Kubuntu Focus Ar Gen 1 overview: Easy Linux, disappointing {hardware}

Whenever you hear Kubuntu, you may consider the Linux-based working system by the identical identify. However have you ever heard of Kubuntu Focus? It is a separate hardware-focused model that sells machines with Kubuntu pre-installed and pre-configured. I’ve spent the previous couple of weeks with the Kubuntu Focus Ar Gen 1 laptop computer and I’ve to say, I am not all that impressed with the {hardware}.

5/10

Working System

Kubuntu 26.04 LTS with Focus instruments

CPU

Intel Core Extremely X7 358H

GPU

Built-in Intel Arc B390 graphics

RAM

32GB LPDDR5X, not upgradeable

The Kubuntu Focus Ar Gen 1 laptop computer options Intel’s newest Panther Lake Core Extremely X7 processor with 32GB of onboard RAM. The Linux setup course of is clean total, and the efficiency of the laptop computer is snappy. Nevertheless, that is all overshadowed by a lackluster construct high quality and what seems like leftover {hardware} from a number of years in the past.

Professionals & Cons

• Easy 165Hz matte show
• Easy Linux setup and configuration out of the field
• Stable efficiency
• Very light-weight and repairable

• Flimsy-feeling chassis and keyboard
• Not an excellent trackpad
• Tough to justify the worth for the {hardware}

Worth and Availability

The Kubuntu Focus Ar Gen 1 laptop computer is available in 4 pre-configured setups in addition to a completely customizable possibility with pricing beginning at $1,950. The model I reviewed was the “AWESOME: dev” mannequin with a $2,125 pricepoint.

The {hardware} doesn’t really feel price $2,125

I really feel just like the chassis got here out of 2016 with a random Copilot key on the keyboard

The very first impression I had of the Kubuntu Focus Ar Gen 1 laptop computer once I pulled it out of the field was, “wow, this factor is gentle!” The second impression was, “did this laptop computer come from 2016?”

General, the Focus Ar Gen 1 is extraordinarily gentle—like, means lighter than I anticipate it to be for the ability it packs. That is an enormous plus in my e book, as I hate heavy laptops. The Kubuntu Focus Ar Gen 1 undoubtedly will get that proper.

Nevertheless, so far as the {hardware} goes, that is about all it will get proper. After powering up the laptop computer through the highest/side-mounted energy button that jogs my memory of my 2011 Gateway laptop computer, I began utilizing the keyboard, which is the place the primary disappointment got here in.

Kubuntu Focus claims the keyboard is a “no-flex” keyboard, and that is merely not the case. The keyboard deck has fairly a little bit of flex in it, far more than I believe must be in a $2,000 laptop computer. The keys additionally remind me of that very same 2011 Gateway laptop computer, although that model of keyboard caught round for a number of extra years after that.

The trackpad is equally unhealthy in my expertise. It is a tilt-based trackpad, which is odd given how costly the laptop computer is. I hoped for haptic contact, or at the very least a non-tilt-based trackpad. I used to be solely actually profitable in proper clicking on the very backside proper of the trackpad, which is not very best in 2026.

The remainder of the {hardware} simply actually jogs my memory of older laptops. The display has a ton of flex to it and total the laptop computer simply felt flimsy to me. The lightness is sweet, however not when paired with a flimsy feeling.

Additionally, there is a Copilot key on this Linux laptop computer. Why? I do not know. I could not discover any motive for it to be there, and the working system treats it like a normal key. It does not set off any AI performance, and holding the perform key whereas clicking it simply brings up the best click on menu. On a keyboard that already has a custom-made Kubuntu OS key, the Copilot key simply feels misplaced.

The 165Hz show is a spotlight above the meh {hardware}

I’ve zero complaints in regards to the show

Credit score: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek

Whereas I wasn’t an enormous fan of a lot of the {hardware} of this laptop computer, the display is definitely fairly nice. The matte end rejects reflections and glares, and the 165Hz refresh fee is a welcomed addition.

General, the display labored fantastically for me in my day-to-day use. I loved the 16:10 side ratio with the 2560×1600 decision and located the colours to be correct sufficient for me for many issues.

I do not know that I might depend on the display’s coloration accuracy for photograph or video modifying if I wanted excellent coloration replica, however that is additionally not what this laptop computer is designed for.

It has strong ports however the format might be higher

One USB-C port on the best aspect would have been good

Credit score: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek

Credit score: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek

The ports on the Kubuntu Focus Ar Gen 1 laptop computer are literally pretty respectable. There are two USB-C ports, although one is barely USB 3.2 10Gb/s, and the opposite is Thunderbolt 4 40Gb/s. There are additionally two USB-A 3.2 ports, a 4K HDMI output, a microSD card slot, and a 2-in-1 mixture headphone/microphone jack.

General, the port choice is respectable, nevertheless it did go away me with extra questions than solutions. The Core Extremely X7 358H has sufficient functionality to run each USB-C ports at Thunderbolt 4 as an alternative of solely having one be that quick, so why are we utilizing two totally different requirements for the ports?

Additionally, I actually would have appreciated to see a USB-C port on each side of the laptop computer, as an alternative of getting each of them on the identical aspect. The HDMI port being caught at HDMI 2.0 as an alternative of providing 2.1 with 4K144 output can be a letdown.

Even Apple, which is thought for promoting overpriced, premium laptops, affords 4K144 output on their MacBook Professional, a laptop computer that prices lower than the Kubuntu Focus Ar Gen 1.

Nevertheless, on the finish of the day, at the very least you do get native HDMI output and one Thunderbolt 4 port, even when it isn’t within the very best place or on the spec I might have appreciated to see at this worth.

The Linux expertise feels properly thought out and put collectively

However you’ll be able to simply set up Linux on any system anyway

Credit score: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek

This laptop computer has two areas that it needed to promote me in: {hardware} and software program. The primary motive for getting this system over a normal Home windows laptop computer is that it comes with Linux pre-installed and pre-configured, proper?

Properly, the Kubuntu expertise was really fairly nice for this reviewer who hasn’t used Linux as a foremost working system in fairly a while. The setup was easy and it walked by all the pieces that I wanted it to.

Kubuntu Focus relies on Ubuntu LTS, which suggests it would lag behind main releases, however that is okay in my e book. The general expertise is nice. Throughout the setup course of, it even walks you thru making a brand new encryption password and organising a number of issues to make your life simpler, together with putting in elective software program.

In contrast to Home windows, all the setup course of can simply be skipped by and you’ll dive proper into utilizing the laptop computer, which is extraordinarily good.

Kubuntu additionally has some distinctive apps as a part of the Kubuntu Focus Suite, which labored properly with the restricted time I needed to play with them.

The issue is, you’ll be able to set up Kubuntu Linux on principally any laptop computer on the market. The truth that it comes pre-installed is a professional, sure, nevertheless it’s not a defining characteristic, and it does not overcome the {hardware} shortcomings right here.

I used to be impressed with its efficiency for the way repairable and light-weight it’s

Usually light-weight laptops additionally provide light-weight efficiency and unrepairability

A multi-thousand greenback laptop computer ought to have respectable efficiency, proper? Properly, the Kubuntu Focus Ar Gen 1 does have strong efficiency in my expertise.

Nevertheless, I used the identical benchmarks that Kubuntu Focus did and obtained fairly totally different outcomes.

My Geekbench 6 single-core rating was 12.9% decrease than Kubuntu Focus’, and my multi-core rating was 16.6% decrease than theirs, too. Similar factor with Unigine Superposition. I noticed a 24.4% decrease body fee than Kubuntu Focus, and a 23.7% decrease rating than they did.

Whereas the general scores weren’t that nice on benchmarks, this laptop computer does really feel loads snappy when doing day by day work. The 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM is loads for Linux, contemplating it is usually significantly better at managing RAM than Home windows. The Intel Arc B390 GPU although left so much to be desired on the gaming entrance.

General, I used to be pretty impressed with the efficiency given how light-weight and repairable this laptop computer is. Typically, whenever you go gentle and repairable, efficiency suffers, and Kubuntu was capable of hold the efficiency up whereas making this laptop computer one thing simple to hold round and repair your self.

The Kubuntu Focus Ar Gen 1 particularly lets you substitute or improve the storage, battery, fan, and Wi-Fi modules do you have to ever must.

Do you have to purchase the Kubuntu Focus Ar Gen 1 laptop computer?

Credit score: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek

After spending a number of weeks with the Kubuntu Focus Ar Gen 1 laptop computer, I’ve to say, I am unable to actually suggest it at its full worth of $2,125 for the configuration Kubuntu despatched me for overview.

The {hardware} feels flimsy, and the expertise does not scream premium however asks a premium worth. For a number of hundred extra, you would get the Lenovo Yoga Professional 9i laptop computer, which comes with a Core Extremely 9 CPU, 32 or 64GB of RAM and a devoted NVIDIA GPU, and simply set up Linux on it.

On the finish of the day, the Kubuntu Focus Ar Gen 1 is a laptop computer that may have been nice, however the {hardware} severely holds it again.

5/10

Working System

Kubuntu 26.04 LTS with Focus instruments

CPU

Intel Core Extremely X7 358H

GPU

Built-in Intel Arc B390 graphics

RAM

32GB LPDDR5X, not upgradeable

The Kubuntu Focus Ar Gen 1 laptop computer options Intel’s newest Panther Lake Core Extremely X7 processor with 32GB of onboard RAM. The Linux setup course of is clean total, and the efficiency of the laptop computer is snappy. Nevertheless, that is all overshadowed by a lackluster construct high quality and what seems like leftover {hardware} from a number of years in the past.