Linux Desktops tier list for 2025: what's good, and what's not!

Summary

In this video, the speaker ranks various Linux desktop environments based on their personal experiences and needs. The environments discussed include Gnome, KDE Plasma, Cinnamon, XFCE, and others, with detailed opinions on their features, aesthetics, and overall usability. Gnome is praised for its modernity and flexibility, while Mate, Pantheon, and Unity are critiqued for being outdated or underdeveloped. The speaker reflects on nostalgia for Pantheon but acknowledges its limitations. Unity, in particular, is placed at the bottom due to lack of development. The video concludes with a sponsor segment about Tuxedo Computers, known for their Linux-based systems.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gnome 48 is praised for its modern features and customizability with extensions, making it a better option than MATE for many users.
• 😀 MATE is considered outdated compared to newer desktop environments like Gnome and KDE, earning a 'no thanks' rating despite not being 'trash'.
• 😀 Pantheon, used by Elementary OS, has a nostalgic value but lacks the features and development pace to compete with other desktop environments like Gnome or KDE.
• 😀 Pantheon is visually appealing but feels outdated, with limited theming options due to its reliance on the Granite library for apps.
• 😀 The apps in Pantheon are underdeveloped compared to other desktop environments, limiting its overall functionality for users with advanced needs.
• 😀 Unity, originally developed by Ubuntu, is criticized for not evolving since its early days and being easily replicable by KDE or Gnome with extensions.
• 😀 Unity has fallen into disrepair and is now mainly kept alive by a single person, which limits its potential for further development.
• 😀 CuteFish, once gaining attention, has now effectively died, and the presenter chooses not to include it further in rankings.
• 😀 Some desktop environments like Luminina and Enlightenment haven't been tested by the presenter and are excluded from the rankings.
• 😀 The ranking is based on personal use cases, and the presenter encourages viewers to share their opinions and suggest other environments for future reviews.

Q & A

What is the overall theme of the video script?

The video script discusses a ranking of various Linux desktop environments based on personal preferences, usability, features, and design. The speaker reviews environments like Gnome, Mate, Pantheon, and Unity, sharing their opinions on each.

Why does the speaker prefer Gnome over other desktop environments?

The speaker prefers Gnome because of its modern design, flexibility with extensions, and the overall polished experience it provides. They believe Gnome is better suited for their needs compared to older desktop environments like Mate.

What is the speaker's opinion on Mate as a desktop environment?

The speaker ranks Mate in the 'no thanks' category, acknowledging that it is not inherently bad but feels outdated compared to modern alternatives like Gnome. They find Gnome's experience to be superior, offering more modern features.

What are the drawbacks of Pantheon according to the speaker?

Pantheon suffers from a dated look and feel, limited theming options due to its reliance on the Granite library, and a lack of feature-rich apps. The speaker believes that it doesn't keep up with other desktop environments like Gnome or KDE.

How does Pantheon compare to other desktop environments like Gnome and KDE?

Pantheon is considered less advanced than Gnome and KDE due to a smaller development team, a less flexible theming system, and fewer features in its applications. However, it's still ranked as 'average' due to its polished appearance and user-friendly design.

What was Unity's role in Ubuntu's development?

Unity was developed by Ubuntu as an alternative to Gnome 3 when Ubuntu moved away from Gnome 2. It became the default desktop environment for Ubuntu starting from version 11.04 until it was phased out around Ubuntu 18.04.

Why does the speaker consider Unity to be obsolete?

Unity is considered obsolete because it hasn't evolved since its last update, and its functionality can easily be replicated in other desktop environments like KDE or Gnome. The speaker believes Unity's development has stalled, with only one person currently maintaining it.

What did the speaker think of CuteFish as a desktop environment?

CuteFish was briefly mentioned in a previous video but is no longer actively developed. The speaker has not discussed it in depth, as it seems to have died as a project.

What desktop environments does the speaker plan to review in the future?

The speaker expresses interest in reviewing desktop environments such as Luminina and Enlightenment if viewers suggest them in the comments. They plan to integrate these into future rankings for 2026.

What is Tuxedo Computers, and why does the speaker endorse it?

Tuxedo Computers is a company that sells desktops and laptops pre-installed with Linux. The speaker endorses Tuxedo for its quality hardware and Linux support, noting that they use Tuxedo products for their own work and gaming needs.