Framework 12 — Meet a better kind of laptop

By Sunday Kessig

The Framework 12 is the best device may be the best device you’ll own. While other laptops may come at lower prices, with stronger processing, or a wider range of bells and whistles, it could be said of few that they may be the last laptop you’ll need. Every piece of it is built to last, to be repaired, and upgraded. Its components are so conveniently modular that they can be replaced on the fly, switching out new ports or keyboards or even more critical parts in less than a minute.

It will more than suffice as a light, daily-driver laptop, as well as a tablet with its 360° hinge. It presents well on every front a laptop is normally judged: a friendly price-point, solid processing, plenty of storage, battery life, and a crystal-clear display. Though arguably, what’s most exciting about the Framework 12 (as well as other Framework devices) is what it means for the right-to-repair movement.

Each of these computers can be purchased at a discount disassembled, though of course delivered with a Framework brand screwdriver. Following that is a breezy process of assembly for even those with no experience, as a simple guide describes the process, every screw is captive, and labels on the parts themselves tell you how they fit together. The computers are completely modular, enabling any part that breaks to be replaced, or upgraded with a newer one. When ordering your Framework, the prices themselves are variable, as you can choose from variations of every component you like. Even the ports are modular, taking the form of extremely cheap adapter “cards” that slot into the sides of the laptop.

The degree of control this gives the user over their device is unlike any other, and while the average Framework customer will likely be content to leave customization to their initial purchase, these computers have sparked a fascinating scene of tech enthusiasts radically reshaping their machines. Online, you can find users who’ve turned their Framework laptops into tablets, handheld gaming consoles, and whatever this is.

The materials are durable enough to withstand all manner of drops and slips, and at only 1.3kg, the Framework 12 is entirely conducive to tossing across the room. It’s not as powerful as other Frameworks, but this allows it to be incredibly portable and convenient. Combining this with its use as a tablet, and more than an 8 hour battery life, it’s perfect to take advantage of the portability a laptop offers. Personally, I’ve found it easily handles drafting emails on the subway, reading comics at the doctor’s office, and writing this article on vacation.

Framework’s computers subvert one of the biggest issues that have faced technology since corporate interests like the Phoebus Cartel found quality at odds with profit. By a principle called “planned obsolescence,” many consumer goods are designed specifically to become irrelevant, expire, break down, and resist repairs on a timeline that suit the manufacturer.

This makes it necessary to buy more of a product than you otherwise would, boosting the manufacturer’s profits. It’s an unfortunately common practice, though one that maybe most transparently affects electronics like computers and smartphones. Older models lose support for essential updates and software, are often built with components designed without longevity in mind, and make modification, upgrades, or repair totally infeasible for even a professional.

Shortly before the pandemic, Framework was founded by a former developer for Apple and Oculus, with the explicit purpose of producing personal computers without planned obsolescence. Their first product was the Framework 13, a middle-of-the-road laptop that remains their flagship device. Since then, they’ve remained fairly focused, adding only the Framework PC, the heavier Framework 16 to fill the role of a gaming laptop, and now the Framework 12.

If you find yourself looking for a maximally portable laptop for a light load of programs, the Framework 12 is perfect. As an e-reader or drawing tablet, it’s also more than capable. For those looking for a more heavy-duty machine, it’s not likely to satisfy your needs. That said, as these devices that make themselves so essential to our lives become ever more disposable, I cannot recommend any brand of computer more than the Framework.