Framework's Laptop 12 lets me tinker, but I wish it had more power

Price When Reviewed

$1,176

Best Prices Today: Framework Laptop 12

The Framework Laptop 12 is one thing of a uncommon breed: a compact 2-in-1 convertible that you just don’t simply use, you construct. It brings Framework’s imaginative and prescient of a do-it-yourself laptop computer expertise to a machine that’s each inexpensive and extra versatile than Framework’s different laptops — actually, due to its 360-degree hinge, touchscreen, and stylus. Framework initially designed this laptop computer with college students in thoughts, however the firm says, “every adult who tried it wanted one too” through the prototyping course of.

As Framework’s first 2-in-1 machine, the Framework Laptop 12 is essentially successful! Like all of Framework’s laptops, you could pay extra for this kind of do-it-yourself expertise. But in case you’re the form of one that likes to construct and customise your personal PC, Framework is vastly attention-grabbing within the laptop computer house.

Framework Laptop 12: Specs

The Framework Laptop 12 is out there in two different editions: A pre-built version that comes prepared to make use of with Windows put in and a DIY Edition that allows you to construct the machine your self.

Framework loaned us a DIY Edition for this evaluation, and I put it collectively myself. It’s an extremely easy course of that simply takes a couple of minutes. Installing Windows (and the drivers the machine requires) takes longer than constructing this laptop computer. Assembling the {hardware} is the simple half!

The Framework Laptop 12 has a wide range of totally different {hardware} configurations. The DIY Edition begins at $549, however you’ll have to convey your personal storage, RAM, energy adapter, and working system — and the ports are further, too. Still, you would get the bottom {hardware} with 4 USB ports for $593 and produce all the things else your self. The pre-assembled machine comes with Windows already put in and prices $799, which isn’t fairly a “budget-priced” 2-in-1 however is arguably on the decrease finish of a mid-range one.

It’s additionally value noting that the bottom mannequin comes with an Intel Core i3-1315U processor with a complete of six cores — two efficiency cores and 4 effectivity cores. A step as much as an Intel Core i5-1334U processor with a complete of ten cores — two efficiency cores and eight effectivity cores — prices one other $150. Both are based mostly on Intel’s 13th-generation Raptor Lake structure, which suggests they don’t have neural processing units for AI duties or the form of battery life enhancements we noticed in Intel’s Lunar Lake and even Meteor Lake chips.

• CPU: Intel Core i5-1334U
• Memory: 16GB DDR5 RAM
• Graphics/GPU: Intel UHD Graphics
• NPU: None
• Display: 12.2-inch 1920×1200 IPS show with 60Hz refresh price, contact display, and stylus help
• Storage: 1 TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
• Webcam: 1080p 2MP digital camera
• Connectivity: Up to 4 swappable ports of your alternative – USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), USB-A, HDMI 2.0b, Ethernet, DisplayPort, microSD reader, and SD card reader
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
• Biometrics: None
• Battery capability: 50 Watt-hours
• Dimensions: 11.29 x 8.42 x 0.72 inches
• Weight: 2.86 kilos
• MSRP: $1,176 as examined

Framework Laptop 12: Design and construct high quality

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Framework presents the Framework Laptop 12 in a wide range of two-tone shade schemes: Black, Gray, Lavender, Bubblegum, and Sage. Our evaluation unit got here within the two-tone Gray shade, however the colourful variants look significantly putting.

True to Framework’s DIY ethos, the Laptop 12 is simple to construct and displays strong construct high quality. You carry the display up such as you’re opening a traditional laptop computer and uncover a plastic tray the place the keyboard could be, with the laptop computer’s internals proper under it. You’ll simply take away the piece of plastic and insert the storage and RAM. There are not any screws to cope with on the within. The storage and RAM simply snap into place. You then place the keyboard tray into place, the place it snaps in magnetically.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Finally, it’s only a matter of closing the laptop computer, flipping it over, and tightening a number of screws on the underside with an included screwdriver. The ports themselves are simple to put in and swap as wanted — they’re little blocks that plug proper into USB-C ports set into the underside of the laptop computer.

Assembly was simpler than with the final Framework laptop computer I put collectively: There was no fiddly cable connection of the touchpad to the motherboard, for instance, as on the Framework Laptop 13 I reviewed in 2024. It’s only a fast magnetic snap into place after which tightening a number of screws. And opening the laptop computer up is simply as simple — whether or not you’re beginning with a DIY version or getting a prebuild version.

The weight of the laptop computer implies that I can’t fairly open the lid of the laptop computer with a single hand, however the 360-degree hinge feels nice in any other case. The alternative of the fabric on this laptop computer could be very uncommon for a laptop computer: Framework calls it a “chassis made of overmolded shock-absorbing TPU over plastic with an inner metal structure.” Rather than clean plastic or steel, like many laptops, the chassis and keyboard tray have extra of a matte plastic really feel. Framework says it’s onerous to interrupt, however I didn’t topic it to any drop checks through the evaluation course of! It does appear to choose up fingerprints fairly a bit, as you may see in among the photographs I took.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

While it is a DIY build-and-customize-your-own-laptop expertise, as soon as the keyboard is popped on magnetically and the screws are tightened, all the things looks like a traditional laptop computer. Even the ports have locking switches in order that they gained’t come out. At 2.86 kilos, it’s not unusually heavy for a 2-in-1 machine, though it might be a tad on the heavier aspect.

Framework Laptop 12: Keyboard, trackpad, and stylus

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Framework Laptop 12’s full-size keyboard feels fairly good. With 1.5mm of key journey, the motion feels responsive. It’s a strong chiclet-style laptop computer keyboard with good suggestions. I might kind shortly on it, and it’s additionally pleasantly quiet — a bonus for classroom or library environments.

Unfortunately, the keyboard has no backlight. This is, in fact, a particularly useful characteristic in darkish or dim lighting. If you may reliably contact kind or simply plan on utilizing the laptop computer in good lighting, it’s not a priority. You’ll must determine whether or not you want a laptop computer with a backlit keyboard, however I might’ve favored to see one — at the least as an choice.

If you’re a Linux person, you’ll admire that the “Windows key” on the keyboard doesn’t have a Windows emblem. It capabilities as a Windows key in Windows, nevertheless it has the Framework gear emblem on it. Also, not like most trendy PC laptops, there’s no Copilot key on the keyboard right here.

The trackpad additionally feels good and clean, and the clicking motion feels strong. I like that the clicking is quite quiet — many laptops have loud, clicky sounds, whereas this looks like one thing you would use in a classroom or library with out bothering different individuals.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Framework didn’t have the swanky Framework Laptop 12 Stylus prepared for us at evaluation time — Framework says they’ll launch it later in 2025 — however they did present a MPP 2.0-compatible stylus to check the system out. Both the stylus enter and the contact display labored nicely.

Framework Laptop 12: Display and audio system

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Framework Laptop 12 has a 12.2-inch 1920×1200 IPS show. Its 60Hz refresh price may very well be larger for a smoother image, nevertheless it’s brighter than the typical finances laptop computer show with over 400 nits of brightness.

The show seems good and sharp — that’s a strong decision for a 12.2-inch show, and it’s extra brightness than a finances laptop computer’s show would supply. However, this being a 2-in-1 laptop computer with a contact display and stylus help, the floor of the display is quite shiny. That’s a given, and the affordable quantity of brightness helps. However, shiny shows produce extra reflections in direct daylight and different shiny areas, so a shiny show isn’t the correct match for everybody.

The Framework 12’s audio system are first rate. They’re nowhere close to as loud as another laptop computer audio system I’ve used, nevertheless. Playing Steely Dan’s Aja on Spotify, the audio was clear and clear, however didn’t have the form of crisp and shiny instrument separation you hear on a higher-end pair of headphones. Playing Daft Punk’s Get Lucky to check one thing trendy with extra bass, the audio was clear, and there was no distortion, however there wasn’t loads of bass — and the audio wasn’t fairly as punchy because it may be on a laptop computer with higher-end audio system. These are high-quality audio system with no issues, however you’ll need a good pair of headphones for the most effective music or video-streaming expertise.

Framework Laptop 12: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

The Framework Laptop 12 has a 1080p 2MP webcam. On paper, that’s high-quality however not significantly particular — though it’s a reduction to see that this machine has a 1080p webcam as an alternative of a 720p webcam! In the actual world, although, the Framework Laptop 12’s webcam seems fairly good — that is greater than adequate for video conferences, and it’s a strong entry for the laptop computer’s worth vary.

The microphone was just a little quiet out of the field — in different phrases, after putting in Windows 11 after which putting in Framework’s driver package deal myself — however tweaking the settings within the Realtek Audio Console software improved issues. It did job of canceling background noise and the audio high quality was high-quality.

The Framework Laptop 12 is a uncommon beast: Above its webcam, you’ll discover not only a bodily webcam shutter change but in addition a bodily microphone shutter change. A bodily change to disconnect the microphone is a vital safety characteristic, nevertheless it’s extraordinarily uncommon. Now it is a machine designed with privateness controls in thoughts.

Unfortunately, there are not any biometrics for Windows Hello right here: You gained’t discover a fingerprint reader or an IR digital camera for facial recognition.

Framework Laptop 12: Connectivity

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Framework Laptop 12 shines in terms of connectivity — largely. The base laptop computer has a combo audio jack on the left aspect, and that’s it for the bottom mannequin. Then, there are 4 locations to plug in “ports,” which you should buy from Framework and swap on the fly. That allows you to select which ports you need: USB Type-C, USB Type-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, microSD card, or SD card. You may purchase “ports” which have storage inside them to develop the laptop computer’s storage.

The machine costs through USB-C, so at the least a kind of ports should be USB Type-C so as to plug in a charger. But you may put the USB-C port on both aspect of the laptop computer — or on either side.

That mentioned, there’s a limitation beneath the hood. Functionally talking, all of these “ports” are blocks that plug right into a USB Type-C port — it’s all USB-C beneath the hood. These ports are all USB 3.2 Gen 2 beneath the hood, so there’s no sooner USB4, Thunderbolt 4, and even HDMI 2.1 right here — simply HDMI 2.0b. There’s likelihood that’s high-quality — simply remember.

This machine additionally helps Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. The Wi-Fi labored nicely, however it will’ve been good to see Wi-Fi 7, in fact. Framework is utilizing previous-generation Intel “Raptor Lake” {hardware} right here, and Wi-Fi 7 doesn’t come commonplace with this Intel {hardware}.

Framework Laptop 12: Performance

The Framework Laptop 12 can run both Windows or Linux. I put in Windows 11 Home on this machine myself to benchmark its efficiency with our commonplace suite of Windows benchmarking instruments.

Framework says this machine was designed “to be unusually powerful for its class,” which is why it has a full Core i3 or Core i5 processor quite than a less-expensive, mobile-focused model. In day-to-day desktop use, the Intel Core i5-1334U CPU on this machine dealt with internet looking in purposes like Google Chrome, conversations in office instruments like Slack, and producing content material like this very evaluation in Microsoft Word. The laptop computer’s keyboard stayed cool and cozy even when the fan was whirring away and expelling warmth from the again of the machine. However, the underside might get pretty scorching beneath load — that’s the older Raptor Lake {hardware} in motion.

As all the time, although we ran the Framework Laptop 12 by way of our standard benchmarks to see the way it performs.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

First, we run PCMark 10 to get an thought of total system efficiency.  The Framework Laptop 12 delivered an total rating of 5288 on this benchmark — that’s on the low aspect in comparison with different trendy laptops, which isn’t a shock as it is a previous-generation chip.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Next, we run Cinebench R20. This is a closely multithreaded benchmark that focuses on total CPU efficiency. It’s a fast benchmark, so cooling beneath prolonged workloads isn’t an element. The Intel Core i5-1334U on this machine has fewer cores than the CPUs within the different trendy PCs we in contrast it to, so it’s no shock that the multithreaded rating of 2106 is on the low aspect.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

We additionally run an encode with Handbrake. This is one other closely multithreaded benchmark, nevertheless it runs over an prolonged interval. The Framework Laptop 12 accomplished the encode course of in 2648 seconds, which is simply over 44 minutes. That’s a very long time, and it confirms that this machine isn’t a velocity demon — particularly at duties that profit from loads of multithreaded CPU efficiency.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Next, we run a graphical benchmark. This isn’t a gaming laptop, nevertheless it’s nonetheless value evaluating GPU efficiency. We run 3DMark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU efficiency.

The Framework Laptop 12 produced a rating of 1255 in 3DMark Time Spy. That’s very low in comparison with different trendy laptops, which is not any shock — the Intel UHD Graphics listed below are a part of the previous-generation Raptor Lake package deal right here, and built-in GPUs have improved dramatically since then.

Overall, the Framework Laptop 12’s benchmark scores didn’t impress in comparison with different current laptops with extra trendy CPUs. It was nonetheless lots able to producing solid-day-to-day productiveness efficiency, however it can significantly wrestle in terms of CPU-heavy multithreaded workloads and 3D graphics. Obviously, that’s not what this machine is for — nevertheless it’d be good to have higher efficiency, particularly for 3D graphics, with a laptop computer designed for college kids.

Framework Laptop 12: Battery life

The Framework Laptop 12 has a 50 Watt-hour battery, which is on the small finish for a machine like this one. Additionally, the selection of an Intel Core i3 or Core i5 CPU from the older 13^th technology (“Raptor Lake”) retains the value down and delivers first rate efficiency, nevertheless it suggests this machine will probably be extra power-hungry and get decrease battery life than a more moderen machine with Intel’s Lunar Lake {hardware} — which is, in fact, rather more costly.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Steel on repeat on Windows 11 with airplane mode enabled — and the display set to 250 nits of brightness — till the laptop computer suspends itself. This is a best-case situation for any laptop computer since native video playback is so environment friendly, and actual battery life in day-to-day use is all the time going to be lower than this.

The Framework Laptop 12 lasted for a median of 688 minutes — that’s practically eleven and a half hours — in our commonplace benchmark. While that sounds spectacular, real-world battery life will all the time be lower than this, and it’s a low quantity in comparison with laptops with extra trendy power-efficient CPUs. CPU producers have made loads of progress since Intel first launched Raptor Lake in 2022!

For my workload — Google Chrome, Slack, Microsoft Word, OneNote, and related apps — I acquired about 5 hours earlier than I needed to plug within the machine. That’s serviceable, nevertheless it’s nonetheless far under what a machine with Intel Lunar Lake or Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite or Snapdragon X Plus would ship. A bigger battery would make this much less of a difficulty.

Framework Laptop 12: Conclusion

The Framework Laptop 12 is a tough laptop computer to attain. If you need a modular, repairable, customizable 2-in-1 laptop computer, there’s no different machine like this available on the market. This is your dream machine. You’ll discover 2-in-1s with extra battery life and efficiency, however you gained’t discover any you may crack open and make your personal like this.

On the opposite hand, when evaluating this to different 2-in-1 machines, if repairability and customization aren’t priorities, this machine is a harder promote, particularly over one thing with a more moderen CPU and sooner 3D graphics efficiency.

For a number of hundred bucks extra, for instance, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition delivers a lot improved battery life, CPU efficiency, and GPU efficiency — alongside an NPU for AI duties — and the principle sacrifice is Framework’s repairability and customizability.

Framework’s laptops are superb. I really like that they exist! If it had a barely newer CPU, it’d be a slam-dunk. As it stands, it’s a wonderful (although area of interest) alternative for tinkerers and college students who worth flexibility over uncooked efficiency.