Kubuntu Focus' Linux laptops got updated with new processors
The upgrade to the Arrow Lake-powered processors offer a performance boost of six percent, and they now come with Kubuntu LTS 26.04. The prices, unfortunately, also got a boost.
Computer retailer Kubuntu Focus has announced a refresh to its Zr workstation laptop and its more mid-range M2 laptop models. The laptops now sport Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processors, giving the laptops a small bump in power.
Linux-first laptops get a CPU-lift
This is the second generation for the 18-inch Kubuntu Focus Zr laptop intended for professionals who need a lot of punch. It's also the seventh generation for the Kubuntu Focus M2, a more modestly built (and priced) laptop. The upgrade to the Ultra 9 290HX Plus (which debuted this year) replaces the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX seen on the earlier models.
- PassMark at the time of writing shows a jump of six percent in multi-threaded process handling and a five percent boost to single processes.
Kubuntu Focus
The Focus Zr Gen-2 features an 18-inch 2560x1600 display and a 98Wh battery. It can be configured with up to 16TB in storage and 192GB in RAM. Its four USB ports include two Thunderbolt 5 USB-C ports, both supporting DisplayPort output. It comes with Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, the fastest fully-supported standard out there.
Meanwhile, the Focus M2 Gen-7 boasts a 16-inch 2560x1600 with an 80Wh battery. Your storage options go up to 12TB and RAM up to 96GB. You get four USB ports including one with DisplayPort capabilities, and it matches the Focus Zr's Wi-Fi 7 support.
- Interestingly, these refreshed models also will be shipping with Kubuntu 26.06 LTS, which just released in April with the latest Plasma updates and a Linux kernel 7.0 upgrade.
The background: Targeting developers and professionals in particular, Kubuntu Focus has been selling laptops and mini PCs with parts hand-selected for compatibility with Kubuntu Linux for years. That means you can purchase a computer and be confident it'll work with Linux (so long as that Linux distribution is Kubuntu).
- Kubuntu Focus computers also ship with KFS, a suite of software including power management and system repair tools built just for the device.
Jordan Gloor
Zooming out
Why this announcement matters: More and more people are jumping ship from Windows as it becomes weighed down with Copilot widgets and problematic updates. Switching to Linux is less intimidating when retailers like Kubuntu Focus provide powerful, pre-configured alternatives.
My take: I reviewed the sixth-generation Focus M2 laptop and found it to be a solid entry in the lineup. Assuming the increased power doesn't take too much from the battery life, then it seems like a worthwhile upgrade.
- As with most computers, the price of the Focus M2 has increased since my review of the Gen-6 in mid-2025. The base configuration jumped by $500, a wallet-squeezing sign of the times.
Diving in
Go further: You can check out the Focus M2 or Focus Zr product page for more technical specs. They start at $4,395 and $3,395 USD respectively, and at the moment you can get free shipping to the US and Canada.
If those price tags scare you, there are smaller, more affordable options on the storefront like the Focus XE Gen-3, which comes in both 14-inch and 16-inch sizes and starts at $1,695.
