Framework Has a Better, More Take-Apart-Able Laptop
Framework, the company that makes laptops designed for optimal repairability, has announced a new version of its core product, a 13-inch screen laptop. It’s called Framework Laptop 13 Pro, and it has much better battery life, a touchscreen, a 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
As the name suggests, the 13 Pro is a step up from the company’s latest version, the Framework 13. It’s also more expensive, starting at $1,199 for a DIY edition that requires assembling the computer yourself. Pre-built 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 use 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 Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, which Framework described in its press release as “simply incredibly efficient.” This efficiency, combined 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
