Ubuntu

Lubuntu vs. Linux lite

Suppose you don’t have a high-end device to run Linux distros like Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Debian, etc. You can go for Lubuntu and Linux lite as they offer excellent compatibility for low-end devices. These are lightweight Linux distros that provide appropriate features and options for low-end devices having 512 MB of RAM and lower.  However, it is confusing to choose between Lubuntu and Linux Lite as both of these Linux distros have adequate resources. We have briefly overviewed the Linux distros, given information, and a comparison between Lubuntu and Linux lite.  Our information can help you to choose the best one according to the requirements without compromising.

Lubuntu vs. Linux Lite

So here is the brief introduction and details of both Lubuntu and Linux lite for your better understanding.

What is Lubuntu?

Lubuntu is completely free and open source as it was developed in GNU license. This lightweight Linux distro is based on the Linux kernel and derived by Ubuntu distributions, so it is fast, easy to use, and provides a simple UI. Lubuntu uses a desktop LXDE/LXQT; it needs a low-end device for the best performance. As per the information of its development, Lubuntu was created by Mario Behling but developed by Julien Lavergne.

Lubuntu doesn’t provide any desktop effects and animations, but you can easily place icons and use a right-click menu to better the user experience. This Linux has its specific applications, so instead of LibreOffice, you can get Gnumeric and Abiword as replacements. If you have a low-end system, you can run Lubuntu on a low-end pc with 256MB of RAM. The latest version of Lubuntu is 20.10, which not created for Low-end devices as the definition of a low-end device has been changed from 2010 to 2020, so the requirements for Lubuntu are:

Requirements Minimum Maximum
RAM 512 MB of RAM to use local programs such as LibreOffice 1 GB of RAM to use  Facebook, Google Drive, Google+ and YouTube
CPU Pentium 4 or Pentium M or AMD K8 More than minimum requirements.

What is Linux Lite?

Jerry Bezencon’s team created Linux lite, and it is based on Ubuntu and Debian.  This Linux distro also offers a lightweight desktop environment with an appropriately customized Xfce. Linux lite consists of a bunch of Lite applications for making the work easier for the new users.

The latest version of Linux Lite is 5.0, which offers fantastic UEFI(Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) support, update-notifier, a new firewall app, updated whisker menu, and scaling factors and Hidpi settings.

Considering new applications and replacements, the Mousepad has been added to replace the Leafpad as a new default text editor.  Chrome replaced Chromium because snap is a little bit resource-hungry.  GNOME paint is also added to replace Pinta. Developers also added Xfce screensaver, but it will be disabled by default. As per the comparison between the minimum and maximum specifications to use Linux lite:

Requirements Minimum Maximum
CPU 1Ghz processor 1.5GHz processor
RAM 768MB 1024MB
Storage 8GB 20GB
Resolution VGA screen 1024×768 resolution VGA, DVI, or HDMI screen 1366×768
Media DVD drive or USB port for the ISO image DVD drive or USB port for the ISO image

Lubuntu Vs. Linux Lite: Head to Head Comparison Table

Requirements Linux Lite Lubuntu
RAM 768MB 512 MB of RAM to use local programs such as LibreOffice
CPU 1Ghz processor Pentium 4 or Pentium M or AMD K8
Lightweight It is appropriate for a mid-end device. It is best for low-end devices.

Lubuntu vs. Linux lite: Which One is Better?

As we have mentioned above, Lubuntu is getting upgraded rapidly and becoming more performance-centric instead of satisfying low-end requirements. However, Lubuntu still offers good performance for low-end devices as it requires 512MB of RAM for appropriate working.

On the other side, Linux lite is also focused on delivering a lightweight environment with great performance. However, the minimum requirement for this Linux distro is 768 MB of RAM to work appropriately.  So in case you have a low-end device and want a lightweight desktop, you can go for Lubuntu.

Conclusion

So it was a brief description of Lubuntu and Linux lite, and we hope that our article helps you choose the right operating system for your requirements. The above details are based on the user reviews and system requirements for both Lubuntu and Linux lite. Both Linux distros are best and preferred for the low-end system due to their compatibility and features.

About the author

Simran Kaur

Simran works as a technical writer. The graduate in MS Computer Science from the well known CS hub, aka Silicon Valley, is also an editor of the website. She enjoys writing about any tech topic, including programming, algorithms, cloud, data science, and AI. Travelling, sketching, and gardening are the hobbies that interest her.