Review: Framework Laptop finally gets an AMD Ryzen config—and it’s pretty good
This is the Framework Laptop 13. We're using the same pictures as a previous review because it's the exact same laptop. [credit: Andrew Cunningham ]
| Specs at a glance: Framework Laptop 13 (2023) | |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 11 22H2 |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U (8-cores) |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5-5600 (upgradeable) |
| GPU | AMD Radeon 780M (integrated) |
| SSD | 1TB Western Digital Black SN770 |
| Battery | 61 WHr |
| Display | 13.5-inch 2256x1504 non-touchscreen in glossy or matte |
| Connectivity | 4x recessed USB-C ports (2x USB 4, 2x USB 3.2) with customizable "Expansion Card" dongles, headphone jack |
| Price as tested | $1,679 pre-built, $1,523 DIY edition with no OS included |
The Framework Laptop 13 is back again.
My third review of this laptop is probably the one that I (and many Framework-curious PC buyers) have been the most interested to test, as the company has finally added an AMD Ryzen option to the repair-friendly portable. Updates to the Intel version of the Framework Laptop have boosted CPU performance, but its graphics performance has been at a standstill since the Framework Laptop originally hit the scene in mid-2021.
Even AMD's latest integrated graphics won't make a thin-and-light laptop a replacement for a gaming PC with dedicated graphics, but a bit more GPU power makes the Framework Laptop that much more versatile, making it easier to play games at reasonable resolutions and settings than it is on Intel's aging Iris Xe graphics hardware.