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# Lenovo Cuts the Windows Tax and offers Cheaper Laptops with Linux Pre-installed
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/lenovo-cuts-windows-tax/
- Published: 2025-04-24T15:03:16.000Z
- Updated: 2025-04-24T15:03:16.000Z
- Description: Lenovo is doing something that many aren't.
- Author: Sourav Rudra
- Tags: Gadgets 🎛️, News, #Import 2025-11-08 21:15

At least in the U.S. and Canada, that is.

This was brought to my attention thanks to [a Reddit post](https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/1jzqjvn/lenovo%5Fnow%5Fship%5Fwith%5Ffedora/?ref=itsfoss.com) where a user (*presumably a resident of Canada*), had posted how [Lenovo](https://www.lenovo.com/?ref=itsfoss.com) was shipping laptops with [Fedora](https://itsfoss.com/fedora-42-release/) and [Ubuntu](https://itsfoss.com/ubuntu-25-04-release/) at a cheaper price compared to their Windows-equipped counterparts.

Others then chimed in, saying that Lenovo has been doing this since at least 2020 and that the big price difference shows how ridiculous Windows' pricing is.

## Cutting the Windows Tax

When I dug in further, I found out that **the US and Canadian websites for Lenovo offered U.S. $140 and CAD $211 off** on the same [ThinkPad X1 Carbon](https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpadx1/thinkpad-x1-carbon-gen-12-14-inch-intel/len101t0083?ref=itsfoss.com) model when choosing any one of the Linux-based alternatives.

![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/04/lenovo-linux-laptop-usa.jpg)

![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/04/lenovo-linux-laptop-canada.jpg)

**US pricing on left, Canadian pricing on right.*

Interestingly, while the difference in pricing is noticeable, **your mileage may vary** if you are looking for such laptops on the official website. Not all models from their laptop lineup, like *ThinkPad*, *Yoga*, *Legion*, *LOQ*, etc., feature an option to get Linux pre-installed during the checkout process.

Luckily, there is an easy way to filter through the numerous laptops. Just go to the [laptops section](https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/?ref=itsfoss.com) (*U.S.*) on the Lenovo website and turn on the "*Operating System*" filter under the *Filter by specs* sidebar menu.

![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/04/lenovo-linux-laptops-filter.jpg)

Yes, it's as simple as that. You can do the same for the various official online regional storefronts that Lenovo runs to see whether Linux-based operating systems are being offered on their laptops in your country.

## Closing Thoughts

It is good to see that Lenovo is offering Linux in its laptops. In fact, there is another big-name laptop manufacturer, [Dell](https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/scr/laptops?ref=itsfoss.com), who also does something similar with its Ubuntu-certified laptops, but both have the same constraint of having limited options for buyers.

Also, as far as I know, Dell doesn't reduce the pricing if you choose Linux instead of Windows. Correct me if I am wrong in the comments.

Nonetheless, **I think these manufacturers could do a better job in marketing these Linux-based alternative operating systems to general consumers**, showing them how they can save big when opting for these instead of the pricey and bloated Windows.

Otherwise, we might have to start observing Windows Refund Day again.

*💬 Your take on this? Would mainstream users benefit from having Linux pre-installed on their laptops?*