ARS TECHNICA REVIEW  

Focus Ir14 GEN 2

Kubuntu Focus Ir14

Brilliant • Affordable • Sublime

KDE PLASMA 5.27

BEAUTIFUL

DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT
INTEL® i5-13500H

POWERFUL

12-CORE / 16-THREAD
INTEL® GRAPHICS

IRIS Xe

80 EU @ 1.45 GHz
TALL 16:10 100% sRGB

VIBRANT

1920 x 1200 IPS DISPLAY
MEMORY UP TO

96 GB

5200 MHz DDR5 RAM
THUNDERBOLT 4

40 Gbit/s

FOR eGPU OR DISPLAYS
UP TO TWO NVMe

8.0 TB

READS TO 7450 MB/s
AMAZINGLY

QUIET

32 OR 20 dB MODE
REAL WORLD

6.0 HOUR

BATTERY LIFE

Like all Kubuntu Focus Systems, the Ir14GEN 2 can save you time and hassle every day. It requires very little setup, is self-explanatory, and works well in no- and low-I.T. environments. It features validated updates for years after your purchase. See the Ars Technica review.

DESIGN

Enjoy the sublime pleasure of quality without sacrificing performance or value. The Ir14 GEN 2 marries the enterprise-class hardware from Carbon Systems® with the meticulous OS integration and Linux-first support from Kubuntu Focus®. Everything you see or touch exudes quality. All chassis surfaces, for example, are aluminum alloy. Highlights include the Vibrant Display, the Precision Keyboard & Touchpad, and helpful Focus Tools.

VIBRANT DISPLAY

See and enjoy more with a taller and richer display, sized just-right for clarity and efficiency.

The Focus Hardware System optimizes the display by inserting the correct kernel parameters and scaling both the GUI and virtual terminals for optimal readability.

BRIGHT & VIBRANT

350 NIT

100% sRGB DISPLAY
TALL 1920x1200

16:10

WIDE-ANGLE LED IPS
OPTIMIZED

SCALE

& KERNEL PARAMS
DRIVE UP TO

THREE

TOTAL DISPLAYS
Kubuntu Focus Ir14 GEN 2

PRECISION KEYBOARD & TOUCHPAD

Command your computer with precision. Type quickly and accurately on the no-flex keyboard with tactile certainty and 1.8 mm of travel. Use 2- and 3-finger gestures on the glass touchpad to tap and scroll effortlessly through documents. Illuminate the keyboard to 4 levels with a touch of a button.

The Focus Hardware System optimizes for the keyboard and touchpad. It adjusts the Quick Hint widget to provide guidance specifically for the model keyboard, and it configures the touchpad for sensitivity and multi-touch support.

ALUMINUM ALLOY

METAL

CHASSIS & LID
SOLID BACKLIT

NO-FLEX

COMFORT KEYBOARD
MODEL-SPECIFIC

HINTS

DESKTOP WIDGET
MULTI-TOUCH OPTIMIZED

TOUCHPAD

LARGE CENTERED GLASS
Kubuntu Focus Ir14 Keyboard & Touchpad

Focus Tools

Make hard things easy with open-source Kubuntu Focus Tools. This are integrated with the excellent and compatible Kubuntu 24.04 LTS OS. For example, open the Power and Fan Tool, unplug the AC, and see how power-saving optimizations are applied in real time. Or run System Rollback to restore your system to a snapshot from 2 weeks ago with just a few clicks.

Get started fast with the comprehensive Welcome Wizard. Explore features from the Feature Guide. Configure, install, and launch Curated Apps with a single click. Complete complex workflows in record time with Guided Solutions HOWTOs. Get enhancements automatically with Regular Software Updates. And there are many more[01].

Kubuntu Focus Power and Fan

Free Shipping*   5-Day Turnaround**

CONNECTIVITY

Connect multiple displays and peripherals at once without expensive dongles or docks with high-speed ports and proven wireless technology.

HIGH-SPEED PORTS

Join video calls immediately with the Full HD (1080p) webcam and noise-cancelling microphone array. Flip the security cover to prevent accidental webcam use. Connect two external 4K displays using USB-C and HDMI. Edit photos immediately with the SD card reader. Even run ML and rendering tasks on an eGPU using Thunderbolt 4.

Enjoy high-speed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Connect to a WLAN or a hotspot in a local coffee shop. Send files or control the mouse with phone and KDE Connect. Join voice calls using a Bluetooth 5.2 or wired headset. Power the system from the USB-C cable that attaches to an external monitor.

HDMI 2.1

4K VIDEO

AT 120 Hz
THUNDERBOLT 4

40 Gbit/s

DISPLAYS AND eGPU
USB-C 3.2

100 W

CHARGING
DUAL-BAND AX201

WI-FI 6

WITH BLUETOOTH 5.2
Ports 01Ports-02

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PERFORMANCE

Enjoy an ultra-portable 14-inch laptop with exceptional performance and good battery life. Dispatch demanding jobs and big data with fast, dual-channel RAM and the fastest NVMe disks.

PROCESSOR & MEMORY

Enjoy impressive, hushed performance with the i5-13500H processor. Get 4.7 GHz performance when you need it, but then conserve power at just 0.4 GHz at idle.

Expedite data-intensive tasks with dual-channel, high-speed RAM and top-speed NVMe disks. Sleep-and-resume and launch most apps in seconds. Few systems approach the balance of performance, value, reliability, ongoing Linux integration, and support.

INTEL® 12C / 16T

i5-13500H

18 MB SMART CACHE
2.6 GHz Base

4.7 GHz

TURBO BOOST
MEMORY UP TO

96 GB

DUAL CHANNEL DDR5
5200 MHz
PCIe 4 x 4 UP TO

7450 MB/s

DUAL NVMe STORAGE
Ir14 GEN 2 Closed Lid

GRAPHICS

Enjoy seamless desktop performance with Iris® Xe integrated graphics. Add two 4K monitors to expand the display area when at your desk and charge the laptop at the same time. Play mid-level games like CS:GO, Team Fortress 2, Left for Dead, Dota 2, and Minecraft at medium-to-high settings and respectable frame rates. And enjoy the simplicity and efficiency of an iGPU available wherever you go.

If you require class-leading GPU capabilities for visualization, machine learning, video editing, or games, we recommend considering an Nvidia eGPU, or looking at a system like the Focus M2. However, if your needs are more modest, you should be very pleased with the performance and stability of this iGPU.

INTEL 13TH-GEN

IRIS Xe

GRAPHICS
EXECUTION

80

UNITS @ 1.45 GHz
UP TO

THREE

DISPLAYS

Free Shipping*   5-Day Turnaround**

BENCHMARKS

We benchmark Focus systems extensively to optimize for compatibility and performance. We hope you find the highlights below helpful when assessing the capabilities of the Ir14 GEN 2, and encourage you to compare the results with other devices.

Geekbench Scores

GEEKBENCH

Portable Power

The i5-13500H is a powerful and energy efficient laptop CPU, with strong single- and multicore scores. Apps load quickly, and sleep-resume is nearly instantaneous.

Highly threaded tasks scale well thanks to a generous 18 MB Smart Cache. If you need more performance, you might consider a mobile workstation like the Focus M2 with double the cores, threads, and Smart Cache.

Geekbench 5
ModelProcessorSingle-CoreMulti-Core
Ir14 GEN 2i5-13500H1,8369,975
Ir14 GEN 1i5-12450H1,7797,753
XE GEN 1i5-1135G71,5155,370
M2 GEN 5
Workstation
i9-14900HX2,28821,593

UNIGINE

Heaven & Superposition

Minecraft 03

We found fluid frame rates from 40-90 FPS at medium-to-high settings for mid-level games like CS:GO, Team Fortress 2, Left for Dead, Dota 2, and Minecraft. We only ship dual-channel RAM to ensure maximum iGPU performance.

BenchmarkIr14 GEN 2Ir14 GEN 1XE GEN 2M2 GEN 5
RTX 4060
Unigine
Superposition
21/2,86211/1,52415/2,019124/16,511
Unigine
Heaven
37/94322/55929/727238/5,983

All benchmarks were run on AC power in default Balanced mode. Compositing was disabled using the SUPER + F12 shortcut. Max fan volume was 32 dB two feet from screen center.

Unigine Superposition was run at Medium - 1080p. Unigine Heaven was run at Medium - 1080, Normal tessellation, 2x AA. All results show average FPS / Score.

Free Shipping*   5-Day Turnaround**

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

We try to provide all the details you need to decide if the Ir14 GEN 2 is right for you. If you have any questions, please call 844-536-2871 or write TellMeMore@kfocus.org.

DISPLAY

● 14.0” (356mm) LED IPS @ 60 Hz

● WUXGA 1920 x 1200 16:10

● Narrow Bezel Matte

● Viewing Angles > 150/150/150°

● Open Angle of 145°

● Vibrant > 100% sRGB Color

● Max Brightness > 350cd/m²

● Max Contrast > 1200:1

● Connect up to 2 external displays at 4k with USB-C and HDMI

PROCESSOR

Intel Core i5-13500H

  • Performance-Biased H-Series
  • 2.6 GHz Base, 4.7 GHz Turbo
  • 12 Cores, 16 Threads
  • 18 MB Smart Cache
GRAPHICS

Intel Iris® Xe Graphics

  • 80 Execution Units up to 1.45 GHz
  • Shared System VRAM
  • Requires Dual-Channel RAM (16 GB+) for Maximum Performance
MEMORY

Dual Channel DDR5-4800 or DDR5-5200

  • 2 x 262 Pin SODIMM
  • Up to 96 GB
STORAGE

2 x M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 4 x 4

  • Samsung Read/Write Speeds up to 3500/3200 MB/s
  • Samsung Read/Write Speeds up to 7450/6900 MB/s
CHASSIS

● All Aluminum Alloy External Surfaces

● Resin Screen Bezel and Keys

● 3 lb (1.36 kg) with Battery

● 12.4 x 8.6 x .7 in (315 x 218 x 18 mm)

● User Accessible Components Include Disk, RAM, Wi-Fi, Battery, Fans

BATTERY

● 53 WHr Embedded 3 Cell Smart Lithium-Ion Battery

● Up To 8 Hours Modest Use with Medium-Low Display Brightness, 6 Hours Typical

● Continuous Video Playback Loop: 5.1 hours

● 90 Minute Fast-Charge

POWER SUPPLY

● 90W AC Adapter

  • Input 100-240 Volts AC, 50-60 Hz Line Frequency
  • Output 19V, DC, 4.74A

● Optional 100 W USB-C Charging
WARNING: Lower-power USB chargers will degrade performance.

● Many USB-C Monitors can charge and display simultaneously, but be wary if charging output is below 100W.

KEYBOARD

● Full Size Keyboard

● 1.8 mm travel

● Single Zone White LED Backlight

● User Configurable 4 Levels with Function Key

● Kubuntu Super Key

TOUCHPAD

● Precision Glass Centered 5.3 x 3.3 in (135 x 84 mm) Touchpad

● Configured with Multi-Touch and Finger Scroll

● Quick Toggle Meta + Space

NETWORK AND BLUETOOTH

● Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 201, M.2 2230 Card

  • Dual-Band 2.4 and 5 GHz
  • WLAN 802.11 AC/A/B/G/N/AC/AX
  • 2x2 Communication Channels
  • 300 Mbit/s @2.4 GHz; 2.4 Gbit/s @ 5 GHz
  • Dual-Mode Bluetooth 5.2
WEBCAM

● 2.1 MegaPixel HD 1080p (1920 x 1080)

● Top-Center Mounted

● Integrated Microphone Array

● Physical Security Shutter

● In-Use Blue LED Indicator

SOUND

● Integrated Microphone Array with Noise Suppression

● 2 x 2 W Speakers

● High Definition Analog Over 3.5mm 2-in-1 Audio Jack

● Digital Audio Over HDMI

PORTS

● 1 x USB-C 3.2 / Thunderbolt 4 / 100 W DC-IN, DisplayPort, Up to 40 Gbit/s

● 1 x USB-C 3.2, Up to 10 Gbit/s

● 1 x HDMI 2.1

● 2 x USB-A 3.1

● 1 x SD Card Reader

● 1 x 2-in-1 Audio Jack - Headphone and Microphone

● 1 x Kensington Lock

● 1 x DC-IN Power Connection

SLOTS AND EXPANSION

3 x M.2 Card Slots

  • 1 x WLAN Combo M.2 2230 Card with PCIe and USB Interface
  • 2 x NVMe M.2 2280 Card with PCIe Gen 4x4 Interface

Other Expansion Opportunities

  • Thunderbolt 4 Supports eGPUs and multiple external displays
  • Connect up to 2 additional 4k displays (HDMI, 1 x USB-C)
  • User Expandable NVMe, and RAM
  • Opens with Standard Phillips Screwdriver
COOLING

● Dual Fans With Heat Pipes

● BIOS Controlled Fan Profiles

● Quiet by Default

● "Silent" Profile Available

SECURITY

● Kensington Lock Mount

● Webcam Physical Security Shutter

● Webcam In-Use Blue LED Indicator

● Optional No-Cost Full Disk Encryption

● Optional Pre-Configured YubiKey 5 NFC 2FA

WARRANTY

One- to Three-Year Limited Warranty with Unmatched Linux-First Support

Free Shipping*   5-Day Turnaround**

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

FOOTNOTES

[01] See the latest and full of tools on the Tools Page.

 FREE SHIPPING: Applies to shipping to continental US and Canada. All orders are fully insured and signature verified. Shipping costs to other locations are reduced by an equivalent value, which varies by model.

 5-DAY TURNAROUND: Unless otherwise noted, all units are in-stock for timely holiday builds, and are typically shipped within 3-5 business days. All RAM, NVMe drives, and SSD drives are name-brand leaders renowned for reliability and high performance. These components are firmware-upgraded, stress-tested, and warrantied for your system.

HAVE QUESTIONS?Call 844-536-2871 or write
TellMeMore@kfocus.org   |  GET FOCUS MERCH