Latest news with #Thunderbolt4
Digital Trends
16-07-2025
- Digital Trends
Razer's Core X V2 eGPU has blazing speeds, but no built-In power?
Why it matters: External GPUs (eGPUs) like Razer's latest could supercharge slim laptops and handhelds for AAA gaming or creative work, especially as Thunderbolt 5 ramps up bandwidth. But with fewer all-in-one features, it's a mixed bag for users craving simplicity. You need to buy more accessories for the Core X V2 encloser to make sense. The big idea: Razer is back in the eGPU game after a six-year hiatus, unveiling the Core X V2 enclosure alongside a new Thunderbolt 5 Dock. This steel beast promises desktop-grade graphics via Thunderbolt 5's blazing speeds, but it strips away built-in power and ports to keep things focused — and pricey at $350. Go deeper: Specs at a glance: Supports full-size PCIe Gen 4 GPUs, including beefy quad-slot cards like upcoming RTX 50-series. It delivers up to 140W USB PD charging and uses a 120mm fan for cooling. Thunderbolt 5 offers 120Gbps one-way bandwidth (80Gbps bidirectional), though eGPU bandwidth tops at 64Gbps — still a leap over Thunderbolt 4. Supports full-size PCIe Gen 4 GPUs, including beefy quad-slot cards like upcoming RTX 50-series. It delivers up to 140W USB PD charging and uses a 120mm fan for cooling. Thunderbolt 5 offers 120Gbps one-way bandwidth (80Gbps bidirectional), though eGPU bandwidth tops at 64Gbps — still a leap over Thunderbolt 4. What's changed: Unlike the older Core X Chroma (which we called the best eGPU buy at the time for its PSU and RGB flair), the V2 ditches the integrated 650W power supply, USB ports, Ethernet, and lighting. You'll need your own ATX PSU and the separate $390 Thunderbolt 5 Dock for extra I/O like HDMI or Ethernet. Unlike the older Core X Chroma (which we called the best eGPU buy at the time for its PSU and RGB flair), the V2 ditches the integrated 650W power supply, USB ports, Ethernet, and lighting. You'll need your own ATX PSU and the separate $390 Thunderbolt 5 Dock for extra I/O like HDMI or Ethernet. Compatibility check: Works with Windows laptops or handhelds via Thunderbolt 4/5 — think high-end rigs like the Razer Blade 18. No macOS support, as Apple Silicon dropped eGPUs. Thunderbolt 5 devices are scarce now, but expect more soon. Works with Windows laptops or handhelds via Thunderbolt 4/5 — think high-end rigs like the Razer Blade 18. No macOS support, as Apple Silicon dropped eGPUs. Thunderbolt 5 devices are scarce now, but expect more soon. Pros and cons: Plug-and-play appeal for boosting performance on the go, but the modular approach means extra costs and hassle. At $350 (up from the original Core X's $299 launch), it's a premium pick for dedicated gamers. Recommended Videos What's next: Availability starts soon via Razer's site, with broader rollout expected. As Thunderbolt 5 laptops proliferate, eGPUs could make a comeback — watch for hands-on tests later from Digital Trends to see if the bandwidth truly transforms portable gaming or if it's just another gimmick.
Tom's Guide
09-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
I love the Mac mini M4 but I wouldn't buy it without these accessories — and they're both on sale for Prime Day
If you've been holding out on picking up a Mac mini M4, now is the perfect time to finally pull the trigger as not only is Apple's smallest Mac yet on sale for Prime Day, so too are my must-have accessories to get the most out of it. Right now, you can get the Mac mini M4 for just $499 at Amazon. That's $100 off its normal price after you clip an additional coupon before adding it to your cart. However, if you need even more power, the Mac mini M4 Pro is $140 off and comes with 24GB of memory (instead of 16GB) and even more storage. The base model Mac mini M4 is a big step up from its predecessor and likely enough for most people without any expensive upgrades. It comes with Apple's powerful M4 chip, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You also get plenty of ports in a tiny package with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-C ports, HDMI and Ethernet. This pro model of the smallest Mac yet takes things up a notch with even more power and extra storage. It comes with Apple's M4 Pro chip, 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. Likewise, instead of Thunderbolt 4, this upgraded model comes with faster Thunderbolt 5 ports. The Mac mini M4 is without a doubt one of the best mini PCs you can buy today, especially if you prefer macOS to Windows. Likewise, it's a great starter Mac desktop for those looking to make the switch to macOS as well as for people that are just tired of having to charge one of the best MacBooks each night. Compared to its predecessor, the Mac mini M4 is a big step up. Not only does it feature Apple's M4 chips but the case has been redesigned from the ground up to be smaller and more compact at just 5 x 5 x 2 inches. At the same time, you now get two USB-C ports and a headphone jack on the front, which means you don't have to reach around back to plug in a pair of wired headphones or to connect accessories to your Mac mini M4. Around back, you now get three Thunderbolt ports, an HDMI port and a gigabit Ethernet port. It's worth noting that while the standard Mac mini M4 has three Thunderbolt 4 ports, the pro version features even faster Thunderbolt 5 ports instead. Unfortunately though, the Mac mini M4 isn't perfect. Apple still charges an arm and a leg for additional storage and you won't be able to power on or off the device without lifting it up on its desk. Thankfully, my favorite Mac mini M4 accessory fixes my biggest gripes with Apple's latest mini PC. Compared to the Mac mini M2, the new Mac mini M4 is a much more capable mini PC thanks to its boosted RAM and faster M4 chip. However, by upgrading, you do miss out on USB-A ports as the latest Mac mini doesn't have any at all. That's where a hub like this one from Satechi can help. Thanks to Prime Day savings, you can pick up a Satechi Mac Mini M4 Hub & Stand for just $79 at Amazon. This is $50 off its normal price and while still somewhat on the expensive side, I consider this hub an absolute must for the Mac mini M4. Designed to perfectly match your Mac mini M4, this aluminum hub and stand adds three USB-A ports, an SD card reader and there's even a slot on the bottom for a M.2 NVMe drive to boost your Mac's storage. There's a braided USB-C cable on the back to plug it into your computer and a cutout on the back left that lets you easily reach your Mac mini M4's power button. Besides all those extra ports up front and the built-in SD card reader, when you flip the Satechi mac Mini M4 Hub & Stand over, there's a small compartment where you can add an internal SSD. Apple still charges $200 each time you move up a tier from the Mac mini M4's 256GB SSD. Want to add a 1TB SSD to your Mac mini M4? That will cost you an extra $400 on top of what you're already paying. With Satechi's hub though, you can add any M.2 NVMe SSD to expand your Mac mini M4's storage by up to 4TB. It's worth noting that multiple SSD sizes including 2230, 2242, 2260 and 2280 are supported, so you don't have to look for a particular size if you do decide to add more storage to your Mac mini M4. Satechi seems to have thought of everything though as around back, there's a cutout on the left side of the hub. With your Mac mini M4 docked in it, you can reach the device's power button without having to lift it up off your desk. Apple's Magic Keyboards are certainly popular but they pale in comparison to the experience you get when typing on one of the best mechanical keyboards. Instead of feeling a rubber membrane beneath your keyboard's keys, each key features its only mechanical switch for a more accurate and comfortable typing experience. Once again, thanks to Prime Day, you can get the Satechi SM3 Slim Mechanical Keyboard for just $83 at Amazon right now. This full-sized keyboard features low-profile switches and comes in either a light gray/white or dark gray/gray color scheme to match the rest of your desk setup. It also has a sturdy aluminum case, so you don't feel any flexing or bending while typing. This low-profile, full-size mechanical keyboard works with both Mac and Windows and comes in either a light gray/white or dark gray/gray variation. You can connect up to two devices over Bluetooth, use the included 2.4 GHz dongle or connect it to your computer over USB-C. The SM3 also features low-profile brown switches and a rechargeable 2,500 mAh battery. As for connectivity, Satechi's SM3 mechanical keyboard can connect to your Mac mini M4 over Bluetooth, with the included 2.4 GHz USB dongle or with a USB cable plugged into the USB-C port around back. There you'll also find a handy on/off switch which is great if you want to save battery life. However, with its built-in 2,500 mAh battery, you can get about 20 days worth of usage or 15 days with its backlight on. Oh yeah, did I mention it has white LED backlighting and shine-through keycaps? There are 14 LED backlit patterns to choose from and you can turn down the SM3's backlighting using the F5 and F6 keys right from the keyboard itself. This is also a very comfortable keyboard to use due to its flat keycaps and low-profile design which helps reduce fatigue while typing. It's worth noting that unlike with other mechanical keyboards, you don't have a lot of options when it comes to which mechanical switches you want to use with the SM3. The keyboard only comes with low-profile brown switches which I personally love. They aren't clicky like blue switches and they don't go straight down like red ones. Instead, brown switches have a nice tactile bump to let you know when a key is actuated. They're great for both a home or office environment too as they aren't loud unless you have a tendency to bottom out while typing. If brown switches aren't for you though, you're going to want to look elsewhere as the SM3 isn't a hot-swappable keyboard where you can change out its switches whenever you want. This is because its mechanical switches are soldered to the keyboard's motherboard. You could still technically swap them out but that would require desoldering the brown ones, adding new switches and then soldering them. I've been using Satechi's SM3 mechanical keyboard with my Mac mini M4 since it was released and I haven't had any issues yet. It's a very comfortable keyboard and I like how I have all of the macOS-specific keys right at my fingertips. However, it does work on Windows and even on Chromebooks too. With the extra ports and storage from Satechi's hub and its SM3 keyboard connected, the Mac mini M4 instantly transforms from a great mini PC to a near perfect one. Even with the base model, I found it could handle my workload which involves having dozens of Chrome tabs open simultaneously while writing and editing. If you're thinking about picking up a Mac mini M4, I highly recommend getting these accessories with it. You'll also need a mouse or, if you're like me, a trackball mouse and one of the best monitors to complete your desk setup. While it makes sense to choose a monitor with built-in speakers so you don't have to buy a pair of the best computer speakers too, it's worth noting that the Mac mini M4 does have a single speaker inside which should work in a pinch for listening to music, watching content online or even taking video calls. I've wanted to switch back to using a Mac for years now but it wasn't until the release of the Mac mini m4 that I finally did. The experience was almost perfect and I'm very impressed with Apple's smallest Mac yet. However, once I added Satechi's hub and keyboard to the mix, I was finally able to ditch my Windows PC for good.
Sydney Morning Herald
06-07-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Home tech upgrades to splash your tax refund on
Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer – $1100 I have mixers at home and have never felt the need to invest in an overly fancy or expensive model. When I heard that a mixer from Ooni — maker of home pizza ovens — had sold out in Australia within six hours, I wasn't sure what the fuss was about. But after trying it, I see it's a simple but novel concept; this is a massive professional-style spiral mixer, just shrunk down for your bench. I don't use many $1000+ mixers, but all the mixers I have used simply will not handle bread or pizza dough. It will get clagged up on the hook, or won't mix properly, or get too hot, or just literally stop the mixer from turning. But the spiral hook and breaker bar on this machine do a consistently excellent (and hypnotic) job, and since nobody has to knead the dough we've been making a lot more yeast bread, sourdough and pizza at home, with great results. The mixer has a dial and a simple display on the top so you can set the speed, and there's also a timer for both mixing and proving so you don't have to babysit the machine; it will turn off when the mixing's done and play a sound when it's ready. I also like the included splash guard that has a little funnel and a door for adding liquid or ingredients mid-mix. The Halo Pro is explicitly designed for dough, but it can work as a more general stand mixer as well. The head tilts up, and you can remove the breaker bar and spiral to insert another attachment for whisking or beating. Surface Laptop 13-inch – $1360+ Microsoft's latest portable computers are a little smaller than usual, and a little less expensive, so as expected they also have some light compromises. But unlike the often-hard-to-recommend Surface Laptop Go, the new 13-inch Surface Laptop feels intentionally and thoughtfully small. Of course, that's not to say it's exactly like full-fat 7th Edition Surface Laptop – its screen is limited to the standard 60Hz, it has a mechanical trackpad rather than a haptic one, and it doesn't have any high-speed Thunderbolt 4 ports – but the new model carries over the most important elements of its siblings. The keyboard feels great, the metal construction is solid and satisfying, there's a nice bright touchscreen, and you get a clean version of Windows 11 with all the Copilot+ PC AI-powered trimmings. Loading Overall the laptop stands up really well as Microsoft's answer to Apple's MacBook Air, and that's especially true in the battery department. I was able to get through an entire day of work without charging, even with some heavy Photoshop involved, and the device happily went for two days if I was just writing. It's powered by a Snapdragon X Plus chip, which is plenty fast enough for productivity tasks and packs a powerful AI processor, and it's generally a joy to work on. I had no issue with any of my work apps, and I even lent it to a less-technical person to work on, and they loved it. But I am compelled to mention that since this is an ARM chip there are apps designed for Intel x86 chips that do not work. So if there's a less-common program you vitally need, it's worth checking that there's an ARM version available, or that it works with Windows' compatibility layer. LG C5 OLED TV – $2200+ LG's C4 was my favourite all-rounder TV of last year and, as expected, the C5 is just a little bit better. The C-series has frequently been my go-to recommendation for OLEDs because it hits every high-end feature you need, without any gimmicks or esoteric features that demand a higher price tag. Plus, you don't lose any features if you go for a smaller size; the 42-inch model has the same processor, the same full-speed HDMI ports, the same 144Hz refresh, the same low-latency gaming mode and the same accuracy-focused film modes as the 83-inch. So what's new with the C5? It's brighter, which is great if your loungeroom has a lot of glare from windows during the day, but also makes for more impactful scenes in HDR content. Upscaling of older low-resolution content is also improved, so while you won't magically get more detail from a 25-year-old DVD, it will be sharp and artefact-free. Otherwise, things haven't changed too much. You still get a fantastic experience out of the box just by changing to one of the pre-calibrated or filmmaker picture modes, and you won't find a better screen for watching movies in the C5's price class. The 55- and 65-inch models are sold for $1000 less than some models that provide a very similar core experience. The C5 is also one of the best on the market for gaming, with support for all kinds of variable refresh rate, and 4K at up to 165Hz through all four HDMI ports. There are only two areas where the C5 has arguably taken a step backwards; it has dropped support for passing through DTS sound (which will impact few people since the large majority of movies have Dolby mixes, but it seems a pointless removal), and I don't like the new smaller remote. The numbers were useful for shortcuts, and there is now no dedicated input button, despite buttons being given to the TV guide, help, and voice search. Alienware Area-51 PC Desktop – $5520+ If you're looking for the most graphically powerful Windows machine you can get, you want it to be built for you, and you don't mind that it's several times more expensive than the priciest games console, this is the machine for you. The Area-51 that I tested was configured with Nvidia's latest RTX 5090 graphics card, which on its own can cost you $5000 or more if you're building your own rig. It has enough raw power to brute force just about any game to high performance and high resolution, but it also has the smarts to support Nvidia's latest AI features for upscaling and frame generation, so even if you have a 4K 240Hz monitor and want to play graphically intensive games on it, this card can handle it coolly and efficiently. An Area-51 with a 5090 will cost you at least $8000, and that's before you look at adding a faster processor or more RAM. The lowest cost option is $5520, which has an RTX 5070; not bad at all if you don't necessarily need 4K and high frame rates. The main reason to go for something like the Area-51 is that it looks great and runs as expected out of the box, no building required, and it has more than enough juice to play modern games for many years to come. It's worth noting that it is absolutely massive at around 35 kilograms – I was too scared to put it on my desk – and it's not exactly subtle given its big fans and LEDs.
The Age
06-07-2025
- The Age
Home tech upgrades to splash your tax refund on
Ooni Halo Pro Spiral Mixer – $1100 I have mixers at home and have never felt the need to invest in an overly fancy or expensive model. When I heard that a mixer from Ooni — maker of home pizza ovens — had sold out in Australia within six hours, I wasn't sure what the fuss was about. But after trying it, I see it's a simple but novel concept; this is a massive professional-style spiral mixer, just shrunk down for your bench. I don't use many $1000+ mixers, but all the mixers I have used simply will not handle bread or pizza dough. It will get clagged up on the hook, or won't mix properly, or get too hot, or just literally stop the mixer from turning. But the spiral hook and breaker bar on this machine do a consistently excellent (and hypnotic) job, and since nobody has to knead the dough we've been making a lot more yeast bread, sourdough and pizza at home, with great results. The mixer has a dial and a simple display on the top so you can set the speed, and there's also a timer for both mixing and proving so you don't have to babysit the machine; it will turn off when the mixing's done and play a sound when it's ready. I also like the included splash guard that has a little funnel and a door for adding liquid or ingredients mid-mix. The Halo Pro is explicitly designed for dough, but it can work as a more general stand mixer as well. The head tilts up, and you can remove the breaker bar and spiral to insert another attachment for whisking or beating. Surface Laptop 13-inch – $1360+ Microsoft's latest portable computers are a little smaller than usual, and a little less expensive, so as expected they also have some light compromises. But unlike the often-hard-to-recommend Surface Laptop Go, the new 13-inch Surface Laptop feels intentionally and thoughtfully small. Of course, that's not to say it's exactly like full-fat 7th Edition Surface Laptop – its screen is limited to the standard 60Hz, it has a mechanical trackpad rather than a haptic one, and it doesn't have any high-speed Thunderbolt 4 ports – but the new model carries over the most important elements of its siblings. The keyboard feels great, the metal construction is solid and satisfying, there's a nice bright touchscreen, and you get a clean version of Windows 11 with all the Copilot+ PC AI-powered trimmings. Loading Overall the laptop stands up really well as Microsoft's answer to Apple's MacBook Air, and that's especially true in the battery department. I was able to get through an entire day of work without charging, even with some heavy Photoshop involved, and the device happily went for two days if I was just writing. It's powered by a Snapdragon X Plus chip, which is plenty fast enough for productivity tasks and packs a powerful AI processor, and it's generally a joy to work on. I had no issue with any of my work apps, and I even lent it to a less-technical person to work on, and they loved it. But I am compelled to mention that since this is an ARM chip there are apps designed for Intel x86 chips that do not work. So if there's a less-common program you vitally need, it's worth checking that there's an ARM version available, or that it works with Windows' compatibility layer. LG C5 OLED TV – $2200+ LG's C4 was my favourite all-rounder TV of last year and, as expected, the C5 is just a little bit better. The C-series has frequently been my go-to recommendation for OLEDs because it hits every high-end feature you need, without any gimmicks or esoteric features that demand a higher price tag. Plus, you don't lose any features if you go for a smaller size; the 42-inch model has the same processor, the same full-speed HDMI ports, the same 144Hz refresh, the same low-latency gaming mode and the same accuracy-focused film modes as the 83-inch. So what's new with the C5? It's brighter, which is great if your loungeroom has a lot of glare from windows during the day, but also makes for more impactful scenes in HDR content. Upscaling of older low-resolution content is also improved, so while you won't magically get more detail from a 25-year-old DVD, it will be sharp and artefact-free. Otherwise, things haven't changed too much. You still get a fantastic experience out of the box just by changing to one of the pre-calibrated or filmmaker picture modes, and you won't find a better screen for watching movies in the C5's price class. The 55- and 65-inch models are sold for $1000 less than some models that provide a very similar core experience. The C5 is also one of the best on the market for gaming, with support for all kinds of variable refresh rate, and 4K at up to 165Hz through all four HDMI ports. There are only two areas where the C5 has arguably taken a step backwards; it has dropped support for passing through DTS sound (which will impact few people since the large majority of movies have Dolby mixes, but it seems a pointless removal), and I don't like the new smaller remote. The numbers were useful for shortcuts, and there is now no dedicated input button, despite buttons being given to the TV guide, help, and voice search. Alienware Area-51 PC Desktop – $5520+ If you're looking for the most graphically powerful Windows machine you can get, you want it to be built for you, and you don't mind that it's several times more expensive than the priciest games console, this is the machine for you. The Area-51 that I tested was configured with Nvidia's latest RTX 5090 graphics card, which on its own can cost you $5000 or more if you're building your own rig. It has enough raw power to brute force just about any game to high performance and high resolution, but it also has the smarts to support Nvidia's latest AI features for upscaling and frame generation, so even if you have a 4K 240Hz monitor and want to play graphically intensive games on it, this card can handle it coolly and efficiently. An Area-51 with a 5090 will cost you at least $8000, and that's before you look at adding a faster processor or more RAM. The lowest cost option is $5520, which has an RTX 5070; not bad at all if you don't necessarily need 4K and high frame rates. The main reason to go for something like the Area-51 is that it looks great and runs as expected out of the box, no building required, and it has more than enough juice to play modern games for many years to come. It's worth noting that it is absolutely massive at around 35 kilograms – I was too scared to put it on my desk – and it's not exactly subtle given its big fans and LEDs.
Tom's Guide
29-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I review laptops for a living, and I'd buy these 3 to go back to school
Summer is in full swing, and that means lots of students are out of school — with plenty of parents counting the days until they go back. Retailers around the U.S. are going to be running back to school sales to capitalize on that, so now is the time for students and parents to be thinking about what kind of laptop you want for the school year ahead. I know because I was a student myself once, and some of my friends and readers have kids who will be shopping for their first school laptop soon. Since I've been writing about laptops for years they sometimes ask me for help, and I have some tips on what to look for when shopping for a student laptop. Eight-plus hours of (tested) battery life, a screen bright enough to see in a sunny classroom and a comfy keyboard are really valuable in a laptop that's headed back to school. A light overall weight is also a big plus because it makes lugging the laptop around campus more enjoyable. Good port variety is nice to have because it lets you do more with the laptop, but you can buy a USB-C adapter or hub to fix most port problems. Likewise, having a laptop capable enough to run modern AI applications can be nice, but in my experience those NPU-focused apps aren't game-changers for productivity. With those tips in mind, here are the laptops I recommend most for students going back to school. I'm not the world's biggest Mac fan, but it's hard to beat the incredible value that Apple's MacBook Air M4 delivers for students. The M4 chip inside is more than powerful enough to run just about any app a modern student might need, and it lasted an incredible 15 hours in our battery test. Not only will it carry you through a whole day of school, the 13-inch model is easy to carry thanks to the fact it weighs less than 3 pounds. The Apple MacBook Air M4 is one of the best laptops on the market, and this model sports a 13-inch (2560 x 1664) display, a speedy M4 chip, 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD for storage. I prefer the 15-inch model since I like a bigger screen, but the display on either MacBook Air is plenty bright enough for use during the day. The only real flaw is the fact you're limited to Thunderbolt 4 ports, but again, you can buy an adapter to get around that handicap. For my money the Acer Aspire Go 15 is one of the best budget laptops you can buy because it gives you a fully functioning Windows laptop for less than $300. Now it's not the fastest or lightest laptop around, but I think it's more than capable enough for young students who need to do homework and remote learning. Admittedly, when I wrote our Acer Aspire Go 15 review I thought the Intel Core i3-N305 CPU inside made it feel a little slow and sluggish. But it's got enough horsepower to run basic productivity apps and even some lightweight games. The ultra-affordable Acer Aspire Go 15 is pretty slow, but it's got more than enough power for basic homework, research and surfing the web. The 15.6-inch 1080p display is good enough to stream movies on, and the 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage are enough for basic apps and documents. The 8GB of RAM also makes multitasking a bit hard, but that's not the worst thing for a young student. The 128GB of storage is enough room for a few apps and games in addition to schoolwork, and you get a nice assortment of ports that let you plug in USB-A or USB-C accessories or connect to an external display via HDMI. However, be aware that the 15.6-inch 1080p IPS screen is a bit dim and thus sometimes hard to see in bright light. You can use it around the house or in a coffee shop just fine, but it's tricky to see outside at noon. I think Framework laptops are some of the most exciting in the world right now because they're so radically repairable and upgradable. That also means a student needs to be prepared for the idiosyncrasies that come with owning one. I've used and reviewed all of the laptops Framework currently sells, and I think the entry-level Framework Laptop 13 is a great choice for certain kinds of students. Specifically, any student who's curious, self-reliant or interested in how laptops work will probably get a lot out of the fact that every Framework laptop is designed to be customized, upgraded and repaired by its owner. You can even order a (cheaper) barebones DIY edition and equip your Framework with your own RAM, SSD and operating system, though I don't recommend that for anyone but the most techy students. The Framework Laptop 13 is the company's first and most versatile laptop, and you have lots of options for how to order and configure one. What I've linked here is the pre-built entry-level model with the 13.5-inch (2256x1504) screen, an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H CPU, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. However, you can spend more to configure your machine with better components. Each Framework comes with a special tool you can use to easily loosen the screws holding the case together, at which point you can crack the laptop open and replace or upgrade parts using Framework's guides. So while the model I've linked here comes with an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H CPU, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, you can buy upgrades down the road directly from Framework and install them yourself if you want something different. So if you find the battery life of the Intel chip not to your liking, you could try swapping it out for one of AMD's new Ryzen AI 300 series CPUs. And I haven't even mentioned the unique Expansion Card system that underpins all Framework laptops. Here's how it works: Framework Laptop 13 units have four slots on the bottom for Framework Expansion Cards. You have to buy these cards directly from Framework for a small fee, but the upside is that you can mix and match ports on the laptop to adapt to your needs. So you can order it with, say, one USB-A Card, one USB-C Card, an HDMI Out Card for using an external monitor and a 256GB SSD Card for some extra storage when you need it. But then you could also have, say, a MicroSD Extension Card and an SD Extension Card you could swap onto your laptop when you need to pull files or photos off of your SD cards before class. Don't get me wrong, it can definitely be scary to pry open your laptop and start fiddling with the innards. But I've reviewed Framework laptops for years, and after you get the hang of it, the fear subsides and the fun begins.
