System76 teases beefy Pangolin Linux laptop update with Ryzen 7 6800U

 System76 is known for its high-quality laptops that run Linux (either Ubuntu or System76's own Pop!_OS). However, most of their laptops run on Intel CPUs, so AMD fans were left in the lurch... until the original Pangolin debuted a few years ago. System76 recently teased the upcoming version of the Pangolin, replete with the latest and greatest from AMD.

The new Pangolin will come with AMD's Ryzen 7 6800U CPU, Radeon 680M integrated graphics (built on AMD's RDNA 2 architecture), and up to 32 GB of LPDDR5 RAM (6400 MHz). The laptop will have slots for two M.2 PCIe NVMe SSDs (up to 16 TB total).

Connectivity is covered by three USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) ports, a single USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) port, and an SD card reader. USB 4 is noticeably absent. An HDMI 2.0 port and 3.5 mm combo audio jack round out connections.

The Pangolin has most of the conveniences of other modern laptops, including a backlit chiclet-style keyboard, a multitouch trackpad, and a Kensington lock. The webcam falls flat at only 1 MP (720p), but there is a hardware kill switch to turn off the webcam.

Powering everything is a 70 Wh lithium-ion battery that can be charged via a 65 Watt barrel-style charger. USB-C charging isn't listed in the spec sheet, so it remains to be seen if it will be included.

The entire package is fairly portable, measuring 37.06 × 24.79 × 1.80 cm (14.59 x 9.76 x 0.71 in) and weighing 1.79 kg (3.95 lbs).

The updated Pangolin will go on sale in February starting at US$1299, putting it in the middle range of System76's lineup.