System76 may be an unfamiliar company outside of the Linux community, but they have been producing custom-built desktops and white label laptops for Linux operating systems for over a decade. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to tour their facilities and I love that the team there is striving to provide Linux users with the same seamless integration of operating system and hardware that users of other systems have long enjoyed with their favorite desktop software.
I’ve been testing the latest arrival with the refreshed Lemur Pro laptop from System76. The 14-inch powerhouse has a lot to love if you are in the market for an alternative to the mainstream options available for Windows, MacOS, and Chrome.
Design
Much like the previous model that’s been the stalwart of the System76 laptop portfolio, the first thing you’ll notice is how insanely light this machine is out of the box. The magnesium alloy chassis gives the laptop durability similar to other materials at a fraction of the weight at only 2.5lbs.
Overall, the design is much different than the previous model. At first glance, the first thing that shows itself is the webcam module doesn’t protrude as far from the top of the lid. The original variants of the Lemur Pro had design that plateaued above the rest of the screen where the 2024 edition is more flush.
Port selection is a good mix of traditional and modern expandability. On the left side you have USB 3.2 with power delivery via USB-C, full-sized HDMI, a USB-A 3.2, and a Thunderbolt 4 with PD over USB-C. Around the other side you have Kensington lock, USB-A 3.2, a microSD slot, and 3.5mm headphone jack.
Let’s look under the hood, shall we? My review sample featured 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 512GB of M.2 PCIe storage paired with an Intel Core Ultra Series 1 processor with 12 cores. You can upgrade this up to a Core i7 with 8TB of storage and 56GB of RAM. Even at the limits of our review unit, this is more than enough power for most users.
Screen and keyboard
The new System76 Lemur Pro has a 14-inch matte screen that’s a full HD 1920×1200 resolution. The screen looks great. It’s crisp and clear without looking washed out with the matte finish. I’m a huge proponent of non-glossy screens, and System76 nailed this feature. You should have no issues with this display compared to any other modern laptop.
The keyboard is in a similar vein, with a few caveats. System76 has produced a solid chiclet-style keyboard. The feedback is decent, although a little hollow, and the spacing is well done. If you’ve used an Acer or entry-level HP, you will find a similar feel.
My main issue is with the arrow keys and right Shift key layouts. System76 has included traditional ANSI keyboard layout that’s the default on almost any US-based machine. However, the usually long rectangular Shift key is simply the same size as any other letter key, with the UP arrow directly to the right. I’m not sure why the deviation is here, but it’s a real struggle with muscle memory to ignore. Even after several weeks, I struggle with this key combination.
Webcam
There’s also a FHD webcam. I can’t say that it bothers me to have the older 720p webcam found on most laptops, but I know many won’t even entertain spending money on them. Having the higher class of camera makes this even more appealing at the price tag for the Lemur Pro.
Here is where the System76 as a whole, and the Lemur Pro, separate themselves from other mainstream laptops. It’s not running Windows, Chrome OS, or even MacOS. Instead, it’s running the in-house Linux distribution known as Pop!_OS.
Operating system
It may be over punctuated, but System76 has a compelling offering here. Built a top an Ubuntu package base, Pop (that’s how I’ll refer to it from here) has a highly customizable user interface that’s capable for even the most advanced PC nerds.
The OS has a quirky feel and even a robot mascot. It really has a premium, stable feel while using it on a daily basis. And while it has a slew of options to tweak things, it walks the tight rope of not being overwhelming to new Linux users. Honestly, it has one of the best initial tutorial wizards I’ve ever seen at first boot.
This curbs the learning curve for those from other operating systems, or even other Linux distributions. It walks you through common features, gestures, the software store, and how to manipulate the dock. It’s a super polished experience that other Linux distros need to catch up to.
One note on software is the Wi-Fi card. In my initial setup with Pop it was instantly recognized. However, when I tried Fedora and Ubuntu, the card wasn’t recognized and required me to use a USB dongle or Ethernet to apply updates. Once the latest patches were installed, then the device ran just as it did with Pop’s base installation. It’s not a huge dealbreaker, but worth a mention.
Performance
I’ve had zero issues with general performance with the System76 Lemur Pro. Transitions in the OS has been smooth and seamless. The unit seems to allocate RAM and write speeds accordingly. If you are new to Linux, the hardware won’t be what holds you back. Linux veterans will simply just enjoy the experience of this Linux ultraportable.
The one downside I would mention is it calls on the fans pretty often. Anything that pushes the Lemur Pro beyond normal web browsing seems to have them start spinning. This was an early flaw of the previous Lemurs, but from cruising Reddit shows this was minimalized by BIOS and system updates as the laptop matured.
I’d love to see a similar approach here by System76. With the natural coolness of the magnesium alloy chassis, I think you could accomplish this without risking hardware failure issues. Other than this small dent in the armor, the System76 is a great combination of hardware performance with the 12th gen i5 and dedicated Intel graphics.
Battery life
Battery life is fairly inline with that of other ultraportables. The 74Whr pack inside the Lemur Pro is pretty efficient. I was able to average just over 10 hours of daily usage. Linux is historically harder on batteries since the kernel is not built directly with hardware component partners like with say Windows and Chrome OS. Despite this, over 10 hours is still admirable.
Conclusion
Earned for achieving an overage average star rating of at least 3.75 stars, this product is an AndroidGuys Smart Pick, signifying a perfect blend of quality, performance, and value. It excels in key areas like design, innovation, and user experience, offering top-notch functionality at a great price.
As a longtime Linux user, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the System76 Lemur Pro 2024. This refresh refines the existing lineup without losing any of its fantastic heritage. Whether you plan to continue to run Pop or immediately flash your favorite distro, this hardware will be ready for whatever you throw at it. It warms my heart to see a US-based company leading the way to merge operating system and hardware specifically made for Linux.
Lastly, we need to cover cost. The Lemur Pro starts at $1,400 in the combination of our review unit. You can max out with a grand total of nearly $2800 but this would get you the Ultra i7 processor, 54GB of RAM and a whopping 8TB of storage. Build your System76 Lemur Pro 2024 with the link below.
Purchase the System76 Lemur Pro Laptop for System76
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