Ubuntu 25.04 'Plucky Puffin' Beta launches with GNOME 48, new document viewer & more
The anticipated Ubuntu 25.04, also known as Plucky Puffin, has entered the public beta phase with its final release set for April 17, 2025. This new version features the Linux 6.14 kernel, which enhances hardware support and performance. The default desktop environment is GNOME 48, with new features including triple buffering for better graphics performance. Papers replaces Evince as the default document viewer.
The update includes BeaconDB-powered geolocation, an improved installer with better dual boot support for BitLocker-protected Windows, and enhanced Netplan Wi-Fi and routing features. Quick terminal access is now available via Ctrl+Alt+T. The repositories offer GIMP 3.0, LibreOffice 25.2, and Mozilla Firefox 136. The toolchain is updated with GCC 14.2, LLVM 20, Python 3.13.2, and Rust 1.84.
Ubuntu 25.04 is available in multiple flavors, including Desktop, Ubuntu Server, Ubuntu Cloud, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and Ubuntu MATE. The beta can be downloaded from the official site, though it’s not recommended for production use.
- Linux Distro
- Free • Open Source
Related news
External links
- Plucky Puffin Release NotesUbuntu Community Hub • Official source
- Ubuntu 25.04 Beta is Now Available to DownloadOMG! Ubuntu
- Ubuntu 25.04 Beta brings Linux 6.14, GNOME 48, and more to the Plucky Puffin party -- download it now!BetaNews
- Ubuntu 25.04 "Plucky Puffin" Enters Public Beta Testing with Linux 6.14, GNOME 489to5Linux
Comments
Nice to see Ubuntu being more and more a rolling distro (and letting the LTS getting old packages), putting the burden of upstream instead of Canonical patches but three weeks to stabilize it using packages as new as Linux 6.14 (instead of 6.12, the last LTS) and Gimp 3, seems overconfident.