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Framework’s premium laptop is shipping with less RAM
Framework has announced a "major and unfortunate" pricing update for its upcoming Laptop 13 Pro, affecting even customers who have already preordered the device. The company says the memory supplier it relies on has more than doubled its costs, forcing changes to RAM configurations and prices shortly before the laptop begins shipping. It is the latest casualty of an ongoing global memory shortage that has already pushed up prices across the computing industry.
Framework says it holds enough LPCAMM2 memory modules to fulfil all existing preorders, but not in the exact mix of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB needed to match every order as originally configured. As a result, some customers are being notified that their configuration and price have changed, though Framework is offering full deposit refunds to anyone who wants to cancel. New orders on Framework's website have also been repriced, with the cheapest prebuilt option now starting at $1,599 — $100 more than at launch — for a model with an Intel Core Ultra 5 325 chip, 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage.
In short
- Framework's Laptop 13 Pro hit by memory-supplier price hikes over 100%
- Preorder configurations and prices changed; refunds offered to unhappy buyers
- New base model now starts at $1,599, up $100 from launch price
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Framework is navigating genuine, industry-wide pressures where memory suppliers have more than doubled costs. As a smaller manufacturer with less negotiating leverage than giants like Dell or Apple, the company lacks the scale to absorb such dramatic price increases. Framework has chosen transparency over silence and is offering full refunds to all affected preorder customers, giving them genuine choice rather than imposing changes unilaterally. The company is attempting to fulfil existing orders with available inventory whilst being honest about market realities.
The case against
Customers who preordered placed binding commitments based on specific configurations and prices; Framework's retroactive changes break that fundamental agreement. The company should have secured memory contracts earlier, locked in pricing with suppliers, or absorbed the cost to honour its preorder commitments. Offering refunds, whilst appreciated, doesn't resolve the disruption for customers who wanted the product at the original specification and price. Competitors in the computing industry manage similar supply pressures without unilaterally changing customer orders, suggesting Framework had other options available.
Explained simply
Framework is a company known for selling customisable laptop computers, allowing customers to choose specifications such as how much memory (RAM) their machine should have. This approach sets it apart from major manufacturers who typically offer fixed configurations.
The global computing industry has experienced a prolonged shortage of memory chips, which has kept prices elevated for years. The shortage stems from high demand and supply chain disruptions, affecting computer makers of all sizes. This has made memory components significantly more expensive than before.
Memory costs are particularly important for a company like Framework, as customers choose their exact specifications when placing orders. When component costs rise unexpectedly, companies must decide between absorbing financial losses or changing what they offer customers. This situation demonstrates how volatile global supply chains can create challenges for hardware makers.