Framework's modular laptop business is taking aim at Apple's premium territory with a new device CEO Nirav Patel calls "a MacBook Pro for Linux users." The Framework Laptop 13 Pro, announced earlier this week, represents the company's major chassis redesign since its 2021 debut and its most aggressive push into the high-end market.
Priced starting at $1,199 for do-it-yourself configurations, the device marks a departure from Framework's utilitarian roots. A pre-built version with Ubuntu costs $1,499, while Windows 11 models start at $1,699. For existing Framework Laptop 13 owners, upgrading to the new mainboard will cost $449.
The aluminum graphite chassis borrows design cues from Apple's hardware, particularly in its keyboard layout and optional haptic trackpad. Company executives say six years of user feedback informed the redesign, which includes a 22% larger 74Wh battery and maintains 80% capacity after 1,000 charge cycles.
Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 processors are available for the system, with AMD Ryzen AI 300 mainboards also offered as an option, bringing PCIe 5.0 support and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity to Framework's lineup. The device also introduces touchscreen capability to Framework's 13-inch models and uses LPCAMM2 memory modules in configurations up to 64GB.
What makes this launch strategically different is Framework's explicit Linux focus. The company now offers its Ubuntu Certified system that ships with Linux pre-installed from the factory.
"slightly more Linux users than Windows users"
Patel revealed that Framework actually has among its customer base, challenging conventional market share assumptions. The expansion card system remains central to Framework's modular approach, allowing users to customize port selection and placement across four Thunderbolt 4 interfaces. A simpler latch mechanism addresses previous usability complaints about swapping components.
Framework simultaneously announced upgrades to its Laptop 16 model and introduced a new discrete wireless keyboard. The company says it will eventually offer adapter cards enabling desktop-class graphics connections through expansion slots without Thunderbolt overhead.
For developers and power users frustrated by Apple's closed ecosystem or Windows' increasing AI integration, the Laptop 13 Pro offers a third path: premium hardware with open software and hardware repairability. The Ubuntu configuration undercuts Windows pricing by $200 while providing what Patel describes as "the ultimate developer machine."
Pre-orders opened immediately following the announcement, with shipments expected in June.
