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

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source had me giddy with anticipation. I’d already reviewed the InfinityBook Gen9 model and found it to be an outstanding Linux-first laptop.

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

Also: Can a Linux laptop really replace my MacBook? This one is surprisingly close

Here’s how it went. 

InfinityBook 14 Pro keyboard.

I really do love the feel of these keys (even though the layout they sent me was a bit awkward).

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

I ran my usual test on the Infinity Pro 14: install a local AI and see how well it stands up to the high demands required. For this test, I used Alpaca and the Qwen 2.5 coder LLM to have it 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 always find that it can reveal just how much capability a machine has. Once the AI spits out the script, I then take it one step further and have it create a GUI for the same task.

Also: I finally found a mini PC with a striking design (and the power to back it up)

In both instances, the Infinitybook performed incredibly well, taking but mere seconds to complete the tasks. 

The installation of apps (from KDE Discover) was fast, and those apps opened almost instantly. Speaking of which, out of the box, you get plenty of preinstalled apps, such as LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, VLC media player, as well as the Tuxedo Control Center.

The Tuxedo Control Center is a centralized location where you can get an at-a-glance at system performance, control power profiles, manage battery charging options, the built-in webcam, and more. This control center is something that I believe all Linux systems should include, so bravo to Tuxedo for creating such a handy tool.

Display

If I were to compare the display to my MacBook Pro (M1), I would have to say that it’s pretty close. No, it’s not quite as sharp, and the colors aren’t quite a clear, but it’s not shabby in the slightest. I’d say the display on the Infinity Pro 14 is better than every other Linux laptop I’ve ever tested, especially with KDE Plasma as the desktop environment.

Also: 8 things you can do with Linux that you can’t do with MacOS or Windows

I will say this: within KDE Plasma System Settings, there’s a color accuracy option. By default, it’s set at “Prefer Efficiency”. When I switched that to “Prefer Accuracy”, the display came to life and was even more beautiful.

Battery life

The InfinityBook stood toe-to-toe against my six-year-old MacBook, so I was able to get roughly 6-8 hours of work on a full charge. Is that enough? Depends on your needs. I don’t require a 12 hour battery life on a laptop because I’m typically somewhere near an outlet.

If you need a laptop that can last an entire day without blinking, you’d need to change the power profile in the Tuxedo Control Center and go with either the “Powersaver Extreme” profile or create your own.

ZDNET’s buying advice

I didn’t run into a single hitch. I love a good Linux laptop, and Tuxedo Computers’ InfinityBook Pro 14

Source : ZDNet

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