Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) vs Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5)
30.7Performance44
26.5Display29.8
33.3Battery94.7
76.6Portability85.7
0 spec wins — Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)4 spec wins — Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5)
InnoReviews verdict
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) wins this laptop face-off, 59.1 to 38.5, pulling ahead mainly in battery (+61) and performance (+13). Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)
- Lower launch price: $699 vs $1,099
Reasons to pick the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5)
- Stronger performance score: 44 vs 31
- Stronger display score: 30 vs 27
- Stronger battery score: 95 vs 33
- Stronger portability score: 86 vs 77
- 100% higher RAM: 16 GB vs 8 GB
Display
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 12.2 ″ | 13.6 ″+11% |
| Panel type | LCD (glass, convertible touchscreen, MPP 2.0/USI 2.0 stylus support) | Liquid Retina IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 1920x1200 | 2560x1664 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 400 nits | 500 nits+25% |
Performance
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 3 304 | Apple M5 (10-core) |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics (1 Xe3 core, up to 2.3GHz) | Apple M5 (8-core GPU) |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM type | DDR5-6400 (SO-DIMM) | — |
| Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| Storage type | M.2 2230 NVMe SSD | — |
Battery
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 50 Wh | — |
| Web browsing endurance | — | 18 h |
| Charging | 60 W | — |
Design
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.3 kg | 1.24 kg+5% |
| Thickness | 18.5 mm | — |
| Material | Overmolded shock-absorbing TPU over plastic with an internal metal structure | Recycled Aluminum |
Connectivity
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 4x swappable Expansion Cards (2x rear Thunderbolt 4, 2x front USB 3.2 Gen 2; USB-C/USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, microSD/SD options), 3.5mm combo jack | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (Intel BE213) | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 | — |
| Webcam | 1080p 30fps (2MP OmniVision OV02C sensor, 80° FOV), hardware privacy switch | — |
| Biometrics | None on this configuration — fingerprint reader is bundled only with the Core 5 320/Core 7 350 pre-built tiers, not Core 3 304 | Touch ID |
Software
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Fedora 44 (KDE Plasma) (Windows 11 Home/Pro option available) | macOS |
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