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What Framework raised—and who the announcement affected
In December 2025, Framework announced a 50% increase to DDR5 memory options for its Laptop DIY Edition. The company said supplier and distributor costs had risen sharply in a volatile memory market. It also said it would raise prices only to cover cost increases and lower them if its costs came down.
Framework said the change did not affect existing pre-orders and that it was not then changing prices for pre-built laptops or Framework Desktop models sold with memory. That was the scope Framework described at the time, not a promise that those products’ prices would remain unchanged indefinitely.
The announcement was about Framework’s configured-memory pricing. It was not an independently measured estimate that DDR5 prices across the market had risen by 50%.
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Why Framework accused Apple and Dell
Framework’s statement
On December 9, 2025, Framework founder Nirav Patel wrote on X: “We are going to need to increase our memory pricing soon, but we won’t use this as an excuse to gouge customers like @Dell apparently has and that @Apple does as their norm.” PC Gamer reproduced the statement and examined the Dell comparison. The accusation should be understood as Patel’s opinion, not as a legal or regulatory finding.
The Apple comparison
In a December 24, 2025 update, Framework said its weighted average inventory cost for 8GB, 16GB and 32GB modules was $10 per GB, with 48GB modules costing slightly more. It compared that figure with $25 per GB that it said Apple charged. Framework’s post did not identify the Apple product or configuration behind the comparison, so the two figures cannot be treated as a verified like-for-like price comparison.
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The Dell screenshot
The Dell accusation followed a screenshot showing a $550 upgrade from 16GB to 32GB on a Dell XPS 13. PC Gamer later checked the exact model on Dell’s website and saw a $150 upgrade. Those were historical prices, not current quotes. PC Gamer also noted that Dell’s prices and discounts varied and that selecting a memory option might have required other configuration changes. The screenshot alone therefore does not establish a stable, directly comparable Dell memory price.
How Framework’s pricing changed after the original announcement
Framework’s official pricing post continued to receive dated updates after December 2025, including changes by module capacity and changes to system and pre-built configurations. In an update dated September 29, 2026, Framework said it had depleted lower-cost inventory in some DDR5-equipped pre-built Laptop 13 and Laptop 16 configurations and raised their prices. A later update in the post stated a range of $13–$18 per GB for DDR5 SO-DIMMs depending on capacity; that is a company-published range, not an independent market price, and should not be assumed to apply to every configuration or remain current.
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- Single 16GB RAM Module; DDR5 SO-DIMM 262 Pin; Speeds up to 5600MHz PC5-44800 (PC5-5600B)
- NON-ECC Unbuffered; JEDEC DDR5 standard 1.1V
- Improves system speed, performance, and reduces bottlenecks by increasing memory RAM resources
- Quick and easy to install, no expertise required
The key distinction is between the original 50% change to DIY memory options and subsequent pricing decisions. For an order today, check Framework’s current listing for the exact model and configuration rather than relying on a historical announcement or price comparison.
Can you buy a Framework DIY laptop without memory?
Yes. Framework offered the DIY laptop without memory, allowing buyers to reuse compatible modules or source their own. This can make sense if you already have suitable RAM or can find a compatible module at a lower total cost. “DDR5” alone does not guarantee compatibility: verify the supported capacity, speed and SO-DIMM form factor for the specific laptop model using Framework’s compatibility information.
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Compare the complete cost of each option, not just the quoted memory price:
- Match the configuration: compare the same memory capacity and a module supported by the exact laptop model.
- Check the total: include the laptop’s no-memory price and the cost of a compatible module, or compare that sum with Framework’s configured-memory price.
- Confirm availability and return terms: retail stock and prices can change, and a module that cannot be returned may leave you with a costly compatibility mistake.
- Account for price movement: Framework’s own updates show that its prices and product configurations changed after the original announcement.
Bringing your own memory may reduce the total for a buyer who finds a compatible module at a better price, but the evidence here does not establish a universal saving. The result depends on the laptop configuration, module availability and prices at the time of purchase.
Key figures and what they do—and do not—show
| Figure | What it refers to | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| 50% | Framework’s original increase to DDR5 options in Laptop DIY Edition orders, announced in December 2025 according to contemporary coverage. | A change to Framework’s configured-memory pricing, not a market-wide DDR5 inflation measure. |
| $10/GB | Framework’s December 24, 2025 weighted average inventory cost for 8GB, 16GB and 32GB modules; it said 48GB modules cost slightly more. | A company-reported inventory-cost figure, not a retail price for every module. |
| $25/GB | Framework’s December 24, 2025 stated comparison for Apple memory. | The Apple product and configuration were not identified in the post, so the comparison’s basis is incomplete. |
| $550 and $150 | The screenshot price for a 16GB-to-32GB Dell XPS 13 upgrade and the price PC Gamer said it saw for the same model when it checked in 2025. | A disputed historical comparison; neither figure is a current Dell quote. |
| $13–$18/GB | A later range Framework stated for DDR5 SO-DIMMs depending on capacity. | A Framework-published range whose applicability depends on capacity and the relevant update; it is not a verified current market-wide price. |
What a buyer should take from the dispute
Framework’s announcement is useful as a dated example of how rising component costs can affect a laptop maker’s configured options. It does not, by itself, prove that Apple or Dell gouged customers, nor does it establish that Framework’s memory was always the cheaper choice. For a purchase decision, compare the exact configurations and current total prices; for the accusation, keep the source and limits of each comparison attached to the claim.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
