Framework 13 (Intel Core Ultra Series 1) review

The little Framework 13 laptop is one of my most favourite ever notebooks. And I've owned, tested, and generally messed around with a ton of different gaming and office laptops in my near 20 years as a PC hardware journalist. So, when I say this latest version of the endlessly configurable, endlessly repairable laptop has left me rather cold, I say that only because of the new Intel tech inside it, not because of any new failings of the now classic design.

Everything else about it is great, from the new higher resolution, higher refresh rate screen, to the improved cooling, but—and I hate to kick a guy while he's down—that Intel Core Ultra 7 155H chip at its heart is doing nothing good for it as a device.

This may be a more recent mainboard inside the Framework 13 Intel Core Ultra Series 1 device, but it feels like it's lagging behind the excellent Framework 13 AMD Ryzen series it launched last year, pretty much on all fronts. It's got better raw processing chops, more reliable gaming performance, and the AMD version is now cheaper, to the tune of $150. It's also a little lacking in terms of computational grunt compared with the even older Intel 13th Gen mainboard.

None of that takes away from the feeling you get, as a dyed-in-the-wool PC nerd, when you open up the Framework 13 DIY box. This is the first time I've experienced the DIY package; previously I've either had the pre-built machine arrive in one piece, ready to go out of the box, or had mainboards shipped over for me to upgrade my existing machine.

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H
iGPU: Intel Arc 8 Xe Cores
Memory: 16 GB DDR5-5600
Storage: WD SN770 1 TB
Display: 13.5-inch
Resolution: 2880 x 1920
Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Network: AX210 Wi-Fi
Battery: 61 Wh
Price as configured: $1,782 | £1,773 

And it's a really pleasing experience. Everything's snugly boxed up, with the main unit already made up with the mainboard, screen, and associated Wi-Fi and webcam modules, and you're left to install the RAM, SSD, I/O modules, bezel,