Best Linux Laptop in 2023 – our top picks
If you are looking for the best Linux laptops, then we have you covered right here.
Now, Linux laptops may not be as popular or common as Windows variants. However, IT administrators, developers, and technical support professionals use Linux and would want to invest in a laptop that runs on that operating system.
If you look at Linux laptops available in the market, you will find two options – a laptop that has Linux by default and laptops with Windows 11 that can run Linux as a subsystem. With the latter option, you can run Linux alongside Windows.
With that being said, you can find quite a bunch of options. To help make your search easier, we have rounded up what we think are some of the best Linux laptops.
BF deals
Before we continue, we’ve spotted these (non-Linux) Black Friday laptop deals, which could be good options if you want to save some money on your new purchase. You can also check out our Black Friday laptops deals page.
Gaming laptops
- Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-525P Gaming Laptop – $599 (save $200)
- MSI Thin GF63 15.6″ 144Hz Gaming Laptop – $799 (save $200)
Productivity laptops
- Acer Aspire 3 A315-24P-R7VH Slim Laptop – $249 (save $80)
- ASUS 2023 Vivobook 14 Laptop – $399 (save $80)
Products at a Glance
How to pick the best Linux laptops
For this guide, our experts at PC Guide looked at several laptops from different manufacturers, compared them, and then selected the ones we thought were the best. The laptops have been selected based on specs like processor, operating system, battery life, and more. Further, we’re always looking for new products to add to our guides and keep them updated – so check back again for new updates.
Best Linux Laptop in 2023 – our top picks
- 15-inch OLED display
- Intel Arc A370M graphics card
- Lightweight
- Expensive
If you want the best Linux laptop for general use, then the Dell XPS 15 might check a lot of boxes for you. And we think it’s one of the best OLED laptops.
The 2023 iteration of XPS 15 runs on the latest Intel i7-13700H processor that has a max boost speed of 5.0GHz, which should handle multiple tasks with ease. Further, the laptop has an Intel Arc A370M graphics card with 4GB VRAM, which should handle graphics-related tasks well.
By default, this laptop has a Windows 11 Pro operating system, but running Ubuntu 22.04 LTS should be quite hassle-free for you.
The variant we have selected has 16GB DDR5 RAM along with 1TB SSD, which should be sufficient for most users. However, depending on your budget and requirements, you can go for different storage capacities.
On the outside, the laptop sports a 15.6-inch display with WUXGA resolution, which should deliver high picture quality. Plus, it is an IPS display, and you get about 500 nits of brightness, which should give you wider viewing angles even in well-lit environments.
- 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900H processor
- NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU
- 15.6-inch FHD display
- Last gen GPU
If you want a Linux laptop for developers, then we recommend having a look at System76 Gazelle Pro.
To start with, the laptop has Linux OS by default. So you get Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS or Ubuntu 22.04 LTS out of the box, and you don’t have to go through the hassle of installing Linux.
On the inside, the laptop comes equipped with a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900H processor that has 14 cores and a max boost speed of 5.4GHz, which should be sufficient for handling demanding tasks and running intensive applications. Plus, you also get an NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, which should run demanding games smoothly.
Further, the laptop sports a 15.6-inch display with FHD resolution, which should deliver clear, crisp visuals. Plus, you get a 144Hz refresh rate, which should give you smooth graphics for fast-paced games and movies.
As far as portability is concerned, the laptop weighs 4.3 pounds, which, just like some of the best lightweight laptops, should be portable for most users.
- 14-inch WUXGA display
- Intel Core i7-1365U vPro processor
- Lightweight and portable
- Expensive
If you want the best Linux notebook, then the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 might be the right choice. In fact, we think it is one of the best laptops for programming.
The laptop sports a 14-inch display with WUXGA resolution, so you can expect good quality visuals. Plus, the display is a touch screen, which should give you more intuitive controls.
On the inside, the laptop runs on an Intel Core i7-1365U vPro processor, which is known for enhanced security features – something that should come in handy if you’re getting this laptop for business or work.
This laptop runs on Windows 11 Pro, which lets you run Ubuntu Linux as a subsystem with a few commands – so it should not be difficult for you to get Linux running on this device.
Much like some of the best lightweight laptops, this one, too, weighs 2.48 pounds, which should be portable for most users. Plus, this ThinkPad has military-grade durability, so you can take it along with you on your journey.
- 13th Intel i7-1355U processor
- Long battery life
- Lightweight
- Mediocre display
If you want a budget laptop for Linux, then the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 is a great choice.
The 2023 version comes with a 10-Core 13th Intel i7-1355U processor that can reach a max boost speed of 5.0GHz, which should be able to handle multiple tasks effortlessly.
As far as the display is concerned, the laptop sports a 16-inch display with WUXGA (1920 x 1200) resolution, which should produce slightly better pictures than an FHD laptop. Plus, it is an IPS display, which should give you better viewing angles.
Again, this laptop does not have the Linux operating system by default. However, you can prompt a command and install and run the Ubuntu subsystem.
Coming to portability, this laptop weighs around 4.17 pounds, which is lightweight and should be easy to lug around. Further, the laptop promises a non-gaming battery life of 8 hours, which should be sufficient to last you a good few hours.
- 16.1-inch WQHD display
- Intel i9-12900H processor
- RTX 3060 graphics card
- Rather expensive
If you want a Linux laptop for gaming, then HP Omen 16 is a solid choice, and we think it should be one of the best HP gaming laptops.
The laptop comes with a 16.1-inch display with WQHD (2560 x 1440) resolution, which should deliver detailed, clear visuals. Plus, you get a 165Hz refresh rate, which should be sufficient to give you smooth gameplay.
On the inside, the laptop has an Intel i9-12900H processor, which is powerful enough to handle games and other demanding tasks. Plus, this laptop comes with an RTX 3060 graphics card, which should run most AAA games smoothly.
The model we have selected comes with 32GB DDR5 RAM along with 1TB SSD, which should reduce loading and give you sufficient storage.
Much like other options on this list, this laptop, too, runs on Windows 11 Pro. To run Linux, you will have to activate the subsystem with a prompt.
How to pick the best Linux laptop
Here are a few pointers while you go shopping –
CPU
If you want a laptop for light work like emailing or browsing, then an entry-level processor would suffice. However, if you want a laptop for your work or business, then you’d need a more sophisticated processor, like the 13th Intel i7-1355U processor. Further, for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, you’d require a powerful CPU, like Intel i9-12900H or Intel i9-13900H. For instance, some of the best Intel 13th gen laptops can handle video games and other resource-intensive tasks really well.
Display
When it comes to display, you will want to determine your preferred size and resolution. You will find laptops as small as 13 inches and all the way up to 18 inches. Further, most laptops have an FHD resolution – so you won’t have to worry about finding this resolution in a laptop. If you want even better picture quality, you can check out QHD or 4K laptops.
Portability
If you are planning to carry your laptop around, then you’d want a device that weighs less and has a long battery life. For instance, some of the best battery life laptops weigh around 4 pounds, which makes them ideal for lugging around.
Is Linux good on laptops?
Linux is a great operating system for your laptop if you’re a developer. It offers a wide range of software options, including many free and open-source programs. This can be particularly useful for those who use their laptops for work or other specialized tasks such as machine learning.
Our Verdict
If you want the best laptop for Linux, then we think that the Dell XPS 15 would be a solid option for most users. The laptop comes with a 15.6-inch OLED display and WUXGA resolution, which should deliver stunning visuals. On the inside, the laptop has an Intel i7-13700H processor along with an Intel Arc A370M graphics card, which should handle demanding tasks really well. By default, the laptop has Windows 11 Pro, but you can run Linux as a subsystem with just a few clicks.