Framework Laptop 13 Pro promises more battery life, performance and metal

[Redaktion]

The Framework Laptop 13 Pro is just as modular as the older Framework Laptop 13, but the new model promises higher performance and a much longer battery life in a stylish metal casing.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Framework-Laptop-13-Pro-promises-more-battery-life-performance-and-metal.1280024.0.html

[Swizzy]

Hope they survive the price increases. With some ram and an ssd you're looking at £1550 minimum.

[Worgarthe]

Quite an amazing laptop (also great presentation by Framework). I definitely don't need it, but I totally want it.

[T. Fletcher]

Not quite my tempo. But they're getting close and I like that.

[But(t)]

This: 13.5 inch display at 1.4 kg.
MacBook Air 13: 13.6 inch display at 1.2 kg and the Air is cheaper too, due to economies of scale.
Yes, the Air is much less/not repairable, but, let's be honest, you are not going to need a repair anyway.

The Intel version relies on modern LPCAMM2 RAM.

Do they explain, why AMDone is treated as a 3rd world citizen? I guess it doesn't matter since the APU has the outdated RDNA3.5 iGPU architecture:
Imagine getting this outdated RDNA3.5 APU that can't do modern, DLSS-like, hardware ML upscaling, like RDNA4 can. Way to waste your money.

The leaked FSR4 INT8 looks so much better on RDNA3 / RDNA3.5, than what RDNA3 / RDNA3.5 officially support, but AMD is quiet about it (they are not the good guys (anymore/if they ever were)):
youtube.com/watch?v=VPMOjdvmHMk "FSR4 on RDNA3 on Windows!!! How To Guide and Side by Sides Tested on RX 7800 XT"
youtube.com/watch?v=yB0qmTCzrmI "AMD Tried To Hide This From You - FSR 4 INT8 on RDNA 3 & 2 Tested"

youtube.com/watch?v=v70p700D94U And here Owen shows that even AMD's /r/radeon hardcore crowd is starting to get pissed off on AMD for also not releasing FSR4 INT8 (and righteously so, of course).

Bandwidth:
Air 15 M5: 153.6 GB/s = 9600 MT/s * 128-bit / 1000 / 8.
AMDone version of this: 89.6 GB/s = 5600 MT/s * 128-bit / 1000 / 8.
The Air is 71% faster.

Unfortunately, the Air goes only up to 32 GB RAM. APPLE, it's time to fix this next year, as we all know that higher memory densities are available: 64 GB per RAM stick are available since early 2025 and a RAM stick uses 64 bits, so the Air could theoretically have 128 GB RAM/unified memory. With a higher memory bandwidth in 2027 using LPDDR6 (LPDDR5X is kinda maxed out), more RAM, a faster iGPU would also justify having more RAM. Let's say 25% higher memory bandwidth next year: 32 GB * 1.25 = 40 GB -> 48 GB for the Air M6 hopefully in 2027 (expecting more would be unrealistic as it would cannibalize the MacBook Pro sales).

[big_deally]

That's really nice one! Maybe next time also better front firing speakers? I'd buy it even though I don't really need 5th laptop in a house, but not with those RAM prices...

[daniel_i]

This: 13.5 inch display at 1.4 kg.
MacBook Air 13: 13.6 inch display at 1.2 kg and the Air is cheaper too, due to economies of scale.
Yes, the Air is much less/not repairable, but, let's be honest, you are not going to need a repair anyway.

The Intel version relies on modern LPCAMM2 RAM.

Do they explain, why AMDone is treated as a 3rd world citizen? I guess it doesn't matter since the APU has the outdated RDNA3.5 iGPU architecture:
Imagine getting this outdated RDNA3.5 APU that can't do modern, DLSS-like, hardware ML upscaling, like RDNA4 can. Way to waste your money.

The leaked FSR4 INT8 looks so much better on RDNA3 / RDNA3.5, than what RDNA3 / RDNA3.5 officially support, but AMD is quiet about it (they are not the good guys (anymore/if they ever were)):
youtube.com/watch?v=VPMOjdvmHMk "FSR4 on RDNA3 on Windows!!! How To Guide and Side by Sides Tested on RX 7800 XT"
youtube.com/watch?v=yB0qmTCzrmI "AMD Tried To Hide This From You - FSR 4 INT8 on RDNA 3 & 2 Tested"

youtube.com/watch?v=v70p700D94U And here Owen shows that even AMD's /r/radeon hardcore crowd is starting to get pissed off on AMD for also not releasing FSR4 INT8 (and righteously so, of course).

Bandwidth:
Air 15 M5: 153.6 GB/s = 9600 MT/s * 128-bit / 1000 / 8.
AMDone version of this: 89.6 GB/s = 5600 MT/s * 128-bit / 1000 / 8.
The Air is 71% faster.

Unfortunately, the Air goes only up to 32 GB RAM. APPLE, it's time to fix this next year, as we all know that higher memory densities are available: 64 GB per RAM stick are available since early 2025 and a RAM stick uses 64 bits, so the Air could theoretically have 128 GB RAM/unified memory. With a higher memory bandwidth in 2027 using LPDDR6 (LPDDR5X is kinda maxed out), more RAM, a faster iGPU would also justify having more RAM. Let's say 25% higher memory bandwidth next year: 32 GB * 1.25 = 40 GB -> 48 GB for the Air M6 hopefully in 2027 (expecting more would be unrealistic as it would cannibalize the MacBook Pro sales).

Regarding AMD using LPCAMM2, the CEO himself said they tried to work with AMD on this, but they refused. Very irritating as a long time AMD fan! But oh well, my money will go to the company that makes good choices, regardless.

As for the Apple comparison - You are underestimating the repair portion of these devices; that is literally their market appeal. Comparing them to one of the least repairable devices is apples to oranges. And as for the value proposition, again it doesn't matter, no one is really cross shopping these devices. No one who wants to use custom Linux distros is using a MBP unless they have to, but they DO want it's hardware quality. That is their goal with this product.
I say this as some with a MBA M4 with 24GB of RAM.

[daniel_i]

Hope they survive the price increases. With some ram and an ssd you're looking at £1550 minimum.

They have committed to not increasing prices on any preorders, which is very nice. Honestly their standard configuration is a good value compared to even some OEMs.