“Pro”-level gadgets don’t always imply what you think they do. For instance, the newly announced Framework Laptop 13 Pro promises better specs, but there’s something more in store. The new laptop will let you ditch Windows and its Copilot obsessions entirely with Linux installed right out of the box.
Framework shared details of its new laptops and accessories on Tuesday. All the modularity of Framework’s past laptop is still there, including the four slots for expansion bay I/O ports. Laptop feel is extra important this time around. The “Pro” laptop swaps the old, stiffer mechanical trackpad for a haptic touchpad. And for the first time, you can also get a Framework laptop with a touchscreen.
You can still get the new Framework Laptop 13 Pro with either no OS or Windows 11. You could always flash the open-source Linux operating system to the device yourself. But if you don’t want to deal with the hassle, there’s a cheaper version of the Framework Laptop 13 Pro that ships with Ubuntu, a Linux distro.
New choice of chip and a discrete keyboard
The Framework Laptop 13 Pro has the choice between one of Intel’s latest Core Ultra Series 3 processors and the older AMD Ryzen 300 series. With that comes an expected battery life overhaul. Framework says users should see up to 20 hours of battery life in streaming tests. In reality, you should expect it will offer better longevity than last year’s 13-inch Framework, maybe enough to last the workday.
Framework told Gizmodo there are options between the Intel Core Ultra 5 chips as well as the touted X7 and X9 processors. We’ve seen these chips in many other laptops in 2026, and they offer strong GPU capabilities that make them surprisingly good for graphics rendering and even light to moderate gaming.
The Framework Laptop 16 also has a few new options like a haptic trackpad and a one-piece keyboard without the numpad or need for side plates. For the tinkerers, there’s also the OCuLink Dev Kit, which connects with the Framework Laptop 16’s expansion bay and its PCIe lanes to enable the use of external GPUs (eGPUs).
If all that wasn’t enough, Framework also announced a new discrete wireless keyboard. It promises a similar feel to the Framework Laptop 12 with mechanical keys. The keyboard comes with a trackpad on the side and a dongle that sits flush inside the body when not connected to your PC. Eventually, Framework may create a specific adapter card that will connect through a Framework laptop’s expansion slot. It seems odd that the company known for customizability wouldn’t let you swap the trackpad for one of the company’s own numpad modules from the Framework 16. Either way, it may offer a few more benefits to Framework Desktop owners as well.
Who wants to befriend a penguin?
Framework has been hit harder than most by the ongoing RAM shortage—thanks in part to its focus on offering discrete memory components. Still, the costs of both pre-built and DIY kits aren’t out of range for other laptops with these capabilities. A prebuilt Windows 11 machine starts at $1,700. A DIY kit with a pick-and-choose setup starts at $1,200. The kicker is the Ubuntu model, which costs $1,500 at its lowest configuration. Those will likely come with Intel Core Ultra 5 processors, so the X7 or X9 version will cost more.
Company founder and CEO Nirav Patel recently declared that the PC industry was “asking you to own nothing and be happy.” It’s half a sales pitch and half a cry of alarm. PC owners have been put through the ringer with skyrocketing prices of desktop components, laptops, gaming devices, and all computers big and small. By promoting Linux devices, Framework can eschew the cost of a Windows license and offset the rising price of RAM.
These new machines will still appeal more to the PC savant than the average laptop buyer. You can’t flip the switch to Linux without first considering compatibility with your current peripherals or software suite. We’ll see how many PC buyers want to ditch Windows and hang out with fellow penguins (or at least see more of Tux, Linux’s mascot).
