Arch or Antergos (Arch with an easy installer)

It's not hard to install Arch but it takes slightly more effort than many of the mainstream distro's. The benefit is a powerful, fully customisable distro. It's documentation and package repo's are best of the best.

Antergos makes it quick (why I sometimes use it) to install and slightly easier for completely new users.

I have been on Arch based distro's for about 10 years and I wouldn't change. I have regularly reviewed other distro's but they all have things that "just work" in Arch but don't for them.

I generally use it on Thinkpad laptops and power settings and back lights (etc) all just work.