Reviews of the new Framework Laptop 12 with Intel Core Series 3 processors are now available, and Framework says shipments will begin later this week. Pre-orders remain open, but the batch currently available to order is scheduled to ship in November. The convertible offers optional fingerprint reader and backlit keyboard hardware, with Framework describing efficiency and CPU performance as priorities for this generation.
The earlier Fedora KDE configuration was announced with a starting price of $699, a 12.2-inch touchscreen and support for a stylus. That model also offered Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 7, with Fedora contributors checking functions including palm rejection, pen pressure and display rotation before launch. Framework first announced the Core Series 3 generation in August, when it scheduled Batch 1 for October.
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Linux buyers have a software recommendation to weigh: Framework recommends a distribution running kernel 7.1 or later because both Core Series 3 and its BE213 Wi-Fi 7 module are new. The pre-built Linux option uses a customized Fedora 44 KDE Plasma installation with patches intended to provide full hardware support. Owners choosing a DIY Edition can also download that image and install it themselves.
Framework says the Laptop 12 has a greater proportion of Linux users than any of its other systems. Its Linux compatibility page has been refreshed with current distribution recommendations. Reviews highlighted by Framework include assessments from Phoronix and The Linux Experiment discussing Linux use, while Tom’s Guide singled out the machine’s repairability and potential for upgrades.
Buyers upgrading an existing machine face a separate timetable for individual parts: Framework is aiming to offer new modules, including the Fingerprint Reader, through its Framework Marketplace before the year ends. That target puts standalone module availability later than the first shipments of complete laptops scheduled for this week.
Framework also worked with Printables on a competition for printable enclosures that let owners put an original Framework Laptop 12 Mainboard to another use after an upgrade. Pom took first place with a minimal enclosure, ahead of Rusty6285’s Portable Access Console. Jankbu placed third with a modular cyberdeck design.
