Umair Khurshid is a technology writer and developer with a strong focus on Linux, FreeBSD, cloud infrastructure, and automation. Before focusing on writing, Umair worked as a developer and DevOps engineer building and automating cloud-native systems.
Linux Mint has earned its reputation by being one of the easiest Linux distros to recommend. If someone asks me which Linux distros they should install on their parents’ laptop, Linux Mint is usually on the top of the list. That simplicity comes with trade-offs, as Mint deliberately avoids some of Ubuntu’s newer technologies and often waits before adopting major platform changes. The developers have good reasons for those decisions. Their priority is stability and user choice rather than chasing the latest trends.
Still, if you have been using Linux Mint for years, you might not realize how much Ubuntu has quietly added in the background. If you have been happily running Linux Mint, here are several Ubuntu features you may be missing:
Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu’s LTS releases, which means its foundation stays relatively unchanged for years. That makes Mint extremely dependable, but it also means newer hardware sometimes takes longer to receive full support.
Which is the better pick for a complete beginner? Is there even a difference?
Ubuntu offers Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernels that regularly bring newer Linux kernels to supported LTS releases. New processors, Wi-Fi adapters, graphics hardware, and laptops generally work sooner without requiring manual kernel upgrades.
If you recently bought a laptop with the latest Intel or AMD processor, Ubuntu often recognizes every component immediately, while Mint users may need to wait for a newer Edge ISO or manually install a newer kernel. For people who upgrade their hardware frequently, Ubuntu usually feels more current.
Most desktop users have probably never heard of Ubuntu Pro. Canonical offers it free for personal use on several machines, extending security maintenance well beyond the normal support lifecycle. It also includes Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM), which patches thousands of packages that would otherwise stop receiving updates.
Not all Linux is built for laptops. From Ubuntu’s gesture support to Linux Mint’s efficiency, these are the best "laptop-first" choices
For developers, consultants, or anyone running Ubuntu on multiple systems, Ubuntu Pro adds meaningful value without requiring a paid subscription. Mint inherits Ubuntu’s security updates, but Ubuntu Pro remains an Ubuntu-exclusive service.
Kernel updates normally require a reboot. Ubuntu Livepatch changes that by applying many critical kernel security fixes while the system continues running. Servers have benefited from similar technologies for years, but Ubuntu makes the capability easily accessible on desktop systems as well.
If your workstation runs long rendering jobs, virtual machines, containers, or scientific workloads, avoiding unnecessary reboots can be surprisingly convenient. Livepatch will not eliminate every reboot, since some kernel updates still require restarting the system, but it significantly reduces how often that becomes necessary. Linux Mint does not include an equivalent built-in service.
Ubuntu has invested heavily in cloud computing and that investment benefits desktop users too. Multipass allows you to launch lightweight Ubuntu virtual machines with a single command. Developers can quickly create isolated environments without manually downloading installation media or configuring virtual hardware.
Canonical's side projects deserve more attention than they get.
Canonical also publishes official cloud images optimized for virtualization platforms, public cloud providers, containers, and automated deployment pipelines. If your work involves Kubernetes, Docker, cloud infrastructure, or DevOps workflows, Ubuntu’s surrounding ecosystem is noticeably richer than Mint’s. Even if you never touch AWS or Azure, those tools are convenient for local testing.
