Framework’s whole thing has always been simple but rare: don’t throw away the whole laptop just because one part got old. Since 2021, the company has kept its 13-inch laptop line modular enough that owners could swap mainboards, upgrade parts, and keep the same machine alive longer than the usual upgrade cycle.
Now the idea is getting its biggest refresh yet with the Framework Laptop 13 Pro, a more premium version of the company’s compact repairable notebook. This is not just a tiny spec bump, bro — Framework is changing the screen, chassis, battery, speakers, trackpad, and processor options while still keeping backward compatibility with older Framework Laptop 13 parts.
The new model is available for pre-order now and is expected to ship in June. Pricing starts at US$1,199 for the DIY Edition, where you bring your own memory, storage, and operating system. That is roughly RM5,700 before tax, shipping, and local markups. A fully assembled version with Ubuntu Linux starts at US$1,499, or around RM7,100 before extras. Windows is available as a paid add-on.
For Malaysian buyers, that puts it firmly in premium ultrabook territory — think MacBook Air, ASUS Zenbook, Dell XPS kind of money. The difference is that Framework is pitching long-term ownership instead of the usual “buy new every few years” laptop cycle. If you hate sealed laptops with soldered everything, this one is basically targeted at you.
The entry-level configuration uses an Intel Core Ultra 5 325 chip with 4-core integrated graphics. Higher-end Intel options include the Core Ultra X7 358H and Core Ultra X9 388H, with the top chip paired with 12-core Intel Arc integrated graphics. Framework is also offering AMD choices: Ryzen AI 7 350 and Ryzen AI 9 HX 370.
The display is also a major upgrade. The Laptop 13 Pro gets a 13.5-inch matte LCD touchscreen with a sharp 2880 x 1920 resolution, a productivity-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio, variable 30Hz to 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 700 nits brightness. That matters in SEA because we are constantly dealing with bright cafés, campus spaces, airports, and rooms with aggressive fluorescent lighting. A dim glossy screen is suffering; a matte 700-nit panel is genuinely useful.
Battery life should improve too. Framework says the new 74Wh battery is 22% larger than the one in previous Framework 13 laptops. Combined with Intel’s newer Panther Lake efficiency, this should make the Pro version more practical for students, developers, creators, and remote workers who don’t want to camp beside a wall socket all day.
Other quality-of-life upgrades include a haptic touchpad, side-firing stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, and a bundled 100W charger. The chassis is now all-metal, which should help the Pro model feel more premium than earlier Framework machines.
Most importantly, the modular DNA is still here. The Laptop 13 Pro supports Framework’s Expansion modules, so users can choose and swap ports like USB, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, and more. Framework also continues to make the machine repair-friendly, even including a screwdriver in the box. Storage remains user-upgradable.
RAM is where things get interesting. Older Framework mainboards used SODIMM memory, but Intel’s Core Ultra X Panther Lake chips require LPDDR5. Instead of fully soldering everything down, Framework is using LPCAMM2, a newer removable memory standard for LPDDR5. That is a big deal right now because RAM prices are painful. You can buy what you can afford today, then upgrade later instead of being locked forever.
No Malaysia-specific availability was listed in the source, so local buyers may need to watch for import options or regional resellers. Still, for SEA power users who care about repairability, fewer e-waste upgrades, and owning a laptop that can evolve over time, the Framework Laptop 13 Pro is one of the more interesting premium machines to keep an eye on.
Source: Liliputing