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.

A Perfectly Sized, Versatile, On-the-Go Platform

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.

An Amazing Tool For Makers & Creators

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.

Remember to Relax

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.

We Don’t Keep This To Ourselves

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.

Open Hardware and Open Source

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.

• 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 or customize case part PCBs
• Contribute and improve the device with mods
• Higher level of privacy and security thanks to its auditable, non-proprietary design

Processors and RAM

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.

• Standard Module: NXP i.MX8M Plus
  • 4× ARM Cortex-A53 @ 1.8 GHz
  • 8 GB DDR4
  • Vivante GC7000UL GPU with open drivers (Etnaviv)
  • NPU with open drivers
  • H.264/H.265 Video Decoder with open drivers (Hantro)
  • Cortex-M7 Realtime Core
  • HiFi4 Audio DSP
• Modular
• Some modules compatible with MNT Reform

Mechanical Keyboard with RGB Backlight

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!

• Mechanical Keyboard with ortholinear matrix, 60 keys
• Your choice of Kailh Choc White (clicky 50g) or Kailh Choc Pro Red (light linear 35g) switches
• N-key rollover
• Layout: QWERTY-US, international characters via Hyper key, custom engraving service available after campaign
• RGB backlight, individually programmable
• Raspberry Pi RP2040 Microcontroller

Micro-Optical Trackball

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.

• Optical 15 mm trackball with 4 buttons (Left, Middle, Right, X/Y Scroll)
• Material: Self-lubricating black POM/Acetal

Display

Pocket Reform features the JDI LT070ME050, a brilliant and sharp 7" display.

• 7" diagonal, Full HD+ (1920 × 1200 px, ~310 ppi)
• Micro HDMI output for an external display with up to 4K resolution

Wireless

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.

• With default i.MX8MP module: WiFi 802.11ac & Bluetooth 5.0 (Qualcomm QCA9377-3)
• Optional Cellular Internet: M.2 key B WWAN slot for 4G/5G/LTE modem (Note: EMEA/APAC/Brazil and Japanese customers have to obtain the modem via MNT Research or other vendors for the EM06-E and EM06-J versions.
• Micro SIM card slot
• Alternative to smartphone (data or VoIP only)

Ports

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.

• 2× USB 3.0 Type-C, one port supports Power Delivery charging
• MicroSD slot
• Micro HDMI port
• ix Industrial Ethernet port, 1 GbE (with optional RJ45 adapter cable)

Storage

Besides eMMC flash and a MicroSD card slot, the device also features an M.2 M-Key slot for common NVMe SSDs.

• 128 GB eMMC flash memory
• NVMe SSD slot (up to 2 TB)
• MicroSD card slot
• Full Disk Encryption via LUKS

Battery

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.

• USB Type-C Power Delivery charging
• 2× Li-Ion cells (8000 mAh total)
• Runtime: approx. 4 hours

Sound

Pocket Reform comes with a built-in high quality speaker and the possibility to connect bluetooth headphones.

• TI DAC with loud and clear Mono Speaker (CUI CES-361811-18PM-67)
• Headphones via USB Type-C audio adapter or Bluetooth

Case

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.

• The 2 main structural case parts are milled from Purple or Black anodized, bead-blasted Aluminum
• 2 outer plates and 2 inner bezels (for keyboard and display) are matte black PCBs

Sleeve

Protect your Pocket Reform in style: Greta Melnik returned with a minimalistic and practical sleeve design.

• Eco-friendly and vegan black Piñatex material
• Sewn-in belt with heavy-duty buckle and loop for holding the sleeve while taking out the device

OS and Desktops

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.

• Debian GNU/Linux
• GNOME 4 (beginner-friendly interface)
• Sway (for advanced users)

Screenshot of GNOME 4 on MNT Pocket Reform

Screenshot of Sway on MNT Pocket Reform

Portability

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.

• Size: 20 × 12.6 × 4.5 cm (~7.87 × 4.96 × 1.77 inch)
• Weight: 1100 g (~2.4 lbs)

Comparisons

Support & Documentation

• Full hardware sources (KiCAD)
• Reform System Image sources
• MNT Community
• IRC Channel

Manufacturing Plan

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.

• i.MX8MPlus modules are sourced from Boundary Devices (assembled in the USA), now part of Laird.
• PCBs for motherboard, keyboard and SoM adapter are made and assembled by PCBWay, China. We've worked many times with PCBWay in the past.
• Keyswitches are sourced directly from the manufacturer, Kailh.
• Injection molded custom keycaps are already produced by our partner FKcaps and stocked.
• While keyboard switches are soldered by PCBWay, 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 contractors Hubs and/or JPR.
• Hinges are supplied by Smooth Technology (Shenzhen) and already stocked.
• Display panels and cables are supplied by one of several suppliers.
• Li-Ion cells are sourced from EREMIT.
• Screws, packing material, printed manuals, etc. are sourced locally by us.
• The 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 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.

Risks & Challenges

• Pocket Reform 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 continued production. We had to adapt our products several times during the global chip crisis, so we are confident that we'll be able to work around any difficulties.
• Should any situation arise that would delay the estimated shipping timeline, backers will be informed promptly via project updates.

Credits & Attributions

MNT Pocket Reform Key Illustration (featured on Supporter T-Shirt and Hyper Art Poster) by Anri Paul Hennies

• Electronics: Lukas F. Hartmann
• Industrial Design: Ana Dantas, Greta Melnik
• Sleeve Design: Greta Melnik
• Writing and PR: Anri Paul Hennies, Brendan Nystedt
• Accounting and Support: Christian "plom" Heller
• ThinkOutLoud Team: Ana Dantas, Pooja Channaveerappa, Katharina Withelm
• Video Protagonists: Greta Melnik, Pooja Channaveerappa, V Körbes, Anri Paul Hennies, Lukas F. Hartmann
• Video Voiceover: Angela Christine
• Video Music: Synchronasis—Toe The Mark, licensed through Marmoset
• Handbook Cover Art: 100rabbits
• Wallpaper Visual: Philipp Brömme
• MNT Reform Font: Inter by rsms