gaming & AI:3.7
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is equipped with a robust AMD Radeon 780M GPU, which allows it to handle gaming and 3D rendering smoothly. Additionally, its screen, while having a standard refresh rate of 60Hz, offers a high-quality IPS display panel which contributes to a better visual experience during gaming and 3D activities.
Full Specs
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
| Price | $1,499 | ||
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 | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | ||
RAM | 16 GB | ||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | ||
RAM Slots | 2 | ||
Storage | 512 GB | ||
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | 9 Hours | ||
Battery Capacity | 61 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 Ports | 0 | ||
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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