Linux distro
Best laptops for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS in 2026
Buy AMD. That sentence covers most of this page. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ships the 6.8 kernel on the GA release and a 6.11-class HWE kernel on the .1 and .2 point releases, and the gap between those two numbers is where most “Ubuntu doesn’t work on my new laptop” complaints come from.
What makes a laptop good for Ubuntu LTS
LTS users want a frozen base that still recognises the hardware. The trap: 24.04 GA shipped May 2024 with kernel 6.8, but Intel Lunar Lake and AMD Strix Point both want newer. Three things decide it:
- Webcam. Intel Core Ultra parts with the IPU6/IPU7 camera pipeline need libcamera plumbing that the stock LTS stack does not have. AMD laptops use a normal UVC webcam and skip the entire problem.
- Kernel floor. Check the model’s
kernelMin. If it is above 6.8, you must run the HWE kernel (linux-generic-hwe-24.04) or 24.04.2, not the GA install. - Suspend. s2idle drain varies per board. Some need
acpi.ec_no_wakeup=1.
Recommended models
| Model | Kernel min | Webcam on LTS | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 (AMD) | 6.8 | works (UVC) | one iwd line for Wi-Fi 7, s2idle only |
| Framework Laptop 13 (AMD 7040) | 6.8 | unverified | suspend was shaky pre-BIOS 3.05 |
| Tuxedo InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen10 | 6.11 | works | ships TUXEDO OS or Ubuntu, Wi-Fi 6 only |
| IdeaPad Slim 5 14 (AMD Gen 9) | 6.5 | works | 300-nit panel, soldered RAM |
| Star Labs StarBook Mk VII | GA fine | works | Intel, 4K is 60 Hz, no fingerprint |
Our pick: the ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 (AMD). The AMD UVC webcam sidesteps the IPU mess entirely, so the only friction left is one iwd config line for the Qualcomm Wi-Fi 7 card and an s2idle kernel param on some units. Keyboard is the best of this group. It is s2idle only, no S3, which matters if you expect a multi-day sleep to survive.
If you want repairability over polish, the Framework Laptop 13 (AMD 7040) installs 24.04 with almost no fuss on kernel 6.8. Slotted RAM, 1099 USD. The webcam under Wayland was not verified here, so treat that as an open question.
For under 650 USD the IdeaPad Slim 5 14 (AMD) is the least painful budget Ubuntu box, Ryzen 7 8845HS plus Radeon 780M on kernel 6.5. Check the exact Wi-Fi card before you buy, configs vary by region.
Skip these on Ubuntu LTS
The Dell XPS 13 9350. The IPU7 OV02C10 camera is blocked by a Dell BIOS bug that no kernel or firmware update fully fixes as of 2026. Everything else works, 11-hour battery and all, but a laptop where the webcam is dead by BIOS design is not an LTS recommendation. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 has the same IPU7 camera problem on the stock 24.04 stack; it needs kernel 6.13 plus libcamera, which is not what LTS gives you. Great machine on a fresh kernel, wrong pairing with frozen Ubuntu.
Apple Silicon (the MacBook Air M3 and M4) is not Ubuntu territory at all. That is Asahi, and Ubuntu is not the path.
FAQ
Should I run the GA kernel or HWE on 24.04?
HWE if your laptop’s kernelMin is above 6.8, which covers most 2025
hardware. On older AMD boards the GA 6.8 kernel is fine and more stable.
Does the IPU6/IPU7 webcam ever get fixed on LTS? Partially, through HWE kernel bumps plus libcamera backports, but the Dell XPS 9350 case is a BIOS bug, not a driver gap, so it stays broken.
Is Ubuntu LTS or a rolling distro better for new laptops? For hardware released in the last 12 months, a newer kernel helps. LTS is the safer choice once the board is a year old and well understood.