MNT October 2025 Update
Lucie, engineer and managing director of MNT Research, gave an interview for RESET titled "Why the Computer World Would Be Greener With Open Hardware: In Conversation With Lucie Hartmann From MNT Research".
They talked about why MNT is different than other companies, about the term Open Hardware, and how we do what we do. Read the full interview here. Thanks to Benjamin Lucks for taking an interest in MNT, and Lana O'Sullivan for making an English translation of this interview!
MNT Developments and Updates
MNT Quasar Processor Module
The first prototype of the MNT Quasar processor module is real!
It was assembled by Greta and tested by Lucie and Casey (Linaro). They got Debian running and Lucie recapped their progress in detail on the Fediverse:
It's a longer thread and you can read it here.
MNT Reform Next
Lucie has worked a lot on finalizing MNT Reform Next and got the direct eDP output from RK3588 to the display panel working:
(this was tested with the Classic Reform motherboard and a new passive adapter)
Ana has been polishing the display enclosure part of the case design with the goals of finishing the magnetic closure and camera integration, and achieving further case weight reduction.
The left port board is nearly finished and the right one is close to finishing—it just needs an improved layout in regard to USB signal integrity.
Lucie redesigned all internal flex cables for improved fit and signal integrity, and made several iterations of the mechanical design of the battery packs in terms of stability with Greta. These were successfully completed as well.
Besides the right port board, there's only one task left before MNT Reform Next can go into production: The keyboard and system controller firmware need to be improved, especially the battery gauge. This can take a bit of time but we're still aiming for the first small batch of MNT Reform Next laptops to be shipped this year.
MNT RCORE with RK3588 Release Version 4: Shipping Update
We've been waiting for the new batch of MNT RCORE Version 4 for MNT Reform and Pocket Reform, and it finally arrived last week. The (now purple) modules are currently in QA and will be shipped in November.
Order Fulfillment Table
We updated the order fulfillment table for you to track our progress on your orders:
| Product | Order Placement Date (Range) | Estimated Shipment Date | Delays / Roadblocks | Notes (includes configuration X) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MNT Reform with RK3588 | ordered until 2025-09-10 | mid-end November 2025 | currently in QA | |
| MNT Pocket Reform with RK3588 | ordered until 2025-09-10 | mid-end November 2025 | Charger Module V2 Update | currently in QA |
| MNT Pocket Reform and MNT Reform RCORE with RK3588 upgrades | ordered until 2025-09-10 | mid-end November 2025 | currently in QA | |
| MNT Reform with RK3588 | ordered after 2025-09-10 | 2-3 months after order date | ||
| MNT Pocket Reform with RK3588 | ordered after 2025-09-10 | 3-4 months after order date | Keyboard and Motherboard V2 Update | |
| MNT Pocket Reform and MNT Reform RK3588 upgrades | ordered after 2025-09-10 | 2-3 months after order date | ||
| ZZ9000 | any | 2 months after order date | in stock | |
| ZZ9000AX | any | 2 months after order date | in stock | |
| HALO-90 Earrings (any color) | any | 2 months after order date | in stock | |
| Keyboard (purple case) | any | 2 months after order date | in stock | |
| Keyboard (black case) | any | 2 months after order date | in stock | |
| Other items | any | 1-3 months after order date |
Table last updated: 2025-11-05
You can also access this table on our FAQ page and in our support system under the category My Order. We aim to update it at least once a month. Note that we have no information about orders placed on Crowd Supply and Mouser. Please contact their customer support if you need information.
US Tariffs Situation: Crowd Supply
Unfortunately, Crowd Supply will need to recapture tariffs from US customers. It might be a while before they start this process but it will happen before the first shipment of MNT Reform Next laptops happens.
The team that developed Zerowriter Ink wrote an update on this topic which is quite informative. You can read it here.
As soon as we know more we'll let you know.
New Products
MNT Pocket Reform Sleeve: New Color 'Holographic'
Our Pocket Reform sleeve has a new shiny color option: Holographic! Made from vegan faux leather (as all of our sleeves), this fresh version has a glossy surface and a contrasting buckle with oilslick finish. So fancy! The sleeve offers a bit more room than our previous model which comes in handy when you have some cables or other small items to carry.
(sample handmade by Greta)
MNT Pocket Reform Battery Holders
You can now buy sturdy 3D printed battery holders for MNT Pocket Reform in our shop.
MNT Pocket Reform Port Covers
Some people asked if the side panels for Pocket Reform will become available for purchase, so here they are!
MNT Pocket Headset/Switch Board 2.0
Version 2.0 of the headset board for MNT Pocket Reform is available now. It includes the standby switch and a slot for a Wi-Fi card.
Fun Stuff
Fun things we've discovered using MNT devices.
A Beautiful Website for Trekkies
If you're a Trekkie (some of us certainly are) and in need of soothing and moving images, this LCARS-style website is for you. Beautifully animated and interactive, it showcases the USS Titan and features a minimalist, pleasant sound design. Worth a look!
Visualization of (Potential) Runtimes of MNT Reform Processor Modules
Here's a stunning and incredibly detailed data collection and visualization of the (potential) runtimes of five different MNT Reform processor modules by Johannes Schauer Marin Rodrigues on our MNT Community forum.
Events
39th Chaos Communication Congress
Like every year, we'll be present at the Chaos Communication Congress from December 26th until December 30th 2025! We'll work on getting an assembly in a nice spot as soon as possible. More info coming soon!
And that's it for October! Thanks for reading our updates and have a great November. See you on here in one month or (nearly) daily on the Fediverse!