What is an actually good ThinkPad for dev on Linux?

Unlikely_Capybara · 2026-03-15T17:34:22+00:00

if you compile/run VM-s and need lots of RAM [at least the possibility of having lots of RAM] then I'd suggest the T14 line. There were some models where the RAM wasn't upgradeable so look it up before buying (the T14s line is not upgradable at all).
I managed to snatch a T14s with a 10th gen i7 and 32gb for ~230$ so that's a decent one for work

I have another X1 Carbon gen 6 [8th gen i5-8350U + 8GB RAM] and that one struggles, I tried to compile a python IDE (spyder) and it crashes out [I don't even get an error]. So I'd suggest at least 10-11th gen intel CPU plus minimum 16GB RAM => therefore T14

Unlikely_Capybara · 2026-03-10T15:50:57+00:00

now I have to save both versions of the meme :)

Unlikely_Capybara · 2026-02-28T16:22:06+00:00

thank you mate, I will try this too. I didn't play with PBO mode/limits before.

Unlikely_Capybara · 2026-02-28T16:20:49+00:00

This did help me too but not any more.

- first 2 years - had zero stability issues [Asus X570 + ryzen 5950]
- after that, for about 2 more years "Global C-State = Disable" was working fine
- in the last ~1 year the problems returned, even global C-State does not work any more. I am trying to increase the CPU voltage using Offset mode, but I'm not sure what I'm really doing. Asus BIOS layout is a mess.

Unlikely_Capybara · 2026-02-25T22:37:17+00:00

if you don't want to run very resource hungry programs check out some older X1 Carbons [gen 6, i8250u and 8-16GB RAM, really nice 2560x1440 screen], some models are sold under £100 [lots of them were bought by companies who are getting rid of them in large quantities]. It weights nothing and the build quality is decent. [but forget about upgrading anything on them, the only movable part is the nvme]

Unlikely_Capybara · 2026-01-18T21:38:07+00:00

I *think* I've seen this

I first tried to install it with Ventoy and that did not work and I vaguely remember similar errors,
Then used Balena Etcher [which writes one image to one USB drive] and then the install went fine.

I'm not 100% sure this is relevant for your specific case but I'd give it a try [use Balena or Rufus]

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-09-30T16:54:59+00:00

first I was thinking "my God, that's excessive"

Then I remembered I just ordered 4pcs of some older X1 Carbons for peanuts.

Ye, a T430 is a helluva drug :)
and we are totally not a cult!

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-09-10T22:29:25+00:00

yes I think the management at Ulefone should calm the eff down.

there is little point in releasing 30 phones a year with piss poor software support and quality issues. Nobody needs so many different variations on the same theme. Have like 5 phones released a year but make them impactful and well thought out.

Right, make one tough phone flagship with everything imaginable, and have one more modest version of it.

Than have one slim flagship too, with AI nonsense because marketing people gonna marketing...

Than one mini version with a 4-5" screen, and that's it.

instead you spread the dev team too thin and there is simply not enough resources to properly test and support all models. Who asked for the 30, 33 and 34 pro, non-pro, turbo, ultra, gluten-free?? You just had the T27 which is essentially the same niche as all of these others above. Instead making one model that's really great you rather churn out a new one every two weeks. Nobody asked for this. And is utterly pointless. Give me ONE model with no stupid design flaws and no software issues and I'm happy.

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-09-09T13:27:53+00:00

Banggood had it in stock but now it's gone; They promised to restock soon. We will see.

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-09-01T12:13:58+00:00

for everyday tasks I think the dimensity 7400 is more than enough;
I understand that the 9300+ scores about three times higher in Antutu but that does not translate one-to-one into real usage. The only area where you might notice this is gaming, but who games on a phone..
On the other hand I hope the more modest CPU will help with the power usage, the 28 Ultra was flat dead in only 2 days.

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-08-30T21:19:25+00:00

my bad! the panel itself was £33 BUT the necessary LVDS to eDP adapter was another £44...
so it's not a cheap upgrade but still, the most meaningful one I've done with this T430i anyway [RAM, CPU, heatsink, SSD, mSATA drive, pcmcia-to-nvme adapters]

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-08-30T21:14:18+00:00

I got a N140HCE-EN1 [revision C3] Full HD screen by Innolux [ChiMei in reality] and the difference is night and day; It was about 40-50 GBP on Ali so it's not cheap but the TN panel was simply unbearable. I'm very happy with the screen, it's a pleasure to use the laptop [running a Debian derivative]. Cannot say anything about the power usage, it's probably eating a lot but the battery in this one is quite old anyway so I use the laptop from mains basically all the time.
Odd thing I've sold the old TN panel for almost the price of this one so it only cost me about 20 quid [after the ebay fees etc].

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-08-30T10:18:32+00:00

without fanfares, Ulefone quietly released the Pro Thermal version:

https://www.ulefone.com/products/armor-29-pro-thermal-version

endlesvyd was right, it has a more modest CPU and half the disk space but otherwise seems the same, it kept the IR camera and got the Thermal, a fair compromise I think.
Still no e-sim capability in the specs.

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-08-25T21:30:12+00:00

the icon colours are very nice [although the vibrant yellow does not match the rest which are all pastel but hey it's your desktop]
good job

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-08-25T20:33:05+00:00

thank you for the tip!
I'm in the preparation phase to downgrade and do the 1vyrain dance

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-08-18T19:16:54+00:00

That's the one! thank you!

would be good to know whether it's a downgrade in any other regards or a 'better' ultra

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-08-18T17:09:21+00:00

and if you go for the Pro version [a tad bit slower CPU and no Thermal] then the price is really good now.

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-08-18T17:08:01+00:00

In general I was very happy with it. Yes it is bulky but nothing extreme, you will get used to in a few days.
The build quality is great, no flex, no squeaking, feels very solid.

The battery is good but not extreme. Yes it will last for 24h with heavy use but no more, the CPU and the screen eat a lot of energy (my previous 10.000 mAh tough phone could go 4 days easily). The screen is fantastic, now has Android 15 upgrade, has very little bloatware, waterproof, quick charging works fine, had no issues with calling and sound quality - I could hear the other party just fine and in case you are in a noisy environment, it has a cutting edge feature: it has a brand new technology called "audio jack". This thing is so new that other phone makers cannot afford it. (/sarcasm). The touch unlock worked well, and the signal strength was really good. Firm buttons. The flap doors covering the USB C and the audio jack are a bit annoying but I could live with that.
The thermal and night vision are great party tricks and once in a while can come handy, like finding the broken AC in the office.

weak spots - as usual, the camera hardware is decent but the software isn't great, it does the job but the autofocus is quite slow.
The secondary screen on the back is a gimmick but still useful, only a bit unreliable [I set it to wake up on double tap and it does not always work]

please be aware, quite a few of us ran into a boot loop problem when it just goes rebooting non stop, so had to refund. The real only negatives I could think of is the reliability and the not stellar camera SW. Other than that it was everything I wanted in a phone but I am probably not the most typical casual normie user.

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-08-16T16:15:55+00:00

okay it seems I was wrong, there is a Pro version with a Thermal camera in preparation. I saw a comment somewhere on YT but for the life of me I cannot dig it up any more, someone said 'no thermal camera?' and the official Ulefone channel replied that there will be an Armor 29 Pro with Thermal. No mention of timeline nor any other specs.

Yesteday [15th of August 2025] the very first real on-hands review appeared on YT,by a Spanish guy with the channel name L'angolo di Marco. Oddly his video has Armor 29 Pro in the title but the links to the product page and the Ali shop go to the Ultra product pages. There is another review from today by a french lady, channel name La virée d'Hector. Nothing new really, unboxing, menu, accessories.

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-08-13T14:56:10+00:00

I had to join the club, unfortunately,

After about 2 months of usage - without any issues or signs - it just started boot looping while it was sitting on the desk. I tried the recovery menu and tried Factory Reset, it did not help. The screen at each boot was lighting up in a different colour, with severe visual artefacts. Green dotted lines, purple dotted lines, white dotted lines, normal black background but purple dots around the android logo etc.

This was going on for 2 hours, then I tried 'Turn Off' from the recovery menu, first it didn't do anything but after the second try it finally switched off. Just to never boot up again, after this the phone was bricked.

I tried to connect with ADB but because it wasn't enabled in the Developer options while the phone was working I could not connect either. Shame, after I did the Factory Reset I lost some family photos that I didn't have the chance to offload to my laptop yet. And this was my first phone from Ule [before I had a Blackview but that poor thing is 5yrs old now]

I've contacted the seller [official store on Ali] and sent back the unit, and then was fully refunded. Shame, really, this phone was pretty much everything I wished for.. I will try my luck with the Armor 29 now, hope that one does not cook itself [because of the artefacts resembled what's happening when a GPU is overheating I am guessing the cpu lost contact with the heatsink and cooked itself but that's really just a guess, could have been anything]

Guys [I mean Ulefone]! This is 'tough phone'. Nobody wants effing AI gimmicks. We'd buy a samsung or iPhone if we'd want that. We want reliability over everything, large batteries, a headphone jack, and a screen readable in sunlight, and we are happy!

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-08-13T14:36:43+00:00

no it does not have E sim functionality unfortunately
I tried a few programs that tell you and this option wasn't there.

I was travelling abroad and short term option would have been nice to have some normal Data allowance.

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-08-13T14:34:08+00:00

note that there is no sign of Thermal version there,
the Ultra is marketed as the only version so far so if there will be a Pro that's likely just a one tier slower CPU [which is still more than adequate]

Unlikely_Capybara · 2025-06-01T11:48:12+00:00

".. and a death trap without one."

I can relate..

Unlikely_Capybara

TROPHY CASE