Framework just announced a refreshed Framework Laptop 12 on its blog. The 12.2-inch convertible keeps the same colorful chassis. Then it adds Intel Core Series 3 chips, Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 7, and the first Fedora pre-install in the line. Pre-orders are open now. Batch 1 is due in October.
New chips, ports, and battery claims
The refresh uses Intel Core 3 304, Core 5 320, and, for the first time here, Core 7 350. Framework says Core Series 3 is a smaller cut of the same Cougar Cove, Darkmont, and Xe3 design used on the 13 Pro. Because those P-cores match, the company claims many single-thread jobs land close to a Core 5 13 Pro.
That shared Intel 18A process is also the efficiency story. In early tests with a Core 5 320, Framework reports a 70 percent jump in Netflix 4K streaming battery life versus the original Core i5-1334U. However, that result is a company lab run from July 2026. The test used 16GB of RAM, a 512GB drive, 150-nit brightness, and Wi-Fi on. Battery capacity is still 50Wh, so real runtime will vary.
The rear two Expansion Card slots now carry Thunderbolt 4. So you can add an eGPU or two 4K 60Hz displays. The front two slots drop to USB 3.2 Gen 2. Still, all four accept power. Memory stays a single SO-DIMM, now rated up to DDR5-6400 and 64GB. The shop currently lists modules through 48GB for $659, plus a bring-your-own option. Storage is still a swappable M.2 2230 drive up to 2TB. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi 7 arrives on a replaceable Intel BE213 card.
The 12.2-inch 1920×1200 touch panel, 400-nit outdoor claim, and USI 2.0 stylus support stay. Instead, Framework left the display spec alone.
Fingerprint, backlight, and Fedora
Reviewers and owners asked for two daily extras. This generation adds both. A fingerprint reader sits in the power button on every Core 5 and Core 7 system. Framework says it works with Windows Hello and with libfprint 1.94.100 or newer. Because the sensor lives on a replaceable Power Button Board, you can add it later.
A US English backlit keyboard is now an option. It ships standard on Fedora pre-built Core 5 and Core 7 units. DIY buyers can add the backlit deck for $20. In addition, the new board uses a reprogrammable controller and open-source ZMK firmware.
Linux is the other headline. Framework says almost 80% of Framework Laptop 12 owners are running Linux across a range of distros. Therefore the company is shipping Fedora 44 KDE Plasma Desktop on pre-built Sage systems. Fedora Project Lead Jef Spaleta and KDE e.V. President Aleix Pol both backed that choice. Because Core Series 3 and the BE213 radio are new, Framework says you need kernel 7.1 or newer. It is also seeding hardware to CachyOS and Bazzite.
The new Core Series 3 mainboard, fingerprint board, and backlit input cover are backwards compatible with last year’s chassis. That is the point of the repairable design. Memory pricing is still the other tax, as we noted when Framework RAM and SSD prices rose again.
Price, colors, and shipping
DIY Series 3 starts at $549 for a Core 3 304 board. Core 5 320 DIY is $779 and includes the fingerprint reader. Core 7 350 DIY is $999. Pre-built Sage systems start at $699 for Core 3 with 8GB and 512GB. Then Core 5 pre-built is $1,099 with 16GB. Core 7 pre-built is $1,399 with 32GB. Fedora is the default pre-built OS. Windows 11 Home and Pro are listed as paid options on both paths. Last year’s 13th-gen DIY now starts at $499.
Pre-built units come in Sage. DIY still offers Black, Gray, Lavender, Bubblegum, and Sage. Batch 1 October slots are already marked sold out on the configurator. After that, later batches are listed for October and November.
The entry pre-built still starts at 8GB. That is thin for 2026, yet it matches the memory market Framework has been fighting all year. The company also delayed the Laptop 13 Pro this summer over hardware bugs, so October dates can still slip. Finally, the display did not get faster or sharper. If you already own a Laptop 12, the drop-in mainboard may be the smarter spend.
