Canonical has released Ubuntu 25.04, codenamed “Plucky Puffin”, the latest iteration of its popular Linux distribution. This release continues Ubuntu’s tradition of delivering cutting-edge open-source technology, combined with a user-friendly experience for developers, businesses, and everyday users.
Ubuntu has a fixed release cycle for its operating system. Releases of Ubuntu get a development codename (‘Plucky Puffin’) and are versioned by the year and month of delivery – for example, Ubuntu 25.04 was released in April 2025.
LTS or ‘Long Term Support’ releases are published every two years in April. LTS releases are the ‘enterprise grade’ releases of Ubuntu and are used the most. An estimated 95% of all Ubuntu installations are LTS releases.
Key Features of Ubuntu 25.04
Ubuntu 25.04 introduces a host of innovative features and improvements designed to enhance productivity, security, and user experience:
- GNOME 48 Integration:
- Triple buffering for smoother performance.
- HDR support for vivid visuals.
- New tools like the “Wellbeing Panel” for screen time tracking and “Preserve Battery Health” mode for optimized power management.
- Notification grouping for better organization and reduced cognitive load.
- Linux Kernel 6.14:
- Enhanced scheduling capabilities with the new
sched_extsystem, allowing developers to implement custom scheduling policies. - Improved Wine/Proton gaming support through the new NTSYNC driver.
- Better container tooling with decoupled bpftools and linux-perf.
- Enhanced scheduling capabilities with the new
- Developer Tooling:
- Introduction of “devpacks,” snap bundles for frameworks like Spring and Go.
- Updated toolchains for Python, Rust, .NET, LLVM, OpenJDK, and more.
- Expanded confidential computing support with AMD SEV-SNP for secure AI workload deployment.
- Modern PDF Reader:
- “Papers” becomes the default PDF reader, offering a sleek design and enhanced functionality.
- Installer Improvements:
- Refined OS installation options for dual-boot setups with Windows.
- Improved handling of advanced partitioning and encryption.
- Enhanced enterprise deployments with auto-installation via Landscape.
- Networking and Identity Management:
- Secure time synchronization with NTS.
- Better Active Directory (AD) integration.
- Cloud authentication against EntraID and Google identity.
- DNS-aware wait-online logic with Netplan.
- Hardware Enablement:
- Performance improvements for AI workloads on Intel GPUs.
- Introduction of a new ARM64 Desktop ISO for hardware enthusiasts.
Official Flavours
Ubuntu 25.04 also sees the release of updated versions of its official flavours, including Edubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu Cinnamon, Ubuntu Kylin, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Studio, Ubuntu Unity, and Xubuntu. Each flavour brings its own unique features and enhancements tailored to specific user needs.
Availability and Support
Ubuntu 25.04 is available for download at Ubuntu’s official website. Users of Ubuntu 24.10 can upgrade seamlessly to the new version. Maintenance updates will be provided for nine months, ensuring stability and security.
Experience the Future of Linux
Ubuntu 25.04 reaffirms Canonical’s commitment to innovation and excellence in the open-source community. Whether you’re a developer, a business professional, or a casual user, “Plucky Puffin” offers a powerful and versatile platform to meet your needs. Upgrade today and explore the future of Linux!
Key Improvements in Ubuntu 25.04 over Ubuntu 24.10
Ubuntu 25.04 offers significant improvements in user experience, developer tools, and hardware support, making it a compelling upgrade from Ubuntu 24.10. Let me know if you’d like more details on any specific feature!
Both versions are short-term releases with nine months of support. They cater to users who prefer the latest features and updates over the long-term stability of LTS versions.
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