News & Announcements

Recent Kubuntu Focus News

• 02 Mar 2026 Kubuntu Focus at SCaLE!
• 24 Nov 2025 Black Friday Sale
• 02 Nov 2025 Independent Reviews for M2, NX
• 08 Aug 2025 Announcing the Zr ^{GEN 1}
• 22 Jul 2025 Announcing the NX ^{GEN 3}
• 06 Jun 2025 Announcing the M2 ^{GEN 6}
• 04 Jun 2025 End Of 10 Campaign
• 01 Mar 2025 KFocus at SCaLE!
• 09 Nov 2024 KFocus at Ubuntu Summit!
• 21 Aug 2024 Podcast with Noah Gift
• 31 Jul 2024 24.04 ISO Now Available
• 06 Jun 2024 New Models and 24.04 LTS!
• 28 Mar 2024 A New LTS, Kernel Update, Official Flavors
• 27 Feb 2024 Win a Kubuntu Focus!
• 20 Feb 2024 M2 ^{GEN 5} Update, Kernel 6.5.0-14, Displays
• 11 Feb 2024 Chrome "Jitter Bug" Alert
• 10 Nov 2023 Plasma Updated to 5.27, Kernel 6.2.0-35

Older News >>

Kubuntu Focus at SCaLE!

02 Mar 2026: Also Wired Review, Service Guides

SCALE 23x in Pasadena, CA

The Kubuntu Focus team will make a return this year for the 23rd Annual Southern California Linux Exposition in Pasadena, California. If you are attending, stop by the Ubuntu booth to meet some of the team and see first-hand how we bring desktop Linux to the next level with the OS optimized, integrated, and supported for the hardware. We will have several models you can try, and of course, plenty of stickers and other swag.

SCaLE is the largest community-run open-source and free software conference in North America and is taking place on 5-8 March 2026 at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, CA. This conference is a great place to visit with friends, make new ones, and learn about the future of open source.

Zr GEN 1 WIRED Magazine Review

On February 25, WIRED magazine published an independent review of our most powerful mobile workstation. Check out Scott Gilbertson's findings in the his article, Review: Kubuntu Focus Zr Gen 1 Linux Laptop .

Many of the benefits that Mr. Gilbertson highlights, such as system validation, handy tools, and focused OS support are available on all Kubuntu Focus systems.

Featured Guided Solution: Service Guides

The Service Guides illustrate how to service and maintain your system with annotated photos and direct instructions for each model.

Each guide covers how to safely open the case, service the RAM and NVMe drives, replace the battery, clean the fans, reassemble the case, and set key BIOS parameters.

Black Friday Sale

24 Nov 2025: Save on Select Models

Step up to the convenience, performance, and reliability of Kubuntu Focus systems. We extensively validate updates of kernels, GPU drivers, desktops, and core apps on all models so your system works reliably for years after your purchase.

Save $150 on the Zr GEN 1, $100 on the M2 GEN 6, or $50 on the NX GEN 3. All feature the fast and efficient Intel "Arrow Lake" Core Ultra CPUs. The M2 and Zr both have advanced NVIDIA GPUs, while the NX has a powerful Intel Arc T140 iGPU.

Support from Kubuntu, Canonical, and Focus

Kubuntu LTS is an official Ubuntu Flavor. This status provides special benefits you won't see with competitors who decide to "roll their own" distro:

• All LTS releases have a minimum of 3 years of security, feature, and bug fix updates from Kubuntu and Canonical.
• All official flavors are backed by the breadth, compatibility, security, and reliability of the full Ubuntu archive.
• Only Ubuntu and official flavors are supported by useful Canonical sites such as Ask Ubuntu.
• Almost all articles, tutorials, and guides found on the web for Kubuntu LTS and non-Gnome Ubuntu LTS are directly usable on the Focus. You can see more online resources with the Kubuntu Focus Support List.

Kubuntu Focus contributes to Kubuntu and is a KDE corporate patron. We welcome bug reports, feature requests, and code contributions at the open kfocus-source repository. Please direct questions to support@kfocus.org or call 844-536-2871.

Independent Reviews for M2, NX

02 Nov 2025: 6th-gen M2, 3rd-gen NX

Before you buy, you will likely want to see what others are saying about the 2025 models. You can check out the latest independent reviews for the M2 GEN 6 and the NX GEN 3 systems listed in the Reviews section of this site.

Announcing the Zr ^{GEN 1}

08 Aug 2025: Maximum Portable Power

To learn more about the Zr GEN 1, visit the product page or press release.

Announcing the NX ^{GEN 3}

22 Jul 2025: NX GEN 3 Available

NX GEN 3 with 24.04 LTS

The third-generation, small form-factor desktop, the NX GEN 3, is now available to order. Just plug-in and power-on to get a fully upgraded and optimized Kubuntu 24.04 LTS and KDE Plasma experience.

To learn more about the NX GEN 3, visit the product page or press release.

Announcing the M2 ^{GEN 6}

06 Jun 2025: M2 GEN 6 Laptop Available

M2 GEN 6 with 24.04 LTS

The trim M2 GEN 6 laptop is a superb choice for anyone looking for the best out-of-the-box Linux experience with the most powerful portable hardware. Focus systems are used by developers, DevOps, ML researchers, creators, and others who value their time and the unmatched Linux-first support.

This model includes significant upgrades to the CPU and GPU, increased storage capacity, and better power efficiency over the prior generation.

To learn more about the M2 GEN 6, visit the product page or press release.

End Of 10 Campaign

04 Jun 2025: Do the right thing

Kubuntu Focus is proud to support the End of 10, a campaign to empower Windows 10 users to continue using their existing computers, even if they don't meet the new Window 11 hardware requirements.

We believe in the principles of the End of 10 campaign and think our free OS image, Kubuntu 24.04 LTS with KFS, can help people save millions of PCs from the landfill. Learn more on our announcement page or the End of 10 website.

KFocus at SCaLE!

01 Mar 2025: Also Kernel Updates, Flatpak Guide

SCALE 22x in Pasadena, CA

If you are going to be attending the 22nd Annual Southern California Linux Expo, stop by the Ubuntu booth and meet some of the Kubuntu Focus team! See first-hand how we bring desktop Linux to the next level with Kubuntu 24.04 LTS optimized, integrated, and supported for the hardware. We should also have some pre-release hardware for you to explore!

SCaLE is the largest community-run open-source and free software conference in North America and is taking place on March 6th-9th, 2025 at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, CA. UbuCon is a co-located event at the SCaLE expo on March 7th, featuring the latest innovations happening across the Ubuntu ecosystem. See the UbuCon and SCaLE 22x websites for more.

System Updates: Kernel 6.8.0-51

We have recently released the 6.8.0.-51 kernel for both Jammy and Noble systems. These updated kernels address several security issues, including CVE-2024-50264, CVE-2024-53057, and CVE-2024-49967.

Like all kernels we support, these use the official Ubuntu sources from the Ubuntu Kernel Team, with minimal open-source patches for hardware compatibility. The Kubuntu Focus team extensively tested all models sold in the last 4 years and found no regressions with them or many peripherals. Click here to see a list of tested features and models.

New Guided Solution: Flatpak

We have added a new Flatpak Guided Solution to our searchable support pages. This guide describes how to install Flatpak, use Flathub, update and manage Flatpak packages, and manage permissions. It also shows the installation of an example app, MakeMKV. Read the Flatpak article here..

Flatpak works alongside other package managers, such as apt and Snap. It provides access to a wide range of applications, many of which are unavailable from the apt archives or Snap Store. With Flatseal, you can fine-tune app permissions to balance security and usability.

KFocus at Ubuntu Summit!

09 Nov 2024: Ubuntu Summit + Reviews

Ubuntu Summit

We attended the Ubuntu Summit in The Hague at the end of October and represented Kubuntu at the Community Booth. Attendees always kept us busy showing what Kubuntu 24.04 LTS can do, especially once optimized and supported for the hardware, like “the Google Pixel of Linux Laptops.” We even got to chat a few times with a very busy Canonical CEO, Mark Shuttleworth!

Mark Shuttleworth checks out the validated systems at Ubuntu Summit 2024

Holiday Stock

After 5 years of growing the business, we've learned a few things. Like how to stock up for holidays so you can get a uniquely validated Focus system in time for gifting. Also, just in time for the holidays, all M2 GEN 5 systems now have bigger, faster, and more colorful 17.3" screens (2560×1440, 240 Hz, 100% DCI-P3) for just $100 more.

The 17.3" M2 GEN 5 has an amazing screen and performance with a trim footprint and price!

Review Season Recap

Summer was review season again this year. Here are some highlights of various models:

• Ars Technica: Using Linux instead of messing with it: Learning to love a Linux system that's more of a workhorse than a adventure “... A core feature of Kubuntu Focus’ devices is the company's system rollback tool ... Having that kind of option in my mental back pocket makes an already stable system feel like it’s on rails ...” — Ir14, Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 24 September 2024.
• Linux Insider: Kubuntu Focus Iridium Laptops Set New Built-for-Linux Standard: “... The pre-built Linux Kubuntu Focus Iridium laptop line is an unexpectedly good alternative to running any Linux operating system on converted Windows PCs ... The KFocus approach changed my perception of buying a dedicated Linux computer” — Ir16, Jack M. Germain, LinuxInsider, August 2024.
• Techradar: Kubuntu Focus M2 Gen 5 Linux laptop review: “I was gleefully surprised by how smoothly everything operated ... The Kubuntu Focus M2 Gen 5 is an exceptional machine for those who need an all-around great Linux Workstation. ” — M2, Collin Probst, TechRadar, August 2024.
• How-To Geek: Kubuntu Focus Ir16 Gen 2 Review: A Linux Laptop That Just Works — Ir16, Jordan Gloor, How-To Geek, July 2024.

24.04 ISO Now Available

31 Jul 2024: Upgrade to Kubuntu 24.04 LTS with KFS

You can now download Kubuntu 24.04 LTS with KFS (Kubuntu Focus Suite). It was validated on all 12 Focus models released to date. It also works great on many other Intel and AMD computers. This release will continue to be validated for all models sold within the last 3 years for all kernel upgrades and major desktop or driver changes.

KFS (Kubuntu Focus Suite) provides a collection of Focus Tools, Curated Apps, UX preferences, and hardware optimizations that are impractical to add to Kubuntu directly:

• Validated Updates help ensure your Focus system just keeps working
• Hardware Configuration subsystem ensures features like sound and camera work optimally on Focus hardware
• Focus Tools like the Welcome Wizard and System Rollback make hard tasks easy
• Curated Apps help you find, install, and run recommended software in seconds
• Guided Solutions deliver current and accurate HOWTOs that you can rely on

Kubuntu 24.04 LTS with KFS is the latest recommended and supported system image for Focus hardware. Learn more from the Validated Linux Systems article. While we can’t test for other hardware, other Intel and AMD computers can still benefit from the extensive testing, sophisticated tools, curated apps, and expert articles.

Some of the many peripherals tested on validated kernel updates.

Every LTS release requires many person-months of development. Thanks to the support of our customers, we contributed more to Kubuntu 24.04 LTS than ever before. We donated 2 laptops to Kubuntu developers, contributed to the migration to the Calamares installer, and prepared the themes and branding. This release builds on these enhancements with many additional open-source features. Here are some highlights:

• Designed, tested, and implemented snapshot-and-rollback system
• Created all-new Focus themes, widgets, installer, icons, and presets
• Audited and updated Kubuntu Focus Tools and Guided Solutions
• Used Firefox and Thunderbird apt packages
• Improved and expanded Curated Apps
• Enhanced Nvidia automatic configuration

See more changes in the abridged enhancements list.

Made a mistake? Don’t feel like writing your own rollback tool? We’ve got you covered.

Remember, you don’t have to upgrade for a while yet: Kubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) is supported in maintenance mode until April 2025. But when you're ready, click here to get started.

New Models and 24.04 LTS!

06 Jun 2024: New Ir14 and Ir16 Laptops Available

New Ir16 GEN 2 with 24.04 LTS

Designed to keep up with you even on long workdays, the powerful, quiet, and lightweight Ir16 GEN 2 laptop is equipped with an 80 Wh battery and an efficient design. All chassis surfaces are magnesium alloy, and the 16-inch display is vibrant (100% sRGB LED IPS), tall (2560×1600, 16:10), bright (450-nit) and smooth (90 Hz refresh rate). The keyboard also includes a 10-key numpad.

New Ir14 GEN 2 with 24.04 LTS

The Ir14 GEN 2 helps keep you productive, even on-the-go with the right balance of size and performance! All chassis surfaces are aluminum alloy, and the 14-inch display is vibrant (100% sRGB LED IPS), tall (1920×1200, 16:10), and bright (350-nit).

Made a mistake? One-Touch Rollback!

Iridium Laptops

Kubuntu Focus has developed these laptops in partnership with Carbon Systems. Thanks to their top-quality, high-volume hardware, and our meticulous tuning and support, everything you see and touch works seamlessly, and at very competitive prices.

Both laptops are powered by an Intel i5-13500H CPU and include powerful integrated Iris Xe graphics at 1.45 GHz. The no-flex, backlit keyboard provides impeccable tactile feedback, and a large, centered, glass, precision touchpad supports multi-touch, scrolling, and fast-toggle. Both also feature Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3.

These laptops are shipping Kubuntu 24.04 LTS with KFS (Kubuntu Focus Suite). You can configure either laptop with up to 96 GB of DDR5 RAM and dual-NVMe 8.0 TB of storage. Full-disk encryption is standard (but optional), and a Yubikey is available. The base models come well-equipped with 16 GB of dual-channel DDR5 RAM, a 500GB NVMe, and shipping in the US and Canada is free!

The Ir14 GEN 2 starts at just $1,080, while the Ir16 GEN 2 starts at just $1,145. If you need a dedicated GPU, you can also check out our recently refreshed M2 GEN 5 Mobile Workstations.

A New LTS, Kernel Update, Official Flavors

28 Mar 2024: All this, and a spring sale too!

Kubuntu 24.04 LTS Development

We continue to work with the Kubuntu team to develop and extensively test the upcoming 24.04 LTS release. As always, our goal is to provide a reliable and enjoyable system you can rely on every day. Part of that is graphic design and ensuring things you interact with every day look and work great.

Kernel Update

We recently updated the curated HWE kernel from 6.5.0-14 to 6.5.0-25. Like all kernels we support, this uses the official Ubuntu packages prepared and distributed by the Ubuntu Kernel Team. The Kubuntu Focus team extensively tested all models sold in the last 4 years and found no regressions with them or many peripherals. Click here to see a full list of tested features and models.

Other Updates

Kubuntu Focus systems are frequently enhanced through normal software updates. Here are just a few recent improvements:

• 2023: Shorten stop jobs that interfere with sleep and wake
• 4038: Skip LED change events on non-LED keyboard models
• 4041: Improve Kernel Cleaner to allow more room on /boot
• 4062: Fix iBus conflicts in KDE (this is force-installed by Zoom)
• 4066: Enhance Welcome Wizard passphrase changer for multi-disk systems
• 4093: Add a desktop reset option to FocusRx recovery tool
• 4116: Update Nvidia cuda-drivers pinning to the latest tested version
• 4128: Add support for Windows *.url files to open web pages
• 4160: Refresh desktop after reset

Support from Kubuntu, Canonical, and Focus

Kubuntu LTS is an official Ubuntu Flavor. This status provides special benefits you won't see with competitors who decide to "roll their own" distro:

• All LTS releases have a minimum of 3 years of security, feature, and bug fix updates from Kubuntu and Canonical.
• All official flavors are backed by the breadth, compatibility, security, and reliability of the full Ubuntu archive.
• Only Ubuntu and official flavors are supported by useful Canonical sites such as Ask Ubuntu.
• Almost all articles, tutorials, and guides found on the web for Kubuntu LTS and non-Gnome Ubuntu LTS are directly usable on the Focus. You can see more online resources with the Kubuntu Focus Support List.

Kubuntu Focus builds on the benefits of Kubuntu LTS to provide an experience superior to any DIY solution:

• Get peace of mind with Kubuntu-optimized hardware and commercial support.
• Enjoy curated kernels, drivers, apps, and articles for years after your purchase.
• Solve your problems expertly and quickly with searchable “Guided Solution” articles. No more sifting through forums and social posts to get a solution that is maybe correct for your hardware.
• Install and open a curated app when reading a Guided Solution with a single click,
• Helpful GUI tools to help complete hard tasks with just a few clicks.
• All tools and optimizations are improved through normal software updates.

Spring Sale

If you're looking for a great deal on an extreme-performance, next-level Linux laptop, the M2 GEN 5 with the i9-13900HX CPU is on sale for $100 off. This CPU has very comparable performance to the latest i9-14900HX in the 15.6" size. Hurry, because only a few are available with this discount. See the full specs here.

The M2 GEN 5 mobile workstation can handle just about any project you want to tackle! Unlike some competitors, it always ships with dual-channel RAM and can cost hundreds less. Also, check out how we always support your right to repair and easily upgrade disk, RAM, battery, and Wi-Fi with industry standard components.

M2 ^{GEN 5} Update, Kernel 6.5.0-14, Displays

20 Feb 2024: Next-Gen CPUs, Same Price

Today we discuss the new i9-14900HX CPU in the M2, the updated and validated kernel 6.5.0-14, and the External Display Guided Solution article.

Hardware Update: 14th Gen Intel i9-14900HX at 5.8 GHz

In mid-January, we started offering the Kubuntu Focus M2 with the 14th Generation Intel Core i9-14900HX Raptor Lake Refresh. This 5.8 GHz CPU provides a nice bump in performance as power and thermals allow, especially in the larger 17.3" systems. All models, including RTX 4080 and 4090, are in stock. If you're looking for extreme performance at a fair price, this desktop replacement is hard to beat.

Validated Kernel 6.5.0-14

The curated HWE kernel was recently updated from 6.2.0-35 to 6.5.0-14. Like all kernels we support, this uses the official Ubuntu packages prepared and distributed by the Ubuntu Kernel Team. The Kubuntu Focus team extensively tested all models sold in the last 4 years and found no regressions with them or many peripherals. Click here to see a full list of tested features and models.

Guided Solution of the Week: External Displays

All Kubuntu Focus systems can power between two and four external displays. We have created an extensive guide especially for Focus models. It can help you with opening display settings, attaching monitors, scaling the screens, window behavior, and much more. See the External Displays Guided Solution to learn more!

Chrome "Jitter Bug" Alert

11 Feb 2024: Chrome fix

We want to make everyone aware of a rare but severe "Jitter Bug" we've discovered with the most recent version of Google Chrome. This is NOT a Kubuntu Focus bug, but is a regression in Chrome that is beyond our control.

The bug occurs when a user tries to add a Chrome extension or when Chrome prompts for information using an alert-style dialog. When it occurs, the Chrome window "jitters" in size and position, and the Chrome UI often becomes unresponsive.

This bug affects all systems with Plasma 5.27 and Chrome v121 where the font DPI or global display scale is greater than 100%. By default, the Kubuntu Focus Ir14, M2 GEN 4, and M2 GEN 5 systems have their font DPI increased to make better use of their higher resolution displays. Many users also increase these values to better work with external displays.

Visit our Browsers support page for more info.

Plasma Updated to 5.27, Kernel 6.2.0-35

10 Nov 2023: Plasma updated to the same as Steam Deck

Today we discuss the update to Plasma 5.27. We also have updated the validated kernel to 6.2.0-35. We also highlight the keyboard color chooser tool.

System Updates: Plasma 5.27

The Kubuntu Focus Team is excited to announce an update to the KDE Plasma 5.27 desktop. Thanks to the hard work of the KDE development team, Plasma 5.27 delivers massive improvements to the desktop. New features include improved multi-monitor support, an improved Discover package manager, and updated themes. It is available now for all Focus systems through normal software updates.

The Focus team worked for many months with the KDE and Kubuntu teams to provide a seamless and stable transition for our users. We extensively tested and reported on many releases and also submitted a few bug fixes. We then integrated the new and changed features in many areas. Examples include new Focus themes, power state management updates, and a revised desktop Hints Widget. Learn more from our press release.

Validated Kernel 6.2.0-35

The curated HWE kernel was recently updated from 6.2.0-31 to 6.2.0-35. Like all kernels we support, this uses the official Ubuntu packages prepared and distributed by the Ubuntu Kernel Team. The Kubuntu Focus team has tested this update on all present and past models and found no regressions with it or many peripherals. Below, we summarize the updates from Canonical:

• Applied patchset 2023-08-03
• Addressed CVEs: CVE-2023-4244, CVE-2023-1206, CVE-2023-20569, CVE-2023-20588, CVE-2023-20588, CVE-2023-21264, CVE-2023-3212, CVE-2023-34319, CVE-2023-40283, CVE-2023-40283, CVE-2023-4128, CVE-2023-4128, CVE-2023-4155, CVE-2023-4194, CVE-2023-4273, CVE-2023-42752, CVE-2023-42753, CVE-2023-42755, CVE-2023-42756, CVE-2023-4569, CVE-2023-4569, CVE-2023-4622, CVE-2023-4623, CVE-2023-4881, CVE-2023-4921, CVE-2023-5197

You can see more detail in the Ubuntu change log.

Tool of the Week: Keyboard Color Chooser

If you own a Focus M1 or M2 model, use this tool to set the keyboard color precisely. Settings made with this tool are restored on your next login. Learn more here.

User Serviceable

We have always supported the right to repair, and we make sure all our systems are easy to service with just a screwdriver. You can learn more here.

Lower Component Prices

We want you to get the configuration you need without having to cut corners. Components like disks and RAM have come down in price, and we have passed the savings on to you. We build each Focus with only high-quality, high-performance components that are individually validated at the time of assembly.