The Linux laptop I keep coming back to nails performance and portability

Tuxedo Computers IninityBook Pro 14

ZDNET's key takeaways

• The InfinityBook 14 Pro is avaialble now, starting at $1,223.
• It's a Linux-first laptop with plenty of power to run all the apps you need.
• The laptop's physical design is non-descript, and you'll want to adjust for the best battery settings.

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Naturally, when Tuxedo Computers asked me if I wanted to give one of their latest a spin, I happily accepted, and the Infinity Pro 14 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. 

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 up that you realize the Infinity Pro is not a book that should not be judged by its cover.

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Tuxedo OS uses the KDE Plasma desktop environment, and it looks and performs in spectacular fashion. 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 that was 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 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.

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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.

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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 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 is probably one of the best I've tested. This laptop offers an outstanding ratio of performance and ease of use, which means it would be suitable for just about any user.

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As far as price is concerned, you're looking at roughly $1,223 for the base model. You can configure your own at the Tuxedo Computers shop.

Tuxedo InfinityPro 14 tech specs

• 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 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