Framework Laptop 12 Review: Fun, Flexible, and Repairable

Framework Laptop 12 review: fun, flexible and repairable

Smallest and most affordable Framework still has brilliant modular ports, is upgradable and designed to last

The modular and repairable PC maker Framework’s latest machine moves into the notoriously difficult to fix 2-in-1 category with a fun 12in laptop with a touchscreen and a 360-degree hinge.

The new machine still supports the company's innovative expansion cards for swapping out the various side ports, compatible with the Framework 13 and 16, among others. Plus, it can be opened to replace memory, storage, and internal components with a few simple screws. The Framework 12 is available in a DIY format, starting at £499 (€569/$549/A$909), or in more conventional pre-assembled models starting at £749. It slots in below the Laptop 13 (£799 and up) and the Laptop 16 (£1399) as the company's most compact and affordable model. While the Laptop 13 is a premium-looking machine, the Laptop 12 is unmistakably sturdy and rugged, with overmolded plastic parts for impact protection. It's designed to meet the MIL-STD-810 standard, common for rugged electronics. It looks and feels like it could take a beating, not like a flimsy DIY kit you put together yourself.

The glossy 12.2-inch display is bright and relatively sharp. However, it's highly reflective, has large black bezels, and a relatively narrow color gamut, meaning colors look a bit washed out. It's decent enough for productivity, but not ideal for photo editing. The touchscreen rotates all the way back to the bottom of the device to turn it into a tablet, or it can be folded tent-like or parallel to the keyboard. The display supports a wide range of styluses, both first-party and third-party, for drawing or taking notes, which could be very useful in the classroom. The DIY version comes in a selection of fun colors, further enhancing its appeal to college students. The 1080p webcam at the top is decent, though not quite rivaling a Surface, and includes a physical privacy switch next to the microphones. The stereo speakers are powerful and distortion-free, but lack bass and some clarity, resulting in a somewhat hollow sound compared to the best on the market. At 1.3 kg, the Laptop 12 isn't light, but it's nice and compact, easy to fit into bags or small desks. The wide mechanical trackpad is accurate and works well. However, the laptop lacks any kind of biometrics, with no fingerprint or facial recognition, forcing you to enter a PIN or password every time you open it or use secure apps like password managers, which quickly becomes tedious.

Specifications

Screen: 12.2in LCD 1920x1200 (60Hz; 186PPI)

Processor: Intel Core i3 or i5 (U-series, 13th gen)

RAM: 8 or 16 GB (up to 48 GB) Storage: 512 GB (up to 2 TB) Operating system: Windows 11 or Linux

Camera: 1080p front-facingConnectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, headphones + choice of 4 ports: USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, microSD, SDDimensions: 287 x 213.9 x 18.5 mm

Weight: 1.3 kg. Modular ports and performance. The Laptop 12 includes two 13th-generation Intel U-series processors, lower-power chips from a few years ago. Tested with the mid-range i5-1334U, it won't win any awards for raw performance, but it was generally up to the task beyond basic computing. It feels snappy in everyday tasks but struggles a bit with longer, more demanding tasks like video conversion.

The older chip means the battery life is a little on the short side for 2025, lasting about seven to eight hours of light office-based work using browsers, word processors, note-taking apps and email. Use more demanding apps and the battery life shrinks by a few hours. The battery takes about 100 minutes to fully charge using a 60W or greater USB-C power adaptor.

The port selection is entirely customisable with a fixed headphone jack and four slots for expansion cards, which are available in a choice of USB-A and USB-C, DisplayPort and HDMI, microSD and SD card readers, or ethernet. Other cards can add up to 1TB of storage and the USB-C cards are available in a range of solid or translucent colours to make things even brighter. It is an excellent system but note the Laptop 12 supports only USB 3.2 Gen 2, not the faster USB4/Thunderbolt common on new machines.

Sustainability

Framework rates the battery to maintain at least 80% of its original capacity for at least 1,000 full charge cycles. It can easily be replaced along with all the rest of the components, including the RAM and SSD.

Framework sells replacement parts and upgrades through its marketplace but also supports third-party parts. The laptop contains recycled plastic in many components.

Price

The DIY edition of the Framework 12 starts at £499 (€569/$549/A$909) with pre-built systems starting at £749 (€849/$799/A$1,369) with Windows 11.

For comparison, the DIY Framework 13 costs from £799 and the DIY Framework 16 costs from £1,399 . Similarly specced 2-in-1 Windows machines start at about £500.

Verdict

Like the Framework machines before it, the Laptop 12 proves that it's possible to have repairable, upgradeable, and adaptable computers that work well and can be used by more than just techies. It manages to be fun in a way that most mid-range PCs aren't. The keyboard is solid, the trackpad is good, and the speakers are powerful. Modular ports are an essential feature any PC should have, though being able to repair or upgrade it easily is still rare. The touchscreen is bright but ordinary, the lack of biometrics is irritating, and the aging processor, while still plenty fast for everyday tasks, means that battery life isn't very long by modern standards. Its biggest issue is the price, as it's £150-£200 more expensive than similarly specced, closed, lockable machines. Unless you already have plenty of storage and RAM, that's the price you have to pay for an open, modular machine.

Pros: Swappable ports, repairable and upgradeable, fun and durable design, compact, plenty of color options, solid keyboard and trackpad, solid performance for everyday tasks. Cons: Sub-par battery life, bright but mediocre display, no biometrics, expensive, older processor, long wait for purchases.