--- title: 'Framework 13 Pro: The Modular Laptop is Real!' source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=_xjxwl1zLMc' video_id: '_xjxwl1zLMc' date: 2026-07-28 duration_sec: 768 channel: 'Marques Brownlee' --- # Framework 13 Pro: The Modular Laptop is Real! > Source: [Framework 13 Pro: The Modular Laptop is Real!](https://youtube.com/watch?v=_xjxwl1zLMc) ## Summary The video reviews the Framework 13 Pro laptop, a modular device designed for repairability and upgradability. It compares the laptop's build quality, performance, and features against the MacBook Pro, highlighting the trade-offs between modularity and integrated design. ### Key Points - **Introduction to Framework 13 Pro** [00:02] — The video introduces the Framework Laptop 13 Pro, a modular laptop aiming for MacBook Pro-level battery life and performance. - **Modular vs Integrated** [01:12] — Framework compares its modular design to tightly integrated systems like MacBook Pro, highlighting the trade-off between repairability and build precision. - **Port Selection** [02:10] — Users can choose port modules: three USB-C and one SD card reader, with options for HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, etc. - **Build Quality** [02:38] — The laptop has a matte black finish, hides fingerprints well, and feels 85% as well-built as a MacBook Pro. - **Repairability and Upgradability** [04:01] — The laptop is designed for easy repair with included tools; parts like keyboard deck can be swapped in 5-10 minutes. - **Display** [05:10] — Custom 3:2 aspect ratio 2880x1920 display with anti-glare finish, 100% sRGB but not DCI-P3, not touchscreen. - **Keyboard and Trackpad** [06:32] — Full-size backlit keyboard with good travel, large haptic trackpad, fingerprint reader is slower than MacBook's. - **Performance and Battery** [07:14] — Intel Core Ultra Series 3, integrated graphics for light gaming, 74Wh battery, performance is about 80% of M4 MacBook Pro for productivity. - **Weaknesses: Speakers and Webcam** [08:10] — Speakers are average, webcam is 1080p but poor quality; microphone is decent. - **Pricing and Long-Term Value** [10:00] — Starts at $1,600, more expensive than previous gen. Value proposition: day one is good, but long-term value from upgradability, especially motherboard swaps. ### Conclusion The Framework 13 Pro proves that modular laptops can compete on quality and performance. Its true value lies in long-term upgradability, making it a smart choice for users who want to reduce e-waste and keep their hardware current. ## Transcript Framework Laptop, the Framework 13 Pro. I have one word for you: that word usually raises a bunch of little red flags in the back of my head. stuff Project Ara; Then a demo video at Google I/O, and then we just never heard from it again. but sometimes they actually make it all the way to a finished product And I've talked about the Fairphone on this channel. but not necessarily a product that everyone is willing to buy right now. Framework Laptops also kind of started off on the same line for me. Again, everyone is easily rooting for it, where it doesn't but they slowly but surely improved. is making their biggest leap towards an actually And they're calling it, in their own words, Our internal prompt for this product was actually You want MacBook Pro-level battery life in a machine that the MacBook Pro for Linux users? if they can actually make it happen, I don't see why I wouldn't love this laptop straight away. a lot of what makes their laptops so good is how tightly integrated everything is. everything is all part of the same chip, and you need special tools to even get in to replace things like ports, is a super premium, all-metal unibody, like, gold-standard, So this Framework 13 Pro comes as either a build-it-yourself DIY or pre-built. So all I have to do after unboxing it is, is just decide which ports I want. So I decided to go with three USB Type-C ports and one SD card reader. if I ever want an HDMI port or a DisplayPort, They sell a ton of other plug-and-play... modules, Ethernet, et cetera. That's already pretty sick. right off the bat, immediately, this thing looks I mean, it is matte black, I'd argue it looks maybe even a little bit better, while still being premium... It hides fingerprints about as well as it possibly could. And then it's a full-size backlit keyboard with a large haptic trackpad... This deck But since it's a Framework Laptop, with a more colorful version. And in literally five to 10 minutes, you can replace the whole thing with that more colorful one with Same thing with but... So you can actually see, like, This can also be replaced with a more colorful one or a There is literally a whole parts replacement guide on their site and listing which tools you'll need, just the included Framework screwdriver. I love... laptop, built for repairability, and replaceability, and upgradability, way as far as build quality... Now, is it exactly as well-built as a MacBook Pro? It's probably 85% as well-built as a MacBook Pro. I can actually get the top piece to separate from from the bottom pretty easily, which doesn't feel great... wobbles a bit more than some other laptops I've used once it's open. This is their best build yet. They're finally doing what people have been asking for what about that modular part? Okay, so I feel like you can think about each individual along against something like a MacBook Pro?.. And is it... against something like a MacBook Pro?.. I think you'll pretty quickly start to notice a theme here It's actually a custom display. It looks great, and it's a 3:2 aspect ratio, which is underrated. And I think everyone else seeing the 2880 by 1920 resolution will appreciate, or code, or whatever you're reading... you also appreciate the anti-glare finish. That would have cost an extra 150 bucks if you're getting it on a MacBook Pro. to be a touchscreen too. It's pretty great. 100% of sRGB, but not of DCI-P3 like the MacBook Pro. MacBook Pro type of stuff, photography, video editing, then that difference I feel pretty comfortable saying this screen is But you can take it off and replace it with a single screwdriver... 60-minute iFixit guide where you need about six different types of Not to mention good luck getting your hands on actual Apple parts So the Framework is 80-something percent of the quality 80% of the quality, way more modular. The keys have some nice travel. but I can still type really fast on them. See, it's got the function keys, the haptic trackpad is large And the fingerprint reader in the corner, it is a bit slower, So really solid keyboard deck, maybe 80, 90% of the MacBook Pro, you can take it off and completely replace it with a single screwdriver. Now the computer itself. It starts at 16, but it's fully upgradable... also fully upgradable. It's got a 74-watt-hour battery inside which is way bigger than the last gen... It's maybe a bit harder to give it a percentage for like how good of a performer it is versus, you know, Apple Silicon with like the M4, different architecture But what I can tell you from experience... all of the productivity type of stuff that I've thrown at it, and Slack, and Notion, and task managers, It's snappy and it's great at that. No problem. but the whole Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chip lineup... and with solid enough integrated graphics to even play some light games. you could again say like 80% of the MacBook Pro, So really the only things that have fallen short that aren't the speakers... Unfortunately... but don't let that fool you. These are of the godlike MacBook Pro Not that the MacBook Pro has some amazing webcam, yeah, I don't know why this one's so bad. It's 1080p, it looks terrible in any sort of video call or recording that I try. What I do appreciate, though, is... the webcam or the microphone independently... built into the bezel... That is nice. you've probably noticed by now that I'm using... been a hot minute since I've dailied a Linux machine, choose to configure Framework 13 Pro with Windows 11 if you want, Like, they're all okay, they're fundamentally pretty similar as far as UI and capabilities. The real difference is obviously way more in developer support. and... so many people are I definitely think if you can get all the tools you need there's never been a better time to try it. but there's plenty of others. Then there's GIMP for photo editing, plus some other tools like that. and even some other games in the App Center. AI and ads and stuff that's been tainting the Windows experience lately. subtle thing. The Ubuntu experience: Have they actually built a modular laptop that's worth buying over... the word "worth"... tech, as we all know, because of this memory shortage crisis. more expensive than previous Framework laptops, bumped up the price of this laptop... now it's $1,600, So it has the high price tag it's close to the MacBook Pro as we've been saying, not... 100%... And there are some other Windows and Linux computers that maybe So the day that you buy the laptop, the day one, the day zero that you get, this is the day that it feels the longer you keep this laptop, Especially the second you do your first upgrade or replacement part, and then just replace the keyboard deck or replace the ports or whatever was damaged without having to do a whole new expensive repair or get a new laptop... So you know, on day one, a MacBook Pro is also amazing and you can use it for years and there's a long time with software support, or if the software you use suddenly has bigger requirements or things something... about it, to be upgraded, So Framework's over here where literally their main selling they're also committed to a long time of software updates... this is a fun fact that almost didn't make it into this video, but they will let you buy the new motherboard and put it in... to take advantage of the faster Wi-Fi and better memory and all that So with that backwards compatibility, they are actually committed So as a customer, if you can commit to this... that's what makes it worth it. and why I'm glad it exists. We'll see either way. Peace!