The most effective Linux laptops in 2025: Specialist examined for students, enthusiasts, and pros

Once only a favored amongst coding and setting specialists and particular niche hobbyists, Linux has been steadily increasing in popularity for many years. Since it’s open resource , there are plenty of different Linux circulations available for you to evaluate and see what’s ideal for your skill degree and demands.

Linux can also be made use of to offer an old laptop or desktop brand-new life as a knowing device for newbie designers While Mac customers have some reaching carry out in terms of distro support, there are plenty of Windows-based laptops with equivalent efficiency and battery life that can likewise run Linux.

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What is the most effective Linux laptop computer right now?

Buying any laptop computer can be challenging, not to mention one for an operating system you may not know with. ZDNET professionals went hands-on with Linux-capable laptop computers from Lenovo, Dell and more to evaluate user-friendliness, performance, and battery life.

Our pick for the best Linux laptop computer overall is the Lenovo ThinkPad T 14 s Gen 6 AMD because of its cost and modification choices. If you’re seeking something more beginner-friendly or a Linux-capable Mac option, keep checking out below to read more concerning our picks for the best Linux laptop computers.

Also : These are the absolute best Linux distros for programming

The very best Linux laptops of 2025

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Why we like it: With twin support for Linux and Windows, users can conveniently switch in between os for job and personal projects. The ThinkPad T 14 s is built with approximately an Intel Core Ultra 7 cpu, with 32 GB of RAM, as much as 1 TB of storage, and integrated Intel Arc graphics to manage everything from online conferences to informal video gaming.

That it’s for: A 12 -hour battery life makes the Lenovo ThinkPad T 14 s a wonderful choice for both students and experts who need a laptop computer that has enough juice to survive a lengthy day. With fast charging capacities, you can get up to 70 % battery with simply an hour of billing time. The 14 -inch display screen is excellent for streaming, working in documents, and virtual conferences or classes.

That need to look elsewhere: The ThinkPad T 14 s is just efficient in 1920 x 1200 resolution, which is more than enough for typical home, office, or classroom use. If you’re a creative expert that requires 1440 p or 4 K resolution for tasks, there are other Linux-capable options from both Lenovo and other brands.

Testimonial: Lenovo ThinkPad T 14 s Gen 6 AMD

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Why we like it: Dell permits you to produce virtually any configuration you need for the XPS 13 It’s got up to 32 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD storage drive, and the selection in between a Snapdragon X And Also or Elite CPU for a lot of power and efficiency for working in Linux or Windows.

That it’s for: With both LCD and OLED show alternatives with up to 3 K resolution, the Dell XPS 13 is a fantastic alternative for students, creative experts, and white-collar worker. It additionally has a 17 -hour battery life to last all day.

That must look elsewhere: While the Dell XPS 13 is plenty powerful as-is, it doesn’t have an alternative for a discrete graphics card. Without a specialized GPU, the Dell XPS 13 can not manage more than the most laid-back of game titles and probably won’t be able to handle intense imaginative programs like Mixer.

Evaluation: Dell XPS 13 (2024

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Why we like it: If you prefer an AMD-based laptop computer over Intel, the Acer Swift Side is a fantastic alternative for any person seeking to start discovering Linux. It’s constructed with an AMD Ryzen 7 7840 U cpu, 16 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD storage space drive, and incorporated AMD Radeon graphics for imaginative work and casual video gaming.

That it’s for: The 3 K resolution display makes use of an OLED panel for improved contrast, outlining, and better shade accuracy, making it a great choice for innovative specialists that work with electronic graphics or video. It additionally deals with DTS audio handling for rich, complete noise without a headset or outside audio speakers.

That need to look in other places: With a battery life that tops out at around 7 hours, mobile specialists and pupils may require to find a different Linux-based laptop computer to make it through a common day. It also has just one SSD port, so you’ll need to change your entire storage space drive if you intend to upgrade your laptop computer.

Testimonial: Acer Swift Side

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Why we like it: With a 16 -inch OLED display screen capable of 4 K resolution and a 60 Hz revitalize price, the Asus ProArt P 16 is a great option for imaginative specialists seeking a Linux-capable laptop computer that’s equally as powerful and versatile as a MacBook.

That it’s for: In addition to a 4 K OLED screen, the ProArt P 16 attributes a devoted Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card for even more handling power while dealing with 3 D models, animation, and video clip processing. You can likewise select between setups constructed with either 32 or 64 GB of RAM for all the power and performance you need for making finished creative jobs and multitasking in extensive programs.

Who should look elsewhere: The Asus ProArt P 16 is an excellent MacBook option in regards to power and performance, but its rate factor matches its costs construct. Creative specialists, students, and hobbyist developers have plenty of alternatives on the market for more inexpensive Linux-capable laptops.

Testimonial: Asus ProArt P 16

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Why we like it: The Microsoft Surface Laptop has a really remarkable 22 -hour battery life, which allows you function nearly 2 days in the workplace or classroom before you require to think of plugging in. It likewise has both 13 5 – and 15 -inch display choices for mobile experts or any person who has a smaller sized work desk.

That it’s for: With effective configurations featuring up to 64 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and either a Snapdragon X plus or X Elite cpu, you’ll be able to take on every little thing from programming workouts to online classes and even some imaginative job. The enhanced Snapdragon processor likewise offers you far better performance while multitasking in effective programs like Blender and Adobe Creative Collection.

Who ought to look elsewhere: A powerful arrangement also features a high price. Without a dedicated graphics card, the Windows Surface Laptop may not be able to deal with intense innovative programs for computer animation or game development.

Evaluation: Microsoft Surface Laptop

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My choice for the very best Linux laptop computer is the Lenovo ThinkPad T 14 s Gen 6 AMD. Lenovo is familiar with using Linux support for their laptop computers and desktops, and the ThinkPad T 14 s Gen 6 takes the cake. It also provides a number of configuration alternatives to help tailor the laptop to your specific job, discovering, or enthusiast programmer/coder demands. It likewise has a much more budget friendly cost than a few other alternatives on the marketplace, selling for concerning $ 1, 500 This makes it a great alternative for beginners and hobbyists that could not want to go down a great deal of cash on something they may not make use of a lot.

Ideal Linux laptop	Cost	Processor/graphics	Battery life
Lenovo ThinkPad T 14 s Gen 6 Intel	$ 1, 279	Intel Core Ultra 7/ Intel Arc 140 V	12 hours
Dell XPS 13 (2024	$ 1, 120	Snapdragon X Plus or Elite/Qualcomm Adreno	17 hours
Acer Swift Edge 16	$ 987	AMD Ryzen 7 7840 U/AMD Radeon integrated graphics	7 hours
Asus ProArt P 16	$ 2, 000	AMD Ryzen AI 300 series/Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060	10 hours
Microsoft Surface Laptop Computer (2024	$ 1, 300	Snapdragon X Plus or Elite/Qualcomm Adreno	22 hours

* MSRP sometimes of creating. Please note that actual retail rates may differ depending on the vendor as well as offered bargains and promos.

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It depends on just how much experience you have using the Linux operating system. If you’re just beginning, you’ll intend to select a laptop with lower-end parts and configurations in addition to a lower cost. By selecting less sophisticated, more economical laptop computers, you can cut your teeth on Linux without shedding a ton of cash if it turns out not to be your cup of tea.

Nevertheless, if you’re keeping up more seasoned Linux groups, you may intend to consider laptop computers with even more effective cpus and graphics cards to help you create programs or collaborate with Linux source code.

Purchase this best Linux laptop …	If you need …
Lenovo ThinkPad T 14 s Gen 6 Intel	An all-round laptop for working in Linux. Lenovo offers full Linux assistance for the ThinkPad T 14 s Gen 6 Intel along with modification options.
Dell XPS 13 (2024	A very configurable Linux Laptop computer. The Dell XPS 13 deals several configuration alternatives to customize the laptop computer to your certain work needs.
Acer Swift Edge 16	A Linux laptop computer with an unbelievable screen. The Acer Swift Side 16 is developed with an OLED panel for boosted shade and contrast along with up to 3 2 K resolution.
Asus ProArt P 16	A laptop for innovative pros searching for something on the exact same level as a MacBook Pro, yet with reputable Linux OS support.
Microsoft Surface Area Laptop (2024	A Linux laptop with a long battery life. The revitalized Microsoft Surface Laptop provides to 22 hours of usage on a full charge.

What makes a device worthy of coming from the most effective Linux laptop list? Undoubtedly, it needs to work with Linux and not require the customer to do any of the job to make that occur. Beyond that, right here are the vital attributes we thought about when completing hands-on screening to assemble this checklist:

Performance: I included laptop computers with existing or last-generation components. This guarantees that you’ll get the very best performance out of your new Linux laptop computer.
Design: Not all laptops are designed similarly. I picked laptop computers with both eye-catching, gamer-inspired designs in addition to laptop computers that would certainly fit right in a standard office setup.
Expense: Considering that Linux can run on nearly any kind of laptop computer as long as the equipment is supported, you can pick an older or made use of design to fill the operating system onto. This means you can conserve cash on upgrades, especially if you’re simply beginning finding out Linux.
Open-source support: Linux is an open-source os. You can locate tons of on the internet communities committed to discovering Linux, tweaking resource code, and reporting concerns.

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While we were looking into and checking each Linux-compatible laptop on this checklist, we kept these requirements in mind:

Brand name honesty: It may be tempting to spring for that ultra-cheap, unknown brand, yet what you’ll conserve, you’ll wind up paying for later, attempting to take care of dubious client service or replacing failing parts. Each laptop computer on this checklist has actually been chosen from respectable brands with robust return and exchange policies as well as excellent customer care.
Dual boot: Many Linux lovers might likewise need or wish to run a secondary operating system like Windows or macOS on their computer system for finishing specific tasks. Each laptop we have actually chosen has actually been validated to be able to perform at least another running system aside from Linux.
Configurability: No two customers will certainly have the exact very same requirements when making use of a Linux laptop computer. Each model selected for our checklist has actually been validated to permit individuals to drop in brand-new parts, expand memory, and add storage space drives.

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Most current information on Linux laptops

Linux is an extremely flexible, open-source operating system that can be utilized on almost any kind of PC arrangement, also very old laptop computers and desktops. This permits you to extend the life of your tools. Being an open-source operating system, there are dozens of versions readily available that can be tweaked and customized to fit your requirements.

The latest Linux kernel is Linux 6 14 5, which was released on April 20 and added assistance for Microsoft Copilot AI, handheld tools like the Steam Deck, and Intel Arc B graphics cards.

Linux is an open-source os, produced by Linus Torvalds, that is not only fit for desktop computers and laptops, however, for enterprise-grade web servers, container releases, the cloud, and a lot more Linux is readily available as a circulation and can be downloaded and install and installed absolutely free on as several makers as you need.

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This is a bit of a difficult solution.

Yes, you can run Linux operating systems on MacBooks, Mac Minis, and Mac desktop computers. Yet there’s a catch: you need to opt for an older version that makes use of an Intel Core processor as opposed to Apple’s very own M 1 or M 2 chips. Apple’s silicon chips are beginning to see Linux enthusiasts and pros alike build assistance, but at the time of composing, the only reputable way to obtain Linux to run on an M 1/ M 2 Mac is to utilize a virtual equipment which is a kind of emulation program.

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The biggest difficulties you’ll need to face when using Linux over Windows or MacOS are the learning curve and basic lack of assistance from brand-name software program firms. Because Linux is an open-source operating system, there isn’t a solitary, linked variation like there is for Windows 11 or macOS Catalina. This suggests that it’s much more tough to program applications like video games, video players, and even weather apps to work continually throughout all variations of Linux. Various versions likewise mean that just because you recognize with Ubuntu, that doesn’t suggest your expertise will be of any type of usage on a machine that runs a various Linux dispo.

Also: Windows, Mac, or Linux? We compare the pros and cons of these computing platforms

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When speaking about programs and coding, you may discover the term “open source.” This just means that the initial code for a program like Linux or VLC Media Gamer, is easily offered to the general public for downloading and install, circulation, and customizing.

Linux is popular with designers considering that it is open resource, which suggests that it’s easy to try and make your very own alterations or command lists. Or you can work together with the Linux community to solve common insect concerns or produce brand-new assistance programs for equipment like Apple’s M 3 Silicon Chips.

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The terrific feature of Linux is that it is an open-source os. Which suggests there are a lot of various versions around on online forums and likewise the Web Archive. And because there are numerous various launch variations, newcomers looking to save money on their very first devoted or dual-boot Linux device can grab a classic computer at a second hand store, estate sale, or various other previously owned shop and likely discover an os version that will certainly keep up it.

A string on the Linux Mint Forums has plenty of individuals that had the ability to use numerous versions of Linux Mint as well as Young puppy (a variation of Linux created to be run from a flash drive, making it excellent for enthusiasts that restore classic technology) and Ubuntu on Windows View and Windows 98 computers (which brave technology hunters might have the ability to find for a bargain at a second hand store or pre-owned online). And Tech Tangents on YouTube, a network devoted to restoring and archiving vintage computer hardware and software, had the ability to revive a TeleVideo 950 terminal that was initially released in 1980 and utilize a version of Linux on it.

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Most recent updates

September 2025: Upgraded the short article to straighten with ZDNET’s most current styleguide. Updated acquiring web links and list prices.
ZDNET was able to check the Lenovo ThinkPad T 14 s Gen 6 AMD, Dell XPS 13 (2024, Acer Swift Edge, Asus ProArt 16, and the Microsoft Surface Area Laptop (2024 While we largely concentrated on each laptop computer’s abilities as a Windows device, we likewise thoroughly vetted each version’s capacity to efficiently run numerous Linux distros.

More Linux laptops we evaluated

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While Linux assistance for Apple’s Silicon cpus isn’t as durable as it is for Windows-based computers, enthusiasts have actually created numerous compatibility modules. The MacBook Pro with the M 3 Max chip gives seasoned developers the chance to be on the reducing side of neighborhood assistance.

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Space Black MacBook Pro (M3 Max) running MacOS Sonoma wallpaper

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This laptop was tailor-made for Linux, and supplies an impressive 3 K resolution that’s perfect for everything from video gaming and graphic design to image editing and video manufacturing.

The Tuxedo Computers InfinityBook Pro Gen 9 laptop.

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For more, take a look at our preferred Linux distros for beginners , video gaming , and office desktop computers

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