MNT Research
Laptops & PCs
KiCad
MNT Pocket Reform
A newer, smaller, lighter, more-affordable, seven-inch mini Reform laptop that remains fully open source
MNT Research
Laptops & PCs
KiCad
MNT Pocket Reform is an extremely compact, fully featured mini laptop that is modular, upgradable, recyclable, and reusable. Being fully open source hardware and software, it exemplifies MNT’s principles while providing abundant connectivity and a pleasant typing experience thanks to a comfortable, ortholinear mechanical keyboard and a micro-optical trackball. Pocket Reform features up-to-date Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and support for cellular modems, so you can go online anywhere.
Often on the go? Whether you need to take notes at work or in the classroom, write your novel in a cafe, or journal on the bus, Pocket Reform’s super compact, ortholinear mechanical keyboard has you covered. It’s quite inconvenient to use a full-sized laptop while commuting on a crowded bus or train, yet getting work done on a phone can be nigh impossible. Pocket Reform is a handy in-between device for using your time in transit efficiently without taking up too much space or drawing too much attention.
On call? Pocket Reform is an excellent platform for system administration, wherever and whenever it’s required. Enjoy a real keyboard and trackball for SSH and remote desktop. Pocket Reform is great for other work tasks, as well. With the built-in Micro HDMI port and LibreOffice, you can easily use it to run the numbers, review a document, or give a presentation at a conference. And it plays well with other devices, too, allowing you to wirelessly sync files and photos with your phone or PC.
Do you read and write a lot of email or coordinate with your colleagues via chat? Pocket Reform supports popular messaging and email applications. Need data away from Wi-Fi? Pocket Reform accepts 4G and 5G WWAN modems that make it possible to send and receive messages anywhere you have cell service.
From garage projects to industrial applications, Pocket Reform fits in spaces where other laptops can’t. On an overfilled electronics workbench, on a rack in your server room (hard-wired with integrated ix Industrial Ethernet), in the palm of your hand among the warehouse stacks, or on your belt while performing maintenance in the field.
Electronic-music artists, sound engineers, podcasters, and anyone else who works with sound can connect a USB Type-C audio interface and transform Pocket Reform into a portable audio workstation, with support for free and open source music-creation software.
Speaking of good tools, programming works best with a real keyboard. Using Pocket Reform, you can hack on your projects wherever you go and connect to your infrastructure via Wi-Fi, USB Type-C or Ethernet.
At the end of the day, Pocket Reform is the ultimate sofa computer: smaller than a laptop but more versatile and less constrained than a phone or tablet. Chill out and chat with your friends, watch a video, or remotely access your other PCs. Need a gaming break? Fire up classic console and retro computer games on your couch with emulators.
With Pocket Reform, you’re always in good company. The MNT Reform Community is there to help you along the way. Everyone is welcome to contribute to this thriving open-hardware ecosystem.
MNT Pocket Reform 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, keyboard, charger and trackball sensor, but also the source code for these parts. This allows the community to directly co-develop Pocket Reform or create their own clones.
With CPU and RAM being modular, you can upgrade your MNT Pocket Reform and keep it up-to-date! With future modules being released, you will be able to easily plug them in to have an even more powerful device. This approach is not only sustainable, but also economical. The specifications are open and all makers are encouraged to create new modules for Pocket Reform.
We took an innovative step by giving Pocket Reform a mechanical keyboard with custom injection mold keycaps designed by FKcaps for a pleasant feel and 3 mm of key travel. Enjoy typing and program your favorite RGB backlight with individually addressable keys!
Small and fun to use: We custom designed a 15 mm micro-optical trackball which enables precise pointing and—combined with one of the buttons—easy and quick scrolling in two dimensions.
Pocket Reform features the JDI LT070ME050, a brilliant and sharp 7" display.
A mobile computer needs wireless connectivity. MNT Pocket Reform comes with WiFi and Bluetooth and has sockets for a cellular modem and a SIM card.
Usually, you don’t have a lot of ports on a mobile device, so connecting other devices can be quite a challenge. Pocket Reform features two USB-C ports, a Micro HDMI port and a more compact version of an Ethernet port: ix Industrial.
Besides eMMC flash and a MicroSD card slot, the device also features an M.2 M-Key slot for common NVMe SSDs.
We chose a common LiPo battery form factor (606090) with standard JST-PH connectors. The cells are in the bottom part below the keyboard, together with our custom charger and protection module.
Pocket Reform comes with a built-in high quality speaker and the possibility to connect bluetooth headphones.
The case is very robust and built for longevity: Two main structural parts milled from solid aluminum are connected by 180 degree hinges. Four screw-mounted bezels/plates allow easy access to all electronics.
Protect your Pocket Reform in style: Greta Melnik returned with a minimalistic and practical sleeve design.
Thanks to Dr. Johannes Schauer Marin Rodrigues, we ship a system image that is cleanly integrated with Debian GNU/Linux. You can also install other Linux distributions of your choice. We test and optimize two desktop environments for MNT Pocket Reform: the beginner-friendly GNOME 4 and the advanced tiling compositor Sway.
While being chunky and robust, MNT Pocket Reform occupies an unusually small volume for a laptop and fits into the most crowded spaces and backpacks—and even some cargo pockets. At approximately one kilogram, you won’t break a sweat when carrying it around.
| MNT Pocket Reform | Cosmo Communicator | GPD Pocket 3 | PinePhone Pro Explorer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | MNT Research GmbH | Planet Computers | GPD Corporation | Pine64 |
| CPU | NXP i.MX8M Plus | MediaTek Helio P70 | Intel Pentium Silver N6000 | Rockchip RK3399S |
| WWAN Connectivity | WWAN slot for 4G/5G/LTE modem | LTE Bands A, F | Support for 2.4G/5G Dual | Global LTE bands |
| Size (closed) | 20 × 12.6 × 4.5 cm | 17.1 x 7.93 x 1.73 cm | 19.8 × 13.7 × 2.0 cm | 16.1 x 9.5 x 2.15 cm |
| Weight | 1100 g | 326 g | 725 g | 406 g |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB | 6 GB | 8 GB | 4 GB |
| Display Resolution | 1920x1200 | 2160x1080 | 1920×1200 | 1440×720 |
| Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | 512 GB | 128 GB |
| Expansion | NVMe SSD and MicroSD | MicroSD | NVMe SSD | MicroSD |
| Wi-Fi Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax | Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Open Hardware | Yes | No | No | No |
Over the last years, through fulfilling our previous MNT Reform campaign and a number of related hardware products full-time in our dedicated workshop in Berlin, we have gained substantial experience in sourcing, manufacturing, testing and shipping electronic devices. When designing MNT Pocket Reform, we applied our learnings to simplify the assembly process and reduce risks wherever possible.
After our production run is complete, we will box everything up and send it along 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.
"Exciting Hardware News... Seven-inch Linux laptop, MNT Pocket Reform specs announced."
"[T]he MNT Pocket Reform uses this exact [iMX8] module form-factor as its bigger sibling. Now, the MNT lineup became an ecosystem with swappable CPU cards..."
"MNT Research has announced a new product that takes the best elements of its Reform laptop and stuffs them into a smaller, lighter and more affordable package."
"The Pocket Reform borrows many of the big Reform laptop's design impulses, including a low-profile mechanical keyboard and trackball-based pointing device and a chunky, retro-throwback design."
Produced by MNT Research in Berlin, Germany.
Sold and shipped by Crowd Supply.
Pocket Reform Mini Laptop in Black
Pocket Reform Mini Laptop in Purple
Pocket Reform Mini Laptop in Black with 1TB NVMe SSD, Pocket Reform Piñatex Sleeve, Printed & Signed Handbook and Double-sided Multicolor Risograph Print Poster with Pocket Reform Illustration & Schematics
Pocket Reform Mini Laptop in Purple with 1TB NVMe SSD, Pocket Reform Piñatex Sleeve, Printed & Signed Handbook and Double-sided Multicolor Risograph Print Poster with Pocket Reform Illustration & Schematics
From the Crowd Supply Basics project.
5G antenna, 600-6000 MHz range, FPC with cable, adhesive backing, 90.15 mm x 15.2 mm x 0.13 mm
From the Crowd Supply Basics project.
Ethernet / Networking Cable, RJ45, Cat.6A, FRNC, black, 3 m
From the Crowd Supply Basics project.
Cannot be shipped to the EU or UK.
From the Crowd Supply Basics project.
Cannot be shipped to the EU or UK
From the Crowd Supply Basics project.
From the MNT Reform project.
This bundle is a low-cost way to boost the performance of your MNT Reform by 2x-3x. It includes the MNT Reform CM4 adapter (RCM4), a Banana Pi CM4 module with hexacore Amlogic A311D processor, 4GB DDR4 RAM and a universal aluminum heatsink. The A311D has 4x ARM Cortex-A73 and 2x ARM Cortex-A53 cores, as well as an ARM Mali G52 MP4 GPU that works with Panfrost open-source drivers. Features RTW88 WiFi/BT combo module.
· mntmn@mastodon.social · mntre.com
We are driven by the idea of a digital future that is open-source, accessible, and modular. Our innovative, interdisciplinary team sets high standards in terms of quality and sustainability. We combine these principles by developing open source hardware, software, and textiles in Berlin, Germany.
