Framework's Cheapest Model Gets New Intel Chip, But Chose to Court Linux Users First

When 80% of a laptop's buyers install Linux themselves, Framework doesn't see that as a fluke—it sees it as a product decision waiting to happen. After launching the higher-end Laptop 13 Pro, the company known for modularity and repairability has turned its attention to the most affordable and colorful model in its lineup, the Framework Laptop 12. The new generation switches to an Intel Core Series 3 processor while adding optional backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader modules—filling in a few practical upgrades for a first-gen model that was charming in design but a bit pricey.

Framework says the performance and battery life improvements that Core Ultra Series 3 brought to the Laptop 13 Pro extend to the non-Ultra entry-level chips as well. The pre-built configurations come in three tiers: Core 3 with 8GB of RAM, Core 5 with 16GB, and Core 7 with 32GB. The company specifically notes that the Core 5 model sees a 70% improvement in battery life while streaming Netflix compared to the original Laptop 12's Core i5 version. Those wanting more memory can configure up to 48GB, but that upgrade costs $659—nearly matching the entry price of the entire machine. That makes the base 8GB spec look a bit skimpy, though it may simply reflect the memory supply and pricing pressures the whole industry has been facing lately.

The new chip also brings upgrades to the surrounding specs: of the four hot-swappable Expansion Cards, two now support Thunderbolt 4, and the memory has switched to faster DDR5. The 12.2-inch display on the front of the machine, however, remains unchanged. The backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader are optional add-ons that DIY buyers can freely configure; but if you buy a pre-built Core 5 or Core 7 Linux model directly, both come included by default.

Linux is really the star of this update. Framework points out that over 80% of original Laptop 12 owners were actually running Linux, and that ratio led the company to ship the new model with Fedora preinstalled—switching to Windows 11 requires an extra $100 upgrade fee. The company also notes that the new hardware has already been provided to other Linux distributions in advance for compatibility work, ensuring smooth support across various systems right at launch.

The pre-built Linux version of the Framework Laptop 12 starts at $699 and comes only in green; the DIY version is cheaper at $549 and offers five color options: black, gray, lavender, pink, and green. Pre-orders are open now, with shipping expected to begin this October.