# Starlabs StarFighter 16-Inch

38 Hacker News commenters recommended Starlabs StarFighter 16-Inch and 33 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 3 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended for its trackpad, 120Hz screen, coreboot BIOS and Linux support. Critics often call it expensive for its specs, with dated processors.

## Why people recommend it

- Coreboot BIOS and strong Linux support (4 comments): "the unique part of this laptop that AFAIK a Dell XPS won't have is the Coreboot BIOS" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48036827)) "these are the most refined Linux flagship hardware manufacturers in the world" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48034449)) "More practical, better screen, coreboot, first class Linux support" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48038578))
- Precise trackpad, smooth 120Hz screen (3 comments): "the trackpad feels really snappy and precise, and the 120hz display also helps making it feel really smooth when scrolling" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48034680)) "120hz is great because it can play video/film natively." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48038285)) "the only trackpad that approaches macbook levels" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48034477))
- Full keyboard with dedicated Home/End keys (3 comments): "Has almost everything I want, full size cursor + dedicated home/end/pgup/pgdown but fingerprint sensor would have been nice" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48034771)) "Finally someone made a laptop with PgUp/PgDn/Home/End column, like Toshiba!" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48033492)) "An ISO keyboard with the big enter key is definitely a plus!" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48033760))
- MacBook-like build quality and design (3 comments): "This laptop looks to be more in line with a MacBook in terms of build quality, with a price to match." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48035226)) "I love the specs and the design - worth a try for business use!" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48038374)) "looks exactly like my MBP M3 - and that's a compliment!" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48033016))

## What people warn about

- Expensive for the specs (4 comments): "These laptops are also kind of expensive for the specs, they can afford to increase the prices." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48043821)) "the price of 4200$ is out of reach for me unfortunately" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48035122)) "If I need to pay an extra 1400$ for a specific Linux laptop with the same specs it's vastly less competitive." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48116195))
- USB-A ports seen as outdated (3 comments): "I think we're at the point where the inclusion of USB-A is a demerit." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48039157)) "For the price I was expecting actual wifi 7 (802.11be standards compliant) and USB3.2 10 Gbps capability on the type A ports." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48031835)) "The fact that this somehow has 3 USB-A ports immediately makes it completely irrelevant to me." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48052459))
- Key layout criticized (3 comments): "That keyboard layout is a deal breaker for me." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48037412)) "The key on the top right corner of the keyboard being the poweroff button instead of the Delete key gets an instant NACK from me." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48033354)) "Same-size cursor keys (with the whole line and without any distinction) is such an ill-design decision." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48031565))
- Battery life claims doubted (3 comments): "This StarFighter offers neither Lunar Lake nor Panther Lake, so 18 hours is probably only under really ideal circumstances." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48031644)) "if you put it in sleep mode maybe. why do people keep lying about battery life?" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48031599)) "You will not get that 20 hour battery life with the AMD, unfortunately." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48045999))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Star Labs laptop](https://hackerapproved.com/p/star-labs-laptop.md): 8 recommend
- [Star Labs StarBook](https://hackerapproved.com/p/starbook.md): 6 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Star+Labs+StarFighter+16-inch+laptop&tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Official site](https://starlabs.systems/)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Starlabs StarFighter 16-Inch", https://hackerapproved.com/p/starfighter-16-inch/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).