Framework Laptop 12 (2026 Upgrade): Intel's Core Series 3 Fixes A Key Flaw

What's Changed

Framework's Laptop 12 (2026 upgrade) pairs Intel's power efficient Core Series 3 chips with the company's modular, repairable design. The 2026 model also adds a fingerprint scanner and backlit keyboard, correcting omissions from the first generation. Both new features are backwards compatible with the earlier version. Framework also developed its own MPP / USI 2.0 compatible stylus, which charges over USB-C, weighs 15 grams, supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and has two programmable buttons.

Hardware and Upgrading

The original Laptop 12 shipped with 13th generation Intel Core i3 or Core i5 CPUs. Buyers can now choose the Core 3 304, Core 5 320 or Core 7 350, with maximum RAM rising to 64GB and rear expansion card slots supporting Thunderbolt 4, enabling an eGPU or dual 4K monitors. The keyboard and fingerprint reader carry over from the solid first generation design.

Framework made upgrading easier by eliminating ribbon cables and screws in favor of pogo pins and clips. Swapping the mainboard takes about 13 minutes, according to the reviewer, though installing drivers and Windows took over 30 minutes. Downloading updated Wi-Fi drivers beforehand is recommended.

Performance

The first generation Laptop 12 was limited by constrained thermals that capped performance on strenuous tasks. The Core Series 3 silicon is fast and power efficient enough to largely eliminate that flaw. Fortnite runs on high-res graphics, Hardspace: Shipbreaker plays smoothly, and Cyberpunk 2077 ran on the lowest settings without a skipped frame or stutter.

However, gaming on a lap remains impractical: the underside of the chassis gets very hot within minutes. Battery life reached about five hours while writing and listening to music, dropping to around three hours under gaming loads.

Price and Competition

The lowest-spec pre-built Framework 12 with a Core 3 304, 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD costs $799. A Core 5 320 with 16GB RAM and Windows 11 Home costs $1,199, while the Core 7 350 with 32GB RAM and Windows 11 Pro reviewed here costs $1,549. Choosing Fedora Linux saves $100. 8GB RAM on the base model remains painful for Windows.

The base MacBook Neo costs $699 but comes with an A18 Pro, 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, and it cannot be upgraded. Intel's Core Series 3 at least remedies the Framework 12's major technical flaw, and the $799 base model is one of the better deals available right now.

Sources: Engadget · Tom'S Hardware