sjvn
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
ZDNET's key takeaways
The latest Linux Mint is a solid release for everyday use.
The biggest improvements are to be found in its default Cinnamon desktop.
Mint Zena provides more information than ever on what your hardware's doing.
Linux Mint 22.3 Zena is a classic point release. There's nothing earth‑shattering in this release, but it boasts polish, quality‑of‑life fixes, and Cinnamon desktop refinements. This update makes Mint, once more, one of the best desktops for people who just want their PC to work. If you liked Mint 22.1 and 22.2, 22.3 feels like the next logical distro you'll want to live in until Mint 22.x is no longer supported in 2029.
Under the hood, Mint remains boring but good. Linux Mint 22.3 sticks with the Ubuntu 24.04 Long Term Support (LTS) base, updated to 24.04.3. This tech provides a conservative, well‑tested foundation with current hardware support rather than a brand-new Linux distribution. Not, mind you, that there's anything wrong with leading, bleeding-edge Linux distros, such as System76's Pop!OS 24.04 with its brand-spanking new COSMIC desktop.
Also: Linux at CES 2026: Tux is alive and well in IoT, cars, and AI
Mint's latest kernel is Linux 6.14. With this kernel and a refreshed driver set, newer Intel and AMD laptops, GPUs, and Wi‑Fi chipsets are more likely to 'just work' out of the box. Additionally, thanks to its improved NTSYNC driver, if you like to play Windows games or run Windows programs on Linux, you'll see better performance.
... continue reading