Don’t Miss: 5 Best Linux Distro Releases of 2022 (imo, ofc)
I know: I make the same joke every year I do this. But hey: I write about Ubuntu. I use Ubuntu. You may expect me to keep it all about Ubuntu. But the Linux ecosystem? It’s more than just Ubuntu. There are a ton of top-tier Linux distros out there deserving of praise, celebration, and recognition. This list is my small way of giving ’em that!
That said, what follows is not a posit of superiority, nor a ranking of importance. It’s just me, a person, giving a shoutout to some of the year’s best Linux releases. Is it comprehensive? No. And it’s also not a critique, so if an OS you love isn’t featured below the omission is not because I think it’s awful!
With the SEO gods (hopefully) satiated by that lengthy introduction, lets look at my top 5 Linux distros of 2022!
1. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
Fedora Workstation is a flagship desktop Linux distro for good reason: it’s robust, it’s reliable, and it’s impeccably well produced — it distils what a lot of folks look for on Linux: a “pure” GNOME experience, delivered as devs intend, all atop a strong and stable base.
Autumn’s offer of Fedora 37 Workstation features GNOME 43 – a massive update that improves the GNOME Shell user experience with handy Quick Settings. Also, there’s a more-featured Files app remade in GTK4/libadwaita; a revamped Calendar app; a new Device Security panel; Raspberry Pi 4 support; and more.
I think people often overlook Fedora Workstation because, as Linux distros go, it’s rather understated, unassuming, and drama-free. Yet, it is a finessed and functional distro that forgoes fancy flourishes to focus entirely on its performance, its integration, and its cohesion.
Fedora is one of the most holistic-feeling distro out there so if you’ve never tried it out, you’re missing out
3. Manjaro 22.0 ‘Sikaris’
That a version of Manjaro had to feature in this list was obvious. And as Arch-based Linux distros go Manjaro is one of the best. Oh, I know: there is chatter around Manjaro within the wider Linux community but for me, those storms-in-a-tea-cup never impact on the quality (or should that be flavour ☕️) of the distro itself.
Linux Mint 21.1 is the newer and more visually interesting (cf. new applets and updated artwork) update, the original Linux Mint 21 release made the biggest impact this year, of the two.
The oft-promoted “newbie” distro, Linux Mint’s core aims of offering a light and familiar computing experience that stays out of the way continues to resonate with users in tune with the Windows way of working.
Linux Mint 21 “Cinnamon” is lightweight and efficient, making it a good choice on lower end hardware and older machines. As well as being easy to use, Linux Mint ships with an interesting selection of pre-installed software that aims to cover most users’ needs, including some homegrown apps that are rather special.
Overall, Linux Mint 21 is the perfect choice for users wanting a reliable and easy-to-use operating system.
5. Ubuntu 22.10
Limiting my selection to 5 was necessary otherwise this would’ve just been a very long list of every Linux distro that put out an update over the past 12 months.
A few extra shoutouts: the recent EndeavourOS ‘Cassini’ release makes the ideal hop-on point for anyone wanting to ride a reliable rolling-release distro. The latest Zorin OS is based on an older Ubuntu base but the out-of-the-box wow-factor remains invigorating for users new to Linux.
Gamers, programmers, and creators adore Pop!_OS 22.04, which is the final version of System76’s distro to ship with GNOME Shell by default; and there’s been a lot of love around the lightweight Linux distro MX Linux which injects new life into older hardware.
And a shout out has to go to SteamOS, the Arch-based distro Valve preload on the Steamdeck console.
Over to You
So that’s my list of best desktop Linux releases for 2022. I tried to weigh up the various feature sets, changes, and key technologies when selecting them, and keep in mind the appeal and popularity. Fwiw, MX Linux came *so* close to taking a spot — expect to hear more about that and other distros over on our sister site omg! linux.
Anyway, who the fudge cares what I think?!
I want to hear your distro releases pick from the past twelve months. So dive down in the comments (and tip: the “old” Disqus theme is available to select from the options again, yay). Try to keep takes positive where possible by focusing on the distros and developments you do like rather than the ones you don’t.
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Best Linux distros of 2023
The best Linux distros offer stability and security in a Linux environment, but there are many different types and flavors according to different needs. Here we’ll help you find the one you for you, regardless as to whether you’re a beginner or advanced user.
Many of the most popular Linux distros are designed to appeal to a wide user base and can be tailored as per individual requirements, but there are a whole lot of specialized distros that are built for a particular purpose.
Migrating from Windows? There’s a distro that’ll ease the transition. A Windows update messed up your boot loader? There’s a distro that’ll help you fix it in a jiffy. Want to resurrect an old computer? Need to tie disks into a NAS? Want to run a firewall that’ll shield your entire network? Are you setting up a small home office?
No matter what your requirement, the diverse open source community has a distro for you.
In this guide, we’ll look at some of the best Linux distros available in 2023. We explore the best distros for a variety of use cases, looking at ease of use, size on disk, compatibility with the best Linux apps, and lots more.
Here then are what we think are the best Linux distros in 2023.
The best Linux distros of 2023 in full:
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1. Nitrux
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
If you are just taking your first steps in Linux, you should begin your journey with Nitrux. The distro leverages on some of the most stable and well-respected open source projects and builds on them to create a distro that suits the sensibilities of new Linux users.
For instance, instead of building a custom desktop environment from scratch, Nitrux relies on KDE Plasma’s famed malleability along with some redesigned components to simplify the workflow for new users. It offers a couple of layouts for the desktop to allow users to make best use of the available screen real estate. The latest version Nitrux 2.7.1 «sh» uses version 5.27.3 of the Plasma Desktop.
Nitrux has even customized some administration apps to make tasks such as firewall and backup approachable for inexperienced users. It ships with a healthy dose of apps for all kinds of desktop tasks.
The distro also supports and encourages the use of AppImages, which makes it straightforward to install additional apps. In fact, Nitrux plans to switch all its graphical apps to AppImages eventually. All the AppImages are launched in a firejail sandbox, which makes Nitrux more secure out of the box than your typical desktop Linux.
The distro has an active community that you can interact with on all the popular social networks. Just click the corresponding icon at the top of Nitrux’s main page.
There’s a dedicated ‘Documentation’ section on the main website for tasks like running apps that won’t work with firejail in a Distrobox container but it isn’t very extensive. You can find some help with basic installation by reading the release notes for the latest version.
Nitrux is available for 64-bit computers only, but can also boot on older machines with the Legacy BIOS in addition to the newer EFI machines.
Looking for something to start with? Here’s our list of the best Linux distros for beginners.