The System76 Meerkat is a mini PC that ships with either Ubuntu or Pop!_OS software pre-installed. It’s basically a rebranded version of an Intel or Asus NUC with the System76 logo on the lid, but it stands out from most mini PCs by shipping with a GNU/Linux distribution rather than Windows. The latest model also has a feature that you don’t typically find in a NUC: dual 2.5 GbE LAN ports.

System76 has been selling versions of the Meerkat mini PC since 2015, and just a few months after introducing a new model with an Intel Raptor Lake processor, the company has updated the Meerkat again, this time with Intel Meteor Lake processor options. The new Meerkat is now available for $799 and up.

The starting price feels a little high for what you’re getting: a compact computer with an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor ,16GB  of DDR5-5600 memory, and a 500GB PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 SSD.

It is a pretty versatile, configurable system that supports up to a Core Ultra 7 155H chip, 96GB of dual-channel memory, and up to 16TB of storage (if configured with an 8TB M.2 SSD and an 8TB 2.5 inch SATA SSD), but the prices climb to astronomic heights if you opt for a fully maxed out version.

As with most systems like this, it’s probably cheaper to buy your own mini PC from a different company and install your preferred operating system manually. But the advantage of buying from a company like System76 is that you’re not giving any money to Microsoft, you know that all the hardware should be compatible with Linux, and you’re helping support a company that makes Linux hardware.

The 2025 Meerkat mini PC also features support for WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 (although you can opt for a model without the wireless card if you’d like).

Ports include:

• 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps w/DisplayPort 2.1 Alt Mode))
• 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10 Gbps w/DisplayPort 1.4a Alt Mode)
• 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps)
• 2 x HDMI 2.1
• 1 x 3.5mm audio

via System76 Blog