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| StarFighter is finally available, more than three years after its announcement. |
After an agonizing three-year journey that tested the patience of open-source enthusiasts and Linux loyalists, the Star Labs StarFighter has finally solved its biggest problem: delivery delays. Announced back in 2022 with great fanfare, the laptop only reached a handful of early adopters – until now.
As of this month, anyone who orders a StarFighter directly from the manufacturer’s online store can expect delivery in just one to two working days. That’s a seismic shift from the previous reality, where buyers faced months of waiting between clicking “purchase” and unboxing their machine.
Mass production was originally scheduled to kick off in October 2025, but even then, supply chain gremlins kept orders in limbo. That chapter is now closed. The StarFighter has landed – and it’s shipping at last.
Still Expensive, Still Unique – But Now Available
Let’s address the elephant in the room: this is not a budget laptop. The StarFighter has never pretended to be one, and the latest pricing confirms its premium positioning. But for users who crave Coreboot – an open-source firmware that hands you the keys to your own hardware – there’s simply no alternative quite like this.
With Coreboot, you’re not locked into proprietary BIOS black boxes. You can tweak everything from the fan curve to the battery charging limit, giving you granular control over thermals, noise, and long-term battery health. That level of transparency is unheard of in mainstream laptops from Dell, Lenovo, or Apple.
Since the original 2022 announcement, Star Labs has quietly modernized the processors on offer. But the company hasn’t compromised on build quality or repairability – two hallmarks of the brand.
Pricing and Configurations: Intel vs. AMD
The base model will set you back $1,878. Here’s what you get for that price:
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125H (Meteor Lake)
- 32 GB RAM
- 1 TB SSD
- 16-inch IPS panel, 2560×1600 resolution, 165 Hz refresh rate
If you want more muscle, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H variant jumps to $2,843. That upgrade also brings:
- 64 GB RAM
- A stunning 4K display (120 Hz)
- Same 16-inch form factor
But here’s a curveball: an otherwise identically configured version with the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS costs even more – $3,573. That’s a hefty premium, and it suggests that Intel remains the value-focused path for this chassis, while AMD fans will need deeper pockets.
Whichever display you pick, Star Labs promises 625 nits of brightness – genuinely outdoor-readable and far above the 300-400 nit average for business laptops.
Storage, Inputs, and That Removable Webcam
The StarFighter doesn’t skimp on internal expansion. You get space for two M.2 SSDs, which is increasingly rare in thin-and-light 16-inch machines. If you’re looking to add extra storage, a 1 TB M.2 SSD is currently $184 on Amazon – a solid reference point for budgeting your own upgrade.
Other notable hardware features:
- Backlit keyboard – with “numerous” keyboard layouts available at order time (ISO, ANSI, and various language variants)
- Haptic trackpad – no mechanical click, just precise force-feedback
- 1080p webcam – physically removable for privacy purists
- 80 Wh battery – rated for up to 18 hours of runtime (likely under light Linux workloads)
That battery life claim, if it holds up in real-world testing, would put the StarFighter ahead of many Intel Evo laptops. The combination of efficient modern CPUs and Coreboot’s low-level optimization could be a winner.
A Brief History of the StarFighter’s Delays
For context: the StarFighter was first unveiled in 2022 as a crowdfunded / community-driven project. Only a trickle of units ever reached backers. Star Labs cited component shortages, firmware challenges (Coreboot on new Intel platforms is no small feat), and quality control hold-ups.
By late 2025, the company announced that mass production would finally start in October. But even then, order-to-delivery times stretched to several months. Reddit threads filled with frustrated customers tracking order statuses.
Now, a Reddit update from the community confirms that the logistics nightmare is over. Multiple users report shipping notifications within 48 hours. One commenter wrote: “Ordered on Monday, shipped Tuesday, delivered Thursday. Never thought I’d see the day.”
Who Is the StarFighter For?
Let’s be honest: at nearly $1,900 for the base model, this is not a casual purchase. You’re paying for:
- Coreboot + open-source philosophy – no Intel ME backdoors, no hidden proprietary blobs (or as few as possible)
- Linux-first hardware – everything from the haptic trackpad to the 165Hz panel is tested with mainline kernels
- Repairability – the laptop is designed to be disassembled with standard tools
- Privacy – physical webcam shutter? No, a whole removable camera module.
If you’re a developer, security researcher, or simply someone who hates the direction of modern locked-down laptops, the StarFighter is one of the last bastions. If you just want a fast 16-incher for gaming or video editing, you can find cheaper Intel Core Ultra 9 laptops elsewhere – but you won’t get Coreboot.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy One in 2026?
With shipping finally fixed, the StarFighter is no longer a “vaporware” legend. It’s a real, shippable product that arrives faster than most Dell XPS orders. The high price remains the biggest hurdle, but for those who value firmware freedom and long-term control, it’s a fair trade.
Star Labs has also proven that it listens to the community. The processor updates, the improved delivery logistics, and the continued support for multiple keyboard layouts all point to a company that’s maturing.
If you’re ready to pull the trigger, head over to the Star Labs StarFighter product page to configure your build. Just be prepared to wait one or two days – not months.
Sources
- Star Labs official announcement
- StarFighter product page
- Reddit StarFighter update thread
- Amazon pricing reference for M.2 SSDs
