The next version of Canonical's popular distribution comes with a decision that is generating a lot of discussion: Ubuntu LTS 26.04 The recommended memory requirement will be raised to 6 GB of RAM.The figure, on paper, exceeds what Microsoft claims for Windows 11, and has ignited the debate about whether Linux is still the ideal option for modest computers.
Although the change may sound like a drastic shift, This is not a rigid requirement, but a more honest recommendation. With the actual use of desktops today, Canonical is openly acknowledging something many users already observed in practice: with 4 GB, the experience starts to fall short when combining a browser, office applications, and several other applications open simultaneously.
From 4 to 6 GB of RAM: a leap that breaks the "light" tradition
For a long time, the mantra in the penguin world has been that 4 GB of RAM was enough for a decent Linux desktopUbuntu 24.04 was operating in that area, and earlier versions required considerably less. In 2017, it was content with 1 GB, and with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, the jump to the 4 GB that has accompanied the distribution until now was made.
With Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, Canonical takes another step and It raises that reference by 50%, going to 6 GB The recommended memory for a standard desktop with GNOME is [insert recommended memory here]. The rest of the hardware remains largely unchanged: a 2 GHz dual-core processor and about 25 GB of disk space are still sufficient to install the system without problems.
This new figure does not mean that Ubuntu has suddenly become clumsy or inefficient. The key lies in how desktop software has changed in recent yearsBrowsers with dozens of tabs, background applications, synchronization services, and programs based on heavy technologies like Electron have been increasing the memory bill.
Canonical, instead of glossing over the situation, prefers to openly acknowledge that 4 GB today is more of a survival floor that's a comfortable starting point. The idea is that with 6 GB, an average user in Spain or any European country can work with GNOME, Firefox, LibreOffice, and some other tasks without the computer slowing down.
Recommended requirements, not a barrier to entry
One of the nuances that is being lost in the discussion is that These 6 GB are not a strict minimum requirementCanonical presents them as the recommended configuration for a smooth experience, but Ubuntu 26.04 can boot and even be installed with considerably less memory.
In tests with recent versions, It is possible to run Ubuntu with 2-4 GB of RAMHowever, the result is no longer what one would expect for modern desktop use. You can browse the web, write documents, and perform basic tasks, but lag and excessive swap usage appear as soon as you open too much software.
Canonical's philosophy here clearly differs from Microsoft's: Ubuntu does not block installations below 6 GBThe decision is passed on to the user, who can try the system on an old laptop and assess whether the performance is worth it or not, without a definitive message preventing them from continuing.
This flexibility keeps the distribution within that territory that so many users in Spain associate with Linux: giving a second life to old computersThe difference is that now it does so by being more transparent about what can actually be expected based on the amount of installed memory.
Comparison with Windows 11: the 4 GB mirage
Upon entering the official Microsoft support page, Windows 11 continues to claim that it's fine with 4 GB of RAMIn a table of requirements, Ubuntu 26.04 automatically appears as the "heaviest" system. But in day-to-day use, the picture is quite different.
Anyone who has installed Windows 11 on a computer with only 4 GB knows that The startup is slow and the system becomes frustrating. as soon as you try to multitask. Between background services, antivirus, telemetry, and the system applications themselves, those 4 GB fill up in no time.
Furthermore, Microsoft adds the requirement to have TPM 2.0 and UEFI firmwareThese requirements effectively push users towards relatively recent motherboards and hardware. And in that segment, the vast majority of computers already come standard with 8 GB or more of RAM, making the 4 GB figure more of a marketing ploy than a practical reality.
Canonical's move is almost the opposite: He prefers to make it clear that 6 GB is the realistic margin This ensures that Ubuntu 26.04 doesn't become bogged down under normal use, while still allowing those who want to push older hardware to its limits to do so at their own risk. It's a different way of understanding the relationship between requirements and the final experience.
The role of GNOME and modern software in increasing RAM
The change in recommended memory is not explained solely by whim. GNOME, the default desktop environment for Ubuntu, has been adding graphical effects, animations, and services. which, although they improve usability, also consume more resources than more spartan environments.
Added to this is the proliferation of increasingly heavy applications. Browsers like Firefox or Chrome devour memory by multiplying tabsOffice suites load resident components and many modern tools are built on complex frameworks designed for portability, not for saving resources.
By cons, The Server version of Ubuntu continues to move forward with very limited requirementsIn environments without a graphical interface, installations can function from around 1.5 GB of RAM, remembering that the big "weight" comes from the desktop and how we use the computer, not from the kernel itself.
In parallel, Canonical is heavily investing in technologies like Snap to package desktop applications. These containers add isolation and ease of maintenance, but They can also increase memory and storage consumption compared to traditional packages, something that is more noticeable on computers with limited resources.
Lightweight distributions for modest computers: Lubuntu, Xubuntu and others
The increase to 6 GB in the official recommendation has led more than one person to wonder if Linux remains synonymous with reviving old computers.The answer, at least in the Ubuntu ecosystem, remains affirmative as long as the appropriate variant is chosen.
For limited hardware, Official flavors like Lubuntu or Xubuntu are designed precisely to avoid wasting resourcesLubuntu, based on the LXQt environment, can run with as little as 1 GB of RAM, a 1 GHz CPU, and less than 10 GB of storage. It is a very common choice in educational institutions or for upgrading old laptops in Spain.
Xubuntu, with XFCE, It offers an interesting balance between lightness and functionality.Kubuntu, with KDE Plasma, has gained a reputation as a complete desktop environment but relatively low in resource consumption, especially when compared to GNOME on modest machines.
At the opposite end of the spectrum are distributions more geared towards gaming, such as Bazzite or CachyOS, or even SteamOS released by Valve, which They prioritize gaming performance over maximum resource efficiencyUbuntu 26.04 is situated at a sort of middle ground: a generalist system that seeks to compete head-to-head with Windows in usability, even if that means accepting that the PC is no longer as basic as it was a decade ago.
A sensible change at a complicated time for upgrading RAM
From a purely technical point of view, Going from 4 to 6 GB as a reference point is not a dramatic leapMany laptops sold in Europe in recent years already come with 8 GB as standard, and desktop towers generally allow for expanding modules without too much trouble.
The problem is the context. The technology sector has been warning for some time that Pressure on the memory market could continue until the end of the decadewith episodes of price increases and tighter-than-usual stock. In Spain, where many users extend the life of their computers as much as possible, having to buy additional RAM is not a trivial decision.
In recent months there have been slight respites in prices, but The cost of upgrading an old laptop is still higher than it was a few years ago.If the equipment is very old, finding compatible modules can be even more expensive or more cumbersome than simply replacing the computer.
In this scenario, Canonical's decision comes at a somewhat delicate moment: The recommendation is logical, but the European user's budget doesn't always allow it.However, the company is not closing the door to those who want to push their machines a little further, nor is it forcing them to change their hardware overnight.
Recent history of Ubuntu requirements: from megabytes to gigabytes
Looking back helps us better understand how we got here. Ubuntu 12.04 officially ran with only 512 MB of RAMa figure that is almost anecdotal today. With Ubuntu 14.04, the jump to 1 GB was made, already in the era of the Unity desktop.
Starting with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, Canonical set 4 GB as the reference. a minimum that has been maintained to this day in the most popular desktop versions. Throughout this time, many users have continued to install the distro on machines with less memory, with acceptable results as long as usage was moderate.
Now, with Ubuntu 26.04, The recommendation is updated to 6 GB without substantially modifying the rest of the specificationsThe 64-bit dual-core processor at 2 GHz and the recommended storage of around 25 GB are retained, figures that fit most home and office computers in Europe.
Although it may raise suspicions that Ubuntu "demands more" than Windows 11 in some areas, In practice, the movement is more like an update than a radical hardening.The average hardware has improved, the software has become more demanding, and the distribution is adjusting its message to that reality.
Given all of the above, the controversy surrounding Ubuntu 26.04 recommends 6 GB of RAM, exceeding the 4 GB stated by Windows 11.This is more of a headline-grabbing issue than a real problem. Canonical is being clearer about what's truly needed today to navigate a modern desktop smoothly with GNOME and current applications, while still allowing installations on less powerful machines and offering lightweight versions for those who want to squeeze every last megabyte out of their system. For users in Spain and the rest of Europe, the key message is simple: if your PC already has 6 or 8 GB of RAM, you can upgrade without worry; if it's not enough, you can always opt for Lubuntu, Xubuntu, or other more austere distributions before throwing your computer away.
