Framework's Laptop 12 was conceived as a Chromebook killer, but the 2026 upgrade gives it a flagship chip. Engadget's Daniel Cooper rates the updated machine 8.4 out of 10, praising its outstanding performance, modular repairability and robust, charming plastic design.
The key change is Intel's new Core Series 3 silicon. The first-generation Laptop 12 struggled to keep its chip cool enough to deliver good performance, a flaw shared by most of Framework's laptops. Intel's Series 3 chips are both faster and more power efficient, which may eliminate those thermal issues. The reviewer tested the Core 7 350 model. The new chips also raise the maximum RAM to 64GB and add Thunderbolt 4 to the rear expansion slots, allowing an eGPU or a pair of 4K monitors.
Other updates include a fingerprint scanner and a backlit keyboard, which correct omissions from the first version and are backwards-compatible with earlier units. Framework also developed its own MPP / USI 2.0-compatible stylus with 4,096 pressure levels and two programmable buttons, sold in matching colors. The fingerprint reader sits where the old power button was and keeps its wake light.
The upgrade process is also easier than before, with ribbon cables and screws replaced by pogo pins and clips. The main drawbacks remain price, with the RAMpocalypse premium still hurting, and an 8GB base configuration that the review calls painful.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing