Upgradable Framework Laptop Now Supports 12th-Gen Intel Core Processors

The fully upgradable Framework laptop is sticking to its promise by making it easy for customers to swap out their existing CPU for Intel’s newest mobile processors. 

On Thursday, Framework Computer introduced an upgrade kit(Opens in a new window), starting at $538, to install Intel’s 12th Generation Core processors into the 13.5-inch laptops. The kit also includes a redesigned, sturdier top lid cover for the notebook.

“This is perhaps the first time ever that generational upgrades are available in a high-performance thin and light laptop, letting you pick the improvements you want without needing to buy a full new machine,” the company wrote(Opens in a new window) in a blog post. 

The upgrade kit

For newcomers, the company is announcing a second-generation Framework laptop that includes the 12th Generation Intel Core processors and the sturdier lid. 

“We spent the last year gathering feedback from early adopters to refine the product as we scale up,” the San Francisco-based startup said. For example, the new lid is now made “from a solid block of 6063 aluminum,” instead of an aluminum-forming process, to improve the cover’s rigidity. 

The second-gen Framework laptop

Framework Computer is already starting to take pre-orders(Opens in a new window) for the second-generation model, which can start at around $1,100, depending on the configuration. However, the company plans on shipping out the units in batches. Expect the first batches to arrive in July. 

As for the upgrade kit, customers can register on the Framework website(Opens in a new window) to learn when the upgrade kit goes on sale. Users will be able to choose between an i5-1240P(Opens in a new window), i7-1260P(Opens in a new window) and an i7-1280P(Opens in a new window) processor. But the pricing can get steep, ranging from $538 to $1,138.

The other notable announcement is how the company is working on a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Expansion Card for the laptop, which arrives later this year for $39. Framework Computer has also decided to drop the price for the first-generation upgradable laptop(Opens in a new window) to $899.