Star Labs StarBook
Ranked 3 of 3 Linux laptops by recommenders
People recommend it as one of the few major-maker laptops built for Linux, with open firmware, repairability and sleek design. Critics report power and sleep problems.
People recommend it as one of the few major-maker laptops built for Linux, with open firmware, repairability and sleek design. Critics report power and sleep problems.
9 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 6
- criticize it
- 3
- approval share
- 67%
Recommended in 4 of 13 months
- November 2025: recommended
- December 2025: recommended
- January 2026: recommended
- February 2026: not recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: not recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it doesn’t carry the badge
- 6 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, not met.
- 2 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 4 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Linux-ready with open firmware
“they're the only ones among major manufacturers of linux-ready laptops (novacustom, starbook, system76)”
Comment from 22 Apr 2026 in “MNT Reform is an open hardware laptop, designed and assembled in Germany” “only starlabs has everything: repair ability, firmware, coreboot, compatibility, custom hardware”
Comment from 30 Nov 2025 in “Framework Computer Now Sponsoring LVFS / Fwupd Development” “Starlabs are good quality Linux laptops, designed in house. Love my starbook”
Comment from 26 Dec 2025 in “Asahi Linux with Sway on the MacBook Air M2” Repairable, custom in-house hardware
“only starlabs has everything: repair ability, firmware, coreboot, compatibility, custom hardware”
Comment from 30 Nov 2025 in “Framework Computer Now Sponsoring LVFS / Fwupd Development” “Starlabs are good quality Linux laptops, designed in house. Love my starbook”
Comment from 26 Dec 2025 in “Asahi Linux with Sway on the MacBook Air M2” Owners happy and would buy again
“Starlabs are good quality Linux laptops, designed in house. Love my starbook”
Comment from 26 Dec 2025 in “Asahi Linux with Sway on the MacBook Air M2” “have been so content since it arrived I won't hesitate to preorder again”
Comment from 30 Nov 2025 in “Framework Computer Now Sponsoring LVFS / Fwupd Development” Sleek design with strong specs
“they make sleek looking devices with strong specs”
Comment from 22 Apr 2026 in “MNT Reform is an open hardware laptop, designed and assembled in Germany” “looks like one of the sleeker options”
Comment from 21 Apr 2026 in “MNT Reform is an open hardware laptop, designed and assembled in Germany”
Other Linux laptops people recommend
The two most recommended other Linux laptops, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starlabs StarFighter 16-Inch | 38 | 33 | 54% | 3 | — | — |
| Star Labs laptop | 8 | 0 | 100% | 6 | — | — |
| Star Labs StarBookThis page | 6 | 3 | 67% | 4 | — | — |
What people said
All 15 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“when the laptop was still not delivered”
“It was constantly plauged with power issues.”
“they make sleek looking devices with strong specs”
“they're the only ones among major manufacturers of linux-ready laptops (novacustom, starbook, system76)”
“looks like one of the sleeker options”
“doesn't do things like going to sleep when I close the lid”
“I recently tried a Starbook (so, made for Linux) for a few months”
“There's even interesting hardware options like https://starlabs.systems/”
“Starlabs are good quality Linux laptops, designed in house. Love my starbook”
“which are incredible for a computer that remains largely docked”
“They generally seem good value for money and ship worldwide.”
“only starlabs has everything: repair ability, firmware, coreboot, compatibility, custom hardware”
“have been so content since it arrived I won't hesitate to preorder again”
“am extremely happy to have multiple options in the niche”
“Really excited for this, it might be the model that gets me to fully commit to a Starbook”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.