Marques Brownlee
Framework 13 Pro: The Modular Laptop is Real!
Summary
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Marques Brownlee reviews the Framework Laptop 13 Pro, highlighting its modularity, build quality, and impressive performance for Linux users. While acknowledging its higher price and some minor drawbacks like speaker quality and webcam, he ultimately praises its upgradeability and commitment to sustainability.
In this tech review, Marques Brownlee examines the Framework Laptop 13 Pro, emphasizing its modular design and commitment to repairability and upgradeability. He praises its excellent build quality, comparing it favorably to Apple's MacBook Pro, and notes its strong performance, especially for Linux users. The laptop comes with interchangeable expansion cards for ports, a 74Wh battery, and a high-resolution display. While the speaker quality and webcam are noted as minor drawbacks, and the price is higher than some competitors, Brownlee concludes that the laptop's modularity, longevity, and sustainable design make it a worthwhile investment, especially for those who value long-term usability and customization.
Verdict
The Framework Laptop 13 Pro is a highly modular, well-built, and performant laptop with excellent upgradeability and long-term software support, making it a compelling choice despite its premium price and minor compromises in webcam and speaker quality.
Pros
- Exceptional modularity and upgradeability 0:41
- Great build quality, comparable to premium laptops 3:55
- Good performance, especially for Linux 12:15
- High-quality display with touch option 4:43
- Excellent user-replaceable components 5:23
- Commitment to long-term software support and sustainability 10:07
Cons
Specs
| Processor Options | Intel U5 325 ($1,599) or Intel X7 358H ($2,899) | 12:15 |
| Memory | 16GB or 32GB, fully upgradeable | 11:51 |
| Storage | 512GB or 1TB NVMe SSD, fully upgradeable | 11:57 |
| Battery | 74Wh, replaceable | 12:01 |
| Display | 2.8K Touchscreen | 4:43 |
| Ports | Modular expansion cards (USB-C, HDMI, SD card, Ethernet) | 3:37 |
| Webcam | 1080p, but poor quality | 8:37 |
| Operating System | Linux (Ubuntu tested), Windows compatible |
Compared to
-
MacBook Pro
Similar premium build quality and overall feel, but Framework offers modularity and repairability that Apple does not.
Best for
Not for
Key Points
- 0:02 Introduction of the Framework Laptop 13 Pro, emphasizing its modularity.
- 0:25 Comparison to past modular projects like Phonebloks and Project Ara.
- 0:41 Unboxing and showcasing the pre-built and DIY options.
- 3:37 Demonstration of swapping expansion cards (USB-C, HDMI, SD card reader, Ethernet).
- 3:55 Discussion of the build quality, comparing it to MacBook Pro, and noting its excellent feel and fingerprint resistance.
- 5:01 Mention of the high-quality display, full-size keyboard, and large trackpad.
- 5:23 Highlighting the easy upgradeability of components like RAM, SSD, battery, and input cover.
- 8:41 Criticism of the webcam quality and speaker performance, though the speakers are described as 'decent'.
- 10:07 Final conclusion that the Framework Laptop 13 Pro is a well-built, high-performance, and highly modular laptop that offers great value for its intended audience, despite its higher price point and some minor compromises.
- 12:15 Discussion of performance benchmarks, comparing it to Intel and Apple Silicon chips.
Worth watching if: If you're interested in modular and repairable laptops, value long-term upgradeability, or are looking for a high-performance machine that runs Linux well, this review provides a comprehensive look at the Framework Laptop 13 Pro.
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