Review: The System76 Pangolin is a reliable 15-inch Linux slab with some oddities.

The Pangolin laptop from System76 is the one to acquire if you need a 15-inch Linux-focused laptop, I can tell you that after using it as my main work laptop for almost six weeks.

The Pangolin is a reliable machine that prioritizes dependability and simplicity over ultrabook mobility and cutting-edge components, but it still boasts hardware that is pretty up to date (especially its 144 Hz screen). The Pangolin and its built-in Pop! OS serve as an example of how remarkably everyday Linux can feel in 2023. normal and abundant with ports.

Due in large part to benchmark comparability between Linux and the majority of laptops running Windows or macOS, it is difficult to make a direct comparison between the Pangolin and most other laptops. It’s not absolutely required, though. There is just one genuine Pangolin model available, with a single processor, a single RAM capacity, and changeable, user-expandable storage.

We’ll go over the results of a few tests the Pangolin underwent. However, how well this laptop serves your needs will depend much more on what you bring to the table and how much effort you’re willing to expend personalizing it. I’ve tried using Linux as my primary operating system on a numerous occasions before joining the Pangolin. I am familiar enough with the command line, vim, and Unix-based architecture, and I have two Raspberry Pis that are being developed continuously. I am still more of a hobbyist than a practitioner.

Even so, I had no significant issues using the Pangolin to complete practically any task I had to. So long as you are aware that Linux is what you need, its combination of reliable software and useful hardware options makes it a simple system to suggest. Except when I tried to force its maker-made operating system, Pop! OS, to run benchmarks, it almost never gave me problems. I was more anxious to tinker around the edges and see what I could adjust after starting with a rock-solid Linux installation where every piece of hardware is supported and functional.

View and feel

The Pangolin makes me think of the old-school ThinkPads, the ones you could fling at a wall, pick up, and use to write an email to a drywall contractor. Only slightly flexible in the middle of the keyboard area, its magnesium alloy chassis is strong almost everywhere. The laptop can be opened with only one finger thanks to the sturdy hinge, which also holds the screen firmly in place as you type (even with my forceful habits). Like its namesake, it is flexible but armored.

The Pangolin is not an ultrabook, but it is not particularly cumbersome to tote around with its 15.6-inch display and weight of slightly under 4 pounds (1.8 kg). Due to its 16:9 screen, it is more likely to fit into briefcase or backpack compartments designed for 13- or 14-inch models. It weighs about 1.5 pounds more than the 14-inch X1 Carbon, 1 pound more than the 2021 edition of the 14-inch MacBook Pro, and 0.3 pounds less than the 16-inch MacBook Pro. It is as portable as a 15-inch laptop can be in a backpack due to the balanced weight.

The System76 logo is located in the center of the Pangolin’s display back. There is a blue light ring surrounding the power button. That’s pretty much it in terms of expressive design. It is a completely black and unadorned laptop with the word “Super” etched on the Super key rather than a penguin or a unique logo. That is partially attributable to System76’s production strategy; the company develops firmware and drivers for a tighter integration with its own OS after working with laptop manufacturers like Clevo for the base system (and Linux generally).

Hardware accessibility and reparability

There is just one screw to remove in order to access the Pangolin’s storage—two, if you consider the tiny one holding your NVME drive in place. There are 11 screws needed to remove in order to remove the complete bottom of the laptop, none of which are concealed by the rubber feet you must reattach. After releasing a few plastic clips, the entire bottom comes off, granting you access to everything that might be realistically replaced except from the memory, Processor, and ports that are soldered on. Even better, main component repair manuals are available.

Anyone who wants to purchase a laptop and use it after the battery begins to degrade should be happy to hear all of this. The Pangolin resembles a computer that can not only withstand minor damage but also probably be repaired if internal components need to be replaced.