Today, we shared an early preview of the new Framework Laptop 12, a durable, repairable, upgradeable, 12.2” touchscreen convertible notebook. This computer is the purest manifestation of our vision and product philosophy at Framework, and is in many ways the product I started the company to create. We build products to fix what we see as a broken industry, and few categories are as emblematic of the problems with consumer electronics as entry-level laptops. They tend to be janky, locked-down, disposable, underpowered, and frankly, boring machines. Shamefully, these are the products that PC brands market for use by students and young people around the world. Instead, we believe these are the people who most need thoughtfully designed, long-lasting computers.
That brings us back to Framework Laptop 12. We designed this computer from the start to take all of the upgradeability and longevity of Framework Laptop 13 and bring it into a smaller, lower cost, more flexible, and more colorful form factor. We’re introducing it in five bold colorways, each with an optional color-matched stylus. The two-tone look isn’t just for show, either. We overmolded shock-absorbing TPU over rigid PC/ABS plastic with an inner metal structure for robustness. In the event you ever do manage to break it, it’s also our easiest product ever to repair. We took all of the design for repairability learnings from Framework Laptop 13 and 16 and pushed them even further in Framework Laptop 12. We’ll be sharing more on that on the path to launch.
We also designed this laptop to be unusually powerful for its class. Instead of using a typical small-core processor, we brought in the full 13th Gen Intel Core processor in i3 and i5 variants. We enabled support for up to 48GB of DDR5-5200, 2TB of NVMe storage, and Wi-Fi 6E, all of which are modular and upgradeable. We also customized the 1920x1200 display to deliver >400 nit brightness along with touch and stylus support. As always, we’re supporting both Windows 11 and Linux too.
Even though we had students in mind when we began developing this product two years ago, we found as we iterated through prototypes that every adult who tried it wanted one too! I’ll personally be switching to a Framework Laptop 12 as my primary laptop now that we’ve announced it. We’ll be sharing much more detail on specifications and pricing as we get closer to the launch of Framework Laptop 12. We’ll open pre-orders in April, with first shipments in mid-2025. This is a defining product for us, and we can’t wait for you to try it.
18 Likes
I really like the idea. I guess there is no integrated holder for the pen? If not, will there be an accompanying case/sleeve?
1 Like
Will this have pen pressure support?
Yes or no, now this is a product I love. slightly smaller, stylus support, touch screen, modular IO, great colourways, OK processor, very good screen, and it comes in black.
I’m blown away. I hate lugging around my 16 inch when all I need is something with a keyboard. This has plenty of value add on top of it’s slimness
I’d love to see, or make myself, a small holder to pop on the front. No clue on mounting lol but hey, crazy glue bonds well to plastic
2 Likes
I want to switch my daily driver from Framework Laptop 13 to Laptop 12 too! As I wrote here, what is the weight, and size (width x height x depth)?
Edited:
We’ll be sharing much more detail on specifications and pricing as we get closer to the launch of Framework Laptop 12
It seems the weight and size are still secret for now? 
2 Likes
The cost here would be the determining factor as Chromebooks are already a thing. If FW12 costs anywhere above 499$ I doubt it’ll be appealing to people.
2 Likes
I have mixed feelings. I really like the convertible form factor with touchscreen and I also think I really like the new plastic case since it’s probably more robust, cheaper and less “cold” than the aluminum of the Framework 13. I also like the colors.
What I don’t like is only one RAM module, and Intel only CPUs. Also that the mainboards aren’t compatible with the Framework 13 ones. There’s probably a good reason for the new form factor, but I think I would’ve preferred if they just made the 13" mainboard into a convertible with that new plastic case.
10 Likes
So is this now a fourth entirely different mainboard?
Seems like we’re getting a whole lot of completely incompatible products being released, with the only actual shared parts being glorified USB dongles. Which ain’t exactly great.
17 Likes
Another issue is that it seems to only ssupport the smaller, more expensive 2230 m.2 ssd instead of the standard 2280
5 Likes
Framework has never sold itself on price, especially not on the initial purchase. Framework products are basically always more expensive than equivalently specced products from other manufacturers. In my opinion it eventually evens out on cheaper upgrades down the line (buying just a mainboard is cheaper than buying an entirely new laptop), and the modularity and repairability has value on it’s own.
If those two things aren’t worth the price for you, then yeah, framework laptops probably aren’t for you. But for a lot of people (myself included), they are.
2 Likes
Sure, but FW isn’t Apple, their products still ahveto be price competitive at least to a certain degree. And especially so if this one is meant as a ‘introductory laptop’ for students and such
2 Likes
I mean I can see why they did that given that there’s really not much space in the 12" case
Implementing a full size SSD would’ve probably required other compromises, like soldered Wifi and/or RAM, or expansion cards only on the left side, or a smaller battery or speakers.
8 Likes
Their price competition comes in long term value of cheaper upgrades and cheaper repairs. That’s literally the entire deal. Yes, obviously if it’s triple the price, at some point, the long term value doesn’t make sense. But considering we don’t know the price, arguing about specifics/where the line is seems silly. I expect it to be somewhat more expensive than similarly specced laptops. In my opinion, the price premium on the 13 and 16 were worth it, and I trust that it will be as well for the 12.
1 Like
Oh yeah not blaming them at all. Good point too, I can’t see any way to reasonably add anything larger in myself in the space they have. It is a negative we should be honest about though (not to say anyone’s been dishonest).
Here’s a massive possitive though we also have the ability to plug in one of the storage modules here too if we’ve got one kicking around. Big plus for keeping in the ecosystem Not sure on the price comparisson there however lol.
1 Like
The line is below $750
If not, then they eat sales revenue sales from the older AMD 13. It must be meaningfully lower than that price point or people will still point to the older AMD 13 as that has a more proven chassis etc.
$499 meets that as does $599, any higher is DOA.
5 Likes
With the existing availability of a single 64GB SoDIMM, this will now support 64GB RAM, right? (instead of 48GB stated in the event?)
3 Likes
Unless people want the convertible/touchscreen/pen input or the smaller form factor. I expect the base model of the Framework 12 to be around $650-700, not knowing the complete specs of course.
I suspect that it will work, but will obviously require testing and we don’t know much about the exact CPU model they use.
2 Likes
In the LTT video the text “i3 1315u” was visible on the mainboard.
1 Like
That’s a fair point regarding the desirability of the touchscreen, I hadn’t considered that. $650 would be pushing it but I could see it. Seems like it would be poor optics to position it as a “cheaper” model, complete with plastic instead of aluminum for the chassis and then price it similarly. Especially with them chunky bezels lol. People would really need to want that touchscreen.
I wouldn’t mind if it were cheaper of course. But I also can’t imagine it being much cheaper than the comparable Framework 13 model, because then the Framework 12 would cannibalize the sales if the Framework 13, plus you get a portable laptop with a more rugged case and touchscreen and so on.
Funny, I viewed it differently. I figure if the prices are too similar, then the 13 cannibalizes sales from the 12. I guess we shall see when the price is officially revealed what Framework thinks. I do see the logic in what you say however. I guess it’s just hard to square the positioning thus far with a higher price if the target market is “students” and such. I am glad to see them keeping the older models in production, I lobbied for that change actual years ago to induce downmarket penetration.
