Three Years With the Framework Laptop 13 — A Cybersecurity Professional’s Long-Term Review
After three years of daily use, multiple upgrades, and a full OS transition, I can confidently say the Framework Laptop 13 has been the most reliable and rewarding machine I’ve ever owned. As a cybersecurity professional (and a student for part of this time), I depend heavily on my hardware. My workloads range from virtualization and pentesting labs to heavy multitasking, scripting, and long hours of documentation. Through all of that, my Framework has never let me down.
My Original Configuration (2022)
When I first purchased my Framework 13, I went with a solid, high-end configuration:
Intel® Core™ i7-1185G7
64GB DDR4
2TB M.2 NVMe
Interchangeable Expansion Cards
Windows as the primary OS
For day-one modularity and repairability, the Framework was unmatched. But what stood out immediately was the lack of friction: the device behaved like any premium ultrabook. No quirks, no surprises—just a clean, well-engineered laptop that happened to be entirely user-serviceable.
Upgrading the Machine — Easy, Well-Documented, and Actually Enjoyable
One of the biggest selling points of Framework is the ability to upgrade on your terms. When the AMD refresh became available, I took the opportunity to give my system a full internal refresh. My current configuration:
Framework Laptop 13 Mainboard (AMD Ryzen™ 7040 Series) — Ryzen 7 7840U
64GB DDR5
AMD RZ616 Wi-Fi 6E
Framework 61Wh Battery
Still using the same shell, keyboard, display, and expansion cards
The upgrade process could not have been smoother. Framework’s official guides are step-by-step, clear, and easy to follow. Even though I’m comfortable working inside hardware, the documentation would be approachable for someone with almost no experience. Every component is labeled, and every connector is accessible without hidden clips or proprietary nonsense.
Swapping the mainboard, RAM, Wi-Fi card, and battery was faster than upgrading most laptops’ SSDs.
Expansion Cards — Small Idea, Big Convenience
The interchangeable ports continue to be one of the smartest hardware features any laptop has implemented. On any given day, I might switch between:
USB-C
USB-A
HDMI
MicroSD
Storage expansion cards
Being able to customize my I/O per project or per travel bag is something I now consider a baseline requirement. When I have to use a traditional laptop, losing this flexibility is instantly noticeable.
Windows to Linux — Smooth, Supported, and Practical
I eventually transitioned the system to Linux. One of the things that impressed me most is how well Framework supports Linux desktops—and how active the community is behind it.
On the AMD mainboard especially, Linux compatibility has been excellent. Firmware updates, kernel improvements, and documentation all reflect a company that actually cares about open-source users, not just paying lip service to them.
This machine has run:
Windows 11
Ubuntu
Fedora
Mint
Pop!_OS
Zorin
A few specialized security-focused distros
and many virtual systems as well
All without the typical laptop-specific headaches.
Daily Driver Reliability
This laptop has been my daily driver for three years—coding, VMs, VPNs, security tools, browser workloads, documentation, development environments, and lots of travel.
I’ve had zero hardware failures.
No screen issues, no hinge problems, no keyboard wear, no mainboard problems. The only time I’ve opened the laptop has been to intentionally upgrade it.
The Value Proposition — Upgrade Instead of Replace
What sold me on Framework in the first place still holds true: the cost of keeping a high-performance laptop long-term is far cheaper when you can replace only the components you want.
Over three years, instead of buying two or three separate laptops, I’ve upgraded:
Mainboard
RAM
Storage
Battery
Wi-Fi card
And each upgrade cost a fraction of buying a brand-new device. The sustainability argument is strong—but so is the financial one.
Next Step: Ryzen™ AI 300 Series
As of writing this, I’m preparing my next upgrade:
AMD Ryzen™ AI 9 HX 370 mainboard
96GB DDR5
8TB M.2 NVMe
The fact that I can drop cutting-edge silicon into the same chassis I bought three years ago speaks volumes about Framework’s long-term vision. No other manufacturer even comes close to offering this level of future-proofing.
Final Thoughts
The Framework Laptop 13 has exceeded every expectation I had for it. It isn’t hype; it’s genuinely well-engineered, well-supported hardware that rewards you for investing in it.
Upgrades are easy and well-documented.
Linux support is first-rate.
The modular ports continue to be incredibly useful.
Reliability has been flawless.
Longevity is unmatched.
As a cybersecurity professional, a former student, and a heavy daily user, I can say confidently: the Framework Laptop 13 is the single best long-term laptop investment I’ve ever made.
