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 a great time for programmers to use the open-source alternative to Windows and MacOS. Linux-based laptops are also great for high school and college students looking to expand their knowledge and skillsets.
With so many options, we can now be selective with how we spend our money. On top of that, we no longer have to do extensive research on other laptops to ensure every component will work with Linux. 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 major effort to track down chipset manufacturers and models that went into a particular laptop. Those days are long past, and consumers can now simply purchase a laptop that ships with Linux installed, knowing it will “just work.”
Also: These are the absolute best Linux distros for programming
To determine the best Linux laptops on the market, I considered features like performance, design, cost, and open-source support. Based on this, the Dell XPS 15 9520 is my pick for the best Linux laptop overall, thanks to its variety of configuration options that let you customize the laptop’s build to suit your needs. But you can check out the rest of the list to find the one that’s best for you.
The best Linux laptops of 2023
- Tons of configuration options
- OLED display available
- Decent battery life
- Expensive at higher configurations
- No fast charge feature
Dell XPS 15 9520 tech specs: CPU: Up to 13th Intel Core i9 | GPU: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 | RAM: Up to 64GB | Storage: Up to 8TB SSD | Display size: 15.6 inches | Display type: LED or OLED | Battery life: 10 hours
If you’re looking for a solid, dependable laptop that you can use as your main Linux machine or dual-boot Windows and Linux, the Dell XPS 15 is the best choice. It has tons of configuration options, letting you choose up to a 13th-generation Intel Core i9 processor, 64GB of RAM, 8TB of storage, and a GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card. The 15.6-inch display uses either a 1920×1200 LED or 4K OLED panel for incredible detailing, color, and contrast. And with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, you’ll be able to connect secondary displays, charge devices, or transfer files from other hard drives to streamline your workflow.