The Kubuntu Focus team has introduced its largest and most powerful laptop to date, the 18.0-inch Zr GEN 1 mobile workstation. This desktop replacement combines NVIDIA’s high-end RTX 5080 or RTX 5090 graphics with Intel’s latest Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, all in a chassis just over an inch thick.
The Zr GEN 1 is designed for professionals and creators who want extreme GPU and CPU performance in a portable system. Compared to the previous 17.3-inch M2 GEN 5 model, the improvements are easy to see.
Graphics power gets a massive bump with the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 GPUs. Both deliver around 20 percent more performance than the previous 40-series models. VRAM gets a boost too, with the 5080 going from 12GB to 16GB and the 5090 jumping from 16GB to 24GB.
The display has been upgraded to a larger and brighter 18-inch WQXGA LCD. It offers a 2560×1600 resolution, 525-nit brightness, G-Sync, and a taller 16:10 aspect ratio. Storage performance nearly doubles thanks to a primary PCIe 5.0 drive that can reach speeds up to 14,800 MB/s. Three PCIe 4.0 slots running at 7450 MB/s each make it possible to add up to 16TB of total storage.
Memory capacity is also doubled, with support for up to 192GB of quad-channel RAM. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU features 24 cores, offers a 5 to 15 percent performance increase, and runs up to 40 percent more efficiently. This means it stays cooler and quieter during heavy workloads.
Connectivity options include two USB-C 3.2 ports with Thunderbolt 5 and DisplayPort, one HDMI 2.1b with DSC, two USB-A 3.2 ports, two Intel Killer 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet jacks, a 2-in-1 audio jack, a microSD card reader, a 330W DC power input, and a Kensington Lock slot.
The base model comes with Kubuntu 24.04 LTS pre-installed. It ships with 32GB of dual-channel RAM and a 1TB Samsung 990 Pro NVMe SSD. Customers can increase this to 192GB of RAM and 16TB of storage with premium components.
A pre-configured Yubikey and free full-disk encryption are available for extra security. Shipping is free in the US and Canada, and the starting price is $4,095.00. You can buy it from the company directly today.
