Ubuntu has long stood as a bastion of accessibility, polish, and power in the Linux ecosystem. With the arrival of Ubuntu 25.04, codenamed “Plucky Puffin”, Canonical has once again demonstrated its commitment to delivering a modern, forward-thinking operating system. This release isn’t just a routine update — it’s a confident stride into a future where Linux desktops are visually stunning, developer-friendly, and brimming with potential.

From the sleek new GNOME 48 desktop environment to the long-awaited HDR (High Dynamic Range) support, Ubuntu 25.04 introduces meaningful innovations for casual users, creative professionals, and hardcore enthusiasts alike. Let’s explore this release in depth.

The Spirit of “Plucky Puffin”

Ubuntu releases are known for their quirky animal-themed codenames, but “Plucky Puffin” feels particularly fitting. The word plucky denotes courage and determination — a nod to the OS’s bold push into new visual territories and its refined user experience. The puffin, a resilient seabird, suggests adaptability and elegance — both apt descriptors for Ubuntu’s trajectory in 2025.

Canonical has positioned Ubuntu 25.04 as a springboard for technological maturity ahead of the next long-term support (LTS) release. While it’s a standard, short-term release with 9 months of support, it packs significant under-the-hood improvements and user-facing features that elevate it beyond expectations.

GNOME 48: The Best Desktop Yet

One of the crown jewels of Ubuntu 25.04 is GNOME 48, the latest iteration of the popular desktop environment. GNOME 48 continues to refine the modern, minimalist ethos that has become its signature — but this time, with more responsiveness, better gesture support, and improved multitasking.

• The Activities Overview is smoother and now integrates multitouch gestures on laptops and touchscreens. Swipe-based workspace switching feels intuitive and immediate.

• New settings panels have been reorganized for clarity, especially in areas like display, accessibility, and power management.

• The Files (Nautilus) app has received subtle UI updates and performance boosts, with quicker load times and enhanced file indexing.

• GNOME 48 is noticeably lighter on RAM, thanks to backend improvements in Mutter (the window manager) and GTK 4 refinements.

• Accessibility tools like screen readers and magnifiers now offer smoother integration for users with visual or physical impairments.

• The Wayland session, now default across most hardware, feels more stable than ever — especially with advanced display features like HDR enabled.

HDR Support: A Visual Game-Changer for Linux

After years of anticipation, Ubuntu 25.04 officially introduces HDR support — a monumental leap for the Linux desktop. With more creatives, gamers, and multimedia professionals eyeing Linux as a viable platform, HDR unlocks rich, high-contrast visuals that were previously a Windows-exclusive luxury.

• HDR is now enabled by default in the Wayland session when supported hardware is detected.

• Compatible graphics cards (especially AMD Radeon GPUs and Intel Arc/iGPUs) benefit from full pipeline integration via the updated Mesa 24.x graphics stack and kernel enhancements.

• Supported monitors will now properly render HDR10 content, including games and video.

• Applications like OBS Studio, DaVinci Resolve (via Wine/Proton), and HDR-compatible image viewers can now fully utilize the expanded color gamut.

• Gaming via Steam (Proton) benefits from this update, enabling visually immersive experiences in supported AAA titles.

⚠️ Note: NVIDIA users must ensure they’re running the proprietary driver version 555 or higher, and HDR must be manually enabled in the Display settings.

Core System Enhancements and Under-the-Hood Improvements

Ubuntu 25.04 ships with the Linux Kernel 6.9, bringing performance gains and expanded hardware compatibility.

• Improved Intel Lunar Lake and AMD Ryzen 8000 series support.

• Expanded ZFS-on-Root functionality, offering robust snapshots and rollback features.

• Support for the latest Wi-Fi 7 adapters and Bluetooth LE Audio devices.

The systemd 256 update also brings enhanced service management and secure boot improvements, allowing for more flexible sandboxing and isolation techniques — a win for server administrators and desktop users alike.

Snaps, Flatpaks, and the Packaging Landscape

Canonical continues to champion Snap packages, but Ubuntu 25.04 also shows increased goodwill toward Flatpak and Flathub integration.

• Ubuntu Software (now simply called “App Center”) supports Snap, Deb, and Flatpak with a cleaner UI and better search experience.

• Flathub is now easier to enable through one-click setup in the App Center.

• Snap package startup times have seen dramatic improvements, particularly for apps like Firefox and Spotify.

This hybrid packaging ecosystem empowers users to pick their preferred formats without lock-in — something the community has long demanded.

Tools for Developers and Power Users

Ubuntu 25.04 includes several underappreciated but powerful tools for engineers and advanced users.

• Toolchain updates: GCC 14, Rust 1.78, Python 3.13, and Go 1.23.

• Improved WSL interoperability — for those using dual environments.

• Podman and Docker updates for container developers.

• GNOME Console now supports command-line snippets, auto-complete, and GPU-aware profiling.

Developers will find the environment faster, more secure, and easier to tailor to specific project needs.

Revamped Installer and Streamlined Upgrade Path

The Flutter-based installer, now the default since Ubuntu 23.10, continues to evolve:

• Support for ZFS and LUKS encryption side-by-side.

• Cleaner UI and consistent theming during installation.

• Automatic detection of HDR displays and secure boot flags.

Upgrading from Ubuntu 24.10 or 24.04 LTS is seamless via do-release-upgrade, with minimal downtime. Canonical’s commitment to non-disruptive upgrades remains intact.

Community Reception and Flavor Ecosystem

Ubuntu 25.04’s release has been met with enthusiasm across community forums, especially for its HDR support and GNOME 48 polish. Many note that Ubuntu is regaining appeal as a "daily driver" after years of slow iteration.

The Ubuntu flavors — Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Unity, and Ubuntu Budgie — also benefit from core improvements. While not all flavors ship with GNOME 48, each integrates kernel and package updates, ensuring a consistent base.

Conclusion: The Puffin Takes Flight

Ubuntu 25.04 “Plucky Puffin” is more than just a spring release. It’s a visionary update that hints at the trajectory Canonical is charting for Linux desktops: immersive, performant, and flexible. With the GNOME 48 experience refined to near perfection and HDR finally a reality, this release appeals to a broad spectrum of users.

Whether you’re a developer looking for a polished workstation, a gamer seeking HDR glory, or a creative professional ready to ditch macOS — Ubuntu 25.04 is worth the plunge.

Have you tried Ubuntu 25.04 yet? Let us know your experience and favorite features!