It's hard not to be awed by Framework's commitment to its original 13-inch modular laptop, which it has continually updated. When a new Intel (or AMD) chip comes out, it builds new, swappable motherboards to keep your machine cutting edge. And they do this to ensure that still-working motherboards you no longer use can get a second (or third) life.
(Series 1) to its motherboards with the Ultra 5 125H, Ultra 7 155H, and Ultra 7 165H processors, all available. These offer more efficient power usage, better thermal performance, and the option to add up to 96GB of DDR5 RAM. To accompany the new silicon, the company has launched a second-generation webcam and display.
Given the need to accommodate an existing template, the motherboards are nearly identical to their predecessors, save for the fact that the thermal system has been tweaked to keep things cooler without as much noise. Intel’s new Core Ultra chips are meant to be a bit more careful with their power consumption and the amount of heat they put out. Existing Framework machines are notorious for cranking their fans up to maximum whenever they receive the slightest strain.
Unfortunately, I haven't had the update for long enough to do any serious benchmarking, but it appears to be much faster than its predecessor. The company says you should expect to see improvements in power efficiency, battery life, and video and gaming performance. As for fan noise, it's a bit quieter than the previous model, especially when running games, which it can now do fairly easily. You'll still hear the fan when playing a game like Grand Theft Auto Vbut it won't sound like a jet engine taking off.
I have fewer meaningful things to say about the 2880 x 1920, 120Hz display. The only really noticeable difference is that while the original display had a peak brightness of 400 nits, this one goes up to 500. The extra backlighting is a blessing, especially on sunny days, but I'm not all that impressed by the extra resolution.
Framework’s first-generation webcam was no slouch, but even that is subject to the vagaries of the relentless march of time. The space limitations of laptop lids mean that only now are we seeing better sensors, like those we see in phones, that shrink down to the point of fitting into that space. technology” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:OXO8X;cpos:5;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas” class=”link “> The sensor is a 9.2-megapixel backside-illuminated pixel binning array – the former allows for better low-light performance; the latter processes the 9.2-megapixel image for a higher-quality 1080p image than we’ve seen before. In front of the sensor is a five-element, f/2.0 lens with an 87-degree field of view, again promising better image quality.
Installing the webcam (and everything else) is, as always, a breeze. But while installing the new module is pretty neat, the image you get on the other end isn't a huge improvement. Colors are still pretty dull, and I'm not sure, aside from some improved detail, that I can see enough of a difference between the two models to make me consider upgrading. And while pixel binning does make for a sharper image, it's not a radical change. While new buyers will welcome the new module as a matter of course, those who already own a Framework Laptop 13 shouldn't feel lost.
