Framework Upgrades Laptop 12 With Wildcat Lake and Thunderbolt 4 as 80% of Users Run Linux
Updated
Updated · Gizmodo · Aug 18
Framework Upgrades Laptop 12 With Wildcat Lake and Thunderbolt 4 as 80% of Users Run Linux
3 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · Aug 18
Summary
Framework refreshed its 12-inch repairable laptop with Intel Wildcat Lake chips, Thunderbolt 4 rear expansion slots, a backlit keyboard option and a Fedora pre-install aimed at fixing long-standing weak spots.
Intel Core 3 304, Core 5 320 and Core 7 350 mainboards replace older 13th-gen parts, and Framework says they deliver better battery life on the same 50Wh battery.
Existing Laptop 12 owners can swap in the new mainboard instead of buying a new chassis, though the new backlit input cover arrives only when the updated laptops ship.
Fedora support reflects customer surveys showing about 80% of Laptop 12 users run Linux; Framework says Ubuntu on the Laptop 13 Pro outsold Windows by a large margin.
The update also highlights pricing and memory trade-offs: the laptop can start with 8GB RAM and 500GB storage, while moving to a 16GB DIY configuration costs $250 more.