I saw the ‘MacBook Pro for Linux users for the first time, and it is a legitimate threat to Windows

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• The new Framework Laptop 13 Pro is a new product with a redesigned chassis.
• It features premium features such as a haptic touchpad, upgraded battery, and comes preloaded with Ubuntu.
• It’s fully compatible and reversible, starting at $1,199 for the DIY version.

Framework, makers of modular, portable portables, has just announced a new product: the Framework Laptop 13 Proa small and lightweight modular laptop with a redesigned chassis, Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, significantly improved battery life, and premium touches such as a haptic touchpad.

Dubbed “the MacBook Pro for Linux users” by Framework CEO Nirav Patel, the Laptop 13 Pro comes preloaded with Windows or Ubuntu and breaks away from the DIY aesthetic of other Framework laptops with a sleek, extruded aluminum design.

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I got my first impression of the Laptop 13 Pro in a video call with Patel, who explained that this laptop is the result of six years of user feedback. “The 13 is the ultimate engineer’s machine,” he said. “It gives you the battery life and performance of power users, while still being configurable and upgradable.”

And that’s right, while we’re pushing a smooth, forward-looking structure that doesn’t compromise the existing Framework. It is reasonably priced, starting at $1,199 for the DIY version, $1,499 pre-built with Ubuntu, or $1,699 pre-built with Windows. If you already have a Framework Laptop 13, it’s only $449 for a new motherboard.

Modularity, meets battery efficiency

Patel says the biggest leap forward is the 13 Pro’s battery life. I tested the 12-inch and 16-inch Framework laptops last year and noticed a longer lifespan in the 16-inch model. The 13 Pro is out to change all that, with a 74Wh battery and Intel’s Panther Lake chips, providing more than 20 hours of video playback in its tests – longer than the 14-inch MacBook Pro M5.

There are three configurations of the Laptop 13 Pro with Panther Lake: Core Ultra 5, X7, and X9, with the most efficient integrated GPU in the Framework laptop, which Framework claims enables AAA gaming performance in titles like Cyberpunk 2077. Of course, you don’t have to sacrifice an Intel SoC — with AMD’s AMD3 R00 option.

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Another factor that has a major impact on battery performance is RAM. The Laptop 13 Pro uses the LPCAMM2 (low-power compression attached memory module 2) format, enabling high memory bandwidth (module speed up to 7467 MT/s) in an energy-efficient package while maintaining an upgradeable format.

The laptop will come in 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB configurations, and most importantly, it can be upgraded down the line — a big draw as RAM prices continue to rise.

Better display, but no OLED

Patel said Framework developed the display from the ground up, making it more streamlined and productive. It’s a 13.5-inch touchscreen LCD display with a resolution of 2880 x 1920 (3K), 700 nits brightness, and a variable refresh rate of 30-120Hz.

However, there is no longer an OLED option, and that is due to both price and battery life. “We’ve built from scratch the best-looking LCD we can make, which is also the most powerful,” he said. Considering the $1,699 price for the pre-built with Windows, this would bring it closer to $2,000.

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The modular nature of the Framework’s components means that components can be swapped between devices, allowing the Laptop 13 Pro’s display to be retrofitted to previous models or vice versa.

A subtle touch

Framework laptops weren’t exactly known for being small and light — the Laptop 16 is about five pounds — but the Laptop 13 Pro weighs three pounds and is 0.6 inches thick. Its aluminum graphite chassis is new and distinctly MacBook-esque, especially the keyboard and the haptic trackpad, a first for the Frame.

“Windows laptops have historically fallen behind Macs in this area,” Patel said, citing a renewed focus on machine firmware for advanced experiences. Customization is where Framework differs; however, with gray and orange colors available for the keys, and a Linux-supported fingerprint reader out of the box that separates the corporate black and silver with its signature DIY aesthetic.

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The build supports some cosmetic customization as well, including bezel plating on the edges with bright color options like orange or light. Like the older versions, the Laptop 13 Pro will come with four Thunderbolt 4 interface ports, connected by a system of expansion cards that allow you to manually select each port and its placement (color).

All these features are compatible with the existing Laptop 13 product, despite the redesign. Both the motherboard and the display from the 13 Pro can be installed directly into the existing system, but the bottom cover is slightly larger due to the improved battery.

It comes with a new chassis upgrade kit that includes a haptic touchpad, a commitment to the modularity of each component that allows users to change and upgrade components one by one. Even better: “All parts are replaceable with a single screwdriver,” says Patel.

Other announcements

In addition to the Laptop 13 Pro, Framework also announced an upgrade to its Laptop 16, which now has an optional haptic touchpad, new bezel colors, and an AMD Ryzen 5 3400U processor at an affordable starting price — a criticism I had of the existing Laptop 16, which started at $1,500.

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Additionally, Framework introduces the OcuLink dev kit, which includes an adapter board, graphics module dock, and PCIe dock that allows the use of off-the-shelf PCIe cards such as graphics cards, 100Gbp/s network cards, and video capture cards. It works as a kit, with 3D printable designs for customization and in-depth user setup.