Framework has updated its Laptop 12 with Intel's latest Core Series 3 processors, a fingerprint reader, a backlit keyboard option, and a pre-installed Linux configuration. Preorders are open now, with the first wave of deliveries expected to ship in October.
The numbers that matter. The cheapest pre-built configuration starts at $699 — $100 less than the previous version at launch. That base model ships in green, packs an Intel Core 3 304 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. Want Windows 11 Home instead of Fedora 44 KDE Plasma? That is a $100 upgrade. The DIY Edition starts at $549 and opens up more color options: black, gray, light purple, pink, and green.
Why Linux is now the default. Framework says almost 80 percent of original Laptop 12 owners are already running Linux across a range of distros. Shipping Fedora out of the box is the company reading its own changelog and acting on it. Framework also says new hardware has been seeded to other Linux distros so support will be ready when units ship.
What the new chip actually buys you. Framework says the Core Series 3 is 'purpose built for smaller, lower-power, entry-priced laptops,' with improvements to battery life, temperatures, and fan noise. The Core 5 model specifically demonstrated 70 percent better battery life while streaming Netflix compared to the Core i5 version of the original Laptop 12. The chip update also brings DDR5 memory speeds of up to 6400 MT/s, Wi-Fi 7 R2, and Thunderbolt 4 support on the rear two Expansion Card slots — enough bandwidth for two 4K 60Hz displays or eGPUs. The front two USB slots step down to USB 3.2 Gen 2, though all four slots still support power input for charging. RAM tops out at 48GB if you need it, at a $659 premium for that configuration.
One caveat worth flagging. The Core 3 304 has only one performance core, and the only laptop tested with this Intel Wildcat Lake processor, according to The Verge, 'left us bitterly disappointed.' Framework is pitching the Core 5 and Core 7 tiers for anyone who needs real headroom — those configurations include the fingerprint reader and backlit keyboard as standard. The original Laptop 12 on 13th Gen Intel chips remains available, starting at $699 pre-built or $499 DIY.
Here's the thing: Framework keeps doing what most of the industry stopped doing — letting buyers own and modify what they paid for. A $100 price drop, a sensible Linux default, and modular ports that actually carry Thunderbolt 4 is a better changelog than most vendors ship in two product generations. The demo is not the product, but October is close enough to hold them to it.
