The best Linux laptops in 2025: Expert tested for students, hobbyists, and pros

As soon as solely a favourite amongst coding and programming professionals and area of interest hobbyists, Linux has been steadily rising in recognition over time. Because it’s open source, there are many totally different Linux distributions obtainable so that you can check and see what’s greatest to your talent stage and desires.

Linux may even be used to give an old laptop or desktop new life as a studying device for beginner programmers. Whereas Mac customers have some catching as much as do when it comes to distro help, there are many Home windows-based laptops with comparable efficiency and battery life that may additionally run Linux.

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What’s the greatest Linux laptop computer proper now?

Shopping for any laptop computer may be daunting, not to mention one for an working system you is probably not accustomed to. ZDNET consultants went hands-on with Linux-capable laptops from Lenovo, Dell and extra to check user-friendliness, efficiency, and battery life.

Our decide for the very best Linux laptop computer total is the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 AMD as a consequence of its affordability and customization choices. If you happen to’re on the lookout for one thing extra beginner-friendly or a Linux-capable Mac various, hold studying beneath to study extra about our picks for the very best Linux laptops.

Additionally: These are the absolute best Linux distros for programming

The most effective Linux laptops of 2025

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Why we prefer it: With twin help for Linux and Home windows, customers can simply change between working methods for work and private initiatives. The ThinkPad T14s is constructed with as much as an Intel Core Extremely 7 processor, with 32GB of RAM, as much as 1TB of storage, and built-in Intel Arc graphics to deal with all the things from digital conferences to informal gaming.

Who it is for: A 12-hour battery life makes the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s an incredible possibility for each college students and professionals who want a laptop computer that has sufficient juice to get via a protracted day. With quick charging capabilities, you’ll be able to stand up to 70% battery with simply an hour of charging time. The 14-inch show is ideal for streaming, working in paperwork, and digital conferences or lessons.

Who ought to look elsewhere: The ThinkPad T14s is barely able to 1920 x 1200 decision, which is greater than sufficient for typical dwelling, workplace, or classroom use. If you happen to’re a artistic skilled who wants 1440p or 4K decision for initiatives, there are different Linux-capable choices from each Lenovo and different manufacturers.

Overview: Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 AMD

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Why we prefer it: Dell means that you can create nearly any configuration you want for the XPS 13. It is received as much as 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD storage drive, and the selection between a Snapdragon X Plus or Elite CPU for loads of energy and efficiency for working in Linux or Home windows.

Who it is for: With each LCD and OLED show choices with as much as 3K decision, the Dell XPS 13 is a good possibility for college students, artistic professionals, and workplace employees. It additionally has a 17-hour battery life to final all day.

Who ought to look elsewhere: Whereas the Dell XPS 13 is a lot highly effective as-is, it does not have an possibility for a discrete graphics card. And not using a devoted GPU, the Dell XPS 13 cannot deal with greater than essentially the most informal of recreation titles and doubtless will not have the ability to deal with intense artistic applications like Blender.

Overview: Dell XPS 13 (2024)

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Why we prefer it: If you happen to want an AMD-based laptop computer over Intel, the Acer Swift Edge is a good possibility for anybody trying to begin studying Linux. It is constructed with an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD storage drive, and built-in AMD Radeon graphics for artistic work and informal gaming.

Who it is for: The 3K decision show makes use of an OLED panel for enhanced distinction, detailing, and higher colour accuracy, making it an incredible possibility for artistic professionals who work with digital graphics or video. It additionally works with DTS audio processing for wealthy, full sound and not using a headset or exterior audio system.

Who ought to look elsewhere: With a battery life that tops out at about seven hours, cellular professionals and college students could have to discover a totally different Linux-based laptop computer to get via a typical day. It additionally has just one SSD slot, so you will have to switch your total storage drive if you wish to improve your laptop computer.

Overview: Acer Swift Edge

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Why we prefer it: With a 16-inch OLED show able to 4K decision and a 60Hz refresh charge, the Asus ProArt P16 is a good various for artistic professionals searching for a Linux-capable laptop computer that is simply as highly effective and versatile as a MacBook.

Who it is for: Together with a 4K OLED show, the ProArt P16 incorporates a devoted Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card for much more processing energy whereas working with 3D fashions, animation, and video processing. You can too select between configurations constructed with both 32 or 64GB of RAM for all the facility and efficiency you want for rendering completed artistic initiatives and multitasking in intensive applications.

Who ought to look elsewhere: The Asus ProArt P16 is a good MacBook various when it comes to energy and efficiency, however its worth level matches its premium construct. Artistic professionals, college students, and hobbyist programmers have loads of choices available on the market for extra inexpensive Linux-capable laptops.

Overview: Asus ProArt P16

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Why we prefer it: The Microsoft Floor Laptop computer has a really spectacular 22-hour battery life, which helps you to work nearly two days within the workplace or classroom earlier than you have to take into consideration plugging in. It additionally has each 13.5- and 15-inch show choices for cellular professionals or anybody who has a smaller work desk.

Who it is for: With highly effective configurations that includes as much as 64GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and both a Snapdragon X plus or X Elite processor, you’ll deal with all the things from programming workouts to digital lessons and even some artistic work. The improved Snapdragon processor additionally provides you higher efficiency whereas multitasking in highly effective applications like Blender and Adobe Artistic Suite.

Who ought to look elsewhere: A robust configuration additionally comes with a excessive worth. And not using a devoted graphics card, the Home windows Floor Laptop computer won’t have the ability to deal with intense artistic applications for animation or recreation growth.

Overview: Microsoft Surface Laptop

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My alternative for the very best Linux laptop computer is the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 AMD. Lenovo isn’t any stranger to providing Linux help for his or her laptops and desktops, and the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 takes the cake. It additionally gives a number of configuration choices to assist tailor the laptop computer to your particular work, studying, or hobbyist programmer/coder wants. It additionally has a extra inexpensive worth than another choices available on the market, retailing for about $1,500. This makes it an incredible possibility for freshmen and hobbyists who won’t wish to drop some huge cash on one thing they could not use a lot.

Greatest Linux laptop computer	Value	Processor/graphics	Battery life
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 Intel	$1,279	Intel Core Extremely 7/Intel Arc 140V	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 7840U/AMD Radeon built-in graphics	7 hours
Asus ProArt P16	$2,000	AMD Ryzen AI 300 collection/Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060	10 hours
Microsoft Floor Laptop computer (2024)	$1,300	Snapdragon X Plus or Elite/Qualcomm Adreno	22 hours

*MSRP at time of writing. Please observe that precise retail pricing could fluctuate relying on the vendor in addition to obtainable offers and promotions.

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It is determined by how a lot expertise you’ve utilizing the Linux working system. If you happen to’re simply beginning out, you will wish to go for a laptop computer with lower-end elements and configurations in addition to a lower cost. By choosing much less refined, cheaper laptops, you’ll be able to lower your tooth on Linux with out dropping a ton of cash if it seems to not be your cup of tea.

Nevertheless, in the event you’re operating with extra skilled Linux crowds, you could wish to contemplate laptops with extra highly effective processors and graphics playing cards that will help you create applications or work with Linux supply code.

Purchase this greatest Linux laptop computer…	If you happen to want…
Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 Intel	A well-rounded laptop computer for working in Linux. Lenovo gives full Linux help for the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 Intel in addition to customization choices.
Dell XPS 13 (2024)	A extremely configurable Linux Laptop computer. The Dell XPS 13 gives a number of configuration choices to tailor the laptop computer to your particular work wants.
Acer Swift Edge 16	A Linux laptop computer with an unimaginable show. The Acer Swift Edge 16 is constructed with an OLED panel for enhanced colour and distinction in addition to as much as 3.2K decision.
Asus ProArt P16	A laptop computer for artistic professionals on the lookout for one thing on the identical stage as a MacBook Professional, however with dependable Linux OS help.
Microsoft Floor Laptop computer (2024)	A Linux laptop computer with a protracted battery life. The refreshed Microsoft Floor Laptop computer gives as much as 22 hours of use on a full cost.

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What makes a machine worthy of belonging to the very best Linux laptop computer listing? Clearly, it has to work with Linux and never require the person to do any of the work to make that occur. Past that, listed here are the important thing options we thought-about when finishing hands-on testing to compile this listing:

Efficiency: I included laptops with present or last-generation elements. This ensures that you will get the very best efficiency out of your new Linux laptop computer.
Design: Not all laptops are designed the identical approach. I selected laptops with each eye-catching, gamer-inspired designs in addition to laptops that might match proper in a standard workplace setting.
Price: Since Linux can run on nearly any laptop computer so long as the {hardware} is supported, you’ll be able to select an older or used mannequin to load the working system onto. This implies it can save you cash on upgrades, particularly in the event you’re simply beginning out studying Linux.
Open-source help: Linux is an open-source working system. Yow will discover tons of on-line communities devoted to studying Linux, tweaking supply code, and reporting points.

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Whereas we had been researching and testing every Linux-compatible laptop computer on this listing, we saved these standards in thoughts:

Model integrity: It might be tempting to spring for that ultra-cheap, unfamiliar model, however what you will save, you will find yourself paying for later, attempting to cope with shady customer support or changing failing components. Every laptop computer on this listing has been chosen from respected manufacturers with strong return and trade insurance policies in addition to glorious customer support.
Twin boot: Many Linux fanatics may want or wish to run a secondary working system like Home windows or macOS on their laptop for finishing sure duties. Every laptop computer we have chosen has been verified to have the ability to run at the very least one different working system except for Linux.
Configurability: No two customers could have the very same wants when utilizing a Linux laptop computer. Every mannequin chosen for our listing has been verified to permit customers to drop in new elements, increase reminiscence, and add storage drives.

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Newest information on Linux laptops

Linux is an extremely versatile, open-source working system that can be utilized on nearly any PC configuration, even very outdated laptops and desktops. This lets you lengthen the lifetime of your gadgets. Being an open-source working system, there are dozens of variations obtainable that may be tweaked and tailor-made to fit your wants.

The newest Linux kernel is Linux 6.14.5, which was launched on April 20 and added help for Microsoft Copilot AI, handheld gadgets just like the Steam Deck, and Intel Arc B graphics playing cards.

Linux is an open-source working system, created by Linus Torvalds, that isn’t solely suited to desktops and laptops, however for enterprise-grade servers, container deployments, the cloud, and way more. Linux is on the market as a distribution and may be downloaded and put in without spending a dime on as many machines as you want.

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This can be a little bit of an advanced reply.

Sure, you’ll be able to run Linux working methods on MacBooks, Mac Minis, and Mac desktops. However there is a catch: it’s important to go for an older mannequin that makes use of an Intel Core processor as an alternative of Apple’s personal M1 or M2 chips. Apple’s silicon chips are beginning to see Linux hobbyists and professionals alike construct help, however on the time of writing, the one dependable approach to get Linux to run on an M1/M2 Mac is to make use of a virtual machine which is a kind of emulation program.

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The most important hurdles you will need to face when utilizing Linux over Home windows or MacOS are the training curve and normal lack of help from brand-name software program corporations. Since Linux is an open-source working system, there is not a single, unified version like there may be for Home windows 11 or macOS Catalina. Because of this it is way more troublesome to program functions like video games, video gamers, and even climate apps to work persistently throughout all variations of Linux. Totally different variations additionally imply that simply since you’re accustomed to Ubuntu, that does not imply your experience shall be of any use on a machine that runs a distinct Linux dispo.

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

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When speaking about programming and coding, you could come throughout the time period “open supply.” This simply signifies that the unique code for a program like Linux or VLC Media Participant, is freely obtainable to the general public for downloading, distribution, and modifying.

Linux is in style with programmers since it’s open supply, which signifies that it is easy to try to make your individual modifications or command lists. Or you’ll be able to work along with the Linux group to resolve widespread bug points or create new help applications for {hardware} like Apple’s M3 Silicon Chips.

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The beauty of Linux is that it’s an open-source working system. Which implies there are plenty of totally different variations on the market on boards and likewise the Web Archive. And since there are such a lot of totally different launch variations, newcomers wanting to economize on their first devoted or dual-boot Linux machine can decide up a classic laptop at a thrift retailer, property sale, or different secondhand retailer and certain discover an working system model that can run with it.

A thread on the Linux Mint Forums is filled with customers who had been ready to make use of numerous variations of Linux Mint in addition to Pet (a model of Linux designed to be run from a flash drive, making it nice for hobbyists who restore classic tech) and Ubuntu on Home windows Vista and Home windows 98 computer systems (which intrepid tech hunters might be able to discover for a cut price at a thrift retailer or secondhand on-line). And Tech Tangents on YouTube, a channel devoted to restoring and archiving retro laptop {hardware} and software program, was in a position to revive a TeleVideo 950 terminal that was initially launched in 1980 and use a model of Linux on it.

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Newest updates

September 2025: Up to date the article to align with ZDNET’s newest styleguide. Up to date shopping for hyperlinks and retail costs.
ZDNET was in a position to check the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 AMD, Dell XPS 13 (2024), Acer Swift Edge, Asus ProArt 16, and the Microsoft Floor Laptop computer (2024). Whereas we primarily centered on every laptop computer’s capabilities as a Home windows machine, we additionally totally vetted every mannequin’s capability to efficiently run numerous Linux distros.

Extra Linux laptops we examined

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Whereas Linux help for Apple’s Silicon processors is not as strong as it’s for Home windows-based computer systems, fanatics have created a number of compatibility modules. The MacBook Professional with the M3 Max chip provides skilled programmers the prospect to be on the slicing fringe of group help.

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

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This laptop computer was tailored for Linux, and gives a formidable 3K decision that is excellent for all the things from gaming and graphic design to photograph enhancing and video manufacturing.

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