The best Linux laptops: Expert tested and on sale
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Years ago, we were lucky to have one or two Linux laptop options. Now, you'd be surprised at how many laptops are sold with Linux installed, making it an excellent time for programmers to use the open-source alternative to Windows and MacOS. Linux can run on many Windows laptops, but certain laptops make for better options since they can come with the OS pre-installed and have additional integrations that both new users and veterans will appreciate.
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For those of us who'd been working with Linux for some time, that was more a bother than a problem, but for others, it was a significant effort to track down chipset manufacturers and models that went into a particular laptop. Those days are long past, and consumers can now purchase a computer that ships with Linux installed, knowing it will "just work."
What is the best Linux laptop right now?
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The best Linux laptops of 2024
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While the Linux gaming community is small, more developers are offering support for popular versions like Ubuntu. The MSI Stealth Studio is an excellent gaming laptop that also supports Linux, allowing you to run a dual-boot system for tinkering. With an Nvidia RTX 4070, you'll have all the graphics processing power you need to handle almost any triple-A game in your library and on your wish list.
Review: MSI Stealth Studio AI
The display is available in 14, 15, and 17-inch sizes, offering excellent 1920 x 1200 resolution and up to a 165Hz refresh rate for better detailing and smoother motion. You can also configure the Stealth Studio with up to 64GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, giving you plenty of storage space and memory for programming projects and large game libraries. Customers who bought the MSI Stealth Studio agree with my testing results that the 4-hour battery life is disappointing, but the laptop makes up for it in sheer power.
MSI Stealth Studio specs - CPU: Up to Intel Core Ultra i9 | GPU: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 | RAM: Up to 64GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Display size: 14-17 inches | Display type: IPS | Resolution: 1920 x 1200 | Battery life: 4 hours
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What is the best Linux laptop?
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Best Linux laptop | Price | Processor/graphics | Battery life |
MSI Stealth Studio AI | $1,700 | Up to Intel Core i9-13900H/Up to Nvidia RTX 4090 | 4 hours |
*MSRP at time of writing. Please note that actual retail pricing may vary depending on the seller as well as available deals and promotions.
Which Linux laptop is right for you?
It depends on how much experience you have using the Linux operating system. If you're just starting out, you'll want to opt for a laptop with lower-end components and configurations as well as a lower price. By opting for less sophisticated, less expensive laptops, you can cut your teeth on Linux without losing a ton of money if it turns out not to be your cup of tea.
However, if you're running with more experienced Linux crowds, you may want to consider laptops with more powerful processors and graphics cards to help you create programs or work with Linux source code.
Buy this best Linux laptop... | If you need... |
MSI Stealth Studio AI | A Linux-capable laptop for gaming. The MSI Stealth Studio offers up to a 17-inch display and up to an Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics card. |
Factors to consider when choosing a Linux laptop:
What makes a machine worthy of belonging to the best Linux laptop list? Obviously, it has to work with Linux and not require the user to do any of the work to make that happen. Beyond that, here are the key features we considered when completing hands-on testing to compile this list:
- Performance: I included laptops with current or last-generation components. This ensures that you'll get the best performance out of your new Linux laptop.
- Design: Not all laptops are designed the same way. I chose laptops with both eye-catching, gamer-inspired designs as well as laptops that would fit right in a traditional office setting.
- Cost: Since Linux can run on just about any laptop as long as the hardware is supported, you can choose an older model (or even a used one) to load the operating system onto. This means you can save money on upgrades, especially if you're just starting out learning Linux.
- Open-source support: Linux is an open-source operating system. You can find tons of online communities dedicated to learning Linux, tweaking source code, and reporting issues.
How did we choose these Linux laptops?
While we were researching and testing each Linux-compatible laptop on this list, we kept these criteria in mind:
- Brand integrity: It may be tempting to spring for that ultra-cheap, unfamiliar brand, but what you'll save, you'll end up paying for later trying to deal with shady customer service or replacing failing parts. Each laptop on this list has been chosen from reputable brands with robust return and exchange policies as well as excellent customer service.
- Dual boot: Many Linux enthusiasts may also need or want to run a secondary operating system like Windows or MacOS on their computer for completing certain tasks. Each laptop we've chosen has been verified to be able to run at least one other operating system aside from Linux.
- Configurability: No two users will have the exact same needs when using a Linux laptop. Each model chosen for our list has been verified to allow users to drop in new components, expand memory, and add storage drives.
What is Linux?
Linux is an open-source operating system, created by Linus Torvalds, that is not only suited for desktops and laptops, but for enterprise-grade servers, container deployments, the cloud, and much more. Linux is available as a distribution and can be downloaded and installed for free on as many machines as you need.
Can you run Linux on a Mac?
This is a bit of a complicated answer.
Yes, you can run Linux operating systems on MacBooks, Mac Minis, and Mac desktops. But there's a catch: you have to opt for an older model that uses an Intel Core processor instead of Apple's own M1 or M2 chips. Apple's silicon chips are starting to see Linux hobbyists and pros alike build support, but at the time of writing, the only reliable way to get Linux to run on an M1/M2 Mac is to use a virtual machine which is a type of emulation program.
Are there disadvantages to running Linux instead of Windows or MacOS?
The biggest hurdles you'll have to face when using Linux over Windows or MacOS are the learning curve and general lack of support from brand-name software companies. Since Linux is an open-source operating system, there isn't a single, unified version like there is for Windows 11 or macOS Catalina. This means that it's much more difficult to program applications like games, video players, and even weather apps to work consistently across all versions of Linux. Different versions also mean that just because you're familiar with Ubuntu, that doesn't mean your expertise will be of any use on a machine that runs a different Linux dispo.
Also: Windows, Mac, or Linux? We compare the pros and cons of these computing platforms
What does "open-source" mean?
When talking about programming and coding, you may come across the term "open-source." This just means that the original code for a program (like Linux or VLC Media Player) is freely available to the public for downloading, distribution, and modifying.
Linux is popular with programmers since it is open-source, which means that it's easy to try and make your own modifications or command lists. Or you can work together with the Linux community to resolve common bug issues or create new support programs for hardware like Apple's M3 Silicon Chips.
What's the oldest computer you can run with Linux?
The great thing about Linux is that it is an open source operating system. Which means there are a lot of different versions out there on forums and also the Internet Archive. And since there are so many different release versions, newcomers looking to save money on their first dedicated or dual-boot Linux machine can pick up a vintage computer at a thrift store, estate sale, or other secondhand store and likely find an operating system version that will run with it.
A thread on the Linux Mint Forums is full of users who were able to use various versions of Linux Mint as well as Puppy (a version of Linux designed to be run from a flash drive, making it great for hobbyists who restore vintage tech) and Ubuntu on Windows Vista and Windows 98 computers (which intrepid tech hunters may be able to find for a bargain at a thrift store or secondhand online). And Tech Tangents on YouTube, a channel dedicated to restoring and archiving retro computer hardware and software, was able to revive a TeleVideo 950 terminal that was originally released in 1980 and use a version of Linux on it.