Quick answer: The 2026 Framework Laptop 12 swaps the
old 13th Gen Intel chips for Intel’s new Core Series 3
processors (Core 3 304, Core 5 320 and Core 7 350), and adds Thunderbolt
4, Wi-Fi 7, an optional backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader, and a
pre-built version with Fedora 44 KDE Plasma installed.
The DIY Edition starts at $549, and pre-built models
start at $699. If you already own the 2025 model,
Framework says the new mainboard (from $299) is a drop-in upgrade. If
you plan to run Linux, note Framework’s requirement: you need a distro
with kernel 7.1 or newer. Ordering is batch-based, so
check the order page for the current shipping month.
We have not tested this laptop. This guide is built from Framework’s
announcement, its product and specs pages, and Phoronix’s coverage, all
checked on October 27, 2026. Performance and battery
numbers below are Framework’s own claims, labeled as such.
At a glance
| Item | Framework Laptop 12 (2026) |
|---|---|
| Announced | August 18, 2026 |
| Processors | Intel Core 3 304, Core 5 320, Core 7 350 |
| DIY Edition from | $549 / $779 / $999 |
| Pre-built from | $699 / $1,099 / $1,399 |
| Display | 12.2 inch, 1920 × 1200, touch with stylus support |
| OS options | Fedora 44 KDE, Windows 11, or bring your own |
Framework Laptop 12 is the company’s 12.2-inch convertible with a
360-degree hinge, a durable overmolded chassis and five color options.
Framework says it is the product that has the highest share of Linux
users: almost 80% of Laptop 12 owners run Linux across a range of
distributions, according to the company’s customer surveys.
What is new in 2026
The processor
Framework says Core Series 3 is “purpose built for smaller,
lower-power, entry-priced laptops” and is essentially a shrunk-down
version of the Core Ultra Series 3 platform used in the Framework Laptop
13 Pro. It uses the same Cougar Cove performance cores, Darkmont
low-power efficient cores and Xe3 graphics, in reduced core counts, on
Intel’s 18A process.
| Option | Cores | Max clock | Graphics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core 3 304 | 1 P + 4 LP-E (5 threads) | 4.3 GHz | 1 Xe3 core |
| Core 5 320 | 2 P + 4 LP-E (6 threads) | 4.6 GHz | 2 Xe3 cores |
| Core 7 350 | 2 P + 4 LP-E (6 threads) | 4.8 GHz | 2 Xe3 cores |
Framework lists the power profile as 15W sustained with a 35W boost
in Performance and Balanced modes, and 15W sustained with a 20W boost in
Efficiency mode. The original model’s chips had a 40W boost.
Framework’s battery claim: in early testing with the
Core 5 320, the company reports a 70% increase in Netflix 4K
streaming battery life over the Core i5-1334U in the original
Laptop 12. That is a manufacturer figure from early testing, not an
independent result, so treat it as a ceiling to verify in reviews.
Ports and wireless
- Thunderbolt 4 on the two rear Expansion Card slots,
enough for eGPUs or two 4K 60 Hz displays, according to Framework. - The front two slots are USB 3.2 Gen 2. All four
slots can still take power input for charging. - Wi-Fi 7 with Intel’s BE213 radio, as a replaceable
M.2 module. - Memory: a single SO-DIMM slot supporting up to 64GB
of DDR5-6400. Framework’s marketplace lists options up to 48GB at
DDR5-5600. - Storage: one M.2 2230 NVMe slot, up to 2TB.
Keyboard and fingerprint
reader
Two of the most common requests from owners and reviewers were a
fingerprint reader and a backlit keyboard, and both are now options.
- Fingerprint reader: built into the power button on
all Core 5 and Core 7 configurations. - Backlit keyboard: a US English version is standard
on Fedora pre-built Core 5 and Core 7 systems, and optional on any DIY
Edition. - Firmware: the backlit keyboard uses a
reprogrammable controller running open-source ZMK firmware. Framework
says it will move other languages to the new controller over time.
Specifications
From Framework’s specs page.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Display | 12.2 inch LCD, 16:10, 1920 × 1200, 60 Hz |
| Brightness | More than 400 nits |
| Stylus | MPP 2.0 and USI 2.0 supported (sold separately) |
| Size | 287 × 213.88 × 18.45 mm |
| Weight | 1.3 kg |
| Camera | 1080p at 30 fps, hardware privacy switch |
| Audio | Stereo 2W speakers, dual microphones, headphone jack |
| Cooling | 64 × 5.5 mm fan, single 8 mm heat pipe |
| Ports | Four user-selectable Expansion Cards |
| Battery (pre-built) | 50Wh |
The display is the same class of panel as last year’s: 60 Hz, 50%
NTSC color gamut, with a typical contrast ratio of 1200:1 (the original
listed 1500:1). If you want a high-refresh or wide-gamut screen, this is
not that laptop.
Prices and configurations
DIY Edition
The DIY Edition ships without memory, storage or an operating system
by default, and takes 10 to 20 minutes to assemble according to
Framework.
| Processor | DIY Edition price |
|---|---|
| Core 3 304 | $549 |
| Core 5 320 | $779 |
| Core 7 350 | $999 |
Pre-built
Pre-builts take 2 to 5 minutes to set up and include a 60W USB-C
power adapter.
| Processor | Memory / storage | Pre-built price |
|---|---|---|
| Core 3 304 | 8GB / 512GB | $699 |
| Core 5 320 | 16GB / 512GB | $1,099 |
| Core 7 350 | 32GB / 512GB | $1,399 |
Pre-builts offer a choice of Fedora 44 KDE Plasma, or Windows 11 Home
or Pro, per Framework’s page. The stylus is purchased separately.
Upgrading from the 2025
model
The mainboard is sold separately, and Framework says the new
mainboard, fingerprint reader and backlit Input Cover are backward
compatible with the original generation.
| Mainboard | Price |
|---|---|
| Core 3 304 | $299 |
| Core 5 320 | $449 |
| Core 7 350 | $669 |
When we checked, Framework’s mainboard page listed these as
pre-orders for Batch 5, shipping in December, and
showed the page as out of stock. Framework’s announcement said Batch 1
of the full laptop would ship in October, but we could not confirm which
batch the laptop is on today. Check the order page.
The original Framework Laptop 12 is still sold. Its DIY Edition now
starts at $499, with 13th Gen Core i3-1315U and i5-1334U chips and Wi-Fi
6E.
Linux support
This is where the launch is most interesting.
- Pre-installed Fedora. Framework worked with the
Fedora and KDE teams, and Fedora 44 KDE Plasma Desktop is available
pre-loaded. Framework says it is the first Framework device to ship with
KDE and Plasma. - Kernel requirement. Because Core Series 3 and the
BE213 Wi-Fi card are very new, Framework says you need a distribution
with kernel 7.1 or newer. - Fingerprint reader. The sensor is new to Framework.
Support is in libfprint, and the specs page lists libfprint
1.94.100 or newer, which is available now on some distros, with
more coming. - Other distros. Framework says it has seeded
pre-release hardware to partners such as CachyOS and Bazzite, and it
publishes a Linux page showing which distros meet the kernel and
libfprint requirements.
If you want a particular distribution, check Framework’s Linux page
first. A distro on an older kernel may not work well on the new
hardware.
Expansion Cards
and the rest of the platform
The Laptop 12 has four user-selectable Expansion Card slots, plus a
3.5 mm combo headphone jack. Framework’s specs page lists these card
types: USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, 250GB and 1TB storage
cards, microSD and SD. Because the rear two slots are Thunderbolt 4 and
the front two are USB 3.2 Gen 2, it matters where you put a
high-bandwidth card such as a display output: the rear slots are the
ones built for it.
Other platform details worth knowing:
- Repairability. Framework describes the Laptop 12 as
its easiest product to repair and upgrade, with replacement parts sold
in its marketplace. Warranty is one year, with two- and three-year
extensions available for select products and regions. - Materials. The top, input and bottom covers use 30%
post-consumer recycled plastic, and some other parts use 35%. - Security hardware. The camera and microphones each
have a hardware privacy switch. - Chassis. Overmolded shock-absorbing TPU over
plastic, with an inner metal structure.
What we could not confirm
- Independent performance and battery results. We
found Framework’s own figures and early testing but no review we could
cite for this article. - The current shipping batch. The announcement said
Batch 1 ships in October. The mainboard page showed Batch 5 shipping in
December. The laptop’s order page is the only reliable source for
today’s timing. - Price changes. The prices above are the ones we saw
on October 27, 2026. Memory and storage costs move quickly, so check
before you order.
Should you buy it?
| If you are… | Consider |
|---|---|
| New to Framework and want the cheapest entry | Original Laptop 12 DIY from $499, or the 2026 Core 3 from $549 |
| Wanting Linux with no setup | A Fedora pre-built from $699 |
| An owner of the 2025 Laptop 12 | A mainboard upgrade, if you want Thunderbolt 4 or Wi-Fi 7 |
| Needing a fast, high-resolution screen | Something else |
| Wanting a dedicated GPU | Something else |
The strengths are repairability, a modular port system and
Framework’s Linux focus. The trade-offs are visible on the specs page: a
60 Hz 1920 × 1200 display, a single memory slot, and a 50Wh battery in
the pre-built configurations.
FAQ
How much does the
Framework Laptop 12 cost?
The 2026 DIY Edition starts at $549 with the Core 3 304, $779 with
the Core 5 320 and $999 with the Core 7 350. Pre-built models start at
$699, $1,099 and $1,399.
Which processors does it use?
Intel Core 3 304, Core 5 320 and Core 7 350, from Intel’s Core Series
3 (“Wildcat Lake”) family.
Does it come with Linux?
Yes, as an option. Pre-built models can come with Fedora 44 KDE
Plasma pre-installed, or Windows 11.
Which Linux kernel do I need?
Framework says kernel 7.1 or newer.
Does it have a fingerprint
reader?
Optionally. It is built into the power button on Core 5 and Core 7
configurations. On Linux it needs libfprint 1.94.100 or newer.
Is there a backlit keyboard?
Yes, as an option. A US English backlit keyboard is standard on
Fedora pre-built Core 5 and Core 7 models, and optional on any DIY
Edition.
Can I upgrade my 2025
Framework Laptop 12?
Framework says the new mainboard is backward compatible with the
original generation. Mainboards are $299, $449 and $669 and were listed
as shipping in December when we checked.
Does it support Thunderbolt
4?
On the two rear Expansion Card slots. The two front slots are USB 3.2
Gen 2.
Sources
All checked October 27, 2026.
- Framework
blog: Framework Laptop 12, now with Core Series 3 (August 18,
2026) - Framework:
Framework Laptop 12 product and specifications page - Framework
Marketplace: Framework Laptop 12 Mainboard (Intel Core Series
3) - Phoronix:
Framework Laptop 12 updated for Intel Wildcat Lake, shipping starts in
October
By Early Adopted Editorial Team. Last updated: October 27,
2026