AI News Feed
Market watch
LG UltraFine Evo 32U990A-S Hits Record-Low $1,099 on Amazon, TechRadar ReportsNewegg Labor Day Deal: 32GB Kingston Fury Beast DDR4-3200 Kit Nearly Half Price at $179.99 with CodeGalaxy Z Fold 8 inner screen corners reported with excessive giveHuawei unveils Mate XT 2 tri-fold with privacy-screen edition as Apple prepares folding iPhoneWall Street Analysts Recommend Nvidia, Uber and Marvell for Long-Term GrowthLenovo, AMD and Huawei Put Local Large-Model AI at Center of New Devices
LG UltraFine Evo 32U990A-S Hits Record-Low $1,099 on Amazon, TechRadar ReportsNewegg Labor Day Deal: 32GB Kingston Fury Beast DDR4-3200 Kit Nearly Half Price at $179.99 with CodeGalaxy Z Fold 8 inner screen corners reported with excessive giveHuawei unveils Mate XT 2 tri-fold with privacy-screen edition as Apple prepares folding iPhoneWall Street Analysts Recommend Nvidia, Uber and Marvell for Long-Term GrowthLenovo, AMD and Huawei Put Local Large-Model AI at Center of New Devices
Products & Applications

Framework Laptop 13 Pro hands-on: Mature design, but RAM shortage raises price

Framework's Laptop 13 Pro impresses with a sleek build and better battery, but RAM shortages have forced price hikes before shipping, ZDNET finds.

AI News Feed · 2026-08-21 13:42

When Framework introduced the Laptop 13 Pro in April, CEO Nirav Patel called it the "MacBook Pro for Linux users," emphasizing its thin and light form factor as much as its performance. But ZDNET's reviewer, after using the device, believes it deserves a wider audience than just power users, citing a dramatically sleeker build, a larger 74Wh battery, a haptic touchpad, and the latest Intel Series 3 processors.

The laptop marks a maturation of Framework's catalog, moving from its DIY origins to a more polished product that could rival ThinkPad, MacBook, or XPS models if not for the signature DIY aesthetic. The build quality is reportedly airtight, with a solid CNC aluminum chassis and a unibody keyboard cover that snaps into place with just five screws.

The biggest downside is cost. The laptop was not exactly cheap to begin with, and the current RAM shortage has hit Framework hard. In a recent blog post, Patel cited price increases on LPCAMM2 RAM "that goes far beyond anything we had predicted," leading the company to actually downgrade RAM amounts on existing orders. Customers have expressed dissatisfaction.

Under the hood, the Laptop 13 Pro remains fully DIY, offering customization for CPU, RAM, storage, and four expansion card slots. It is "Linux first," with Ubuntu certification and options for Fedora or Ubuntu pre-loaded. The design is backwards-compatible with the non-Pro Laptop 13, allowing users to replace or upgrade the mainboard.

The device is powered by Intel Core Ultra 5, 7, or 9 Series 3 "Panther Lake" processors, promising improved performance and battery efficiency. At its thickest, it measures 0.6 inches and weighs 3.1 pounds. ZDNET noted that the laptop addresses criticisms of last year's Framework Laptop 16, particularly regarding battery life.