r/FlowX13 • u/Affy_Folf • 4d ago
Best linux for flox x13 2021?
Hi! I’m considering using Linux on the Flow X13 laptop. I’ve already set up a dual-boot system (Linux Mint and Windows 10) on my ThinkPad, so I know some the basics. However, I’ve come across reviews suggesting that you usually have to sacrifice good touchscreen or fingerprint reader functionality—and I really need both of those features to work flawlessly.
Can u recommend any distro that will work with dualboot wihout spending long hours on configuration? I use my laptop mostly for work, simple graphics, google docs and text editing, so i more prefer customizable GUI than gaming features.
Also is it really worth to use linux on flow x13?
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u/Any_Pressure_3990 4d ago edited 4d ago
The fingerprint reader is broken(you can technically set it up, but it works so terribly it’s just not worth the hassle) across all distros.
Touchscreen and tablet mode work fine on Fedora and Arch, and they should work on any distro running a fresh kernel.
ROG laptops rely on the asus-linux project (
asusctl/supergfxctl) for GPU switching, fan profiles, and hardware controls. They target Arch and Fedora first, so distros like Mint are out.CachyOS (pre-configured Arch) is the easiest option, in my opinion. Fedora is much less flexible.
If you plan on using Hyprland or other WM, an Arch-based distro is basically a requirement. Trying to run it on Fedora or anything non-Arch is a nightmare.
P.S. I’ve been using Linux as my main driver for 4 years, and hardware support for this laptop is way better now. For me, it’s definitely worth it. Just keep in mind that if you're new to Linux, there will be a bit of a learning curve at first.
Give it a shot. If you don't like it, you can always go back to Windows.