MNT October 2026 Update
A fulfilled deadline, two processor modules, and some (fun) experiments shaped the month of October at MNT Research.
MNT Developments and Updates
Next MNT Reform Next Batch
October was a stressful month for us as we had to finish the development of the MNT Quasar with CQ8570S processor module to secure an NLnet donation before the deadline ran out. It worked out, but for that reason we're a bit behind on the fulfillment of shop orders and backed Crowd Supply orders of MNT Reform Next. However, a new batch of 25 units of the MNT Reform Next laptop are now scheduled to ship at the beginning/middle of November 2026.
Side note: We've been receiving lots of emails asking when Reform Next will enter our online shop. At this time, we can't promise an exact date (or even month). Since we're required to fulfill all backed Crowd Supply orders before being able to offer Reform Next ourselves, we can only give you an estimate: Reform Next will probably come to our shop sometime in 2027, hopefully in the first half of the year. So it will still be some time until you can order it from us.
MNT Quasar with CQ8750S Processor
As just stated, Lucie has been tinkering with the MNT Quasar with CQ8750S processor and was able to finish development on this powerful and performant module:
If you're already thinking, "I need to get my hands on this": You can (soon)! It will be included in our so-called "Super Upgrade" mini campaign which we'll launch on Crowd Supply in the upcoming weeks. More details on this in our next update (or on the Fediverse).
MNT Quasar with QCS8550 Processor
Yes, you read that right: there's yet another Quasar coming.
It's compatible with all of our laptops (Reform (Classic), Pocket Reform, Reform Next) and will come to our shop in November 2026. Spoiler: it will (unfortunately) be pricy and it has a lead time of six months. But the performance will be worth the wait.
Workaround for Pocket Reform Undervoltage Lockout
Lucie and Liaizon discovered a workaround that you can use if your Pocket Reform isn't powering up because of a depleted battery cell (undervoltage lockout). A firmware fix is in the works, but for now please refer to Lucie's community post if you're experiencing this issue.
Order Fulfillment Table
Here's the updated order fulfillment table for you to track our progress on your orders:
| Product | Order Placement Date (Range) | Estimated Shipment Date | Delays / Roadblocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| MNT Reform | ordered after 2025-12-10 | 8-10 months after order date | mainboard 3.0 in production, scheduled to arrive at the beginning of Nov |
| MNT Pocket Reform | any | 6-9 months after order date | waiting for more RK3588 modules, waiting for Quasar modules (scheduled for Dec 2026) |
| RK3588 upgrades for MNT Pocket Reform and MNT Reform | any | 6-9 months after order date | waiting for more RK3588 modules |
| Quasar QCS6490 | any | 4-6 months after order date | in production, scheduled for Dec 2026 |
| MNT Reform Mainboard 3.0 | any | 5-6 months after order date | in production, scheduled for Dec 2026 |
| MNT Pocket Reform Mainboard 2.0 | any | 3-4 months after order date | soon in production, scheduled for Dec 2026 |
| MNT Pocket Reform Keyboard PCB | any | 2-3 months after order date | in stock |
| MNT Pocket Reform Standalone Keyboard | any | 2-3 months after order date | currently in QA |
| ZZ9000 | any | 2-3 months after order date | out of stock, scheduled for January 2027 |
| 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 | 2-3 months after order date | in stock |
| Keyboard (black case) | any | 2-3 months after order date | in stock |
| Other items | any | 1-3 months after order date | in stock |
| Crowd Supply orders | any | please contact Crowd Supply | |
| Mouser orders | any | please contact Mouser |
Table last updated: 2026-11-02
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.
Fun Stuff
Fun things we've discovered using MNT devices.
MNT (Pocket) Reform Standalone Keyboard + 4x40 TFN LCD Display
Lucie had the idea to transform our standalone Pocket Reform keyboard into an affordable computer—by hooking up a tiny 4x40 TFN LCD Display.
She made a prototype using the standalone Reform keyboard instead and got it to work by using the Glasgow Interface Explorer, some Python, and the GPIO applet:
For prototype videos and more info check out the thread on Mastodon.
Alternative Keycaps for the MNT Reform Standalone Keyboard
Lucie ordered samples of alternative Kailh Choc keycaps on KeebSupply to see how they fit and feel on our MNT Reform Keyboards:
Result: they're pretty fun, we can recommend if you want to experiment.
Community Contributions
NetBSD on RK3588
We're excited about Josch's (continued) efforts to improve our systems, building on the Barebox boot loader work of Lucie and Daniel. Their latest endeavors regard NetBSD support on MNT devices running on RK3588:
If you'd like to contribute, you're very welcome to do so!
October's over and we're approaching the end of the year. Thank you, always, for reading our news updates and see you on here in one month or (nearly) daily on the Fediverse!