# MNT Reform 31 Hacker News commenters recommended MNT Reform and 8 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 6 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule. **Verdict:** Repairable, open-source laptop whose published design files and modular motherboard let owners upgrade and modify it. Critics most often say it is expensive for its slow processor and that its layout is a compromise. ## Why people recommend it - Fully open hardware and design files (7 comments): "Fully free documentation and modding from scratch makes it possible to fix problems that go unsolved im commercial devices." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47850146)) "They make repairable laptops, too, but they also release their work as free software and open hardware." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45861828)) "since all the design files are available, anyone can design an upgraded motherboard for this machine" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47846910)) - Modular, upgradeable and repairable motherboard (6 comments): "The motherboard is modular and the compute part of this is replaceable, it's sort of the whole point." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47848099)) "new companies focusing precisely on different dimension, namely repairability rather than top specs" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46935465)) "I think it's very important to have someone making new, open, upgradeable computers" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47848130)) - Easy to hack and modify (3 comments): "Fully free documentation and modding from scratch makes it possible to fix problems that go unsolved im commercial devices." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47850146)) "they're never be able to beat MNT in terms of hackability" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47848631)) "these things are incredibly upgradeable and hackable" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47847517)) - Buyers fund the open project (5 comments): "Let rich nerds looking for bragging rights support development for the future; call them patrons." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47853335)) "I like it enough though, that I've also got the Next ordered, which I'm very excited for." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47847471)) "I love the concept and might just buy one to support the project" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47846296)) ## What people warn about - Expensive for its performance (4 comments): "You get CPU that is slow for a phone. For 1300 USD." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47518526)) "perhaps a bit financially and environmentally wasteful" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47846530)) "1450 EUR for a 16GB RK3588 is hard to justify" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47846501)) - Slow, outdated processor (3 comments): "You get CPU that is slow for a phone. For 1300 USD." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47518526)) "designed 6 years ago, but there’s nothing preventing an updated motherboard with better port selection" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47850660)) "being weaker than an N100 I would argue by large it is already ewaste" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47847024)) - Layout and size compromises (4 comments): "a form factor of a laptop but still being unsuitable for what laptops are used for is a puzzling product decision" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47860472)) "As it's not very small, it would be a lot cooler if it had a full no compromise TKL mechanical keyboard." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47846461)) "The MNT is too small for my usage, but it's a great effort." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45862346)) - Environmental waste concerns (2 comments): "being weaker than an N100 I would argue by large it is already ewaste" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47847024)) "perhaps a bit financially and environmentally wasteful" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47846530)) ## Alternatives hackers recommend - [Apple MacBook Pro](https://hackerapproved.com/p/macbook-pro.md): 928 recommend - [Apple MacBook Neo](https://hackerapproved.com/p/macbook-neo.md): 707 recommend - [MacBook Air](https://hackerapproved.com/p/macbook-air.md): 633 recommend - [Apple MacBook](https://hackerapproved.com/p/apple-macbook.md): 499 recommend - [Framework Laptop 12](https://hackerapproved.com/p/framework-laptop-12.md): 83 recommend ## Where to get it - [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=MNT+Reform+laptop+MNT+Research&tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link) - [Official site](https://mnt.re/) ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "MNT Reform", https://hackerapproved.com/p/mnt-reform/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).