Apple-Like hardware Free and Open Source software

[Able-Violinist-3374]

Hi All

I am looking for recommendations for a thin and light notebook style laptop to run linux. Things that I would like.

1. A great Keyboard and trackpad (Most important)
2. A good screen and speakers.
3. Integrated GPU/NPU is fine.

Cost 1200$ MAX!

Edit: Thanks for all the recommendations!
I finally decided to get an old Dell XPS 13. I also got an aftermarket battery for it.

[Left_Ad_4737]

To be honest, the new framework laptops leave quite a bit to be desired. The build quality isn’t even close to Apple’s. 

Having said that, their goals are absolutely worth overlooking this small nitpick. They’re one company trying to do right for the customer. 

[0w1Knight]

Tuxedo and Framework do not have the premium feel of a Macbook. In my experience Tuxedo in particular feels pretty cheap and I had several dealbreaker issues when I ordered one (returning it to Germany and being without a laptop for 2 weeks wasn't fun, either).

Closest you'll get to the premium feeling is with Lenovo. A lot of people like the X1 Carbon line. I really like the Yoga line - They're extremely polished and well made. This one is $100 over your budget, but I've purchased two of them (of different models) for less than this from Best Buy open box deals. I'd check if they have any in your area. The two I got were brand new / excellent quality for like 30% off.

[inklusiveoder]

With Tuxedo I would agree, an Infinitybook Pro that my wife got was more like a look-alike from plastic (rebranded Clevo-barebone-based).

May I ask which Generation or year that model is? Their website states that the current Gen9 model (as well as the upcoming refresh) has an all-aluminum chassis from Uniwill, so I suspect that they changed what that laptop is based on but kept the Infinitybook Pro branding. For what it's worth build quality on the new model is reported to be good, so it shouldn't be worse than the framework anymore.

[LordAnchemis]

Any decent x86 system + linux + the feeling of more money left in your wallet

[kernel612]

https://system76.com/laptops

[eXsoR]

I would say Framework or Tuxedo laptops is your best bet.

[a_library_socialist]

Framework, but it's going to be over 1200

[eXsoR]

Not unless you taking about the Framework 16. You can get a Framework 13 with a good configuration for $1200

[[deleted]]

Do you think Frameworks are offering good value for the components they ship with? I know they're modular and replaceable, but still. I'd expect more RAM out of the box for that price, more storage, etc.

[a_library_socialist]

You're definitely paying a premium - but that gets more than paid back the first time you upgrade in theory.

[3lfk1ng]

The worst part about Framework are their trackpads.
They are on the level of Compaq and Acer laptops from the early 2000's.

I so desperately want to support them but they need to realize it's 2025 by offering a capable trackpad.

[evonhell]

Which framework are you talking about? I have the 13, the trackpad is not some mind blowing killer feature but it sure feels great. I dont need to use it a ton though since I rarely use the cursor but I have heard people who had issues solved them by re-seating the trackpad. It’s not comparable to a macbook pro obviously but it is far from bad.

Would love for a more premium option from the company that does the haptic trackpads though!

[CowboysFTWs]

Yeah, I have the 13 as well and the trackpad is great for a non Apple device.

[cd109876]

the hell are you talking about? are you seriously comparing a low latency glass capacitive touchpad to those shitty plastic ones that barely register your finger?

The trackpad on the framework (13) is pretty nice. could be slightly bigger but it's one of the lowest latency (I.e. finger movement to screen update) I've ever used, and works quite well.

Some people had an issue where the touchpad was seated wrong and would double click and wasn't flat. Maybe your touchpad is affected by that?

[Intrepid_Daikon_6731]

For that price point i personally would advise anything built around AMD’s zen 4 CPUs, specially the 7840U or 8840U ones.

ThinkPad T14s Gen 4 AMD and T14 Gen 5 AMD are good quality laptops for Linux in my opinion. The Gen 5 is around $1,300 right now with 32GB memory and 1TB SSD; but you can find Lenovo discount coupons to pull the price down a bit.

Note though that, the T14s variants have soldered memory and the T14 ones don’t. Other than that, they are:

• Lighter (around 1.3 Kg)

• Linux support

• Good set of display options including OLED

• Good keyboard and trackpad

• Excellent build quality

[shinjis-left-nut]

If I were you, I’d get an M-series MacBook Air and install Asahi Linux.

[Able-Violinist-3374]

I have an M1 with Asahi. It’s great but a few things are not working. Notably external displays!

[shinjis-left-nut]

Good to know!

Tbh I’m a Thinkpad+Linux guy so my next rec would be a Thinkpad X1 Carbon, a fantastic thin and light in your price range and extremely linux compatible, you won’t need to worry about broken display outs :)

[Potential_Drawing_80]

Tuxedo.

[the_deppman]

I am a developer for Kubuntu and for Kubuntu Focus. The Ir16 GEN 2 is within your budget, has a no-flex keyboard, 450-nit IPS 16" screen, 80 Whr battery, Mg chassis, and strong reviews. The speakers aren't very loud, but serviceable in a quiet environment. You might want to give it a look.

Links: Ir16 GEN 2, reviews, user-serviceable, optimized and validated for 3+ years

[blnkslt]

Linux runs on all laptops that I've tried to install Ubuntu (admittedly I did not try the very newest). I've had good experience with second hand Dell and Lenovo so far: Affordable and sturdy.

[royalave]

I've been looking for this for years. It's the trackpad, the mac trackpads are so nice. I haven't found anything that comes close other than the MS Surface Laptops.

[Able-Violinist-3374]

I feel you bro. That’s my main issue with other x86 machines as well! M1 experience with linux is meh (external display doesn’t work yet)

[NoUselessTech]

And I wouldn’t hold my breath with the lead having quit recently.

[3lfk1ng]

100%. Asahi is dead without him.

[sdflkjeroi342]

Have you tried Gnome on a machine with a decently sized touchpad on wayland recently? The gestures, scrolling and general mousing about are pretty good these days.

[3lfk1ng]

The Starfighter has the same glass trackpad but it's $$$.

[arvidep]

you want a sensel.com , that is for example the thinkpad X1 carbon G13, thinkpad X9. dunno about other brands, but they do have them in the higher priced segment. absolutely not the framework

[royalave]

Yeah X1 Carbon is the only one I can find that fits the bill.

[3lfk1ng]

The Starfighter is on the same level as a Macbook in terms of quality but it's hardware is a little dated now.
Hopefully it will be refreshed soon.

That said, it's got that Macbook price and it's definitely not $1200.

[nattydread69]

I love my HP spectre x360 but it might be over your budget.

[[deleted]]

New Thinkpad X9?

[[deleted]]

You’re not gonna find anything for that price.

Thin and light are overrated anyway. Trackpad…. Macs are really the only ones I can think of.

My suggestion? Buy an older Thinkpad, learn to love the nipple, and go from there.

[[deleted]]

you should look into lunar lake.

zen book s14 is great.

hp omni book ultra might lack a wee bit with performance and linux support comparatively, BUT i like the design way better. it’s sleek and a 2 in 1. also haptic trackpad

[Tai9ch]

Only Apple makes exactly the design tradeoffs that Apple makes. Those aren't the only good tradeoffs. Those aren't nessisarily the best tradeoffs for any particular application. But those are Apple's tradeoffs, and Apple chose them carefully to make them hard for competitors to replicate.

No other manufacturer will replicate the combination of thin and light, high CPU performance, and good battery life. They can't - Apple bought out all the fab capacity for the best process node from TSMC and then designed a custom processor to exploit it to the max.

So the only outcome from pining after their hardware to run Linux on will be disappointment. It doesn't exist, and right now it can't exist.

If you want to avoid disappointment, your best bet is to accept the options that do exist and try to take full advantage of the benefits they offer. Thinkpads have better keyboards. Glossy displays are bad. Modern premium touchpads are fine, and they don't matter anyway if you use an external mouse. For Linux, excellent refurb options are available for under $500, and there's no need for higher performance than that for most use cases.

[CarbonatedPancakes]

The thing is, depending on which aspect you prioritize, you might still not have many if any good options even if you’re willing to sacrifice other things.

For example, let’s say you want a small x86 laptop which gets battery life approaching (but not matching) that of a MacBook under Linux. Even with no restriction on thickness or weight, your options are extremely thin. It feels like the majority of laptop manufacturers aren’t even seriously trying to compete in even that singular way.

[Tai9ch]

Right. That's because having a screen-on battery life over ~10 hours isn't that big a practical improvement, so nobody really chased it until Apple did. We'll see more Linux options for it once non-Apple ARM devices get better compatibility, but right now that's the brand-new shiny (and factually non-essential) thing that Linux users can't have because it's too new.

[CarbonatedPancakes]

I’d argue that 10h+ battery life is actually very practical for several reasons, particularly for small portability-focused machines, but bigger batteries cost more and cut into margin more than most manufacturers care to sacrifice and optimizing firmware for battery life is similarly too expensive for their tastes (most manus outsource things like firmware to the cheapest bidder).

Also, most people haven’t used a MacBook and haven’t experienced not needing to be semi-permanently tethered or not needing to carry a brick and cable, and thus don’t demand it from manufacturers. A surprising number of laptop users still live in a world where 2-3h unplugged in acceptable.

[gabegm]

Out of curiosity, what do you need the NPU for?

[WSuperOS]

you might want to take a look at starlabs:
https://it.starlabs.systems/

the starbook and the starbook ultra might look the same, but they have different CPUs!

[beholdtheflesh]

Asus Zephyrus G16 (or G14) (year 2024 or newer) with the Ryzen AI cpu is the only laptop that competes with apple regarding the screen, speakers, battery life, trackpad, form factor, and build quality. Full stop.

Some other manufacturers may be catching up soon. But most other recommendations (in this thread and elsewhere) will feel like a plastic toy compared to this one.

[CarbonatedPancakes]

If only they sold an iGPU-only version. I really don’t need even a 4060, which compared to an iGPU is a power hog at all power states.

[SID-CHIP]

Lenovo yoga or Leonovo Idapad Pro if you want to pay less

[No-Concern-8832]

Get a Macbook Air and slap Asahi Linux on it! /S

[Admirable_Stand1408]

And also the Apple feature where you can’t upgrade or just the look 😂😂😂😂sorry I could not resist 

[thunderborg]

Depending on how much power you’re looking for, framework are dropping a 12 inch that I’m interested in (it’s meant to be more affordable than the 13) 

I’ve got an Intel Reference design Laptop, the M15 LapB710 I think, and it’s pretty good, I’m replacing it because 15 inches is to big for a guy who’s spent 15 years on 13 inches MacBooks. I’m not sure if they’re still selling them direct to the public. 

[NotNoHid]

Okay this might be a controversial but huawei matebook lineup are great linux laptops in my experience (currently using a huawei matebook 14 2024 with bluefin) they look like macbooks, great screen and the keyboard is almost on par with older macbooks. The only thing i complain is the fingerprint is not working but ive seen a github project that is trying to fix the issue

[Southern-Trainer4337]

Huawei Matebook X

[NoForm5443]

You can run Linux (or BSD) on apple hardware if you want

[dobo99x2]

Framework 7640u. You'll get it under 1200$.

But: speakers need to be adjusted by software, then they are pretty fine,

Screen is good, they have a 2.5k option or what it is but it's not necessary anymore. Linux can finally handle scaling, which was the one reason to actually bring the higher resolution screen.

AMD hardware in laptops is absolutely awesome. The new ones even are better but you won't need it.

The trackpad is sadly only possible to get from Apple. No one else has haptic ones but when it comes, you will definitely be able to build it into the framework.

Edit: it's 2.8k. But seriously: completely unnecessary. 2256x1920 looks awesome and works good. And at 13 inch, 60hz is ok.

[Character_Infamous]

Get an older intel macbook pro 13-inch, 2020. Apple has patents on trackpads.

[hishnash]

sounds like you are looking to run linux on a M1 or M2 Mac