Remember when smartphones had removable batteries? Framework remembers. The company that’s been fighting tech’s sealed-shut future just revealed its most accessible product yet: the Laptop 12. Starting at $549 for the DIY edition in the US, this device enters the budget laptop arena with the modularity superpowers previously reserved for premium devices.
Laptop 12 Pre-orders kicked off Thursday in Canada, Europe, and the UK, with US pre-orders following on April 10. First shipments are expected to arrive in June 2025. For context, that price tag puts the Laptop 12 in the same neighborhood as those Chromebooks stacked like pancakes at Best Buy – except most of those will become obsolete paperweights by 2028, while Framework owners will still be swapping in fresh components.
Transformer Energy, Budget Price
The framework Laptop 12 pulls off that classic convertible magic, flipping between traditional laptop and tablet modes with a 360-degree hinge. Its 12.2-inch touchscreen (sporting a crisp 1920 x 1200 resolution with over 400 nits brightness) plays nice with both MPP 2.0 and USI 2.0 styluses – similar to how great DJs work with multiple audio formats rather than forcing you into one ecosystem.
Budget laptops typically come with more compromises than a political campaign, but Framework’s approach breaks the mold. The entry DIY model arrives at $549 without an operating system (perfect for Linux enthusiasts or Windows license holders), while pre-built models include Windows 11 Home paired with either an Intel Core i3-1315U or i5-1334U processor.
Tech That Grows With You
Remember Transformers toys, where the coolest ones could become multiple things? The Laptop 12 brings that energy to computing. Users can expand RAM up to 48GB, boost storage to 2TB, and customize four expansion card slots – essentially creating their ideal port selection rather than accepting whatever the manufacturer decided three years ago.
The chassis meets MIL-STD-810 durability standards through a hybrid TPU/plastic and metal construction, essentially the laptop equivalent of those phone cases that survive falling from second-story windows. Framework’s drop tests confirm the shock resistance that earned this certification. The company offers five color options – Black, Gray, Lavender, Bubblegum, and Sage – somehow making even pink professional without giving off those early-2000s Legally Blonde vibes.
Other essentials include Wi-Fi 6E, capable 2W stereo speakers, the now-standard privacy switch for the webcam, and a reliable 50Wh battery paired with one of the best USB-C chargers available. Nothing revolutionary in isolation, but impressive at this price point.
The Right-to-Repair Reality Check
As electronic waste continues piling up faster than streaming services launch mediocre sci-fi shows, Framework’s approach offers a potential offramp from our disposable tech highway. According to the Global E-Waste Monitor 2024, electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams worldwide, making modular designs increasingly relevant.
The $549 price tag removes what was previously modular tech’s biggest barrier: cost. Framework has essentially created the budget hatchback of repairable computing – practical, affordable, and potentially revolutionary if enough people buy in.
When these laptops ship this summer, they’ll test whether consumers actually want the right-to-repair they’ve been demanding or if they just enjoy complaining about planned obsolescence while unboxing their latest sealed-shut gadget. The Laptop 12 isn’t just a new product – it’s a $549 question about our technological future.
