Framework Laptop 12 2026 Upgrade Review: Intel Core Series 3 Fixes Key Performance Flaw

The review focuses on the upgrade process and the performance of the new components. Framework's component-iteration policy means the 2026 model ships with a fingerprint scanner and a backlit keyboard, correcting omissions from the first-generation version. Engadget reported that the mainboard, fingerprint scanner and backlit keyboard are backwards-compatible with the earlier model.

The first-generation Laptop 12 offered a 13th-generation Intel Core i3 or Core i5. The 2026 model can be configured with a Core 3 304, Core 5 320 or Core 7 350; Engadget tested the Core 7 350. The new silicon also raises maximum RAM to 64GB and makes the rear expansion card slots support Thunderbolt 4, allowing an eGPU or a pair of 4K monitors. Engadget said Framework noted many Laptop 12 buyers were developers and Linux users, and the machine was already too expensive to be solely a children's device.

Framework also developed its own MPP/USI 2.0-compatible stylus. Like the third-party models used before, it charges over USB-C, has an 80mAh battery and weighs 15 grams. It supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and has two programmable buttons, and can be bought in the same color as the laptop.

The new input cover is the old one with backlit keys. Engadget said Framework CEO Nirav Patel did not alter the keyboard, which the review called rock solid. The fingerprint reader sits in the side of the chassis where the old power button lived and retains its wake light. Engadget said one of Framework's strengths has been adding new technology without disrupting its machines.

On upgrades, Engadget said Framework learned from the Laptop 13 and 16. The 12 uses pogo pins and clips instead of ribbon cables and screws, making repairs easier even without the company's step-by-step guides. The RAM DIMM now faces up rather than down. Swapping the mainboard requires disassembling most of the machine, but Engadget completed the teardown and reassembly in 13 minutes and 42 seconds. Installing all the new drivers and getting Windows working took 32 minutes.

The review warned that users should download updated Wi-Fi drivers before installing the new mainboard. Without them, they will need another machine or a Framework ethernet adapter. Engadget called the ethernet adapter an essential purchase for large downloads and installations, and said it can help when Wi-Fi drivers are unavailable.

In use, Engadget said the Laptop 12 was powerful enough for routine tasks last year and that has not changed. Writing a term paper, watching YouTube or doing similar everyday work was fine, according to the review. The article focused on the upgrade and new components; Engadget pointed readers to its previous full review for other details.