Best Linux Laptops and Computers with Linux Pre-Installed (2026)

Updated: June 2026

Buying a computer with Linux pre-installed means no Windows licence fee, a system that's been tested with Linux drivers out of the box, and in most cases hardware chosen specifically to work well with open-source software. This guide covers the best options in 2026 across different budgets and use cases — from ultrabooks to desktops, and from mainstream brands to Linux-first manufacturers.

Why Buy a Computer with Linux Pre-Installed?

• No Windows tax: you're not paying for a licence you won't use
• Tested hardware compatibility: Wi-Fi, suspend, function keys and fingerprint readers actually work
• No bloatware: a clean system from day one
• Direct support: Linux-first vendors know their hardware and the OS

Linux-First Computer Brands

System76 (USA)

System76 is probably the best-known Linux computer company. Based in Denver, Colorado, they design their own hardware (the Thelio desktop line is manufactured in-house) and ship with Pop!_OS — their own Ubuntu-based distribution optimised for their hardware. They also sell the Oryx Pro and Lemur Pro laptops.

• Lemur Pro: Ultralight (under 1 kg), ARM-based, exceptional battery life (up to 18 hours). Best for mobile professionals.
• Oryx Pro: High-performance laptop with NVIDIA GPU, aimed at developers and creators. Available with up to RTX 4090.
• Thelio: Desktop line, user-serviceable, open-source firmware. Three sizes: Thelio, Thelio Major, Thelio Mega.
• Meerkat: Mini PC, compact, fanless options available.

Distro shipped: Pop!_OS (Ubuntu-based)
Ships to: USA, Canada, international
Price range: $1,099–$3,999

Tuxedo Computers (Germany)

Tuxedo is a German company that customises existing laptop chassis specifically for Linux. They offer extensive hardware configuration options at the time of purchase — storage, RAM, keyboard layout, and operating system. They ship their own TUXEDO OS (Ubuntu-based) and Tuxedo Tomte, a hardware auto-configuration tool that handles driver setup automatically.

• InfinityBook Pro: Premium ultrabook line, thin and light, available in 14" and 16". The most popular Tuxedo model.
• InfinityBook S: More affordable version of the InfinityBook line.
• Pulse 15: AMD Ryzen, good battery, budget-friendly.
• Stellaris: High-performance gaming/workstation laptop with NVIDIA GPU.

Distro shipped: TUXEDO OS, Ubuntu, or no OS
Ships to: Europe (primary), international
Price range: €799–€2,999

Slimbook (Spain)

Slimbook is a Spanish company based in Valencia offering laptops and desktops at competitive prices. They ship with KDE Neon or Ubuntu and have a particularly strong presence in the European Linux community. Their hardware is generally good value compared to System76 and Tuxedo.

• Executive: Premium ultrabook, 14", magnesium alloy chassis, up to 99 Wh battery.
• Essential: Mid-range laptop, solid daily driver, best value in their lineup.
• Hero: Gaming/high-performance laptop with dedicated GPU.
• Slimbook One: Mini PC, small form factor desktop.

Distro shipped: KDE Neon, Ubuntu, or Windows (your choice)
Ships to: Europe (primary), international
Price range: €699–€2,499

Framework (USA)

Framework doesn't exclusively sell Linux computers — they sell modular, repairable laptops that work excellently with Linux. The Framework Laptop 13 and 16 are fully user-upgradeable: RAM, storage, mainboard, ports, display, keyboard. Fedora and Ubuntu ship with official Framework support pages. The Framework 16 includes an upgradeable GPU module (currently AMD RX 7700S).

• Framework Laptop 13: 13.5" modular laptop. Intel or AMD Ryzen. Best Linux compatibility in its class.
• Framework Laptop 16: 16" with optional dGPU module. AMD Ryzen. Great for developers who also game.

Linux support: Excellent — Fedora, Ubuntu, Arch all have dedicated guides
Ships to: USA, Canada, Europe, Australia
Price range: $1,049–$1,999 (DIY edition, you install the OS)

Purism (USA)

Purism focuses on privacy and security above all else. Their Librem laptops use coreboot (open-source firmware), hardware kill switches for camera/microphone/Wi-Fi, and ship with PureOS — a Debian-based distribution that meets FSF's standards for free software.

• Librem 14: 14" laptop with hardware kill switches, coreboot, PureOS.
• Librem 5: Linux smartphone.

Distro shipped: PureOS (Debian-based)
Ships to: USA, international
Price range: $1,299–$1,799

Star Labs (UK)

Star Labs makes compact, lightweight laptops optimised for Linux. Their machines use coreboot firmware and are available with Ubuntu, Linux Mint, elementary OS, MX Linux, Manjaro, or Zorin OS pre-installed. The StarBook Mk VI is their flagship: a 14" laptop with a high-quality IPS display.

Distro shipped: Your choice from 8 distros
Ships to: UK, Europe, worldwide
Price range: £649–£1,099

PINE64 (Global)

PINE64 makes ultra-affordable ARM-based Linux hardware. The Pinebook Pro is a $199 ARM laptop — not a productivity powerhouse, but remarkable for the price and fully open. Better suited for learning Linux, tinkering, or a secondary machine than as a primary workstation.

• Pinebook Pro: $199, ARM Cortex-A55, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB eMMC. Runs Manjaro, Debian.
• Star64: RISC-V single-board computer.

Mainstream Brands with Good Linux Support

Comparison: Linux-First Brands

Which One Should You Buy?

• In Europe, best laptop for daily work: Tuxedo InfinityBook Pro or Slimbook Executive — fast European shipping, excellent Linux support.
• Most repairable laptop: Framework Laptop 13 or 16 — upgradeable for years.
• Desktop: System76 Thelio — nothing in the Linux-first market competes for desktop hardware.
• Privacy is the priority: Purism Librem 14 — open firmware, hardware kill switches, no compromise.
• Budget is tight: Slimbook Essential or PINE64 Pinebook Pro.
• Mainstream brand: Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition or any Lenovo ThinkPad T or X series.

All of these options let you skip the Windows licence fee and start with a system where Linux just works. The Linux-first brands offer something mainstream manufacturers don't: hardware chosen and tested specifically for open-source software, with support teams that actually use Linux themselves.