System 76 Pangolin Pro Review (2026): Powerhouse Linux Laptop Leave a comment
I’ve related emotions concerning the very massive glass trackpad. For issues like photograph enhancing, the trackpad’s measurement is nice, however I discovered my palms sometimes clicked the buttons on the backside of the trackpad once I took a break from typing. It did not occur typically, however I realized to watch out about the place I put my palms.
The two-MP 1080p webcam is okay for informal use, chatting with household and associates, however should you do a variety of Zoom conferences in an expert context, it’s your decision an exterior webcam. Additionally, open-source purists ought to notice that Coreboot nonetheless doesn’t help AMD Ryzen chips (or AMD doesn’t help Coreboot, relying on the way you need to take a look at it), so the Pangolin Professional doesn’t use open firmware.
Lastly, the Pangolin Professional is simple to confide in change or restore elements. There are 9 screws on the underside of the chassis, and none of them are hidden beneath the rubber toes or different shenanigans. Unscrew all of them, and the underside lifts off, supplying you with entry to the SSD slots, RAM, WiFi card, and the remainder of the internals. You will don’t have any hassle upgrading elements down the highway should you determine to, say, improve your reminiscence when RAM costs come again down. (Is that really going to occur? Who is aware of.)
Pop!_OS Linux Integration
System76’s Pop!_OS Linux has lengthy offered what I take into account probably the greatest Linux experiences on the market. The Cosmic Desktop and the customized apps System76 ships with it present that “simply works” stability it’s essential use Linux each day with out even noticing you are utilizing Linux.
As a long-time Linux person, I am in all probability biased, however I discover Linux to supply a greater person expertise than MacOS or Home windows. I by no means really feel like I am preventing the working system to get issues the way in which I would like them. I primarily run a terminal for writing, e-mail, studying RSS feeds, and so forth, and an internet browser. Once I must edit photographs, I open Darktable; movies in DaVinci Resolve. None of that ought to require a lot from an working system, however for some purpose it is all simpler for me in Linux.
Pop!_OS is especially good on this regard, because it manages to really feel acquainted sufficient for Linux newcomers to search out their approach round, whereas nonetheless providing a very good quantity of power-user options. For example, if you do not know what tiling home windows are, you by no means should be bothered about them, however if you need them, you’ll be able to allow them with a toggle swap within the settings app. There are a great deal of (customizable) keyboard shortcuts for builders who eschew the mouse, and there are many trackpad gestures to regulate workspaces, window focus, and extra.
Ought to You Purchase It?
Originally, I stated the Pangolin Professional is overkill for many peoples wants, which is true. Though the Pangolin is definitely cheaper than the smaller System76 Lemur Professional (evaluate coming quickly), the extra transportable Lemur Professional could be a greater match for a lot of. Nevertheless, should you’re doing extremely intensive issues together with your laptop computer, constructing native AI fashions or coaching customized brokers, compiling software program, or simply need a highly effective, future-proof machine, Pangolin is among the greatest Linux laptops I’ve examined.
In case you’re a Linux person searching for a 16-inch laptop computer with all of the bells and whistles, and one which is not loopy costly or loopy heavy, that is the machine I might get.
