Framework launches new Laptop 12 with longer battery life, new CPUs, Thunderbolt 4, and more

Framework has launched the new Laptop 12 convertible notebooks with some key improvements over last year’s Laptop 12. True to Framework’s mission, the updates brought by the new Laptop 12 can also be utilized on the existing Laptop 12 chassis with the 12.2-inch touch display. So, if you own the 2025 Framework Laptop 12, you can easily build yourself a new Laptop 12.

The biggest change in the new Framework Laptop 12 is the switch to the Intel Core Series 3 Wildcat Lake processors, with the choice of up to Core 7 350 processor, up to 64 GB of LPDDR5-6400 memory, and 2 TB of storage. 

The Intel Series 3 Wildcat Lake CPUs bring superb efficiency, resulting in the updated Framework Laptop 12 boasting a tremendous increase in battery life, despite the unchanged 50 Wh battery.

Framework claims that the new Laptop 12 with the Intel Core 5 320 brings 70% better battery life than the Core i5-1334U Laptop 12. This is a pretty impressive improvement that the owners of the existing Laptop 12 can also take advantage of by using the new Wildcat Lake board.

In addition to the better battery life, the updated Framework Laptop 12 also brings a backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader built into the power button. Per Framework, these were two of the biggest community requests for the Laptop 12. The fingerprint will come standard with the Core 5 and Core 7 variants of the new Laptop 12. You can also buy it separately to install in the previous Laptop 12 chassis.

The new Framework Laptop 12 also brings Thunderbolt 4 support on two expansion slots, while the other two slots are relegated to USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds.

Finally, the Framework is also giving users the option to purchase pre-built Laptop 12 units with Fedora 44 KDE Plasma Desktop OS pre-installed. Framework’s reasoning for this is that about 80% of the Laptop 12 owners use Linux.

Framework has announced that the Core Series 3 mainboard is available for pre-order starting August 18 for $299 for the Intel Core 3 304. The Core 5 320 and Core 7 350 mainboards cost $449 and $669, respectively. All Core Series 3 mainboards start shipping in October. The pre-built Framework Laptop 12 with Fedora OS starts at $699, while the 13th-gen DIY Laptop 12 now starts at $499.