Remember Framework, the repairable laptop champion? They make it possible to remove an aging part and put in something brand new, thus extending the life of a machine. Two years after being released, the very first AMD mainboard for the Laptop 13 is finally getting its worthy successor. Say hello to the Ryzen AI 300, the newest battery-thirsty AMD marvel for notebooks. Fancy enough AI power to carry all that “Copilot+ AI nonsense” tech is trying hard to shove down our throats!
Nostalgia bomb just dropped by Framework, and I’m here for it. They sent me their shiny-new AMD mainboard to refurbish my existing Framework laptop. But the real charm? Translucent plastic options for the bezel and input cover, screaming Game Boy Color vibes! Forget about boring solid colors-think see-through tech, people! The tinted translucent one is all I am for; it’s a mix of retro cool and elegance. But hey, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder (photographed below). Go ahead and check which translucent flavor appeals to you more.
Framework/Engadget
Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen AI 300)
The upgraded AMD mainboard is faster than its predecessor but not enough to be earth-shattering.
Pros
- Buying one component is cheaper than a whole laptop
- Easy to install
Cons
- Fan is still pretty noisy
- Price is starting to climb
$899 at Framework
Mainboard with AMD Ryzen AI 300
Daniel Cooper for Engadget
The Ryzen AI 300 searching offers three paths to decision: gleaming ready-to-conquer pre-build laptop, DIY option that demands your personal attention, or the bare mainboard itself for the tech artisan as a blank slate. Whatever path you take, you are about to be empowered with a trinity of processing prowess: Ryzen 5 340, Ryzen 7 350, or the apex predator, Ryzen 9 HX 370. You can fuel the beast with up to a staggering 96GB of RAM. Remember always that each jump in ambition means another rank on the price.
Installing the Ryzen 7 350, a solid mid-range contender, was quick; just under 11 minutes. Now that’s funny. My first-ever swap took a long-time hour with a combination of heatsink wrangling and hope. Now? It’s two minutes. Even if your skills are collecting bits of dust from the purple dinosaur age, trust me: it’s no rocket science. You can pull this through all the way.
What does the Ryzen 7 8500U bring to the situation in this 13-inch notebook? Sure, capable. But let’s face it: the very premise is being dared to be different. I feel that coming from a 7840U, the upgrade was like a slight nudge and not like a rocket shredder. The kind of stuff for which it is capable includes sending and receiving emails, streaming Netflix, and web surfing. Think of it as an over-the-hill lead horse rather than one that’s pulling a fast one on people.
Let’s put away the numbers: the reason to choose AMD over Intel comes down to gaming dominance. We’re talking buttery-smooth 50-60 FPS in battle royale arenas such as Fortnite, and cruising down the streets of Grand Theft Auto V without a lick of lag. If you’re looking for a machine to shred down pixels for immersive experiences, look no further. This is not just a PC; it is your all-access pass to gaming nirvana.
Framework’s modularity, albeit innovative, casts some shadows. For starters, function takes priority over appearance. More importantly, there is still much to say about the design: the CPU cooling is welded onto the motherboard. Ergo, forget gorgeous thermal design: Framework’s punishment is that only one fan can be used for all cooling. Two words: thunderous contrast-loud Intel and AMD, if not crisp and audible whispers from all competitors.
The Framework had to attack the very problem of noise by redesigning the heatpipe, altering the fan algorithm, and applying Honeywell’s PTM7958 thermal paste. In any case, at full throttle, be prepared for quite the symphony of whirring and palpable heat. And even though AMD boasted of the 300 AI’s power efficiency, a good amount of it is gone in draining your battery. A day unplugged is just a far reach for these power-hungry laptops; sooner than you think, you will be tethered to the outlet.
Input cover (Second generation)
Daniel Cooper for Engadget
The Framework, which now goes back again toward its goal of absolute hardware perfection, set its sights on the keyboard-an element often overlooked. Working with Lite-On, Framework has gradually improved the keyboard while painstakingly attending to little things for the ultimate typing experience. These improvements would hardly be worthy of fancy ads and marketing; you would hardly notice them if you sat down and used them. Things such as radially thin font weights on the keycaps, a newly designed fingerprint sensor, and Shift and Enter keys redesigned down to the last detail. The very drive to perfect every single detail says much about Framework and that it is actually possible to raise components people consider so common.
Thankfully, Framework hasn’t messed with perfection. The beloved 1.5mm key travel remained, a design choice founder Nirav Patel wisely deemed untouchable many years ago. Now, the typing experience is blissfully familiar yet subdued to some extent. There are no rattling keys; tighter housing is an appreciated upgrade in quality. Loyalties can also be declared: choose between a Windows Copilot dedicated key or the famous Framework key – a gesture of OS pride.
The company worked on a niggling problem: key rattle at high volumes. Previously, bass-heavy audio would send vibrations through wide keys. Now, with the interior scaffolding redesigned to stiffen the Shift and spacebar, the rattle is effectively eliminated. I myself thought the problem sounded a bit aggrandized – maybe my taste in music just isn’t as explosively bass-driven – but you can definitely call this one a genuine improvement. When I was watching action sequences followed by loud sound effects, I heard nearly zero rattling. Best thing for audio purists.
The compromises
Framework
If you’re thinking of going over to the dark side of the blue team, hold it. Going from Intel to AMD means a motherboard swap, and motherboard swaps don’t go plug-and-play. Some hardware compatibility gremlins may lurk there! And don’t even start me on USB standards! Your new expansion card may refuse entry into any of the slots on an AMD board-think twice before laying down your cash. It’s an AMD-wide issue-and also just a little side note on the dime before you get your credit card out.
In summary
Daniel Cooper for Engadget
Swimming in the Framework waters? The AI 300 upgrade, more of a gentle ripple than a tidal wave, is indeed better in a subtle way but maybe not in a few-hundred-dollars sort of way. New to the modular revolution? Forget the chip; focus on the bigger picture.
The ecosystem is truly the magic of Framework, giving it leverage in the geopolitical catch-22. In a situation where prices of laptops are shooting up faster than inflation, anything that can give longer life to an existing machine is like a blessing. For those tempted to get hooked, grab the discounted Ryzen 7040 as early as you can. A bump in performance costs is, in fact, another excuse to get the upgrade and stay on top of performance without emptying your pockets. So, single-module future-proofing.
Expecting the Framework has 13 something wild? Well, with that being said, all of the cutting edge has now dulled, or considered perhaps dated by a few. Some felt that when it came into the world, it had the drawback of looking outdated against its sleek 13-inch competition. Five years down the road, any hopes of a wow factor beating against the latest Dell, Acer, or ASUS has become a losing one.
Ignoring fleeting trends, this isn’t a flash kind of thing; maybe it’s a forever kind. Think reliable, not disposable. As others go for yet another shiny gadget, the tech gets future-proofed by you. If you were that kind of person who liked a machine built for the long haul-a real workhorse whose keepings have been earned year after year-pardon the expression, but there is no need to look any further. Longevity is not a feature of the Framework Laptop; it is a guarantee. You won’t be sitting around waiting for it to break down because-its just not-even going to.
Thanks for reading Framework Laptop 13 (2025) with AMD Ryzen AI 300 review: The usual iterative upgrade
