Ready for a Linux laptop? I recommend a Tuxedo to beginners and pro users alike

Tuxedo Computers InfinityBook Pro 14

ZDNET's key takeaways

• The InfinityBook Pro 14 is available now, with various configurations.
• It's a Linux-first laptop with plenty of power to run all the apps you need.
• The laptop's physical design is nondescript, so you'll want to adjust the battery settings for the best performance.

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When the opportunity arose to spend some time with Tuxedo Computers' latest hardware, it was an easy yes for me. The Infinity Pro 14 is a particularly exciting follow-up, especially after the InfinityBook Gen9 set such a high bar for what a dedicated Linux laptop can achieve.

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.

Here's how it went. 

My experience

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

Physically, the keyboard feels great (take that, MacBook). The trackpad is nice and slick, and everything just worked. It does resemble many a device I've reviewed before, however, featuring a rather standard-looking build. It's not until you boot the machine that you realize the Infinity Pro is not a book to be judged by its cover.

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

Yes, I did switch from the dark theme enabled by default (opting for the WhiteSur-Alt theme, which is very MacOS-like). Once I did that, I was pleased with the way the desktop looked. 

Performance

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: installed a local AI and saw how well it stood up to the high demands. For this test, I used Alpaca and the Qwen 2.5 coder LLM to write a Python script that accepts user input and writes it to a file.

I've been using this test for some time now, and I always find it reveals 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.

In both instances, the Infinitybook performed incredibly well, completing the tasks in mere seconds. 

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, and 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'd say it's pretty close. No, it's not quite as sharp, and the colors aren't quite as clear, but it's not shabby in the slightest. I'd say the display on the Infinity Pro 14 is better than that of any other Linux laptop I've ever tested, especially with KDE Plasma as the desktop environment.

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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 with my six-year-old MacBook, so I got 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'll need to change the power profile in the Tuxedo Control Center and either use 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 is probably one of the best I've tested. This laptop offers an outstanding balance of performance and ease of use, making it suitable for just about any user.

As for price, you're looking at roughly $1,200 for the base model. You can configure your own at 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) 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 ports, USB-C.
• Chassis: Ultra-thin, lightweight all-aluminum.
• Weight: Around 1.45 kg (Gen10) to 1.5 kg (Gen9). 
• Ports: 3 USB, one USB-C, one MicroSD slot