This Linux laptop has a brilliant display and performance that rivals my MacBook

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Tuxedo Computers InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen 9 is available now on the official site.
• This laptop outperformed my expectations in every way, with a powerful CPU and a gorgeous display.
• Use caution when selecting your keyboard during the order process.

I love a good laptop or desktop that comes pre-installed with Linux. When said hardware is equal parts beauty and power, it’s even better. When German company Tuxedo Computers sent me a new InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen 9 to review, I knew it would be something special.

I was not let down.

The company uses Clevo rebranded hardware, which, if you’re not familiar, are barebones laptop chassis used by many manufacturers that are fairly generic-looking, but offer their own perks (more on that in a bit). Tuxedo Computers can be shipped with either Tuxedo OS (the default) or you can choose from Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, or Xubuntu, all of which I’ve written about.

Also: Ready to ditch Windows? 5 factors to help you decide between Linux or MacOS

You can also order the laptop without any OS at all, and build your laptop with a custom logo (instead of the default Tuxedo Computers logo).

Tuxedo Computers InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen 9 tech specs

• Omnia Display: Glare-free 3K (2880 X 1800) with a 16:10 ratio, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and 400 nits brightness
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS (8 cores, 16 threads, 5.1 GHz max, and 24MB cache)
• GPU: AMD Radeon 780 M (12 GPU cores and a max clock speed of 2.7 GHz)
• RAM: 16GB DDR5 5600 MHz
• Storage: 500GB Samsung 980 VNMe PCIe 3.0
• Default keyboard: German DE QWERTZ
• Battery: 80Wh Lithium Polymer with up to 17 hours idle, 13 hours video playback, and 9 hours web surfing
• Ports: Left side: Kensington Security Slot, USB-A 2.0, USB-C 3.2 Gen2 (10 GBit/s | DisplayPort 1.4 | Power Delivery DC-In*), and a 2-in-1 audio (headphone + mic). Right side: Card reader (SD/SDHC/SDXC), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen1. Back side – HDMI 2.0b (HDCP 2.3), USB4 (40 GBit/s | DisplayPort 2.1 | Power Delivery DC-In* | DC-Out: max. 15 watts (5 V / 3 A)), RJ45 Port 1 Gbit (LAN).
• Webcam privacy slider
• Price: Starting at $1,057 from Tuxedo Computers

My experience

When I first pulled the laptop out of the box, I didn’t notice the thing that would trip me up most: the keyboard. The laptop I received had the German QWERTZ keyboard layout, something I’d never used. During setup, I just switched it to QWERTY, which turned out fine as long as I ignore the letters on the physical keyboard and type as normal. For example, the Y key was where the Z key would normally be.

Speaking of keyboards, the InfinityBook Pro Gen 9 keyboard isn’t really anything special. It works well, and while it’s certainly not like the dreaded MacBook butterfly keys, but it’s no Ultimate Hacking Keyboard. The keys are silent and have good action. I’d call this a Goldilocks keyboard: not too soft or too hard; they’re just right.

As far as the trackpad is concerned, that’s another story. From my perspective, Apple has created the gold standard by which all trackpads are compared, and although the InfinityBook Pro Gen 9 trackpad might not be at that level, it’s one of the better trackpads I’ve experienced on a Linux laptop. It’s smooth and reactive, with both a physical click and a tap-to-click that’s enabled by default. 

The next issue was the default resolution. Out of the box, the laptop opted for the highest resolution possible, which made everything way too small for my aging eyes. After a quick change to a 1920 x 1080 resolution, everything was perfect.

Also: 10 lessons I’ve learned from the open-source community that aren’t about tech

Tuxedo OS uses the KDE Plasma desktop, which also helps boost performance to impressive levels. The laptop handled everything I threw at it without blinking an eye. You also get the Tuxedo Control Center, where you can get an at-a-glance look at system performance, as well as the ability to quickly switch power profiles (from Default, Cool and Breezy, Powersave extreme, Tuxedo defaults, or a user-created custom profile).

The thing that really struck me the most about this laptop was how polished it was. Yes, it’s Clevo hardware but Tuxedo Computers has done a wonderful job of making it their own product and ensuring everything works seamlessly and smoothly.

The InfinityBook Pro Gen 9 also weighs roughly 3.09 pounds, which is about .09 pounds more than my MacBook Pro 13″, so it’s nice and light, making it a portable option. 

Also: You can test all the best Linux distros right in your web browser with this site

As far as the display, it’s beautiful. Images are crisp and have full support for the sRGB color gamut, so you know they’re going to be accurate. The best part about the display is the matte anti-glare coating. This is one of the few times where I’ve really noticed the combination of matte and anti-glare really making a big difference. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

I’m not gonna lie; the Tuxedo Computers InfinityBook Gen 9 is one of the best Linux laptops I’ve ever tested. It’s as beautiful as it is high-performing, and with one of the best displays I’ve seen on a Linux laptop, this will be one of those review units that I do not want to send back. Just moving the cursor around puts a smile on my face because it’s just so smooth and easy to see from any angle.

If you’ve been in the market for a laptop with Linux pre-installed, Tuxedo Computers’ InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen 9 is a solid choice. Just remember, if you do purchase one (and you hail from the United States), switch the default keyboard to a QWERTY layout; otherwise, you could get tripped up when typing.