The modular magic in Framework has been shrunk. That promise of a 12-inch portable laptop with desktop power is really here: the Laptop 12, a lovely convertible touchscreen with repairability in the Framework style. Bargain-bin plastic? No way. This 12.2-inch laptop is for the students and is so much more robust than those cheap-and-cheerful Chromebooks. First impressions? It is just charming. But an unsettling question still remains: With so many options at the budget end of the market, how many students will actually get their hands on this precious piece?
Framework
Framework Laptop 12
Framework’s 12-inch laptop is an alternative to low-cost laptops, but it is too expensive to compete.
Pros
- It’s so cute
- Satisfying keyboard
- All-plastic body should take a lot of punishment
Cons
- It’s expensive
- Thermals are an issue
- Lackluster performance
$799 at Framework
With the Laptop 12, an exclamation bursts in ABS plastic. Say goodbye to brushed aluminum; it’s black, pink, lavender, gray, or a flashy green. Unboxing is an exciting surprise-a welcome change from the typical laptop. My “Sage” review unit-a captivating green and off-white hue-is very much out in front. The Founder, Nirav Patel, channels the joie de vivre of the Game Boy Color with playful translucency, while resembling the OLPC XO or those precious LeapFrog gadgets that seemed to have life of their own.
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This device shares many similarities with a 13-inch model and has a much thicker body than any tapered design its bigger sibling possesses. The outer is a tough aluminum chassis layered with impact-absorbing plastics, not fragile and built to withstand everyday life. Similar to the other Framework designs, this device has four expansion card slots for maximum customization, now available in several colors to fit your style. The best thing about these cards? All cards are compatible with every Framework design, thus easily interchangeable.
Framework’s new 12-inch laptop isn’t just smaller; it’s smarter. These improvements in quality of life are designed for the average user as well as the avid tinkerers, with all the accumulated wisdom taken from the larger models. As a person who enjoys peeking under the hood of Framework, you will immediately appreciate the changes. Input cover now clinging to the chassis with eight screws instead of five, which gives a much more balanced tension on the cover’s surface. No more fiddling about-the input cover now just slides into grooves along the front of the deck, unlike the 13-inch model. But the best bit? It uses pogo pins instead of the infamous ribbon cable that connects the input cover to the mainboard. I have managed to save myself from ribbon cable carnage up until now, but all that fear of potentially ripping one off in a quick disassembly is now history.
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Gone are fiddly screws! Framework’s SSD design simply snaps in place with satisfaction on the click, courtesy of a clever hinged clip. Ram installation is just as easy flip open the protective plastic cover and it boldly reminds you to close it afterward following the insertion of DIMMs. A boxy redesign now features a smaller 50Wh battery on the board that does away with support for older models-that’s the price of innovation.
(Hobbyists, proceed with caution: The 12-inch board is certainly not going to create unseen miniatures its older brother couldn’t. The difference in size… is underwhelming. Save yourself the extra trouble and stick with the bigger sibling unless every single millimeter really matters.)
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Gone is the familiar power button set among the keys. It now finds itself exiled on the right flank of the deck, sharing the territory with the expansion card slots. And speaking of absent friends, we say goodbye to the fingerprint reader. In a triple threat of reasons, we have cost-cutting, design ethos towards younger users, or maybe even some sinister combination thereof.
Potential owners will have a tempting choice between a 13th gen Core i3-1315U and a Core i5-1334U processor. Both can take up to a mighty 48GB of DDR5 RAM, albeit limited to DDR5-5200 speeds. Storage-wise, fit in a fast M.2 SSD up to 2TB. Yet, with those in and still wanting more, add a 256GB or 1TB drive via one of the laptop’s expansion card slots to never run out of space again.
Avoiding any unwarranted interference with keyboard-trackpad perfection is duly considered by Patel’s wise decision. Like in the 13-inch one, this keyboard and touchpad are built to go on and are quite a pleasure to use. I daresay I may somewhat prefer typing on the 12-inch. The plastic shell and the satisfyingly louder and punchier clicks by the keystrokes are unexplainably addictive!
Daniel Cooper for Engadget
Forget those disposable laptops for students. This machine was supposed to last longer, take up less space, and be a better experience. And it does live up to that promise, but the corners cut to hit the price surely show. Take the display: a 12.2-inch, 1920×1200 resolution, glossy touchscreen with 400 nits brightness. In layman terms, the display is akin to those found on less pricey notebooks, so do reel in your expectations. The glossy finish comes with a necessity as it ensures touch functionality, yet the weak backlight creates chances of reflections and washed-out view in daylight.
Framework is building their own stylus yet, but in the meanwhile, anything from your favorite USI 2.0 or MPP 2.0 pen will be compatible with the laptop. Currently, the search for a pen rests on your own shoulders. I tested the Metapen M2; and truly, I’ve had the worst cases for palm rejection. On a daily basis, I fight with random menus popping up and windows closing because of my palm. Hopefully, a quick fix might turn up soon because, at the moment, this pen is nothing but an annoyance to me.
You should expect grainy footage from this 2-megapixel webcam. In stark contrast to the 13-inch one which enjoys a fine 9.2-megapixel sensor, this one has to resort to delivering those dreadful, artifact-ridden videos-a state of mediocrity so much expected from budget laptops.
The sound system on Framework has been improved incrementally, but the merely 12 inches of chassis diameter has an inherently limiting effect on the acoustics. The two 2W speakers tend to give weak and disappointing sound even at full volume and, on the big plus, have an admirable quality of never distorting. There is no bass boom here-and there goes the carpetbuds-on the side of an immersive audio-with speakers that prioritize water-clear midrange, and clarity over power.
The Core i5 with 16GB RAM is surprisingly competent in this review unit. It muscled through the day-to-day tasks like writing (this review included), streaming videos, and photo editing without breaking a sweat. Let me tell you: I put it through more. “Hardspace: Shipbreaker” technically ran, though it was more of a “shipbreaker” than “ship-shape” experience. Fortnite also got some screen time, but the choppy performance made it unenjoyable. Driver updates may smooth things out in the longer term, but let’s be honest: this machine isn’t destined for esports glory. It’s the workhorse, not a gaming thoroughbred.
Being a Framework laptop with some sort of quirk goes with the territory: the fan. When you push speed and processing power, the system cools itself adequately with a loud hum. Working on the lap during heavy tasks? Things will warm up. Another downside is the remarkable battery life; think of this machine as being plug-in. Battery life drains in less than four while running demanding applications or games.
Pricing and the competition
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Currently, the pre-built model is available only in black. Want to inject some color? The DIY edition has a variety of chassis options: gray, lavender, bubblegum, and sage, all better than basic black, in my opinion.
Coming in at $799, the entry-level prebuilt is equipped with the Intel Core i3-1315U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and Windows 11 Home. For a bump in performance, the i5-1334U with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD goes for $1,049.
Feeling more hands-on? For $549 (i3) and $699 (i5), the DIY kit lets you choose your own RAM, SSD, and OS-an opportunity to make your machine perfectly fit your needs (and cost you a bit less)!
Framework 12: Who is its competitor? That remains a quandary. Framework was constructed as a Neutron in the eyes of one of those atrocities: cheap laptops given to students. You know-the plastic ones with locked-down BIOS, wrenching in its hold to just keep the student and a landfill the moment they wheeze their very last breath. I’d say they’re in the sub-$500 territory, up against Chromebooks, and general specials that bad for Best Buy. Machines built to log out of the official circle just when their “extended warranty period” expires, with consumers tugging off their sleeves and scrambling for another one. Does Framework cunningly swoop in to become our Merlin and break us free from the product cycle of worthless tech?
Forget planned obsolescence. Think heirloom tech. Yes, the initial outlay for this machine stings. But consider it an investment, not just in a computer, but in future-proofing. Its rugged design laughs in the face of accidental spills and playground jostles. Plus, when the relentless march of progress leaves lesser laptops in the dust, you can breathe new life into this one with a simple mainboard swap. Feeling pragmatic? You could snag a refurbished Framework 13 with a Core i5-1340P for a cool $779. It’s the sensible choice, but is it thelegacychoice?
Wrap-up
Daniel Cooper for Engadget
The Framework Laptop 12 is far from an everyday gadget; it’s a traveler Iactually wantto take along with me. Its small size and charming looks mean that it’s just another item to toss in the bag. More than just good looks, the Framework builds strong, with a design that makes it easy to repair, and its expansion cards are just genius when it comes to longevity-with the best part being that it’sfun. That is a very rare kind of distinction for a laptop amid a lot of inactive mass production, and this little cute one chooses to stand apart as a cheerful alternative to an endless abyss of black plastic and sterile silver.
Forget those very cheap $300 notebooks sold to the student variety, destined for the junk drawer. They go nowhere digitally. Real quality means that you need to put down money for it; however, think of it as buying time. A machine that lasts, not a mere distraction to waste away an hour. Choose wisely and break away from the neverending cycle of replacements.
The Framework Laptop 12? It’s a ‘but’-type machine. Wonderful thoughts, poorly executed. Right now, getting Fortnite to run smoothly is a challenge, and one really wonders who exactly is this for. You cannot shake the feeling that they aimed for a lower price point before tariffs came into play. In its present state, the Laptop 12 is caught up in some strange no-man’s land. It is neither cheap enough for the budget-conscious nor powerful beyond the price a guy with some money to spend will expect. Unless you have spare parts to help bring down the total cost of ownership somehow, its appeal appears to be niche. Forget the main stream; this feels like the peculiar little sidekick for geeky grown-ups.
Thanks for reading Framework Laptop 12 review: Doing the right thing comes at a cost
