Framework just gave its smallest laptop a major upgrade — and a week after launch, the new Framework 13 laptop is already sold out through Batch 8. The Laptop 13 Pro is built around repair-friendly design, and it takes aim at Apple’s MacBook Pro. It comes with a redesigned aluminum body, Intel’s new Core Ultra Series 3 chips, a bigger 74Wh battery, and the kind of Linux support you usually only see on workstation laptops. It’s the biggest change to the Laptop 13 since the original launched. And it’s still fully modular inside.
Price: From $1,199
Where to Buy: Framework
Framework announced the laptop on April 21, 2026. First units ship in June, but demand has already pushed later orders into August. Pricing starts at $1,199 for the DIY Edition and $1,499 for the pre-built version. If you already own an older Laptop 13, here’s the good part. Every old mainboard fits the new chassis. The new display and Pro Input Cover Kit also drop right in. That’s not marketing talk. That’s the whole point of Framework, and they didn’t break it.
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A Real Aluminum Body, Finally
The biggest change is the body. The Laptop 13 Pro swaps the older mixed-material build for a chassis machined from blocks of 6063 aluminum, finished in graphite. Early reviews say it’s the first Framework that doesn’t ask you to choose between repairability and feel. The good news is Framework didn’t give up the modular insides to get there. The Pro Input Cover Kit stiffens the deck, Framework says the hinges use a better design, and the whole laptop weighs 3.11 pounds (1.41 kg). That keeps it light enough to carry all day.
This redesign closes the gap between Framework and the big sealed-up laptops without locking the device down. You can still pop the back, swap the expansion cards, and reach the SSD in a few minutes. The screws stay in place when you remove them. The repair manuals are still free. Framework just made the body feel like it’s worth the price.
Intel Core Ultra Series 3 and the Battery That Won’t Quit
Inside, the Laptop 13 Pro moves to Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 lineup. You can pick from the Ultra 5, Ultra X7, or Ultra X9. AMD fans aren’t left out either. Framework also offers a Ryzen AI 300 option for anyone who prefers Team Red. Both options include an NPU for on-device AI work, which has become a must-have on premium laptops launching in 2026.
The bigger news is the battery. Framework boosted capacity to 74Wh, a 21% jump from the last generation. The company claims up to 20 hours of runtime. That number comes from Framework’s published test setup: an Ultra X7 358H chip, Intel Arc B390 graphics, the 2.8K touch screen at 250 nits and 60Hz, 32GB of memory, and a 1TB SSD running Netflix 4K on Windows 11’s Best Power Efficiency mode. Real-world use will land lower depending on what you do. Even so, this puts it in MacBook Pro range for off-charger work. Framework also upgraded the in-box charger from 60W to a 100W GaN model, so it tops up faster when you plug in.
A 2.8K Touch Display That Actually Flexes
The new 13.5-inch screen is a 3:2 panel at 2880×1920. Its refresh rate ranges from 30Hz up to 120Hz. That’s a real upgrade if you’ve been using the older 60Hz panel. Scrolling in Windows, trackpad gestures, and stylus input all feel smoother right away. Touch is now standard on the Pro through in-cell technology, which builds the touch layer into the panel for a tighter, less plasticky feel. Brightness peaks at 700 nits typical, the panel covers 100% sRGB, and Framework calibrates each panel for color accuracy.
The 3:2 shape is the real win here. You get more vertical space for documents, code, and web pages without a wider laptop. Framework’s hinge can also lay the screen nearly flat. It works well for writing, coding, and reading.
LPCAMM2 Memory and a Haptic Touchpad
Framework switched the Laptop 13 Pro to LPCAMM2 memory. You can spec it up to 64GB at LPDDR5X-7467 speeds. LPCAMM2 modules are smaller, faster, and use less power than the older SO-DIMM kind, but they’re still user-replaceable. That’s the part that matters. Most thin laptops at this memory speed solder LPDDR5X straight to the board. Framework picked LPCAMM2 instead, so you can swap it later. Storage goes up to 8TB on PCIe Gen 5 NVMe. Wi-Fi 7 is built in through an Intel BE211 radio.
The touchpad is new too. It uses haptic feedback now, which means there’s no real click switch to wear out. The click feels the same across the whole pad. Apple did this with its trackpads years ago, and it’s been overdue on the Windows side. With the stiffer deck on top, typing and tracking should feel a step up from the older model. Full reviews will tell us for sure.
The First Ubuntu Certified Framework
This is the part Linux fans will love. The Laptop 13 Pro is Framework’s first Ubuntu Certified system. That means Canonical has tested and approved the hardware, firmware, and drivers out of the box. You can buy it with Ubuntu pre-installed, pick Windows 11, or grab the DIY Edition and install whatever OS you want.
If you’ve spent years fighting ACPI settings and Wi-Fi driver bugs on a Linux laptop, that approval is a big deal. It puts the Laptop 13 Pro in the same group as System76 and Star Labs, but with Framework’s modular design on top. It’s the closest a non-Apple laptop has come to the MacBook Pro for developers, and you can still take it apart.
Upgrade-Friendly, Wallet-Friendly, Future-Friendly
The pricing is where Framework’s approach really shines. $1,199 gets you a DIY Edition you put together yourself. It’s faster than it sounds, and fun if you’ve never built one. $1,499 gets you a pre-built unit. There’s also a new three-year extended warranty option for select regions, which closes another gap with the big brands.
If you already own any Laptop 13, you can buy just the new chassis, just the display, or just the Pro Input Cover Kit and add the upgrade to your current machine. Framework is the only mainstream maker doing this, and it’s the reason the company keeps earning trust.
Price: From $1,199
Where to Buy: Framework
The Laptop 13 Pro doesn’t reinvent the modular laptop. It just smooths every rough edge the original had, adds real Linux support, and asks you to take another look. The market answer is already in: shipments are running into August, and early sales data suggests the Ubuntu pre-built models are outselling the Windows ones. For a company that bet its whole business on repairability, that’s the loudest endorsement yet.
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