MNT Reform Next

Based on the Classic MNT Reform, MNT Reform Next takes open source hardware to a new level. It gives you more freedom than any other laptop available today. Swap modules, print your own case, and customize your keyboard. By combining high performance and high mobility with modularity, customizability, and repairability, MNT Reform Next has the potential to become more than just your daily driver. Since MNT Research is deeply committed to open hardware, all sources are public.

Faster, Lighter, and More Modular Than Ever

MNT Reform Next is not only suitable for hackers and tinkerers—it is also designed to be used by Linux beginners and Debian enthusiasts. Analogous to our previous Reform devices, we will provide a detailed operator handbook, a pre-built system image, and a quick start manual to get you started. In addition, you can always ask our welcoming and knowledgeable MNT Community for help.

Your Next Daily Driver

With MNT Reform Next, you are as flexible as you need it to be: It can easily handle browsing, writing, programming, gaming, graphics design, sound creation, and video editing. Reform Next features the highly performant Rockchip RK3588 processor module, a sleek and portable design, plus MNT’s renowned mechanical keyboard. It is designed to be a reliable and versatile computer for everyday tasks.

Program, Write, and Create

Whether you study at the library, code your projects on the train, or take notes at work — Reform Next is your reliable on-the-go device.

Productivity Powerhouse

Review a document, present at a conference, or do system administration. Enjoy the mechanical keyboard for SSH and remote desktop. Wirelessly sync files and photos with your phone and PC using Syncthing or SFTP.

Take a Break

Due to the elegant design and pleasantly smooth haptics, MNT Reform Next gets you in a cozy mood—chat with your friends, watch a video, read a digital comic, emulate your favorite video game system, or browse the web.

Commute

Time flies by on trains and buses with MNT Reform Next. Kill time by organizing your files, reviewing spreadsheets, or coding software.

Compose & Record

Immerse yourself in music: Connect a USB Type-C audio interface, and Reform Next can be your portable audio composition device with free and open-source music creation software like Ardour.

MNT Reform Next is even more modular than its predecessor: We separated the port boards from the motherboard and engineered a mounting grid—a solid basis that allows for infinite customization and mods. If you like to tinker with gear and make your own tweaks, MNT Reform Next is the laptop for you. Make your modifications on three port boards and share your progress with the MNT Community or on the Fediverse. Everyone is welcome to contribute to the thriving MNT Research open hardware ecosystem.

Features & Specifications

Processor & RAM

• 8-core Rockchip RK3588 processor and Mali G610 GPU, with 16 or 32 GB LPDDR4 RAM
• Modular 200-pin SODIMM, reuse/exchange modules from classic MNT Reform and MNT Pocket Reform

Mechanical Keyboard

• Standard stagger, 80 keys
• Kailh Choc Brown switches
• N-key rollover
• Layout: QWERTY-US, laser-etched legend (international keycap sets available)
• Custom MBK Glows keycaps by FKcaps
• Customizable RGB backlight
• Raspberry Pi RP2040 controller
• OLED screen for system control functions
• Open source firmware

Trackpad

• An evolution of the multitouch glass trackpad option for classic MNT Reform
• Supports gestures
• Three mechanical trackpad buttons, Cherry MX ULP switches

Display

• 12.5" matte IPS 1920x1080 eDP panel
• Dual screen (tested with 1440P, 120 Hz display)

Motherboard

The Motherboard has many internal flat cable and JST-SH connectors with the following signals:

• Gigabit Ethernet
• SD Card (4-bit)
• I2S Audio
• HDMI
• Display Power and Backlight PWM
• Serial UART for Debug
• Internal Keyboard Ports (USB and UART for standby mode)
• RP2040 system controller
• 4-lane PCIe M.2 connector for 2242-size NVMe SSDs
• USB 3.0 and 2.0 to port board one
• USB 3.0 and 2.0 to port board two
• Extra USB 2.0
• RGB status LED
• 8-position DIP switch with several configuration options:
  • Power override: Power on regardless of system controller output (useful for bringup without firmware)
  • Select battery chemistry/charge voltage (LiFePO4/Li-ion)
  • Switch RP2040 USB to either SoM or external port for flashing
• USB 2.0 hub to provide enough internal USB 2.0 ports for input devices and RP2040 communication
• Power interface including I2C (for USB PD or direct power)
• 2x redundant/parallel battery packs connectors (Power, Alert, and I2C)

Storage

• 256 GB eMMC flash memory
• M.2 NVMe SSD slot (up to 2 TB)
• microSD card slot
• microSD Express card slot (internal)
• Full Disk Encryption possible with LUKS

Power & Batteries

Another greatly improved aspect of MNT Reform Next is the custom-engineered packs, which can accept multiple battery chemistries. That means you exchange cells individually and use whatever type you prefer. Other features include:

• USB Type-C Power Delivery charging
• 8× LiFePO4 cells (16000 mAh total)
• BQ25756 (multi-chemistry) charge buck/boost controller for 4S2P LiFePO4 or 4S2P Li-ion batteries
• Runtime: approx. 5 hours; potential for 8+ hours with Li-Ion batteries (in development)

Sound

• TLV320AIC3100 DAC with internal speaker driver/connector
• Headset TRRS jack: Stereo headphone driver and mono microphone support

Wireless

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are custom-designed based on the Ezurio Sterling-LWB5+ module.

• Wi-Fi 802.11ac
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Located on a removable expansion board

Internal Camera

• Optional add-on
• Based on our external USB camera with an autofocus version of the Omnivision OV5640 sensor
• Image Acquisition module with Infineon/Cypress CX3 MIPI-CSI to USB bridge
• Hardware kill switch

Material

• Black, Purple, or Raw Silver Metallic anodized, bead-blasted aluminum
• All case materials are recyclable

Portability

• Size: 29 x 20.5 × 2.6 cm (11.42 x 8.07 x 1.02 in)
• Weight: approx. ~1.6 kg (~3.5 lbs, subject to change)

OS

• Debian GNU/Linux
• Other distributions and OSes via EDK2 UEFI (in development)
• Desktops: Sway, GNOME, KDE

Sleeve

• Optional add-on
• Protect your MNT Reform Next in style
• Eco-friendly and vegan Piñatex material
• Color: Black

Modular Port Boards

By separating the port boards from the motherboard, we are giving users the most freedom to customize and modify. The port covers are made of steel. Below are our default port boards:

Left Port Board

• USB Type-C with USB 3.0 + 2.0 signaling
• microSD slot (bootable)
• 1 Gigabit Ethernet (ix Industrial connector)
• Headset TRRS jack (stereo headphone driver and mono microphone support)

Right Port Board

• USB Type-C with USB 3.0 + 2.0 signaling and USB Power Delivery
• 1x USB Type-A with USB 3.0 + 2.0 signaling
• USB Type-C with USB 3.0 + 2.0 signaling
• Full-size HDMI

Internal Port Board

• TLV320AIC3100 sound chip with internal speaker driver/connector
• Wi-Fi/BT chipset and antennas (on a third internal port board)

Open Hardware, Open Source

MNT Reform Next delivers open computing autonomy: With full root access, you are in control of your device and your personal data. We provide not only the schematics and the KiCAD project files for the motherboard, and keyboard, as well as the source code for these parts. This allows the community to co-develop and improve the platform or independently create clones.

• Open Source Hardware (KiCAD sources available under CERN-OHL-S 2.0 license)
• Open Source system controller and input device firmware
• Print your own case parts and design your own port boards
• Contribute and improve the device with mods
• A higher level of privacy and security thanks to its auditable, non-proprietary design

Comparisons

Support & Documentation

• Full hardware sources (KiCAD)
• MNT Community
• IRC Channel

Manufacturing Plan

Over the last years, through fulfilling our previous campaigns of MNT Reform and MNT Pocket Reform on Crowd Supply, we have gained substantial experience in sourcing, manufacturing, testing, and shipping electronic devices.

We produce our computers and a number of related hardware products full-time in our dedicated workshop in Berlin. When designing MNT Reform Next, we applied our learnings to simplify the assembly process and reduce risks wherever possible. Below is a breakdown of where we source the parts that go into Reform Next:

• T-Firefly iCore-3588Q SOM is sourced directly from Firefly Technology, China.
• MNT-designed PCBs are made and assembled by PCBWay and JLCPCB, China. We've worked with both companies many times in the past.
• Keyswitches are sourced directly from the manufacturers Kailh and Cherry.
• Injection molded custom keycaps are already produced by our partner FKcaps.
• Keyboard switches are soldered by PCBWay and the keycaps are installed and laser-engraved by us in Berlin.
• In parallel, aluminum body parts (CNC milled, bead-blasted and anodized) are sourced from our contractor JPR.
• Hinges are supplied by Smooth Technology (Shenzhen).
• Display panels and cables are supplied by one of several suppliers.
• LiFePO4 cells are sourced from EREMIT.
• Packing material, printed manuals, stickers, and other accessories are sourced locally by us.
• Final assembly, QA, and packaging of each device will be done by our team in Berlin.

Fulfillment & Logistics

After our production run is complete, we will box everything up and send it to Crowd Supply’s fulfillment partner, Mouser Electronics, who will handle distribution to backers worldwide. You can learn more about Crowd Supply’s fulfillment service under Ordering, Paying, and Shipping in their guide.

Risks & Challenges

MNT Reform Next has hundreds of electronic components. We tried to pick them so that there will be enough stock when we get around to manufacturing the boards, but it’s always possible that there could be a sudden component shortage or increase in price. If that should happen, we would have to re-engineer the affected PCB and exchange the part, causing a delay in production. We are confident that we’ll be able to work around any difficulties as we have in the past.

Should any situation arise that would delay the estimated shipping timeline, backers will be informed promptly via project updates.

We would like to acknowledge partial funding for the development of MNT Reform Next from the NGI0 Entrust Fund, a fund established by NLnet with financial support from the European Commission’s Next Generation Internet program.

Credits & Attributions

• Electronics: Lukas "minute" Hartmann
• Software: Lukas "minute" Hartmann, Christian "plom" Heller, Johannes Schauer Marin Rodrigues, Chris Hofstaedtler, and other contributors
• Battery System: Zoé & Elen (Fully Automated), Lukas "minute" Hartmann
• Industrial Design: Ana Dantas
• Sleeve Design: Greta Melnik
• Writing and PR: Anri Paul Hennies, Brendan Nystedt
• Accounting and Support: Christian "plom" Heller
• Assembly and Testing: Greta Melnik, Liaizon Wakest, Anri Paul Hennies
• Video Protagonists: Greta Melnik, Anri Paul Hennies
• Video Voiceover: Angela Christine
• Video Music: Jazz Hop (Instrumental) by Toranpetto
• Handbook Cover Art: 100rabbits
• MNT Reform Font: Inter by rsms