Framework 13 (2025): A Developers Dream or Just Too Darn Expensive?

It's 2025 and yet they can't strike a deal with NVIDIA?. Smh

Still waiting on an OLED display

they need to sell a 2 in 1 new lcd upgrade. the 12 inch is garbage an d expensive.

selling frameworks lets the resell markets also be able to leverage old components into old laptops letting them have a 2nd life much easier than other laptop companies. even if u only buy newest frameworks and sell old ones, the ecosystem benefits greatly.

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tuxedo > framework

Pointless, does not offer AI MAX 385/395 at affordable price > no GPU performance , most peoples CPU needs met a decade ago ...

Nice review but that final point about upgrade costs is pretty silly. Most people do not need to upgrade their SSD (except for more storage space, which isn't even an option on many competitors), even less so their wifi card.

Needs to be $500 cheaper otherwise will remain a niche product

You buy the framework for when something brraks. Most high end mobile cpus right now should last you well into the future. Buy yhe keyboard and battery arr probably going to fail you before the CPU does.

I've had this ridiculous debate over my previous client employee, for very very tight schedules it's much better to code on your target server x86 rather than a macbook.

It would be so stupid to get a massive crash for your realtime application because your dependancies were not exactly the same as the server. Yes there should be docker though but still (that is a human error but let's be honest we never anticipate everything). Some devs said macos was more stable, personally my macbook pro was always having suprise issues during meetings, webcam, screensharing, permissions... So for me the OS is just a convenience part as I don't think macos more stable for crunching time periods. On Linux I know how to restart anything becasue that's the way it is. On MacOs any software update can break a tiny bit. Just freaking permission stuff... Oh and the fact you basically have to "reduce security" to install brew as dev (I've tried asahi Linux and it's promising but really hard to recommend as so many stuff are missing - although it's fast). Also privacy wise, now you have much more spyware on macos, all activtrak performance suit and equivalent has been fitted with jumpcloud provider so... (that's how I caught the CTO capturing microphone of company's employee). My honest opinion, on Linux x86 user friendlyness of a terminal wise, everything is easier to install and run.

The resonances with the old keyboard are only hapenning with certain frequencies that have to be very loud.
A good test for hearing resonances is playing a slow sweep on the speakers :)

The speakers are better on Linux as they provide a custom DSP profile with EasyEffects :D
Also the fan noise is less of an issue when I'm working in Linux.
And the premium feel - for me it actually is such a great minimalistic design, that I prefer it over a lot of other laptops, so to me it feels "premium" in a different sense.
With most other laptops what feels cheap to me is weird keyboard layouts with keys outside of the keyboard area, ugly logos or designs on the lid, led icons on the touchpad, stickers on the frame of my laptop etc :D

It's just too expensive.

A Framework Laptop costs roughly 1.5 times more than a similarly specced regular laptop, so lets say the Framework is 1500€ and the regular one is 1000€.
Considering a normal life of 5 years, at that time you need to buy a new Framework mainboard, for around 750€, plus RAM (150€) and storage (100€). So you spend 2500€ and to end with a laptop with and outdated design and current specs, spending a total of 2500€. You can sell the old maindboard, but good luck finding a buyer for a such a niche product.
If you go with the regular laptop route, you buy a new one for 1000€, spending 2000€ in total, and you get current design and specs, with the bonus that you have a second laptop, that can go to your kids or parents or that you can sell for sometinhg like 300€.

What's the point of buying something that breaks much often compared to a macbook air that almost never breaks, does it not produce more electronic waste? The price is the same but you have much more support and less headaches

64gb ram is a nice to have for development. but I managed to grab a lunarlake 258v vivobook for just 800$. And It is mostly sufficient for everything, while being excellent in majority of things. So yes, price is a bit of a problem for this in an era where we are almost at a point where we no longer need any more upgrades.

I LOVE my Framework 13.

question is what laptop of mine i should sell to get one

I will never support Framework until they drop dishonest Linus Sebastian.

I Guess AMD is getting a bit reckless. I hope Intel's new CEO has new ideas to compete. Mabye he'll stop the AI nonsense.

The price quickly becomes reasonable, when you go for something like more than 32gigs of ram and something like a 4TB ssd. And you also need to consider that yes, you pay the full price when first purchasing the laptop, but you pay less than half the price when it's time to upgrade, because you only buy the parts that need upgrading.
Also, I have to disagree with the trackpad being bad. It's honestly comparable to a macbook one. And the speakers only need a bit of eq to sound vastly better.

AI is fake and gay, buy a real cpu

Their consumer first mentality is the biggest selling point to me. No other company am I excited or even optimistic about future products to be helpful.

I am excited for the Framework 12!

good point , I want to support framework

Wow that's a blisteringly harsh video.

I'm interested in the Framework 12 when it comes out. Curious how it'll review (Trump's tariffs though make it hard)

Thinkpads used to be what FrameWork is now.

Thinkpads are sold on the second-hand market. For dirt-cheap

Framework didn't get to that point yet

Which is unfortunate

I didn’t grow up rich. I grew up hearing "we can't afford it," stressed out by bills, trapped in a loop of financial anxiety. Then one random night I came across Nixorus books, and honestly—it was like finding secrets someone desperately wanted hidden. The anger hit me hard: why didn't anyone tell me this sooner? If you're tired of feeling broke and played by the system, trust me, Nixorus books expose exactly what they don’t want you to know.

Thinkpads used to be what FrameWork is now.

Thinkpads are sold on the second-hand market. For dirt-cheap

Framework didn't get to that point yet, which is something that'll happen at some point. But sucks right now

Also. Upgradability is a promise that framework made and has delivered on. But who needs an upgrade every year? Most don't. Which is not the point. Eventually you'll need an upgrade. Which will be available. Also, nice M4 Macbook / ASUS Zenbook you got there. Would be a same if the repair cost was over 2K!

I need to upgrade my MacBook Pro 16 soon and definitely won't buy a Mac again. Hoping Framework would do a updated 16 Inch with the latest AMD Ryzen AI with the good integrated GPU. Can't remember the exact model name. Like the company thought and I think worth supporting them

a Dev dream would be, as soooo often request from devs, come with ECC..

You know it's a windows laptop if the video does not even contain a section about the trackpad - in my mind the most important part of a pc..

At minute 9 you mention as alternative a $1500+ laptop and then give an example of the MBP M4 12CPU which starts at $1999 before taxes and only has 24 GB of RAM. There are Windows laptops with HX 370, 32 GB RAM and even dedicated GPU for almost half that price which would be a better competitor to the Framework 13

Thanks so much for the review! 

💸...Framework repairability is well worth the extra price. MacBook Air 15" screen replacement $650.00! Where as to replace the screen on your Framework 13, the price starts at $160 depending on which screen you are getting. Not that people are breaking their screen all the time (the cat pushed my MacBook off the table not me🐈) but knowing you can repair things yourself for much less than on an 🍏 is a pretty big advantage.

They must not sacrifice build quality and user experience for upgradability, You use the laptop several hours every day while you're probably upgrading something once a year.


This company commits many catastrophic decisions, The concept is great, but the execution is problem.

I don't think the build quality of framework and in general the fact that it's not a premium laptop is a problem, because in couple of years, it will be illegal to make better quality laptops at similar price range due to right to repair and EU consumer laws.

I'm a professional programmer, purchased a first gen framework 13, and it's been by far the best laptop I've ever purchased. I have since replaced hinge, and the bezel and that's been it. It's been by far the best laptop I've ever had. I made the switch to linux on it, as I was growing sick of Windows' bullshit. Over time it's performed better, the battery life and fan noise have improved just due to software and driver updates.

Never had any issues with hardware, drivers, or decaying battery life/performance that I've had with previous mac books and similarly sized windows laptops. And I'm sure when I do I can just replace the battery, it's a really nice feeling. I'm considering upgrading to a newer CPU/Mobo at some point, and turning the old one into a home server with the enclosures they sell too, which is a nice bonus.

I just pulled the trigger to pre-order this laptop after watching this, thanks. I need something small and portable, and I do mostly code on my small laptop that is currently failing. Sadly it's not worth repairing. The upgrade and repair route of Framework has always had my attention. Hopefully it turns out to be a good purchase for the long term. Being able to just replace the mainboard and maybe ram for upgrades, and be able to make my own repairs sounds great.

I'm wondering how you did your battery tests, since most reviewers are seeing a decrease or match in battery life to the previous gen.

Was interested in the framework 12 but it’s very over priced compared to the competition.

Cost too much. Should be 30% cheaper at least. Not enough chassis varieties.

I could pay a bit more for a MacBook Air and have a way better product, so sadly, this decision is quite easy…

Framework laptops can be expensive, but if you get the 7640u or Core Ultra 5 version they can be pretty reasonable, especially if you just get the base DIY and purchase RAM and storage yourself. Even the prebuilt 7640u version is $899, and then you can spend a bit extra on some more expansion cards and another 8GB ram stick and still spend < $1000

Well....if you do App development...you need Frames for viewing your SQL tables, your Source Debugger WIndow, your Browser DIsplay to see in real time how things are working. Plus SSH sessions into your servers...maybe even a wireshark session going LDAP tools....I mean....just gag me.

One App I was working I had all that plus I would say another 3 virtual desktops going for user simulation. This is on a 64Gig laptop and I had about 4 Gigs of memory to spare debugging this monstrosity of essentially a Java program.

No way could I fit all that on anything but a 18inch display, so I bought an AMD Alienware.

Now wherever I decide to work, whether it be at the coffee shop for the day or God forbid a drive 15 miles into the office, I need a large format display.

I am cheering for a Framework 18inch :-)

I only trust performance tests I've falsified myself.

Jesus, over 4 reviews they all come to very different conclusions...

arrh I fucking hate this review, it misses the point of the framework almost completely.

1. You don't like the colours of the attachments, well good for you they are there to tailor the latop to you own personal taste (skins + colours). My tastes are not yours.
2. Comparing a MacBook M series laptop to a framework just show a COMPLETE lack of understanding of what the framework line is trying do. You can't upgrade that macbook in 1-3 years time can you? Where as your framework you can, you can literally upgrade everything from the webcam all the way to the CPU and this includes the battery. In 3 years your macbook is going to be ewaste (so ya thanks for that douche bag).
3. Finally as touched on before, framework can be the last laptop you ever buy. No want a intel CPU, fine change it for an AMD. Now want x86_64 fine put in a risk board.

This review is just diabolical poor.

It's cheaper if you go for a pure Notebook build, no GPU like going for an Intel CPU, stick to 60hz, supply your own OS, Ram and SSD much better deals for those else where and it will cost a lot less, easily under a 1000 for this build.

As a Framework 13 7840U owner, I could not be happier with my purchase. I've used Dell XPS, Macbook Pro, Lenovo, and more. Every one of them has pros and cons, and the fact that Framework is serviceable and repairable by me, is fantastic. I also think that AMD did a great job with the 7840U as a whole as I was able to play Cyberpunk 2077 on Linux without issue. Connected to a 5k display, my gaming choices were more limited, but it really did play most of the games I threw at it, all be it at lower settings.

When AMD moved to their new AI branded APUs, I found their offering lackluster as did you. I decided to not upgrade my board and instead built a desktop with a 9950X3D and a 5070ti as AMD has dropped out of the GPU market for the most part. Their middle range cards are just meh right now and overpriced.

Regardless, Framework is a great company and doing right by their customer base. I'd love to see them continue this model, but I'd also like to see better APU/GPU offerings as well.

No one ever cared this much for his audience, Thank you ❤