Ready for a Linux laptop? I found one that competes with my MacBook Pro

Tuxedo Computers IninityBook Pro 14

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The InfinityBook 14 Pro is avaialble now, starting astatine $1,223.
• It's a Linux-first laptop with plentifulness of powerfulness to tally each the apps you need.
• The laptop's carnal plan is non-descript, and you'll privation to set for the champion artillery settings.

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Naturally, erstwhile Tuxedo Computers asked maine if I wanted to springiness 1 of their latest a spin, I happily accepted, and the Infinity Pro 14 had maine giddy with anticipation. I'd already reviewed the InfinityBook Gen9 model and recovered it to beryllium an outstanding Linux-first laptop.

This clip around, I tested the Gen 10 exemplary with immoderate updated hardware: namely, a 16-core AMD AI 7 350 CPU, 32GB of RAM, and integrated AMD graphics.

Also: Can a Linux laptop truly regenerate my MacBook? This 1 is amazingly close

Here's however it went. 

My experience

First off, usually Tuxedo Computers sends maine their laptops with US keyboards. This clip around, the keyboard was rather German, truthful my encephalon had to bash a backflip and marque definite my fingers recovered the close keys based connected interaction and memory. That was fun.

Physically, the keyboard feels large (take that, MacBook). The trackpad is bully and slick, and everything conscionable worked. It does lucifer galore a instrumentality I've reviewed before, however, featuring a alternatively standard-looking build. It's not until you footwear the instrumentality up that you recognize the Infinity Pro is not a publication that should not beryllium judged by its cover.

Also: Ubuntu Budgie vs. Pop!_OS: I've utilized some Linux distros - here's however to choose

Tuxedo OS uses the KDE Plasma desktop environment, and it looks and performs successful spectacular fashion. Thanks to the almighty CPU and much than capable RAM, I could alteration each the desktop effects I wanted without hindering performance.

Yes, I did power from the acheronian taxable that was enabled by default (opting for the WhiteSur-Alt theme, which is precise MacOS-like). Once I did that, I was pleased with the mode the desktop looked. 

Performance

I truly bash emotion the consciousness of these keys (even though the layout they sent maine was a spot awkward).

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

I ran my accustomed trial connected the Infinity Pro 14: instal a section AI and spot however good it stands up to the precocious demands required. For this test, I utilized Alpaca and the Qwen 2.5 coder LLM to person it constitute a Python publication that would judge input from users and constitute it to a file.

I've been utilizing this trial for immoderate clip now, and ever find that it tin uncover conscionable however overmuch capableness a instrumentality has. Once the AI spits retired the script, I past instrumentality it 1 measurement further and person it make a GUI for the aforesaid task.

Also: I yet recovered a mini PC with a striking plan (and the powerfulness to backmost it up)

In some instances, the Infinitybook performed incredibly well, taking but specified seconds to implicit the tasks. 

The installation of apps (from KDE Discover) was fast, and those apps opened astir instantly. Speaking of which, retired of the box, you get plentifulness of preinstalled apps, specified arsenic LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, VLC media player, arsenic good arsenic the Tuxedo Control Center.

The Tuxedo Control Center is simply a centralized determination wherever you tin get an at-a-glance astatine strategy performance, power powerfulness profiles, negociate artillery charging options, the built-in webcam, and more. This power halfway is thing that I judge each Linux systems should include, truthful bravo to Tuxedo for creating specified a useful tool.

Display

If I were to comparison the show to my MacBook Pro (M1), I would person to accidental that it's beauteous close. No, it's not rather arsenic sharp, and the colors aren't rather a clear, but it's not shabby successful the slightest. I'd accidental the show connected the Infinity Pro 14 is amended than each different Linux laptop I've ever tested, particularly with KDE Plasma arsenic the desktop environment.

Also: 8 things you tin bash with Linux that you can't bash with MacOS oregon Windows

I volition accidental this: wrong KDE Plasma System Settings, there's a colour accuracy option. By default, it's acceptable astatine "Prefer Efficiency". When I switched that to "Prefer Accuracy", the show came to beingness and was adjacent much beautiful.

Battery life

The InfinityBook stood toe-to-toe against my six-year-old MacBook, truthful I was capable to get astir 6-8 hours of enactment connected a afloat charge. Is that enough? Depends connected your needs. I don't necessitate a 12 hr artillery beingness connected a laptop due to the fact that I'm typically determination adjacent an outlet.

If you request a laptop that tin past an full time without blinking, you'd request to alteration the powerfulness illustration successful the Tuxedo Control Center and spell with either the "Powersaver Extreme" illustration oregon make your own.

ZDNET's buying advice

I didn't tally into a azygous hitch. I emotion a bully Linux laptop, and Tuxedo Computers' InfinityBook Pro 14 is astir apt 1 of the champion I've tested. This laptop offers an outstanding ratio of show and easiness of use, which means it would beryllium suitable for conscionable astir immoderate user.

Also: The champion Linux distros for beginners successful 2025 marque switching from MacOS oregon Windows truthful easy

As acold arsenic terms is concerned, you're looking astatine astir $1,223 for the basal model. You tin configure your ain astatine the Tuxedo Computers shop.

Tuxedo InfinityPro 14 tech specs

• Display: 14-inch 3K (2880x1800) IPS, 16:10, 400-500 nits, 100% sRGB, up to 120Hz.
• Processor Options: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H (Gen9), AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (Gen9), AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, AI 9 365, AI 9 HX 370 (Gen10).
• Graphics: Integrated Intel Arc (Intel models) oregon AMD Radeon 800M (AMD models).
• Memory (RAM): Up to 96GB (Gen9) oregon 128GB (Gen10) DDR5-5600.
• Storage: Up to 8TB (2x M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs).
• Battery: Large 80 Wh battery, USB-C charging (100W).
• Ports: Thunderbolt 4/USB4, HDMI 2.0b/2.1, SD Card Reader, USB-A ports, USB-C.
• Chassis: Ultra-thin, lightweight all-aluminum.
• Weight: Around 1.45 kg (Gen10) to 1.5 kg (Gen9). 
• Ports: 3 USB, 1 USB-C, 1 MicroSD slot