Since few people are interested in using Linux, much alone buying a fully-fledged Linux system, Linux laptops are still seen as very specialised. However, we have recently noticed a change in the pattern as more individuals than ever before are migrating to Linux. These are your current possibilities if you’re among those who have been using Linux for a while and wish to get a Linux laptop.
Although there aren’t many Linux laptop manufacturers, the ones that do exist do a great job with the hardware options. Laptops from brands like System76, KDE, Star Labs, and others are included in this list.
1.System76 Pangolin
| Specs | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | IPS, 1920×1080 resolution at 144Hz |
| Processor | Ryzen 7 6800U |
| Graphics Processing Unit | Radeon 680M |
| Storage variants | 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB (All PCIe Gen4) |
| RAM options | 8,16,32 Dual-channel at 6000MHz |
| Battery | 71Wh |
| Operating System | Pop!_OS, Ubuntu |
| Expandable Storage/RAM (Yes/No) | Yes/No |
| Price | $1299 |
System76’s Pangolin is a low-cost option, and for the money, it appears to offer a strong set of specs that can compete with Windows computers at a comparable price. We’re talking about the Ryzen 7 6800U, which starts at $1,300 and comes with 32GB of DDR5 memory, 250 gigabytes of NVMe storage (with an extra M.2 drive port), a powerful 70Wh battery, and an IPS 1080p 144Hz display.
The Pangolin is a fantastic laptop for students who are just starting out with programming or other subpar work and require a laptop with a respectably strong CPU (that can also play games) without going over budget. The 70Wh battery with the 6800U processor’s efficiency should result in a strong battery backup, and the 144Hz display should be enjoyable to use. One of the greatest Linux distributions to start your Linux adventure is Pop!_OS, which is included with Pangolin. Pangolin is, all things considered, one of the most affordable Linux laptops available.
There aren’t many Linux laptops other from those mentioned above. The Serval WS, Oryx Pro, and Gazelle are the other three laptops that System76 produces. All three are respectable choices, particularly the Oryx Pro, which is now on sale for $2,000 and is a solid alternative.
2. Dell XPS 13 Plus Developer Edition
| Specs | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 13-inch IPS, 1920×1200 resolution at 60Hz, Touch screen |
| Processor | Intel i5-1240P, i7-1360P |
| Graphics Processing Unit | Integrated Iris Xe |
| Storage variants | 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| RAM options | 8,16,32 Dual-channel at 6000MHz |
| Battery | 55Wh |
| Operating System | Windows/Ubuntu |
| Expandable Storage/RAM (Yes/No) | Yes/No |
| Price | $899 for 12th Gen, $1499 for 13th Gen |
For quite some time, Dell and Lenovo have been significant participants in the Linux laptop industry. The XPS 13 Plus from Dell, a 13-inch laptop with a Developer Edition, is the company’s most recent model. One of the most expensive Linux laptops on the market as of this writing, Dell has teamed with Canonical to put Ubuntu on it. For those who don’t know, the XPS 13 Plus is a fantastic computer overall and comes with Intel 12th-Gen CPUs. But for many, the $1500 price tag would be a deal-breaker.
The Developer Edition is currently only available in Canada and a few regions of Europe, not the United States as of this writing. Recently, the regular XPS 13 Plus had a significant price reduction and is now available for $999, which is a fair pricing. You aren’t restricted to using only Ubuntu on the developer edition if you choose to install a new Linux distribution of your choosing after wiping off Windows. Although the Developer Edition of Ubuntu may be deleted, it would be extremely expensive to purchase it simply to do so.
3. StarLabs StarBook MkVI
| Specs | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 14-inch IPS, 1920×1200 resolution at 60Hz, Touch screen |
| Processor | Intel i3-1315u, i5-1240P, i7-1260P, i7-1360P, Ryzen 7 5800U |
| Graphics Processing Unit | Integrated Iris Xe |
| Storage variants | 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| RAM options | 8 (x1),16,32, 64GB Dual-channel at 6000MHz |
| Battery | 55Wh |
| Operating System | Windows, Ubuntu, Elementary OS, Linux Mint, Manjaro, Zorin OS, MX Linux, Xubuntu, Kubuntu. |
| Expandable Storage/RAM (Yes/No) | Yes/No |
| Price | $925 for base variant |
Starlabs has been producing Linux laptops for a while, and their most recent model, the MkVI, is the culmination of their extensive market knowledge. The MkVI includes five different CPU options, with the base model starting at $925, exempt from customs and taxes, and including a 13th Gen i3-1315U, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and half a terabyte of storage. Overall, it’s a little bit costly for a laptop with a strong CPU but no dedicated GPU, but it is an alternative.
Though StarBooks are sometimes referred to as the MacBooks of the Linux world, we advise acquiring a quality laptop and installing Linux yourself rather than investing a lot of money in a Linux machine.
4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10
| Specs | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 14″ IPS, 2240 x 1400 resolution at 60Hz |
| Processor | Up to i7-1280P |
| Graphics Processing Unit | Integrated Iris Xe graphics |
| Storage variants | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB (PCIe Gen3 and Gen4) |
| RAM options | 8,16,32 Dual-channel at 6400MHz (Soldered) |
| Battery | 57Wh |
| Operating System | Ubuntu, Fedora |
| Expandable Storage/RAM (Yes/No) | Yes/No |
| Price | Staring at $1299 |
Although they don’t release many Linux laptops, Dell and Lenovo are two of the few manufacturers that have supported Linux for over a decade. By releasing a select number of Linux laptops, they maintain their Linux portfolio. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon series is Lenovo’s premier line of business notebooks, and the Gen 10 ThinkPad X1 Carbon has a Linux version.
Up to a 12th Gen i7-1280P CPU, 8/ 16/ 32GB of soldered DDR5 RAM, up to 2TB of PCIe Gen4 storage space, a display that can reach 2.2K 60Hz, and Fedora or Ubuntu as the operating system are all included with the X1. The X1 Carbon is a choice if you’re a maximalist and want a Linux laptop with a robust design and a luxury feel. However, its $1,300 asking price makes it on the pricey side.
5. System76 Adder WS
| Specs | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 15.6/17.30-inch IPS, 1920x1080p resolution at 144Hz |
| Processor | Intel i9-13900HX |
| Graphics Processing Unit | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 6GB, 4060 8GB, 4070 8GB |
| Storage variants | 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB PCIe Gen3, Gen4 options |
| RAM options | 8GB Single Channel,16,32,64GB Dual-channel |
| Battery | 73Wh |
| Operating System | Pop!_OS, Ubuntu |
| Expandable Storage/RAM (Yes/No) | Yes/Yes (2 x M.2 slots, 2 x SODIMM slots) |
| Price | $1600 |
System76’s Adder WS is a respectable product. The 13th generation Intel Core i9-13900HX, the third fastest mobile CPU Intel has ever produced, is one of its first features. Additionally, it includes NVIDIA’s newest hardware, including the 40 series GPUs (RTX 4050, 4060, and 4070). There are two sizes available, 15.6 inches and 17 inches, and the display is 1080p with a refresh rate of 144Hz.
The laptop contains a 73Wh battery and two DIMM slots for swappable and extendable memory. It also offers two M.2 slots for SSDs. Overall, it’s a laptop designed with gamers and makers in mind. The base model with RTX 4050 costs $1,599, while the base model with RTX 4060 costs $1,732. This raises concerns about the product’s pricing. On the other hand, the 4070 model has a price tag of $2,038, which is a bit high.
6. Purism Librem 14
| Specs | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 14″ IPS, 1920 x 1080 resolution at 60Hz |
| Processor | Up to i7-10710U |
| Graphics Processing Unit | Intel UHD 620 |
| Storage variants | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB (PCIe Gen3) |
| RAM options | 8,16,32GB Single/Dual-channel DDR4 |
| Battery | NA |
| Operating System | PureOS, QubesOS |
| Expandable Storage/RAM (Yes/No) | Yes/Yes |
| Price | Staring at $1370 |
Purism asserts that the Librem 14 Version 1 is one of the safest laptops available, and to some extent, they are right. The laptop comes with PureOS, a Debian-based operating system that is encrypted by default. Additionally, PureBoot on the laptop guards against meltdowns and CPU vulnerabilities. All of these features are highly pricey, costing up to $1,500 and more.
Now, while the Librem 14 could protect your PC against assaults and meltdowns, it alone does not make it justify the high price. The majority of GNU/Linux operating systems come with encryption by default (Pop!_OS is an example), so as long as you pick a Linux distribution that consistently uses the most recent Kernel version, everything should work well.
Librem 14 might thus be tried even if we don’t entirely endorse it if money is not a problem. In addition to all of that, the laptop has a 14-inch 1080P display, a considerably older 10th Gen Intel Core i7 10710U CPU, and up to 64GB RAM.
7. KDE Slimbook
| Specs | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 14″/15.6″ IPS, 1920 x 1080/2560/1440P resolution at 60Hz/165Hz |
| Processor | Ryzen 7 5700U |
| Graphics Processing Unit | Radeon Vega 8 |
| Storage variants | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB (PCIe Gen3) |
| RAM options | 8,16,32GB Single/Dual-channel DDR4 |
| Battery | 47Wh/92Wh |
| Operating System | KDE Neon |
| Expandable Storage/RAM (Yes/No) | Yes/Yes |
| Price | Staring at $1000/$1100 |
The Slimbook 14 is a product from KDE, one of the top developers for Linux. There are two sizes of the Slimbook available: 14 inches and 15.6 inches. Significant distinctions exist between the two. The Slimbook 14 has a Ryzen 7 5700U CPU, a 47Wh battery, a 14-inch 1080P IPS display, up to 4TB of SSD storage, and up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM.
The 15.6-inch model, on the other hand, has the same CPU but a larger, 2K screen that refreshes at 165 Hz, up to 4TB of NVMe SSD storage, 64GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 92Wh battery.
14-inch and 15.6-inch models are priced at $1,000, $2,500, and $1,100, $2,700 for the base and higher-end models, respectively. The 15.6-inch model makes the most sense given the setup, but the base price of $1,100 is reasonable. Do bear in mind, though, that the hardware is outdated. Ryzen 7 5700U and 8GB of RAM running at only 3200MHz are insufficient for 2023.