Check to makes sure you're running a distro with recent enough Xorg/linux kernel (but not so bleeding edge stuff like libinput-gestures isn't supported). Also if you use integrated graphics, life may be easier since you can pick between Wayland and Xorg to find which DM supports inputs best in your case.
Xorg drivers: https://github.com/p2rkw/xf86-input-mtrack
libinput: https://wayland.freedesktop.org/libinput/doc/latest/index.ht...
libinput-gestures: https://github.com/bulletmark/libinput-gestures (example: https://gist.github.com/SkyBehind/d664448838d065428eded7eb6d...)
Gnome extension with some gesture edgecases: 3-finger swiping to different windows like macOS: https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/1253/extended-gesture...
Also if you really like trackpads and want a consistent experience, you can get a logitech t650 / apple magic trackpad and share your configuration for libinput/etc. across machines.
Edit: I reread and noticed you're trying to stay away from apple hardware. You could try logitech's trackpad, but apple magic trackpad may be better a la carte. If you did I'd recommend using via USB w/ bluetooth off to avert pairing headaches
I got a Surface Go with the intention of running Linux on it but Firefox and WSL/bash works well enough for me. And it has a decent trackpad. The Surface Pros can run Linux with varying degrees of success and is what I'll be looking at when I move away from Mac as they're lighter than competing laptops.