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In response to Apple’s price increases today, we’ve lowered the price of some Framework Laptop 13 Pro configurations. We were able to source and qualify Gen 5 SSDs from ADATA that are both faster and cheaper, and now offer them on DIY Edition! https://t.co/HfS1l5wL1t June 25, 2026
In the more comprehensive update posted on its website , Framework outlined that it has switched specifically to Adata's Mars 970 Plus SSDs that cost substantially less than what the company used previously — that model was never revealed publicly. The Mars 970 Plus is a proper Gen5 drive with read speeds up to 11,000 MB/s, and it's powered by the excellent Silicon Motion SM2508 controller that we've praised before .
Despite being cheaper to source, Framework says the Mars 970 Plus offers "better performance, efficiency, and long-term reliability." PCIe 5.0 drives are generally avoided in even high-end laptops today because they can be incredibly thermally demanding and require more power. Therefore, manufacturers simply opt for cutting-edge PCIe 4.0 drives instead, which are also available in a much wider variety of sizes.
A 500GB PCIe 5.0 drive sounds like it should be cheaper than a 1TB option, but because of interleaving, having an SSD with fewer channels actually means the controller isn't fully saturated to perform at its top speed. So, OEMs don't produce 500GB PCIe 5.0 drives at scale; almost every option you'll see on the market starts at 1TB. That's likely why Framework was paying more for that compared to its new 1TB inventory.
Unfortunately, we're in the middle of the component crisis, so we have to take the good with the bad. And the bad news is that Framework thinks another CPU price hike is on the horizon. It's not confirmed just yet, but when a vendor says it's receiving "signals," it's more than likely to come to fruition. The company is suggesting placing pre-orders now since it will have to update the overall prices of the Laptop 13 Pro once changes come into effect.
Framework warns of even more rising RAM and SSD prices through 2026 as memory crisis persists
Framework’s overhauled Laptop 13 Pro brings a redesigned chassis
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/laptops/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/laptops/frameworks-laptop-13-pro-diy-edition-now-costs-less-than-before-but-a-cpu-price-hike-might-be-coming-cheaper-pcie-5-0-drives-from-adata-upgrade-customers-from-500gb-to-1tb-for-free#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com/membership
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.