Different flavors of Ubuntu
Everyone knows Ubuntu, but are you familiar with the various flavors of Ubuntu, such as Edubuntu or Kylin? No? That's why this article exists, to explain the different flavors of Ubuntu.
Ubuntu recently released the latest version, Ubuntu 24.10. In addition to the standard version, there are official flavors developed by the Ubuntu community.
Although everything is based on the same Ubuntu core, the installation differs only in the default applications that are installed.
Here, we'll go into detail about each flavor.
1Edubuntu
Edubuntu is specifically designed for education and features the same GNOME desktop environment as regular Ubuntu. The difference is that it comes pre-loaded with a range of educational software, such as Marble, an atlas for geographic learning, and Calcium, an interactive periodic table for chemistry. It also includes child-friendly programs like GCompris, which offers learning games for children aged 2 to 10. The integration of this software makes Edubuntu a valuable option for educational institutions or parents who want to introduce their children to a Linux operating system. The desktop experience remains user-friendly and closely resembles regular Ubuntu, allowing learners to familiarize themselves with a fully-fledged Linux system early on. Edubuntu combines the flexibility and stability of Ubuntu with a focus on education, making it an excellent choice for schools and learning environments.
2Kubuntu
Kubuntu has a KDE Plasma desktop environment, which is highly customizable. This is a good alternative to regular Ubuntu. Kubuntu 24.04 uses Plasma 5.27. It not only looks good, but you can customize it a lot. For example, you can change the design, decorate the windows, and adjust different fonts. This makes it particularly attractive for users who are switching from Windows and are looking for a similarly flexible desktop experience.
The pre-installed software covers everything you need, including LibreOffice, Firefox, and Thunderbird. And the best part: Kubuntu runs smoothly even on devices with only 4 GB of RAM. This makes it a great option for anyone looking for a customizable, modern Linux experience.
3Lubuntu
Lubuntu is a truly lightweight option among the Ubuntu variants and uses LXQt as its desktop environment. The interface is simple and straightforward, looking a bit like older versions of Windows. Because of its lean structure, Lubuntu is perfect for older or low-performance hardware. It's also the smallest of the Ubuntu distributions, with an ISO file size of just 3.3 GB.
A real unique selling point of Lubuntu is that you can perform a minimal installation that completely avoids Snap packages. This might be attractive to users who prefer classic Debian packages. Despite its minimalist approach, Lubuntu offers enough customization options and a solid selection of software, including LibreOffice and Krita for digital painting. Lubuntu is therefore the perfect choice for users looking for a simple and resource-saving operating system.
4Ubuntu Budgie
With its Budgie desktop environment, Ubuntu Budgie is a fresh and modern alternative. The interface combines a dock at the bottom of the screen with a classic application menu that can be flexibly switched between a traditional layout and an icon view. The customization options range from visual styles to different layouts, such as "Classic Ubuntu," which offers a nostalgic feel.
The pre-installed software is comprehensive and user-friendly, and in addition to the standard applications, Ubuntu Budgie offers a sleek yet elegant user experience that makes it attractive to both newcomers and experienced users alike. Thanks to its blend of aesthetics and functionality, it is an ideal choice for users looking for a modern yet user-friendly desktop.
5Ubuntu Cinnamon
With Ubuntu Cinnamon, you get the Cinnamon desktop from Linux Mint on your Ubuntu PC. Cinnamon offers a user interface that is familiar and based on the classic desktop paradigm, similar to Windows. The desktop combines a taskbar at the bottom of the screen, a main menu, and a customizable notification system. The look is modern but not cluttered, making it ideal for beginners and switchers.
The strengths of Ubuntu Cinnamon are its stability and customizability. Users can customize panels, themes, and applets to design the desktop to their liking. It comes with the same software repositories as Ubuntu, but offers the aesthetics and user-friendliness of Cinnamon. For users who want to combine a familiar Windows-like environment with the stability of Ubuntu, this is an excellent choice.
6Ubuntu Kylin
Ubuntu Kylin is a special Ubuntu variant optimized for the Chinese market. It uses the UKUI desktop environment (UKUI 4.0 in version 24.04), which is based on Qt and oriented towards the Windows aesthetic. The design is clear and concise, with a strong focus on simplicity and productivity. With its calendar, which also displays local holidays, and its adaptation to the Chinese language, Ubuntu Kylin is particularly popular in China.
The distribution has a large selection of pre-installed software, such as WPS Office and QQ Music. Even though it is mainly intended for the Chinese market, international users can benefit from the sleek and well-thought-out interface. Ubuntu Kylin is therefore a great blend of functionality and cultural adaptation.
7Ubuntu MATE
If you prefer a traditional desktop, Ubuntu MATE is just right for you. The MATE desktop environment is a fork of GNOME 2 and is characterized by simplicity, stability, and low resource usage. The latest version, MATE 1.26, is used in Ubuntu MATE 24.04, bringing both visual and technical improvements. Various layouts such as "Redmond" (similar to Windows) and "Mutiny" (similar to macOS) allow you to customize the user interface individually.
Ubuntu MATE is particularly resource-saving and is therefore also suitable for older or less powerful devices. At the same time, it has a modern software base because current Ubuntu technologies such as Snap packages and Flatpaks are integrated. This makes Ubuntu MATE an excellent choice for users looking for a classic desktop environment with current technologies.
8Ubuntu Studio
This is the perfect mix of audio, video, graphics, and photo editing. The distribution is based on Ubuntu, but uses the KDE Plasma desktop environment and has a huge collection of multimedia software on board. These include programs such as Ardour for audio editing, Blender for 3D modeling, and Krita for digital art. And the best part: The low-latency kernel ensures super audio performance.
With the Ubuntu Studio Installer tool, you can specifically select packages that are important for your creative needs. This keeps the system customizable. And because Ubuntu Studio supports professional applications and workflows so well, it is a really powerful solution for creative professionals and enthusiasts.
9Ubuntu Unity
It started as an unofficial variant that revived the popular Unity desktop after Canonical abandoned it in favor of GNOME in 2017. Since then, the project has evolved into an official Ubuntu variant that is regularly updated and has a growing fan base.
Unity was once the standard desktop environment of Ubuntu and is known for its modern and productive user interface. The launcher bar on the left, the Dash (a powerful search and launch tool), and the globally integrated menu offered an innovative user experience. Ubuntu Unity continues this tradition and offers an optimized and resource-saving version of Unity that runs well even on older hardware.
Ubuntu Unity is ideal for users who are looking for a combination of modern technology and traditional desktop design. It offers a great alternative for those who can't get used to GNOME but still want to stay in the Ubuntu family.
Try out Flavors
You can try out all the different flavors in a virtual machine, such as with VMWare or VirtualBox, to find out which one is best for you.
KDE is very advanced with its Wayland implementation and also offers HDR support for the screen, provided the graphics card drivers support HDR.
For beginners or switchers, the window manager KDE or Kubuntu is recommended, but Ubuntu Unity also looks great.
Conclusion
Ubuntu and its many variants offer a lot of different desktop environments and functions that are tailored to a wide range of needs. There is no perfect flavor recipe for everyone; everyone has to find out for themselves what works best for them.
Each of the official versions has its own advantages that go beyond the standard version and are suitable for different target groups.
The Ubuntu community is really strong and has the right solution for every requirement. With this diversity, Ubuntu shows that it is more than just an operating system. It is a platform that combines innovation, adaptability, and user-friendliness while meeting the needs of a global and diverse user community.
That actually says everything about the different Ubuntu versions. The article may be updated from time to time because there may be new innovations and updates.