The Lemur Pro isn't ideal for graphics-intensive tasks like gaming or video editing (see below for more powerful rigs with dedicated graphics cards), but for everything else this is one of the best laptops available.
Tuxedo's InfinityBook Pro 14 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is a slim, lightweight laptop dedicated to the open source world. Tuxedo is based in Germany (hence the Euro pricing) and, like System76, has a long history of providing excellent support for Linux. InfinityBook Pro is Tuxedo's lightweight everyday laptop powered by an Intel i7 chip and supports up to 64 GB of RAM and up to 4 TB of SSD storage. There's also the option to add dedicated graphics in the form of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 card.
The highlight of the InfinityBook for me is its gorgeous matte (anti-glare) 2,880 x 1,800 pixel resolution screen. At 400 nits, it's bright enough to work anywhere. In my testing, the InfinityBook Pro had enough power for most tasks and also performed well for editing high-resolution videos thanks to its dual-fan cooling design. Battery life is solid, lasting all day, and the custom tools for tweaking power settings are the best I've used. Tuxedo's custom OS (based on Ubuntu) provides a great Linux experience, and the website provides extensive documentation and help for new users.
Dell's XPS 13 Developer Edition was one of the first notable laptops to come with Linux, and it remains the lightest and smallest laptop with Linux installed. This configuration features a 13th generation Intel i7-1360P processor, 16 GB RAM (soldered), and a 512 GB SSD. It ships with Ubuntu Linux 22.04, but in my testing I had no trouble running any distribution from Fedora to Arch (although Dell's support only applies to Ubuntu). Once you visit the product page, make sure you select Ubuntu Linux 22.04 LTS as your operating system (default is Windows).
For more information on the hardware, see our review of the Windows version (6/10, WIRED review). Performance was slow on Windows, but worked well on Ubuntu. The main drawback of this machine is the lack of ports. There are two USB-C ports, one of which is a charging port. There's not even a headphone jack. Dell recently added his XPS 14 and XPS 16 to the XPS line, but so far there's been no word on whether he'll have a Linux version of either.
Ideal when large numbers of ports are required
If you're concerned about Dell's lack of ports, this is the laptop for you. System76's Pangolin (8/10, WIRED Recommend) is a monster 15-inch AMD-powered laptop with all the ports a system administrator could want. This configuration comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 6800U, 32 GB RAM (soldered), and 250 GB SSD. Pangolin can be configured with up to 8 TB of storage.
Battery life is good for its size, lasting all day in most use cases, but not quite as long as the Dell. The keyboard, on the other hand, is great and really fun to type on. One downside is the numeric keypad, which makes the trackpad feel off-center.
Here is the list of ports: Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.0, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port (with DisplayPort support, no Thunderbolt support), 3 USB-A ports, 3.5 mm headphone/microphone combo jack , and a full-size SD card reader.
Most repairable and future-proof
If you need a laptop that you can upgrade, Framework laptops are the Linux rig for you. Several flavors are available. I tested the second release of the 13-inch model (8/10, WIRED Recommends) and loved it. Intel Core 13th Gen series chips with 32 GB of RAM, 2 TB SSD, and the combination of ports that suit your needs start at about $1,400. It ships without an operating system. Once Linux arrives, you can install it yourself (or choose to ship it with Windows if you want dual boot). An AMD version is also available, although I haven't had a chance to test it yet. Framework is also accepting pre-orders for a new 16-inch model. The 16-inch model is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7040 series processor.
I tested Ubuntu and Arch Linux, which the Framework supports, and both worked fine (although the Framework does not officially support Arch). My only complaint about using the framework is my complaint about almost all Linux laptops. That means battery life could be better.
Perfect for gaming and video editing
The System76 Oryx Pro is available in 15-inch or 17-inch models with 12th generation Intel processors and Nvidia graphics (3070 Ti or 3080 Ti GPU). Options include a glossy OLED 4K screen, up to 64GB of RAM, and up to 8TB of SSD space. Although it's not cheap, the Oryx Pro is the most powerful laptop on this page. Like Pangolin above, Oryx comes with his System76's Pop_OS. Or Ubuntu Linux. Unlike Pangolin, Oryx Pro has an Intel chip, so it ships with Coreboot and open-source firmware.
It's a cliché, but there's something about the Lenovo X1 Carbon Linux edition that makes you want to install Kali Linux and start exploring your coffee shop's Wi-Fi. You may have mixed feelings about this, but this is a sophisticated laptop for people who think ThinkPads are, well, sophisticated. However, that smoothness comes at a high price. Some items cost twice his price. This configuration gives you a 13th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD (much of which is customizable). This version is also two releases behind Windows X2 Carbon, but still seems to be his only X1 with Linux as an option.
We love the stunning 2K (2,880 x 1,800 pixel resolution), OLED, anti-glare screen. I haven't had a chance to test this model, but I really liked the previous release (8/10, WIRED Recommends), and the new version is mainly spec improvements. It is often sold for around 1,300 yen on sale.
Advice when buying second-hand items
Photo: Lenovo
One advantage of Linux is that it requires fewer resources than Windows or MacOS and can maintain support for older hardware much longer. This means you don't have to spend a fortune on a new laptop. You can give life to your old laptop or pick up a used one on eBay. I've been doing this for years and have used Lenovo's X series laptops (starting with an X220 and now his T14 Gen 1), but older Dell and Asus laptops are also great for Linux. If you're looking to buy used items, check out our guide to buying used items on eBay to ensure you get a good deal.
