Linux is a family of free and open-source software operating systems built around the Linux kernel.
Over the years, the use of Linux has grown because of its functionality. For instance, unlike Windows and IOS, Linux allows users to run high-volume server applications without hitches or lags. It can serve on web servers, database servers, file servers, email servers, and any other type of shared server.
The major challenge with it then was its installation, but thanks to technological advancements. There are over 100s Linux laptops on the market today. While several of these laptops come with Linux pre-installed, others can run Linux.
That means you won’t feel pain installing Linux on your windows laptop or opt for buying a low-powered machine. The interesting part of it is that these laptops have high-quality features that can make life easier for you.
Aside from their features, they are affordable. You won’t have to pay through your nose to get one.
This article contains a list of the best laptops for the Linux operating systems that you can opt for based on features and performance. These laptops are built for the open-source operating system.
Table of contents
- What To Consider when Choosing a Linux Laptop
- What you might not like about this laptop
- 3. System76 Lemur Pro
- 4. Juno Neptune 15-inch V3
- 5. Acer Chromebook Spin 713
- 6. Dell XPS 13 7390
- 7. System76 Serval WS
- 8. System76 Oryx Pro
- 9. Star Labs StarBook
- 10. Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook
- 11. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6
- 12. HP Envy 13-ab016nr
- 13. Acer Swift 3 SF314-51-57CP
- 14. Dell Precision 7510
- 15. Dell XPS 12
- Conclusion
What To Consider when Choosing a Linux Laptop
Five of the best options on the market have been examined in our review of the best Linux laptops.
One benefit of the open-source Linux operating system is its high customizability. We noticed how many configuration options were available for each laptop during our testing.
On a similar note, we considered the cost of upgrades besides the initial purchase price of each laptop. Such as adding more gigabytes of RAM, as an example.
Linux users frequently cite privacy as a major concern, so we noted any additional features that addressed this issue.
Additionally, we contrasted important hardware specs like processing speed, available screen sizes and resolutions, and hard drive capacity. Additional decorative elements include backlights, ports, weight, and appearance.
Read Also: 15 Best Laptops for Djing on a Budget | 2024
1. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9
The first in our list of the best Linux operating system laptops is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9.
This is a high-quality laptop with ThinkPad premium features and a Linux operating system.
It comes with a 14-inch display screen, 11th-gen Core i5 Intel processor; Iris XE integrated graphics and other advanced features that help speed up its performance.
Specification
- Operating System: Fedora 33 Workstation Edition
- Graphic: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM: 16GB RAM
- 4266MHz (Soldered)
- Size: 14.0″
- CPU: 11th-gen Core i5 Intel processor
What you might not like about this laptop
- The only thing you might not like is that it’s expensive.
2. Purism Librem 13
Are you looking for a Linux laptop with a 100% privacy check? Purism Librem 13 is a good option.
This laptop has high-quality advanced features that allow users to protect their privacy or secure their data from intruders.
Pursim Librem 13 comes with switches. You can use one switch to disconnect your microphone and webcam and the other on your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
It also has 13’s coreboot, which will be helpful if you are a coder. You can use it to add or edit features if you work on source code often.
Moreso, Purism Librem 13 is designed in such a way that you can do customization and even upgrade. That means you can upgrade or swap the RAM and storage.
Specification:
- Operating System: Intel Core i7-6500U 2 x 2.5 – 3.1 GHz
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620
- RAM: 32GB, DDR4 at 2133 MHz
- Size: 13.3″.
- Storage: Configurable
What you might not like about this laptop
- Purism Librem 13 SD Card is very slow.
- The Wi-Fi is also weak.
Buy Now
3. System76 Lemur Pro
For a high-productivity Linux laptop, System76 Lemur Pro tops our chat.
System76 Lemur Pro is among the best laptops for Linux operating systems, with an excellent keyboard that will make you enjoy typing.
This laptop has high-end features that can run various software and programs quickly. Another interesting thing about this laptop is its keyboard and battery capacity. It comes with an amazing battery life that lasts up to 14 hours.
Moreso, you can run upgrades and customizations with System76 Lemur Pro without hitches.
Specification:
- Operating System: Pop!_OS 20.04 LTS
- Graphic: Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
- RAM: up to 40GiB DDR4 (8GiB + 32GiB)
- CPU; 4c/8t Intel i7-10510u
- Storage: 4TB NVMe storage
What you might not like about this laptop
- Intel UHD 620 graphics don’t support gaming well.
- The multi-touch trackpad isn’t the most responsive on the market.
- The webcam is not good enough.
4. Juno Neptune 15-inch V3
Juno Neptune V3 is among the best Linux operating system laptops that are good for gaming.
This 15.6-inch laptop comes with the Ubuntu 22.04 LTS operating system and a multicolour backlit keyboard that will make you enjoy your work.
Its 80WH (Lithium-Ion) battery life, 720p HD Webcam, and multi-ports make it a good choice for Linux game lovers.
Specification:
- Operating System:
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Max-Q – 8GB GDDR6, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Max-Q–16GB GDDR6.
- RAM:
- Storage: 2x m.2 SSD (PCIe Gen3x4, Up to 4 TB total)
- Size: 15.6″.
- CPU: Intel 10th Generation Core
What you might not like about this laptop
- It’s costly.
5. Acer Chromebook Spin 713
You are on a low budget, but that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy Linux. Although most Linux laptops are expensive, some affordable ones are high quality.
One such is the Acer Chromebook Spin 713. The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is one of the best Linux operating system laptops with loads of features.
Along with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB NVMe solid-state drive, the Acer has a quad-core, 2.4GHz Core i5-1135G7 processor with Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics.
It is one of the few Chromebooks that supports Thunderbolt 4 thanks to the two USB Type-C ports on the left flank, either of which can house the small AC adapter. It complies with Intel Evo standards for connectivity and quick startup.
Moreso, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 has a lightweight design that can fit in two USB-C Thunderbolt ports, a USB-A port, a microSD slot, and HDMI out support.
Specification:
- Operating System: Chrome OS
- RAM: 8 GB
- Size: 13.5 Inches
- CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7
What you might not like about this laptop
- You might find it difficult to switch to a Linux platform if it runs on Chrome OS, and you may experience issues if you try to switch to a standard Linux platform.
See: 15 Best Apple Laptops for College Students in 2024
6. Dell XPS 13 7390
Want a lightweight, portable Linux laptop? A good choice is the Dell XPS 13 7390.
This laptop is one of the best Linux operating system laptops on the market.
The system uses 8GB of LPDDR3 RAM at 2133 MHz, two hard drive options with 256GB or 512GB of storage, with a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080).
Another interesting thing is that it has several customizations, connectivity, and upgrade features you can comfortably do without hitches.
Specification:
- Storage: 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive
- Graphic: Intel® Iris® Plus
- RAM: Up to 16GB of LPDDR3 RAM
- Size: 13.4
- CPU: 10th Generation Intel® CoreTM i7-1065G7
What you might not like about this laptop
- The only downside is that the customizations are limited.
7. System76 Serval WS
One of the top Linux laptops is the System76 Serval WS, the ultimate portable powerhouse.
It has a 15-inch or 17-inch display and a variety of 9th Gen Intel Core processor options, typically found in desktop machines.
The Serval WS is highly customizable, with up to 64GB of system RAM and up to 12TB of storage.
There is also a selection of Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs available, and gamers will appreciate the choice of a Full HD or 4K display.
Given that each key on the keyboard has its multicolour backlight, it’s clear that a lot of thought and care went into the design of the Serval WS.
Like all System76 models, the laptop comes with the company’s proprietary POP! OS is based on Ubuntu, or Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (64-bit).
This notebook also has impressive port connectivity, but be aware that it is a fairly hefty beast, with the basic 15-inch model weighing 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg) and the 17-inch model weighing 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg).
Specification:
- CPU: 9th Gen Intel Core
- Graphic: 9th Gen Intel Core
- RAM: Up to 64GB of RAM
- Size:
- Display: 15-inch or 17-inch display.
What you might not like about this laptop
- It is very costly.
Also see, Best Laptops For Live Streaming | Every Budget
8. System76 Oryx Pro
The Oryx Pro, one of the best Linux laptops to date, is unquestionably designed for the OS. Customers can choose between System76’s Ubuntu-based Pop! OS or Ubuntu 18.04 at the time of purchase.
The Oryx Pro comes in two screen sizes, 15.6 or 17.3 inches, and is made of lightweight aluminium with a matte black finish.
It has a 9th generation Intel Core i7-9750H processor that runs between 2.6 and 4.5 GHz and has a 12 MB cache.
It has different RAM options. There is 64 GB of dual-channel DDR4 at 2667 MHz and 32 GB of dual-channel DDR4 at 3000 MHz. You can choose either of the two.
Another exciting thing about it is that it is lighter than the other laptops mentioned and has graphics options of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, 2070, or 2080.
Specification:
- Operating System: Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS or Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
- Graphic: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, 2070, or 2080
- RAM: Up to 64 GB dual-channel DDR4 at 2667MHz
- Size: 15.6″: 5.29 lbs (2.4 kg), 17.3″: 6.17 lbs (2.8 kg).
- Display: 5.6 or 17.3-inch display.
- CPU: 9th generation Intel Core i7-9750H
9. Star Labs StarBook
The fact that virtually every feature listed on a Linux laptop’s specification sheet is configurable is one of its best features.
The Star Labs StarBook is one of the most stylish laptops available, in addition to having the specs your new Linux laptop needs.
The only drawback is that you are limited to using the built-in Intel Iris Xe onboard graphics and cannot upgrade the graphics.
Specification:
- Operating System: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 240GB SSD
- Processor: Intel® Core® i7-1260P2.10GHz 12-core, Turbo Boost up to 4.70GHz+
10. Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook
Another low-budget Linux laptop with high-quality features is the Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook.
This Chromebook allows you to run any Linux application without any hitches.
It uses an FHD Touch Display that offers beautiful and amazing features, Intel Core i3-10110U, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage.
It has 10th generation Intel iCore processors that enable excellent performance, connectivity, and entertainment.
Moreso, it is designed in a way that allows you to combine a keyboard and a touchscreen.
With that, you can easily interact with everything on your display. It also has a pen you can use to write, click, or drag files right on the screen.
Specification:
- Operating System:
- Display: 13.3-inch FHD display
- RAM: 4GB RAM
- Storage: 64GB
- Size: 13.3 Inches
11. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6
Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 is the solution for those seeking an upgrade from the X1 Carbon.
Lenovo uses the most recent 11th-gen chipsets from Intel to maximize performance while giving you the freedom to customize the rest of the laptop to your preferences.
Specification:
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
- RAM: 8 GB
- Size: 14 Inches
- CPU: Intel Core i7 i7-1165G7
- Storage: 256 GB
12. HP Envy 13-ab016nr
Another Linux laptop worth checking out is the HP Envy 13-ab016nr. Although it is expensive, it has good performance that is worth the cost.
With this laptop, you can open up to 20 Chrome tabs without lag.
Specification:
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 520
- RAM: 16GB
- CPU: 7th Generation Intel Core i5-7200U
- Size: 13 inches
- Storage: 512GB SSD
What you might not like about this laptop
- The battery life is poor.
- The touchpad is not reliable.
13. Acer Swift 3 SF314-51-57CP
Next on our list of best Linux operating system laptops is Acer Swift.
The laptop comes with advanced features that are of high quality. It has a trackpad, which is a bit average. You can easily tap, swipe, and perform standard gestures with no hitches.
In terms of portability, Acer Swift is very light and sleek. It weighs around 3.35 lbs and is 0.7″ thick.
Specification:
- Operating System: Windows 10
- CPU: Core i5-7200U
- Graphic: Windows 10
- RAM: 8 GB
- Size: 14 Inches
- Storage: 256GB SSD
Building a career in software development? Check out the 15 Best Laptops For Programming
What you might not like about this laptop
- It is difficult to install Linux.
14. Dell Precision 7510
Another good Linux laptop that is good for gaming is Dell Precision 7510.
The laptop has hardware that can handle modern games. You can run games like Rainbow Six Siege, which is more than 60 frames per second. Isn’t that amazing?
It has a strong processor and 64GB RAM that allows you to run high projects.
The major downside of using this laptop is that the battery life span is short, and it can be expensive.
Specification:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-6820HQ
- Graphic: Intel HD Graphics 530
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 500 GB
- Display: 15.6 Inches
15. Dell XPS 12
Finally, on our list of best laptops for the Linux operating system is Dell XPS 12.
The laptop comes with Intel Core M 6Y54 1.1 GHz processor, up to 8 GB, 256GB storage and various ports. It has 2 x USB-C + Thunderbolt 3, an SD card reader, and a headset jack.
Specification:
- Operating System; Windows 10
- CPU: Intel Core M 6Y54 1.1 GHz
- RAM: 8 GB
- Display: 12.5 Inches
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515
- Storage: 256GB SSD
What you might not like about this laptop
- You can tilt the screen anyhow when using the laptop mode.
Conclusion
All of these laptops have great hardware compatible with Linux, and they all come with pre-installed operating system versions. If you are looking for a new laptop to use with Linux, then any of these four options would be a great choice.
FAQs
The fact that Linux is an open-source and free operating system is just one of many advantages it has over Windows. This implies that you can modify the source code to produce an operating system that is entirely unique.
Not every laptop or desktop you see at your neighborhood computer shop will be Linux-compatible. Thinking about this in advance will pay off, whether you’re purchasing a PC for Linux or simply want to make sure you can dual-boot at some point in the future.
There are numerous explanations for why Linux is typically faster than Windows. Linux is very light weight compared to Windows, which is fatty. Many programs run in the background on Windows, using up RAM. Second, Linux has a very well-organized file system.
Your outdated computer can be given new life by installing Linux, which also allows you to save money. Many people prefer to run Linux on older computers. Of course, each person has a different set of motivations for doing this. Some people might want to save money by delaying buying a new computer, while others might want to stop creating electronic waste.
Reference
- Slant.co- Best laptops for Linux
- Techradar.com- Linux Laptops
- Popsci.com- Best Linux Laptops
- Howtogeek.com– Best Linux Laptops
- Androidcentral.com- Best Linux Laptops
Recommendations
