Ubuntu MATE is a free and open-source Linux distribution and an official derivative of Ubuntu. Its main differentiation from Ubuntu is that it uses the MATE desktop environment as its default user interface (based on GNOME 2), instead of the GNOME desktop environment that is the default user interface for Ubuntu.
History The Ubuntu MATE project was founded by Martin Wimpress and Alan Pope and began as an unofficial derivative of Ubuntu, using an Ubuntu 14.10 base for its first release; a 14.04 LTS release followed shortly. As of February 2015, Ubuntu MATE gained official Ubuntu flavour status from Canonical as per the release of 15.04 Beta 1. In addition to x86-64, Ubuntu MATE also supports PowerPC and ARMv7 (on the Raspberry Pi 2 and 3 as well as the ODROID XU4).
In April 2015, Ubuntu MATE announced a partnership with British computer reseller Entroware, enabling Entroware customers to purchase laptop and desktop computers with Ubuntu MATE preinstalled with full support. Several other hardware deals were announced later.
In Ubuntu MATE 18.10, 32-bit support was dropped.
Releases Current releaseRelease no longer supportedRelease still supportedFuture release
VersionCodenameRelease dateSupported untilRemarks14.04 LTSTrusty TahrApril 2019Released after the 14.10 release in order to provide long-term support until 2019, following Ubuntu.14.10Utopic UnicornJuly 2015First release of Ubuntu MATE.15.04Vivid VervetJanuary 2016First release as an official Ubuntu flavour.15.10Wily WerewolfJuly 2016Features MATE 1.10, Ubuntu Software Center not installed by default.16.04 LTSXenial XerusApril 2019First official LTS release; features MATE 1.12.x DE, expanded Welcome application and Software Boutique; has ZFS built-in by default.16.10Yakkety YakJuly 2017Full GTK3+ implementation of the MATE Desktop. Most default applications are "Recommended" and can thus be uninstalled without issue.17.04Zesty ZapusJanuary 2018Concluded the migration to GTK3+.17.10Artful AardvarkJuly 201817.10.1, was released on 12 January 2018. It fixed a problem that corrupted the UEFI & BIOS firmware.18.04 LTSBionic BeaverApril 2021It includes support for GPD Pocket & Pocket 2, Raspberry Pi B2/B3/B3+.18.10Cosmic CuttlefishJuly 2019First non-LTS 64-bit-only release, end of 32-bit support. Features MATE 1.20.19.04Disco DingoJanuary 2020Features MATE 1.20 and Nvidia drivers.19.10Eoan ErmineJuly 2020Non-LTS 64-bit-only release. Features MATE 1.22.2 and replaces VLC media player with GNOME mpv as default media player software.20.04 LTSFocal FossaApril 2023Features MATE 1.24.20.10Groovy GorillaJuly 2021Features MATE 1.24.1.21.04Hirsute HippoJanuary 202264-bit-only. Features MATE 1.24.2.21.10Impish IndriJuly 2022Features MATE 1.26.22.04 LTSJammy JellyfishApril 2027Features MATE 1.26.1.22.10Kinetic KuduJuly 2023PipeWire replaces PulseAudio, and MATE 1.26.1 includes some backported features from the unreleased 1.28 version23.04Lunar LobsterJanuary 202423.10Mantic MinotaurJuly 202424.04 LTSNoble NumbatMay 2029Current LTS release.24.10Oracular OrioleJuly 202525.04Plucky PuffinJanuary 202625.10Questing QuokkaJuly 2026Current interim release
Reception In a May 2016 review Jesse Smith of DistroWatch concluded, "despite my initial problems getting Ubuntu MATE installed and running smoothly, I came away with a positive view of the distribution. The project is providing a very friendly desktop experience that requires few hardware resources by modern standards. I also want to tip my hat to the default theme used on Ubuntu MATE."
Dedoimedo reviewed Ubuntu MATE in July 2018, and wrote that "[Ubuntu MATE offers] a wealth of visual and functional changes…You really have the ability to implement anything and everything, and all of it natively, from within the system's interface".
Starting with the 22.04 LTS release, Ubuntu MATE included AI-generated wallpapers. These were warmly received by popular tech blogs, with OMG! Ubuntu exclaiming "I'm blown away by the quality of this AI-produced artwork" for the 22.04 release, and IT's FOSS News proclaiming the "beautiful" wallpapers were "a big highlight" of the 22.10 release".
See also Comparison of Linux distributions GTK Linux Mint MATE Ubuntu Budgie Ubuntu Unity Xubuntu
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