Team member Lucie has been in the last stages of the MNT Reform Next development and has successfully debugged why the MicroSD Express card (PCIe) didn’t link in the latest motherboard revisions. The left port board was completed at the beginning of November and features the EQCO5X31C0 re-clocker/re-driver for USB 3.0, new data and power mux details, a hard reset button, and LEDs next to the USB-C Power Delivery port. They also swapped two connectors for better internal cable management.

Left port PCB

Lucie also finished the right port board. They redid most of this board to optimize for USB 3.0 performance and put in the EQCO5X31C0 re-clocker/re-driver as well. This board has a four-port USB hub and now an internal USB3 downstream host port to connect to the optional camera module or other expansions.

Right port PCB

Right port PCB in 3D

The direct eDP output from RK3588 to the display panel is also working:

Direct eDP output from RK3588 to the display panel

(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.

Lucie redesigned all internal flex cables for improved fit and signal integrity.

The last technical objective was the final validation of the battery packs. Lucie completed this at the beginning of the week and has started buying the remaining parts for a small first shipment to Crowd Supply. At the time of writing, it is scheduled for February/March 2026.

We hope you have a good end of the year and we’ll be back with updates in 2026.

All the best,

The MNT Team