Hey folks! I've got a ThinkPad T14 Gen1 equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650U, 16GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. As a Software Engineering student, I primarily use my laptop for attending lectures and programming. My usual activities include coding in VS Code with Live Server, browsing with Firefox, managing projects on GitHub, and sometimes catching up on YouTube videos.
Currently, I'm running Windows 11 on it with an average battery life of about 4-5 hours. I'm hoping to switch to Linux to boost battery performance while maintaining stability and reliability for daily use. I also use Mint Cinnamon on my desktop, which I enjoy, but I'm looking for something lighter and more battery-efficient for the ThinkPad.
For those of you using Linux on a ThinkPad T14 with Ryzen, what distro do you recommend that balances battery life, stability, and smooth performance?
3 Answers
Honestly, any mainstream distro should work fine. I don't think you need anything specific for your needs—just pick one that feels comfortable.
I've got the same laptop but with 32GB RAM and a bigger SSD. I’m using Mint as well, and it's been rock solid for me. Battery life is decent, but I don’t run it on battery too often since it’s mostly plugged in.
If you want something lighter, consider Mint XFCE. If you’re focused on programming and productivity, both Pop!_OS and Fedora are viable options, though they aren’t super lightweight.
Thanks! Are you on the Cinnamon version or something else?