Framework 13 with Zen 5 Review: A Few Key Tweaks

What’s New This Year

Let’s start with the basics. This 2025 refresh brings AMD’s latest Zen 5 processor to Framework’s iconic modular laptop, but this isn’t a full redesign. In fact, if you’ve seen last year’s model, you’ll be very familiar with this one.

The biggest external update? The option for a translucent bezel and ports. Yes, it’s a minor cosmetic change—but it gives the machine a playful, retro-tech aesthetic that we actually love. Think Game Boy Color, but for devs.

Under the hood, this model ships with the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 ("Kraken Point")—a Zen 5 processor with modest gains in single-core speed and marginal improvements in efficiency over last year's Zen 4 chips. More on that below.

Display, Keyboard, and Design

The Display: Matte, Bright, and Crisp

The optional 2.8K 120Hz matte display returns and it’s a winner. Brightness now hits 550 nits (up from 500 nits last year), and the matte coating makes it ideal for work in bright environments. Code looks razor-sharp, and with the 3:2 aspect ratio, you can see more lines of code at once.

Color-wise, the display skews cooler than previous models. If you prefer warmer tones, you may need to calibrate it manually.

The Keyboard: Quietly Improved

This year's Gen 2 keyboard isn’t groundbreaking, but it is quieter. Gone is the slight metallic ring on key presses from older units. Key travel is adequate, though slightly stiffer than we’d like. Still, it’s a pleasant typing experience overall.

The Chassis: Same Look, Slightly More Fun

Framework’s design remains utilitarian, but the new translucent trim gives it more personality. We'd love to see a fully translucent model in the future, but even this minor tweak helps unify the overall look.

Performance & Thermals

Thermals: Much Better, But Not Because of Zen 5

The standout improvement this year is fan behavior and heat. Framework laptops have historically run hot and loud—even with modest workloads.

Now? The fans spin up only when needed, and quickly spin down after. It runs cooler in general, especially during real-world use. Surprisingly though, this improvement isn’t due to the new Zen 5 chip being significantly more efficient—it isn’t. When we ran identical power efficiency tests, we found the performance-per-watt to be only slightly better than last year.

So what changed? Framework seems to have refined their fan curve and power tuning. After updating last year’s Zen 4 model to the latest firmware, we noticed similarly improved thermals and noise. Well done, Framework.

CPU & GPU: A Sidegrade at Best

This is where things get tricky. The new Ryzen AI 7 350 performs almost identically to the Zen 4 chip in multi-core tasks, is just slightly faster in single-core, and draws about 2 watts less under sustained loads. In our Cinebench R24 10-minute run, the performance delta was barely noticeable.

The integrated GPU? It’s actually worse. Last year’s model had stronger graphics performance, and that matters if you’re relying on integrated graphics for light gaming or creative work.

If you're expecting a generational leap—this isn’t it.

Where It Falls Short

• Build Quality: Still not premium. At this price point, you’re trading build feel for modularity and ethics.
• Trackpad: Functional but not standout. No haptics, just a basic mechanical click.
• Webcam & Speakers: Rough. Expect serviceable, not spectacular.
• Upgrade Costs: Ironically, upgrading your existing Framework is often more expensive than just selling it and buying a new one.

Should You Still Buy It?

That depends on who you are.

If you're a software developer, a Linux user, or someone who values repairability and long-term ownership, the Framework 13 continues to be a top-tier option—especially now that heat and fan noise have been tamed. If you're looking for a better value, we'd recommend you buy last year’s Zen 4 model. It performs nearly identically, now comes with the upgraded 2.8K display, and is priced more competitively around $1.2k. For students or budget-conscious developers, that’s a phenomenal deal.

But if you're after a premium-feeling ultraportable or the best performance-per-dollar, the Zen 5 Framework 13 isn’t the best pick in 2025. The MacBook Air M4, Zenbook S 14 with Lunar Lake, or even the older Zephyrus G16 offer better value in terms of user experience, battery life, and raw performance respectively.

Final Thoughts

Framework continues to do the right thing—and improve with every generation. The 2025 Framework 13 isn’t revolutionary, but it is a more polished, more mature product. The brand still leads the charge in repairability and consumer-first design.

We just wish AMD had brought more to the table this go-round.

If you’re already a fan of Framework, this is their best laptop yet. But if you’re on the fence? The Zen 4 model might still be the smarter buy.