Kubuntu Linux developers launch Focus NX mini PC with Intel Tiger Lake CPU and two Thunderbolt 3 connectors

Linux-based mini PCs usually feature very modest specs in order to offer solutions that are as easy on the wallet as possible, but there are exceptions. Take for example the new Focus NX model launched by the developers of the popular Kubuntu Linux distro themselves. Instead of integrating ULV processors from the Intel Celeron series, the Kubuntu Focus NX is powered by up to a Core i7-1165G7 CPU with 28 W TDP and Iris Xe iGPU. Prices are obviously more spicy, yet the Kubuntu team is offering premium features such as Thunderbolt connectors and an SDXC card reader.

Besides the i7 CPU, users may opt to equip the Kubuntu Focus NX mini PC with the more affordable i5-1135G7 model. The DDR4-3200 RAM capacity can be configured to include between 8 GB and 64 GB, while the storage options range from a single 250 GB NVMe SSD up to 2 GB of NVMe + 4 TB SATA SSDS with optional disk encryption.

There is no room for a dGPU since the mini PC case measures only 4.6 x 4.4 x 2 inches, but users can hook up an external GPU via the two Thunderbolt 3 connectors that come standard with any configuration. Port selection also includes 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI 2.0b + miniDP 1.4 video outputs, 2.5 GbE and audio jacks, plus a high-speed SD card reader. As a bonus, the mini PC comes with a quad far-field mic array that facilitates voice commands. Connectivity is ensured through a Wi-Fi 6 + BT 5.2 card.

The base configuration with i5 CPU, 8 GB of RAM and 250 GB NVMe SSD starts at US$695. A fully beefed up configuration costs US$2700. All configurations come pre-installed with Kubuntu 22.04 LTS. Apparently, this model only ships in the US and Canada for now.

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