Ubuntu 24.04 LTS vs 22.04: Disruptive New Features and Long-Term Support

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (code‑named “Noble Numbat”) was released on 25 April 2024 as the latest long‑term support (LTS) release, succeeding 22.04 LTS (“Jammy Jellyfish”). It extends the standard five‑year support to May 2029 and, with Ubuntu Pro, can be extended to twelve years (until 2036), making it attractive for enterprise and long‑term users.

Installer modernization

The previous Ubiquity installer is replaced by a Flutter‑based installer that offers a more intuitive graphical interface, improved accessibility options, and better support for dual‑boot installations, streamlining the setup for new users.

Desktop environment and kernel upgrades

GNOME 46 : provides enhanced touch‑screen support, smoother animations, improved application launcher and more efficient resource management.

Linux 6.8 kernel : brings syscall performance gains, new hardware support such as AMD P‑State control, experimental bcachefs support, and nested KVM, especially on ppc64el.

Audio system transition

PipeWire replaces PulseAudio as the default audio server, delivering lower latency and better audio/video stream handling. Bluetooth headset support is improved via the apt:libspa-0.2-bluetooth package.

Application and software ecosystem

Thunderbird 115 (Snap) becomes the default mail client, offering stronger mail management and extensions.

Snap Store receives a modernized interface for easier Snap package management.

Other updates include LibreOffice 24.2.2, Firefox 124.0.2 (Snap), and GIMP 2.10.36, each bringing new features and bug fixes.

Security and performance enhancements

Stricter AppArmor confinement and permission prompts.

Frame pointers are enabled by default on all 64‑bit architectures to aid performance analysis.

Low‑latency kernel features reduce task scheduling delays, improving system responsiveness.

Performance gains include faster boot times, better power management via Power Profiles Daemon 0.21, and more efficient resource utilization.

Hardware support and accessibility

Updated CPU (Intel Skylake+, AMD Zen 2+) and GPU support, enhanced touch‑screen and pen input, and removal of apt:xserver-xorg-input-synaptics for modern input devices.

Improved screen‑reader support and keyboard navigation for users with disabilities.

Support timeline and community contributions

The standard support period lasts five years to May 2029, with an optional Ubuntu Pro extension to twelve years, surpassing previous LTS offerings. The release incorporates extensive community contributions and bug fixes, reflecting the collaborative nature of the open‑source ecosystem.

For more details, see the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS release blog: https://ubuntu.com/blog and the official download page: https://ubuntu.com/download.