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


We tested some of the best Linux-compatible laptops from Lenovo, Dell, and more, as Linux continues to grow as a popular alternative to Windows and macOS. Here are our favorites.

ZDNET staff writer Cesar Cadenas got to test out the AMD-based ThinkPad T14s, and while he was impressed with the sheer processing power the laptop has, he found the 1920 x 1200 resolution display left him wishing for a 2K model instead. Resident ZDNET laptop expert Kyle Kucharski got to test out the Dell XPS 13 (2024) for himself, and was impressed with both the 17-hour battery life and bright, bold colors the display was capable of creating, even without the OLED panel And Tech Tangents on YouTube, a channel dedicated to restoring and archiving retro computer hardware and software, was able to revive a TeleVideo 950 terminal that was originally released in 1980 and use a version of Linux on it.

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