Updated
Updated · Phoronix · Jul 9
Razer Certifies First Ubuntu Laptop, $5,399 Blade 18 Nears Linux Support
Updated
Updated · Phoronix · Jul 9

Razer Certifies First Ubuntu Laptop, $5,399 Blade 18 Nears Linux Support

1 articles · Updated · Phoronix · Jul 9

Summary

  • Razer is putting the Blade 18 RZ09-0582 through Ubuntu certification, marking the company’s first officially supported Linux laptop after years of dormant plans.
  • The 18-inch model pairs Intel’s 24-core Core Ultra 9 290HX with Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5090, and testing on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS with Linux 7.0 reportedly ran smoothly with official Nvidia drivers.
  • Pricing underscores the machine’s premium positioning: the reviewed 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD configuration sells for $5,399, while a 128GB version reaches $6,999 and a lower-end model starts near $3,499.
  • Razer still has no announcement on bringing Synapse to Linux, and the community OpenRazer and Polychromatic tools do not yet support this Blade 18 for RGB controls.
  • The move revives a Linux push first discussed publicly in 2017 by CEO Min-Liang Tan, suggesting Razer now sees ongoing Ubuntu support as strategically important.

Insights

Without its Synapse software, can Razer’s new Ubuntu laptop truly unleash its full power for gamers and developers?
As AI demands grow, can Ubuntu certification alone solve the complex driver and power issues on high-end laptops?