Linux Mint vs. RefreshOS: I compared the two best distros for new users - this one's better

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

Both Linux Mint and RefreshOS are large for each users.
Each distro takes a antithetic route, but arrives astatine the aforesaid place.
Only 1 tin assertion the rubric of champion distro for caller Linux users.

For years, Linux Mint has been 1 of the astir wide recommended Linux distributions for those considering the open-source operating system. There are bully reasons for this: Linux Mint is incredibly casual to use, highly unafraid and unchangeable -- and it has a affable and welcoming community.

Although I've ne'er adopted Mint arsenic my default, I've utilized it plentifulness of times implicit the years and regularly tested it against itself (previous releases) and different Linux distributions. I cognize Linux Mint, and I get wherefore truthful galore basal steadfast that it's the champion distro for caller users.

Also: 7 things each Linux beginner should cognize earlier downloading their archetypal distro

However, I reviewed RefreshOS precocious and pronounced it a apical contender for caller Linux users. Shortly aft that review, I decided to pit the caller contender against the undisputed person of Linux distributions for caller users. How did RefreshOS basal up against Linux Mint? Read connected to find out.

Linux Mint: Who is it for?

To accidental that Linux Mint is lone for caller Linux users would beryllium a grievous error. After all, if Mint is bully capable for my esteemed colleague, Steven Vaughan-Nichols (who claims the latest merchandise is simply a masterclass successful polish and quality-of-life fixes), it's bully capable for anyone.

To that end, it's reasonably casual to reason that Linux Mint is the champion of the best. For anyone looking to follow an operating strategy that not lone "just works" but "just works amended than most," Linux Mint is the mode to go.

Also: You tin effort Linux without ditching Windows archetypal - here's how

But what makes Linux Mint truthful special? One mightiness accidental the distro's occurrence begins with its Ubuntu-based foundation. Or possibly it's the Cinnamon desktop, which sticks to the modular desktop metaphor of a panel, commencement menu, strategy tray, and clickable icons. Cinnamon is instantly familiar, nary substance what desktop you've antecedently used.

I would argue, however, that Linx Mint's specialness starts with the Welcome app. The Mint Welcome app walks users done the archetypal steps of choosing desktop colors, mounting up strategy snapshots, installing immoderate further drivers, introducing the update manager and strategy settings, rapidly accessing the bundle manager, and adjacent mounting up the firewall. The aforesaid app besides gets you speedy entree to documentation, help, and a mode to contribute. It's 1 of the champion onboarding apps available. Period.

Linux Mint throws nary surprises your way. It's arsenic straightforward arsenic it gets. That simplicity permeates the full OS, meaning Linux Mint is simply a viable enactment for anyone, careless of Linux experience. Linux Mint has been this mode for years.

Also: The champion Linux distributions for beginners: Expert tested and reviewed

Linux Mint besides includes each of the bundle you request to deed the crushed running, including LibreOffice, Firefox, multimedia players, a fingerprint configuration tool, and overmuch more. If you don't find what you're looking for, unfastened the Software Manager and hunt for it. And due to the fact that the Flatpak cosmopolitan bundle manager is installed, you tin instal 1 of thousands of apps, including proprietary bundle similar Spotify and Slack.

Although Mint doesn't see the latest Linux kernel, it performs well. This capableness tin beryllium partially attributed to the lightweight Cinnamon desktop environment. No substance the reason, you'll bask a zippy experience, adjacent if you're moving Linux Mint connected older hardware.

Also: The 6 Linux distros I expect to regularisation 2026 - and why

Simply put: Linux Mint is for everyone.

RefreshOS: Who is it for?

And present we person a comparative newcomer to the satellite of Linux: RefreshOS. This Debian-based distribution recently released mentation 3.0, which added superior polish portion keeping the KDE Plasma desktop (version 6.3.6).

That polish gives the RefreshOS desktop 1 of the astir elegant looks I've utilized successful a while. This elegance is particularly beardown erstwhile utilizing the RefreshOS Light theme. In fact, the developer adjacent included an fantabulous hybrid taxable that combines acheronian (for panel, menu, and model decorations) and airy (for apps).

Also: The latest KDE Plasma 6.7 amazed maine with features I didn't expect from a constituent release

I've proclaimed KDE Plasma one of the finest desktop environments successful each of computer-dom several times implicit the years, and I inactive basal by that claim. When you harvester the stylish planetary themes from RefreshOS with KDE Plasma 6.3.6, you get a desktop that could easy basal toe-to-toe with the astir beauteous environments connected the market.

But quality isn't capable to assistance RefreshOS implicit Linux Mint. The distro has to beryllium arsenic elemental to usage arsenic it is elegant. Does RefreshOS propulsion disconnected specified a feat? For the astir part, yes. My flimsy hesitation stems from the deficiency of a peculiar app.

Although RefreshOS does contiguous the KDE Plasma Welcome app, the distro does not person a invited app of its own. That omission shouldn't hinder anyone, arsenic the desktop is designed truthful that anyone tin fig it out. It mightiness beryllium nice, successful aboriginal releases, if a user-friendly invited app were created to springiness caller users a spot of hand-holding done the archetypal steps. But the deficiency of this app doesn't detract from the easiness of use.

As I mentioned successful my latest review, RefreshOS switches the default KDE Plasma desktop paper to the Reload Menu, truthful you tin pin the paper to support it open. This is simply a useful diagnostic erstwhile you request to unfastened aggregate apps and don't privation to spell done other clicks. Just unfastened the menu, click the pin icon to the close of the search, and the paper remains unfastened until you unpin it.

Don't beryllium fooled, the Reload Menu does person categories for your apps, and each you person to bash is click All Apps to spot them. You tin besides pin apps to the Favorites section, which greets you erstwhile you archetypal unfastened the menu.

Also: My 11 favourite Linux distributions of each time, ranked

You get the accustomed contingent of preinstalled apps, with a tiny change. Instead of Firefox arsenic the default browser, you get Brave. If you're a instrumentality of privacy, you'll happily invited this change. You besides get LibreOffice, GIMP, Thunderbird, multimedia viewers, dependable and video editors, and more. As with Linux Mint, you besides get Flatpak preinstalled and configured for KDE Plasma, truthful installing apps is arsenic casual arsenic point-and-click.

In different words, you get much preinstalled apps with RefreshOS than you bash with Linux Mint.

RefreshOS show is connected par with Linux Mint, acknowledgment to KDE Plasma. And due to the fact that RefreshOS is based connected Debian, you get a level of stableness that galore operating systems can't match.

The large question: Which distro is champion for caller users?

So, which distro wins the conflict for caller users? I'm going to marque a bold assertion present that galore successful the Linux assemblage volition balk at: RefreshOS gets the nod, adjacent if lone barely.

Trust me, this was a pugnacious telephone due to the fact that Linux Mint is hard to beat. The crushed I gave RefreshOS the triumph is KDE Plasma's quality to beryllium everything to each people. If you're caller to Linux, KDE Plasma makes it casual to follow the open-source OS. If you're a seasoned Linux user, KDE Plasma allows you to customize it to your heart's content.

Also: I tried AnduinOS 2.0, and it whitethorn beryllium the easiest mode to ditch Windows for Linux

On apical of that, RefreshOS is conscionable gorgeous. And though immoderate would reason that aesthetics should not beryllium a information for the champion distro for caller users, I would say, "Why not?" Both Microsoft and Apple spell retired of their mode to make desktop interfaces that are some modern and effective, truthful wherefore can't Linux developers?

The prime was precise close, but I didn't privation to remainder connected reputation. Yes, Linux Mint has been everyone's apical prime for a agelong time. But successful the satellite of Linux, there's ever thing caller connected the horizon, and I judge RefreshOS looms large.

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