One of a kind, the Framework Laptop 12 is a small, two-in-one convertible that you can build rather than just use. With its 360-degree hinge, touchscreen, and stylus, it transforms Framework’s idea of a do-it-yourself laptop experience into a device that is more affordable and versatile than Framework’s other computers. During the prototyping phase, Framework claims that “every adult who tried it wanted one too,” despite the fact that the laptop was initially intended for students.

The Framework Laptop 12 is a huge success as Framework’s first 2-in-1 device! You might pay more for this kind of do-it-yourself experience, as is the case with all of Framework’s computers. However, Framework is quite intriguing in the laptop market if you’re the type of person who enjoys building and customizing your computer.

Specsification

There are two versions of the Framework Laptop 12: a DIY edition that allows you to assemble the device yourself and a pre-built model that comes ready to use with Windows installed. For this review, Framework lent us a DIY Edition, which I assembled myself. It only takes a few minutes and is a very easy process. It takes longer to install Windows (as well as the necessary drivers) than it does to construct this laptop. The simple part is putting the hardware together!

The hardware configurations of the Framework Laptop 12 are diverse. You will need to bring your operating system, RAM, storage, and power adapter, and the ports are extra. The DIY Edition starts at $549. The basic gear with four USB ports, however, is available for $593; you would need to bring everything else. The $799 pre-assembled machine, which has Windows already installed, isn’t quite a “budget-priced” 2-in-1, but it is arguably at the lower end of the mid-range range.

Also noteworthy is the Intel Core i3-1315U CPU that is included with the base model. This processor has six cores in total: two performance cores and four efficiency cores. An additional $150 is needed to upgrade to an Intel Core i5-1334U processor, which has ten cores in total: two performance cores and eight efficiency cores. Because both are built on Intel’s 13th-generation Raptor Lake architecture, they lack the neural processing units needed for artificial intelligence workloads as well as the battery life enhancements found in Intel’s Lunar Lake and even Meteor Lake chips.

Intel Core i5-1334U CPU

16GB DDR5 RAM for memory; Intel UHD Graphics for graphics and graphics
NPU: Not present
Display: 12.2-inch 1920×1200 IPS screen with touch screen, stylus capability, and 60Hz refresh rate

1 TB PCIe Gen4 SSD for storage
Two-megapixel, 1080p webcam
USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), USB-A, HDMI 2.0b, Ethernet, DisplayPort, microSD reader, and SD card reader are the four swappable ports that you can choose from.

Networking: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E
No biometrics
50 Watt-hour battery capacity; 11.29 x 8.42 x 0.72-inch dimensions

2.86 pounds in weight
MSRP as tested: $1,176

Design and build quality

Black, Gray, Lavender, Bubblegum, and Sage are among the two-tone color schemes available for the Framework Laptop 12. Although our evaluation device was gray with two tones, the multicolored versions are eye-catching. In keeping with Framework’s do-it-yourself philosophy, the Laptop 12 is simple to assemble and has good construction quality.

As if you were opening a typical laptop, you raise the screen to reveal a plastic tray in place of the keyboard, with the internal components of the laptop directly beneath it. Simply take off the plastic section and put the RAM and storage in. On the inside, there are no screws to worry about. The RAM and storage just snap into position. After that, you arrange the keyboard tray so that it magnetically clicks into place.

Connectivity

For the most part, the Framework Laptop 12 excels at connection. The base variant of the laptop only includes a combo audio jack on the left side. Then, there are four “ports” that you may purchase from Framework and change as needed. This allows you to select the ports that you want: Ethernet, microSD card, SD card, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB Type-C, and USB Type-A. To increase the laptop’s storage, you may also purchase “ports” with storage inside.

At least one of those ports needs to be USB Type-C in order for you to put in a charger because the machine charges via USB-C. However, the USB-C connector can be placed on any or both sides of the laptop.

Nevertheless, there is a restriction inside. It’s all USB-C beneath the hood; all of those “ports” are blocks that connect to a USB Type-C connector. Since all of these ports are USB 3.2 Gen 2 beneath the hood, there is only HDMI 2.0b available here rather than speedier USB4, Thunderbolt 4, or even HDMI 2.1. That’s probably okay, but just be mindful. Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E are also supported by this device. Although Wi-Fi 7 would have been good, the Wi-Fi functioned nicely. Wi-Fi 7 is not included with the Intel “Raptor Lake” hardware that Framework is using, which is from an older generation.

Performance

Both Windows and Linux are compatible with the Framework Laptop 12. To test the machine’s performance using our regular set of Windows benchmarking tools, I installed Windows 11 Home on it myself. Instead of a less costly, mobile-focused variant, this computer features a complete Core i3 or Core i5 processor because, according to Framework, it was made “to be unusually powerful for its class.”

The Intel Core i5-1334U CPU in this computer was used for daily desktop tasks, including web browsing in programs like Google Chrome, workplace chats in Slack, and creating material in Microsoft Word, including this evaluation. Even with the fan spinning away and removing heat from the back of the laptop, the keyboard remained cool and comfy. But under load, the bottom may get quite hot—that’s the older Raptor Lake hardware at work. However, as usual, we tested Framework Laptop 12’s performance using our common benchmarks.

Battery life

For a device of its size, the Framework Laptop 12’s 50-Watt-hour battery is on the tiny side. A newer machine with Intel’s Lunar Lake hardware, which is much more expensive, will likely be more power-hungry and have a longer battery life than a machine with an Intel Core i3 or Core i5 CPU from the older 13th generation (“Raptor Lake”), which also keeps the price down and offers respectable performance.

We play a 4K copy of Tears of Steel repeatedly on Windows 11 with airplane mode turned on and the screen set to 250 nits of brightness until the laptop suspends itself in order to test the battery life. Since local video playback is so effective and real battery life in daily usage will always be less than this, this is the best-case situation for any laptop.

In our usual benchmark, the Framework Laptop 12 lasted an average of 688 minutes, or about eleven and a half hours. Even while it seems good, a laptop with a more recent CPU that uses less power will always have a longer battery life than this. Since the initial release of Raptor Lake by Intel in 2022, CPU makers have advanced significantly!

I had roughly five hours before I had to plug in the computer for my workload, which included Google Chrome, Slack, Microsoft Word, OneNote, and other programs of a similar nature. Although it is still significantly less than what a computer with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite or Snapdragon X Plus or Intel’s Lunar Lake would provide, it is still usable. This would be less of a problem with a larger battery.

Conclusion

It’s challenging to score a Framework Laptop 12. There isn’t another laptop like this one on the market if you’re looking for one that is modular, repairable, and customisable. This is the machine of your dreams. There are 2-in-1s with better performance and longer battery life, but none that you can open and create your own like this. However, if repairability and customisation are not top concerns, this machine is more difficult to sell than other 2-in-1s, particularly when compared to models with a more recent CPU and higher 3D graphics capabilities.

For instance, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition has significantly better battery life, CPU, and GPU performance for a few hundred dollars extra. It also has an NPU for AI tasks. The primary trade-off is the Framework’s ability to be repaired and customized. The laptops made by Framework are fantastic. I’m so glad they exist! It would be a cinch if it had a somewhat more recent CPU. As it stands, it’s a great (although specialized) option for students and tinkerers who prefer flexibility to performance.