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

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naturally, when tuxedo computer Asked me if I wanted to try one of their latest, I happily accepted, and Infinity Pro 14 I felt dizzy with anticipation. I’ve already reviewed the InfinityBook Gen9 model and found it to be an excellent Linux-first laptop.

This time, I tested the Gen 10 model with some updated hardware: namely, a 16-core AMD AI7 350 CPU, 32GB of RAM, and integrated AMD graphics.

Also: Can a Linux laptop really replace my MacBook? it’s surprisingly close

Here’s how it happened.

my experience

First of all, usually Tuxedo Computers sends me their laptops with US keyboards. This time, the keyboard was quite German, so my brain had to backflip and make sure my fingers found the right keys based on touch and memory. that was fun.

Physically, the keyboard feels great (that, take a MacBook). The trackpad is nice and smooth, and everything works fine. It does resemble many of the devices I’ve reviewed before, however, in that it features a standard-looking construction. It isn’t until you boot up the machine that you realize that the Infinity Pro is not a book that should be judged by its cover.

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Tuxedo OS uses the KDE Plasma desktop environment, and it looks and performs great. Thanks to the powerful CPU and more than enough RAM, I could enable all the desktop effects I wanted without hindering performance.

Yes, I switched from the dark theme that was enabled by default (selecting the whitesure-alt theme, which is very macOS-like). Once I did that, I was pleased with the way the desktop looked.

Display

I ran my usual test on the Infinity Pro 14: install a local AI and see how well it lives up to the high demands required. For this test, I used Alpaca and Quen 2.5 CoderLLM to write a Python script that would accept input from users and write it to a file.

I’ve been using this test for some time now, and have always found that it can tell how much capacity a machine has. Once the AI ​​spits out the script, I take it a step further and create a GUI for the same task.

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In both instances, the InfinityBook performed incredibly well, taking only a few seconds to complete the tasks.

Installation of apps (from KDE Discover) was fast, and those apps opened almost instantly. Speaking of which, out of the box, you get a lot of preinstalled apps, like LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, VLC Media Player, as well as Tuxedo Control Center.

Tuxedo Control Center is a centralized location where you can take a look at system performance, control power profiles, manage battery charging options, built-in webcams, and more. I believe this Control Center is something that should be included on all Linux systems, so thanks to Tuxedo for creating such a useful tool.

Display

If I compare the display with my MacBook Pro (M1), I have to say it’s pretty close. No, it’s not as sharp, and the colors aren’t quite as crisp, but it’s not too shabby either. I will say that the Infinity Pro 14’s display is better than every other Linux laptop I’ve tested, especially with KDE Plasma as the desktop environment.

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I will say this: within the KDE Plasma system settings, there is a color accuracy option. By default, this is set to “Prioritize efficiency”. When I switched it to “Prioritise accuracy”, the display came to life and became even more beautiful.

battery life

The InfinityBook stood on par with my six-year-old MacBook, so I was able to get about 6-8 hours of work on a single full charge. is that enough? Depends on your needs. I don’t need 12 hours of battery life on a laptop because I’m usually near an outlet.

If you want a laptop that can go all day without blinking, you’ll need to change the power profiles in Tuxedo Control Center and either go with the “PowerSaver Extreme” profile or create your own.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

I didn’t run into any trouble. I love a good Linux laptop and Tuxedo computers InfinityBook Pro 14 Possibly one of the best I’ve tested. This laptop offers an excellent ratio of performance and ease of use, meaning it will be suitable for almost any user.

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As far as price is concerned, you’re looking at around $1,223 for the base model. You can configure your own tuxedo computer Shop.

Tuxedo InfinityPro 14 Technical Specifications

• Display: 14 inch 3K (2880×1800) 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) or AMD Radeon 800M (AMD models).
• Memory (RAM): Up to 96GB (Gen9) or 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 port, USB-C.
• CHASSIS: Ultra-thin, lightweight all-aluminium.
• Weight: About 1.45kg (Gen10) to 1.5kg (Gen9).
• Ports: 3 USB, one USB-C, one microSD slot