Ubuntu 25.04 Features - What's New & Release Date

Ubuntu 25.04 is the latest interim release from Canonical. Codenamed 'Plucky Puffin', it succeeds Ubuntu 24.10 and introduces a truckload of new features, including UI improvements and performance tweaks worth checking out.

#Ubuntu 25.04 release date

Ubuntu 25.04 officially rolls out on April 17, 2025. Currently, it's in beta, with daily builds available for download in various image formats (desktop, server, netboot, and WSL). It's an interim release that will be supported for 9 months from its release date. You can still download it before its release date and give it a spin.

#Ubuntu 25.04 features

Any new Ubuntu release comes with a set of new features and improvements to enhance user experience and performance, and Ubuntu 25.04 is no different. Let’s look at what's new in this release.

#Linux Kernel 6.14

Ubuntu 25.04 rolls out with the latest kernel, Linux kernel 6.14. Users are set to benefit immensely from ARM and RISC-V enhancements, Intel and AMD graphic driver improvements, faster gaming, and other performance boosts.

#GNOME 48

Named "Bengaluru", GNOME 48 is the latest release of the desktop environment. It was released in March 2025 and packs exciting new features and improvements. These include new fonts, an enhanced image viewer, a digital well-being feature to promote healthy computer habits, an updated text editor, a revamped document viewer, and a set of other UI improvements.

#Improved installer

The flutter-based installer has received a few improvements with a focus on additional LUKS encryption install options and better handling of Windows BitLocker-encrypted hard drives.

#Papers - A new default PDF reader

Papers replaces Evince as the default PDF and document viewer in Ubuntu. It's a fork of Evince and uses GTK4 and LibAdwaita libraries. Evince still uses GTK3. Papers supports multiple file formats, including PDF, TIFF, and Comic Book archives (e.g., CBR, CBZ, CB7, and CBT). It offers similar features to Evince, including the ability to view, search text, bookmark, and annotate documents. You can also open documents via the drag-and-drop feature and digitally sign them.

For a comprehensive list of all features, check out the Papers documentation on Flathub.

#Wellbeing feature

Spending long hours behind your screen without breaks can have adverse health effects, including weight gain and a host of other conditions. Canonical developers considered this and created a thoughtful feature to mitigate the risk associated with this habit.

Wellbeing is a new feature aimed at promoting healthy PC usage habits. It tracks the time you've been active on your PC and lets you compare your usage with other days of the week.

It allows you to set daily screen limits, and when a limit is exceeded, you get a notification and the display turns grayscale (black and white). In addition, you can set break reminders and receive notifications on when to take a break and stretch a little after a specified time interval.

#HDR support

HDR (High Dynamic Range) allows monitors to display sharper images using vibrant colors and a wider range of brightness and contrast compared to standard displays.

It's particularly useful for enhancing video and gaming experiences by providing more realistic visual effects. If you have an HDR monitor, you can enable this feature to make the most of your viewing experience.

#Notification groupings

GNOME 48 introduces stacking to the notification list. Notifications from the same app are grouped into stacks, each of which can be expanded to reveal individual messages. Stacking keeps the notification list organized and makes it easier to navigate. It also keeps the notification list from becoming too long.

#Timezone support in calendar app

When creating events with the calendar app, you can now specify time zones for their start and end times. This comes in handy when considering events taking place in other geographical regions.

In addition to the timezone support, the app has received numerous bug fixes and 40+ UX improvements.

#Yaru theme updates

Yaru theme has received a facelift with a modified GTK4/libadwaita stylesheet and modern and revamped icon packs. The changes made are subtle yet necessary to synchronize with the latest features included in GNOME 48. App icons appear more proportionate than previous releases, creating a more consistent appearance. Notably, the Sysprof utility has been redesigned. It drops its 'stop watch' design and adopts a modern look.

#New toolchains and software versions

As with every new release, Ubuntu 25.04 ships with an assortment of new app versions. Top highlights include:

• Python 3.13

• Pipewire 1.2.7

• GCC 14.2

• Systemd 257.4

• LibreOffice 25.2.2

• OpenSSL 3.4.1

• GnuTLS 3.8.9

• BlueZ 5.79

#Improved NVIDIA handling

With every new Ubuntu release, NVIDIA performance keeps improving, and it’s no different with Ubuntu 25.04. The latest release continues this legacy with the introduction of a power management tool called Dynamic Boost. This is a new feature that intelligently balances power between the CPU and GPU and routes more power depending on where it is required the most.

Dynamically distributing power between the CPU and GPU improves performance significantly, especially with games and other GPU-intensive apps such as video rendering tools.

#Miscellaneous Ubuntu 25.04 features

Other assorted and notable changes that come with the latest release include:

• New Adwaita fonts (Adwaita Sans and Adwaita Mono fonts)

• A new wallpaper that symbolizes the new release - ‘Plucky Puffin’

• The 'color' panel in Settings is now called 'Color Management'

• Revamped 'Power Settings' pane with a tabbed layout organized into 'General' and 'Power Saving' sections

• The 'Maps' application has switched to using the system's accent color for location marking

• OSD notifications for headphone connections

• Improved support for ARM hardware

• Updated text editor

#Conclusion

That was a round-up of interesting new features and enhancements that come with the latest Ubuntu release. You can easily download Ubuntu 25.04 from the official Ubuntu download website and give it a spin on your PC or as a virtual machine. Since it's a short-term release, it will only be supported for the next nine months.