Framework nearly doubles memory pricing for 32GB, 64GB Laptop 13 Pro overnight — CEO says absorbing LPCAMM2 supplier hikes would put 'our ability to operate at real financial risk'

Framework is adjusting the pricing for its upcoming Framework Laptop 13 Pro, the company announced in a blog post. The company says that its supplier of LPCAMM2 memory updated pricing to be "more than double" its existing inventory, while laptops and mainboards will see increases due to rises in prices for other components.

"We recently received a cost update from our LPCAMM2 supplier that goes far beyond anything we had predicted and anything we’re able to absorb without placing our ability to operate at real financial risk," wrote chief executive Nirav Patel. "Rather than the low-to-mid double digit [sic] percentage increase we had forecast from Q2 to Q3 on LPCAMM2 costs, we received prices that are more than double that of the prior inventory we had brought in."

LPCAMM2 memory is specifically in the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 version of the laptop, while models using AMD Ryzen AI 300 processors are sticking with SO-DIMMs.

But while Patel said the company has enough LPCAMM2 modules to fulfill existing pre-orders, their mix of 64GB, 32GB, and 16GB options doesn't match it exactly. Instead, the company is fulfilling as many orders of 64GB as it can before dropping down to 32GB at the original 32GB price. From there, it will drop certain 32GB to 16GB at that original price. Here's how Patel puts it:

"After evaluating a number of possible paths forward, we’re proceeding on the one that we believe minimizes the impact of this challenge. We have enough 64GB modules in inventory to cover pre-order batches through Batch 4 of laptops and Batch 7 of Mainboards. For orders beyond that configured with 64GB, we’ve updated the order configuration to use a 32GB module at the original 32GB module price. After that, we allocated the remaining 32GB modules to DIY Edition and Mainboard pre-orders configured with 32GB through Batch 4 of laptops and Batch 7 of Mainboards. For DIY Edition and Mainboard orders beyond that configured with 32GB, we’ve updated the order configuration to use a 16GB module at the original 16GB price. Note that because we don’t currently have a Core X7 Ultra pre-built configuration with 16GB of memory, we have not adjusted pre-built orders that originally contained 32GB. That is a configuration we plan to introduce later."

Framework will continue offering 16GB LPCAMM2 modules at $239, but said it will have to increase the cost once those modules run out. But the 32GB modules will now be $800 (they were previously $439), while the 64GB modules in pre-orders going forward will be an eye-watering $1,600, up from $849.

But that's not all. Framework is also raising the price of systems and mainboards in new orders. Patel wrote that X7 and X9 chips will be getting more expensive, as well as Windows license costs, and "increases in memory, storage, and other silicon costs for some of our Ryzen AI 300 Series configurations."

Patel wrote that Framework's supply chain experts have been able to bring down costs on some components, including 48GB DDR5 modules and SN850X 8TB and SN7100 1TB SSDs, while increasing costs of 16GB DDR5 modules and SN850X 1TB and SN7100 4TB drives. Patel says that pre-orders with components getting lower pricing will have their prices dropped if they're not yet fulfilled. If prices go up, Framework says it will still charge what you paid when you pre-ordered.

Patel and his team have been updating this blog, which showcases a very rocky ecosystem, more publicly than most other PC vendors.

Framework's website says that the first batch of pre-orders for the Laptop 13 Pro is set to ship in July. That gives the company a week to get these systems out the door.