Xubuntu has earned a loyal following since its inception as one of the original official Ubuntu flavours. Built around the XFCE desktop environment, it strikes a unique balance between being genuinely lightweight and remaining fully featured enough for everyday computing. Whether you are reviving a decade-old laptop or simply prefer a distraction-free desktop, Xubuntu consistently delivers.
Desktop Experience
XFCE 4.18 in Xubuntu 24.04 LTS feels refined and responsive. The default Greybird GTK theme combined with the elementary-xfce icon set gives the desktop a clean, professional appearance. The panel layout is sensible out of the box, with a taskbar at the bottom and a top panel for system indicators — a familiar layout that new Linux users and Windows migrants alike will appreciate. Everything is keyboard-shortcut friendly and deeply customisable through straightforward graphical settings panels.
Performance and Hardware Compatibility
Xubuntu's biggest selling point remains its low resource consumption. On a fresh boot, the system typically uses between 350 MB and 500 MB of RAM, making it an excellent choice for machines with 1–2 GB of RAM. CPU usage at idle is minimal, which translates to longer battery life on older laptops and cooler running temperatures. Modern hardware also benefits — the freed-up resources mean more headroom for demanding applications and browser tabs.
Software and Package Ecosystem
Because Xubuntu sits directly on top of Ubuntu's repositories, it has access to tens of thousands of packages via APT, and full compatibility with Snap and Flatpak packages. Ubuntu PPAs (Personal Package Archives) work without any modification, giving users access to the latest versions of popular software. The Xubuntu team includes a thoughtful selection of default applications: Mousepad for text editing, Thunar as a fast file manager, Ristretto for image viewing, and LibreOffice for productivity.
Installation
The Ubiquity installer makes getting Xubuntu onto a machine straightforward, offering guided partitioning, full-disk encryption, and the option to install multimedia codecs alongside the operating system. The entire process typically completes in under 15 minutes on modern hardware. OEM installation support is also included, making it suitable for system builders.
Long-Term Support
The LTS releases of Xubuntu receive five years of security and maintenance updates from Ubuntu's repositories, meaning users can install once and stay up to date with minimal intervention. The XFCE components themselves are updated more frequently through point releases, ensuring bug fixes and minor features arrive without waiting for a full distribution upgrade.
Community and Support
Xubuntu benefits from both the vast Ubuntu community and its own dedicated forums and documentation. The #xubuntu IRC channel and official Discourse forums are active, and the Ubuntu Stack Exchange covers the vast majority of issues users encounter. Documentation is thorough and well-maintained, lowering the barrier for newcomers significantly.