Converting a Chromebook Edition to a non-Chromebook Framework Laptop 13

August 26 2024 9:34pm

We don’t currently have plans for a newer generation of Framework Laptop 13 Chromebook Edition. Replacement parts continue to be available in the Framework Marketplace, and you can perform upgrades to your system like adding additional DDR4 memory. However, if you’d like to move to a newer generation processor, you can do so by converting your Chromebook Edition into a regular Framework Laptop 13 with Windows or Linux.


The two main changes that you’ll need to make are:

  1. Replacing the Mainboard with a newer-generation Framework Laptop 13 Mainboard.  You can upgrade to 13th Gen Intel Core while re-using your DDR4 memory, storage, and WiFi. If you’d like to upgrade to Intel Core Ultra Series 1, you’ll also need DDR5 memory.  If you’d like to switch to AMD, you’ll also need DDR5 memory along with an AMD WiFi card. After swapping the Mainboard, you can follow our guides to install Windows or Linux.

  2. Replacing the Input Cover with a standard Framework Laptop 13 one. The Chromebook Edition Input Cover will partially work, but has an unusual layout for Windows and Linux, may have Touchpad firmware compatibility issues on Linux, and is missing a Fingerprint Reader.