Framework Laptop 12 Gets Intel Wildcat Lake, $699 Price

A Budget Modular Laptop Gets Serious Upgrades

Framework has refreshed its smallest and cheapest laptop, the Framework Laptop 12, giving the 12.2-inch modular machine a substantial internal overhaul while keeping its playful, colorful design intact 17. The update centers on new Intel Core Series 3 "Wildcat Lake" processors, which replace the previous chip generation and bring meaningful gains in efficiency and connectivity 23.

What's Changing Under the Hood

The headline addition is Thunderbolt 4 support, a feature previously missing from the entry-level Framework 12, along with battery life improvements that Framework and reviewers describe as up to 70 percent better than the outgoing model 3. Paired with the Wildcat Lake silicon, these changes push the small laptop closer to parity with Framework's larger, more expensive machines in terms of performance and everyday usability 23.

Perhaps the most notable software change is that the Framework Laptop 12 now ships with Linux preloaded as a standard option, specifically Fedora Linux, rather than requiring buyers to install it themselves 147. This mirrors a similar move Framework made with its Laptop 13 Pro, suggesting the company is increasingly comfortable positioning Linux as a first-class, factory-supported option rather than an enthusiast afterthought 7.

Pricing and Trade-offs

Framework is using the Linux configuration to hit an aggressive entry price of $699 for a prebuilt unit, undercutting typical premium ultrabook pricing while retaining the brand's signature repairability and modularity 4. However, that starting price comes with a catch: the base configuration includes only 8GB of RAM, and stepping up to more memory adds noticeably to the cost, a trade-off PCMag flags as a key consideration for shoppers drawn in by the headline price 4. Preorders for the refreshed model have opened, giving early buyers a chance to configure their own specs before broader availability 4.

Part of a Broader Framework Push

The Laptop 12 update arrives alongside continued attention to Framework's other modular line, the Laptop 13 Pro, which reviewers have praised as a case of a hardware company genuinely responding to customer feedback—apart from persistent frustration over the high cost of memory upgrades across the lineup 5. Together, the two updates reinforce Framework's broader strategy: differentiate from mainstream laptop makers through repairability, component upgrades, and now deeper Linux integration, even as pricing on memory and configuration options remains a sticking point for cost-conscious buyers 45.

For a company built on the promise of longevity and user-serviceable hardware, refreshing even its most affordable model with modern chips, faster ports, and better battery life signals continued commitment to that pitch, rather than letting the budget tier lag behind flagship products 123.