I used System76’s Pangolin for weeks, and Linux was not the biggest problem

After using System76’s Pangolin as my primary work laptop for nearly six weeks, I can tell you this: If you need a 15-inch Linux-focused laptop, this is the one to get.

The Pangolin is a solid device, designed more for dependability and convenience than ultrabook portability or cutting-edge parts, but it still has reasonably modern hardware (especially its 144 Hz screen). The Pangolin and its native Pop!_OS are a showcase for how remarkably normal Linux can feel as a daily driver in 2023. Normal, and with lots of ports.

Specs at a glance: System76 Pangolin (2023)
Display	15.6-inch 1920×1080 144 Hz, matte, non-touch
OS	Pop!_OS 22.04 or Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 6800U, 2.7-4.7 GHz, 8 cores, 16 threads
RAM	32GB LPDDR5 (up to 5500 MHz)
GPU	AMD Radeon 680M (integrated)
Storage	Two M.2 PCIe NVMe slots, 16TB total capacity
Networking	Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
Battery	70 Wh
Ports	Power (barrel), HDMI, USB-A-type (x3), USB-C (power and data), headphone, ethernet, SD, Kensington lock.
Size	14.59× 9.76×0.71 inches (37.06×24.79×1.80 cm)
Weight	3.95 lbs (1.79 kg)
Warranty	1-year (extendable to 3)
Price as reviewed	$1,414 ($1,300 base)

It’s hard to do a nuts-and-bolts comparison of the Pangolin to most other laptops, due largely to benchmark comparability between Linux and most laptops running Windows or macOS. But it’s also not entirely necessary. There’s only one real version of the Pangolin available—one processor, one amount of RAM, then variable, user-expandable storage.

We’ll show you how the Pangolin did on a couple tests. But how this laptop works for you is much more about what you’re bringing to it and what you're willing to put into customizing it to your liking. I came to the Pangolin as someone who has made a few attempts at using Linux as a daily driver. I know enough command line, vim, and Unix-based architecture to be conversant, and I have two Raspberry Pis that are constantly being improved. Still, I'm more hobbyist than practitioner.

And yet the Pangolin presented no real problems as I used it for almost any task I needed to get done. Its combination of solid software and practical hardware choices make it an easy system to recommend, so long as you know you need Linux. Its maker-made operating system, Pop!_OS, almost never gave me problems, except when I was trying to make it run benchmarks. Starting with a rock-solid Linux install, where every bit of hardware is supported and functional, made me more eager to poke at the edges and see what I could customize.

Look and feel

The Pangolin reminds me of the ThinkPads of yore, the kind you could throw at a wall, pick up, and then use to write an email to a drywall contractor. Its magnesium alloy chassis is strong most of the way around, with only a small bit of flex in the middle of the keyboard area. The hinge has a good resistance; the laptop can be opened with one finger, but the hinge keeps the screen firmly in place when typing (even with my forceful habits). It's armored but flexible, like its namesake.

With a 15.6-inch display and weighing just about 4 pounds (1.8 kg), the Pangolin is not an ultrabook, but it’s not particularly hard to carry around. Its 16:9 screen makes it more likely to fit backpack or briefcase slots meant for 13- or 14-inch models. It’s roughly 1.5 pounds heavier than a 14-inch X1 Carbon, a pound heavier than a (2021) 14-inch MacBook Pro, and a third of a pound less than the 16-inch MacBook Pro model. The weight is fairly balanced; in a backpack, it's as portable as you can expect a 15-inch laptop to be.

The Pangolin comes with the System76 logo in the middle of its display back. The power button has a blue light ring around it. That’s about it when it comes to expressive design. It’s a thoroughly black and plain laptop, with a Super key inscribed with “Super,” not a penguin or a custom logo. That's partly due to System76's production scheme; the company works with laptop makers like Clevo for the base system and then devises firmware and drivers for a tighter integration with its own OS (and Linux generally).

Repairability and hardware access

Getting to the Pangolin's storage involves removing just one screw—two, actually, if you count the little one holding your NVME drive down. Getting the entire bottom off the laptop requires the removal of 11 screws, none of them hidden under rubber feet you'll have to stick back on. The whole bottom comes off after you pop loose some plastic clips, and then you have access to everything you could reasonably replace, minus the soldered-on memory, CPU, and ports. Even better, there are repair guides for major components.

All of this should be welcome news to anybody who wants to buy a laptop and keep using it past when the battery starts to wear out. The Pangolin looks like a computer that can not only take a few licks but can likely be fixed if something needs replacing inside.