Фреймворк Laptop 12: Правильные решения имеют свою цену.

Earlier this year, Framework announced a smaller 12-inch laptop and a powerful desktop to complement its 13- and 16-inch notebooks. A few months later, the 12-inch model has arrived, offering the same modular, repairable design in a slightly smaller body. Unlike its larger counterparts, the Laptop 12 is a 12.2-inch touchscreen convertible with a brightly colored plastic casing. It’s targeted at students, emphasizing robustness and quality not typically found in budget-friendly machines. My initial impression is that it's a charming piece of hardware, but I question how accessible it will be for students given its higher price point.

The 2-megapixel webcam is a step down from the 9.2-megapixel sensor in the 13-inch model, offering similar washed-out, artifact-heavy video quality found in many low-cost laptop cameras. Framework has improved its audio quality over the years, but the 12’s compact chassis is a limiting factor. The 2W speakers are tinny and quiet even at full volume, though they don’t rattle or vibrate with bass.

Currently, the pre-built edition is only available in black, while the DIY version offers a choice of chassis colors. The pre-built edition starts at $799 with an Intel Core i3-1315U, 8GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and Windows 11 Home. The higher-end Performance model with a Core i5-1334U, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD costs $1,049. The DIY edition starts at $549 (for the i3) or $699 (for the i5), leaving you to source your own RAM, SSD, and operating system.

Determining the Laptop 12’s direct competitors is challenging. Framework positioned it as an alternative to the inexpensive laptops often purchased for students—machines that are “janky, locked-down, disposable, underpowered, and frankly, boring.” This puts it in competition with $500 notebooks and Chromebooks commonly found at retailers like Best Buy—devices known for failing shortly after the warranty expires. From a practical standpoint, the higher price is justified by its durability, repairability, and upgradability.

However, a refurbished Framework 13 with a Core i5-1340P is available for around $779, offering a more powerful alternative.

I’m fond of the Framework Laptop 12 because it could easily fit into my mobile lifestyle. It’s cute, good-looking, and small enough to throw in a bag when I’m on the go. Its durable chassis, repairability, and swappable expansion cards suggest it will last for years. And it’s fun! I love the idea of a small laptop that stands out from the endless rows of black plastic or silver aluminum notebooks. Those inexpensive laptops are rarely good for anything. If you want quality, you have to pay for it, and this should last for years without needing to be replaced. However, the limited performance and battery life give me pause, and I’m not sure a machine that struggles to run Fortnite will be popular. I suspect Framework intended to sell this for less before tariffs increased the price. As a result, the Framework Laptop 12 falls between two stools: it’s not cheap enough to appeal to price-sensitive buyers, and it’s not powerful enough for those with larger budgets. Unless you have spare SSD, RAM, and a Windows license, bringing the cost down, this laptop’s real audience is likely adults looking for a quirky second device to take on the go.