That is the finest Framework 13 laptop the firm has ever produced. The mighty new AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 mainboard is clearly the predominant factor which has improved the total expertise, efficiency, and battery lifetime of the wee upgradeable marvel, however I’m additionally moderately into the new keyboard and GameBoy Advance opaque monitor bezel, too.
I’ve lengthy beloved the ethos behind the Framework 13. It is the ship of Theseus in laptop kind. That is how we regularly check with our desktop machines, the place we’ll rip out and substitute the innards nonetheless we want, however that is not often been a function of notebooks. And the place it has been in the previous, it’s not been for lengthy.
Framework, nonetheless, has proved itself, releasing new mainboards throughout a number of various Intel and AMD (and even RISC) PCBs you may rapidly and simply drop into the similar 13-inch chassis you might need purchased 4 years in the past. And every and every different a part of these outstanding laptops will be upgraded, too, and in that point we have had new enter modules, increased decision panels, and now a new keyboard and trackpad module, too.
And the whole lot is appropriate with the very first Framework 13. It is an concept that basically captures my creativeness, and implies that, regardless of the increased value of a Framework laptop, the concept that it can develop with me over time and I will not must spend that much once more to get an improved machine in a couple of years time makes the machines extremely fascinating. If you happen to can afford it.
AI 300 sequence specs
Mainboard: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
Cores: 12
Threads: 24
Increase clock: 5.1 GHz
iGPU: Radeon 890M
Compute models: 16
Reminiscence: 64 GB DDR5-5600
Storage: 1 TB WD Black SN850X
Display screen: 13-inch matte
Decision: 2880 x 1920
Refresh charge: 120 Hz
Battery: 61 Whr
Dimensions: 16 mm x 297 mm x 229 mm
Worth: $2,094 | £2,108
However all shouldn’t be completely rosy in my Framework laptop backyard. I’ve spent a very long time utilizing these machines now, usually as my every day driver work pocket book and journey companion, and in that point there are issues I want the firm would get around to checking out.
It is actually not the {hardware}—although I might love a much less ghostly display screen—it’s the software program. Or moderately, the full lack thereof. Certain, we regularly castigate laptop makers for his or her bloatware and myriad apps for controlling followers and lighting and energy profiles and updates and no matter else an organization needs to drive on us. However a easy Framework app that provides us management over fan curves and energy could be the icing on the endlessly repairable cake.
Noise has been a difficulty with Framework 13 machines in the previous and, although it’s been noticeably improved with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 mainboard right here, it will nonetheless get these followers blowing even simply doing a Home windows replace. I might like to have the choice to regulate these fan curves to be a little simpler on the ear, particularly after I’m utilizing my laptop in well mannered firm. Learn: don’t desire my companion kicking off as a result of I am enjoying Soccer Supervisor whereas Beneath Deck is dominating the projector display screen.
It will even be neat to have that tied right into a extra granular stage of management over the APU, in the similar method we will with gaming handhelds utilizing the very same processor silicon. That is how we get higher battery life and noise ranges on these gadgets, so we all know it’s doable with a little software program work.
However nonetheless, the gaming battery lifetime of the AI 9 HX 370 is already pretty damned good even when that Radeon 890M iGPU is being thrashed, and it will even ship spectacular body charges, too. When it involves gaming, this is the strongest and performant Framework laptop I’ve seen exterior of the sadly stunted Framework 16. Given AMD’s present cellular graphics technique, the chance of seeing a GPU replace for that 16-inch gaming laptop is pretty low proper now.
Persist with 1080p and, with a little FSR frosting and possibly some body gen thrown in right here and there, you may see some stellar gaming efficiency out of this 13-incher. The one precise let down on that entrance is the display screen itself. Now, I am completely happy that Framework has began delivery this higher-resolution, 120 Hz show for its machines, however one in every of the largest draw back to the authentic 2256 x 1504 display screen was its response time, and that hasn’t been massively improved with the up to date 2880 x 1920 panel.
Which means you do get a stage of ghosting that does not really feel nice once you’re gaming on the machine. Although, clearly it bears saying that this shouldn’t be a gaming laptop, it’s simply way more able to it than earlier boards have allowed.
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I’ve gone for the GameBoy Advance purple, and it actually does body the Framework superbly.
However there are recent upgrades alongside the new AMD mainboard, too. And the most blatant from a visible standpoint are the see-through bezels and IO modules. I’ve obtained gray and purple choices for this machine, and after all I’ve gone for the GameBoy Advance purple, and it actually does body the Framework superbly.
The opposite addition is extra refined, and that is the new enter cowl equipment. For the uninitiated, that is the cowl which incorporates each keyboard and trackpad. This second gen cowl is designed to have higher key stability and extra constant illumination. And whereas the white RGB LEDs nonetheless look nice—and the font is barely totally different—the factor is a pleasure to sort on, though I erroneously had a German QWERTZ board shipped my method. Fortunately muscle reminiscence actually does assist…
It’s value biking again around to the value angle, nonetheless, as a result of Framework laptops should not low cost. It does not have the manufacturing would possibly of the Dells and Lenovos of the world, and it’s doing one thing sadly distinctive, which suggests there’s a value premium.
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This DIY construct I’ve been testing comes with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 board, 64 GB DDR5-5600, and a 1 TB WD SN850X SSD. And that makes this an costly buy at $2,094 (£2,108). I am into the restore and upgradeability ethos, and that can make it a extra reasonably priced laptop years down the line, however when one thing like the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, with its Snapdragon X Elite chip and OLED display screen is simply over a grand, or half the value, it’s solely the potential future e-waste that may genuinely give me pause.
Purchase if…
✅ You worth the concept of limitless repairability and upgradeability: The entire deal with the Framework 13 is that it can develop with you and you may improve as you want… and by no means want purchase one other laptop once more.
✅ You need a little laptop with precise gaming potential: The Radeon 890M iGPU has quite a lot of gaming grunt regardless of its diminutive scale.
Do not buy if…
❌ You simply want an affordable laptop for proper now: I get it, typically you just do want to purchase the pocket book you may afford, and the Framework ethos does come with a value premium.
❌ You will need to have a top quality display screen: That is nonetheless the weakest a part of the Framework package deal; there is no OLED right here.
I’ve been utilizing a Qualcomm machine for nearly a yr now as my precise go-to work laptop. It isn’t let me down but, and will play Soccer Supervisor pretty much silently, with the similar battery life.
You’ll be able to go cheaper, after all. There’s the Ryzen AI 7 350 board, with eight CUs and kinda Steam Deck ranges of gaming perf, and you may pair that with 16 GB DDR5 and a less expensive 1 TB drive to convey it right down to a extra manageable $1,500. That may be a nice machine, however at that time I might stick with the older AMD Ryzen 7 7840U Framework 13 mainboard with the higher graphics and even decrease sticker value. The fantastic thing about the Framework market is that older boards do get discounted whereas they’re nonetheless in inventory.
Then there’s additionally the truth you possibly can simply purchase the mainboard by itself when you’re already in the Framework ecosystem, or herald an SSD from one other construct, otherwise you need to supply SODIMMs your self. All methods to make issues cheaper for your self in the similar method you would possibly whereas constructing out a DIY desktop PC.
However nonetheless, this pricing stuff is the place it will get difficult as a result of when you’re beginning out with Framework there’s a value premium. It is morals vs. your checking account. The planet vs. what you may really afford at this time. I like the Framework 13, and with the HX 370 APU it’s a unbelievable all-round machine—and the finest it’s ever been—however it’s additionally a really costly one which means you actually are paying for that doable future improve. If you happen to can afford it, although, it ought to completely be an ethos to get behind.
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