Linux Mint MATE vs Linux Mint Cinnamon (September 2025): Which Desktop Should You Install?

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Linux Mint

If you’re picking a Mint flavor today—with Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara” fresh out of the oven and supported until 2029—you’re really choosing between two personalities: Cinnamon, Mint’s flagship desktop, and MATE, the classic, resource-lean counterpart. Same base, same repositories, same Update Manager—very different feel. (blog.linuxmint.com)

TL;DR

  • Choose Cinnamon if you want Mint’s most polished, modern desktop, tight integration, and the path that gets features first (including the project’s ongoing Wayland work). 

  • Choose MATE if you prefer a classic GNOME-2 style, minimal overhead, predictable panels/menus, and speed on older or modest hardware. 

What’s new in September 2025 (Mint 22.2 “Zara”)

Mint 22.2 brings distro-level goodies to all editions: refreshed login screen with blur/avatars, a nicer Software Manager, faster Hypnotix (IPTV) with new viewing modes, upgrades across XApps—and official ISOs for Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce. Kernel updates and 5-year LTS support continue the “install and cruise” vibe. 

Notably, 22.2 also pushes quality-of-life updates that benefit every desktop, such as improved Sticky Notes (now Wayland-compatible and syncable via an Android companion). Some coverage also highlights new native fingerprint handling integrated at the OS level. 

Philosophy & Feel

Cinnamon: Mint’s modern flagship

Cinnamon is Mint’s own desktop, developed right alongside the distro—so it gets the most attention, the slickest integration, and the newest features first. Expect a modern panel, rich applets/desklets, Nemo file manager refinements, and theming that tracks Mint’s design direction release after release. 

  • Polish & cohesion: This is the UI Clem & co. design against; you see it in the Welcome, Update Manager hints, Software Manager tweaks, and login polish in 22.2. 

  • Wayland trajectory: Cinnamon’s Wayland session is still marked experimental in 22.2, but the team is actively improving it and has publicly teed up more fixes for 22.3 (input, app menu, status applet). If you like living on the leading edge—without leaving Mint—this is where the action is. 

MATE: The classic that keeps it simple

MATE carries the GNOME-2 torch: traditional menus, panels, applets—no surprises. It’s intentionally conservative, trades some of Cinnamon’s niceties for lower resource usage, and tends to be a smoother ride on aging laptops or ultra-budget rigs. The official guide literally frames it that way. 

  • Predictability: If you want a desktop that looks and behaves the same for years, MATE is comfort food.

  • Wayland status: MATE remains primarily X11-first in 2025; early Wayland work exists upstream/in the ecosystem, but it’s not a native, first-class experience yet. For many users—especially those relying on classic workflows or older GPUs—that’s perfectly fine. 

Performance & Resources

You’ll see the difference less in benchmarks and more in snappiness: MATE’s panel and window manager are lean, so the whole system feels lighter—especially with 4–8 GB RAM or spinning disks. Cinnamon adds effects, richer applets, and more integration, which costs a bit more memory/CPU but returns visual polish and convenience. The Mint docs summarize it crisply: MATE uses fewer resources; Cinnamon has more features and quicker development pace. 

Rule of thumb:

  • Older/low-spec PCs (e.g., 2–4 GB RAM, older iGPU): MATE will usually feel smoother. 

  • Modern machines: Cinnamon’s overhead is trivial; you’ll likely prefer its UX and Mint-tight integration. 

Wayland vs X11 in 2025 (practical take)

  • Cinnamon (22.2): Wayland session exists but is labeled experimental; many users report it as “fine” for daily drivers, yet X11 remains the safe default. Expect tangible Wayland improvements again in 22.3. 

  • MATE: Predominantly X11; Wayland work upstream is ongoing but not a complete, polished switch-over. If you rely on old X11 tools or accessibility workflows that prefer X, MATE is a comfortable stay. 

App & Feature Ecosystem

Because they’re both Mint, you get the same Software Manager, Update Manager, Timeshift integration, XApps, and the same repositories. In 22.2, you also get the renovated login, improved Software Manager onboarding (Flatpak vs system packages explained), Hypnotix viewing modes, and Sticky Notes improvements across editions. Cinnamon will usually get desktop-specific touches earlier (panel/applets, menu/search refinements), while MATE prioritizes stability and classic patterns. 

Gaming, Creators, and Everyday Use

  • Gaming on newer GPUs: Cinnamon’s shell polish won’t get in your way; stick to X11 if you hit fringe Wayland issues, or test Cinnamon-Wayland and swap at the login screen if needed. 

  • Everyday browsing, docs, mail: Both are excellent. Cinnamon’s UX niceties (notifications, applets, Nemo extras) add comfort you’ll notice day-to-day. 

  • Legacy/office PCs, schools, labs: MATE’s simpler UI and lower overhead make it a low-maintenance choice that keeps very old hardware useful through 2029. 

Installation & Support Horizon

  • Mint 22.2 “Zara” is out now with Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce ISOs, and Mint 22.x will remain the mainline until the team shifts focus in 2026; upgrades are in-place via Update Manager. 

Decision Guide (Pick one in 30 seconds)

  • I want Mint as its designers envision it, plus the newest desktop features. → Cinnamon. 

  • I want a classic, no-frills desktop that sips resources and never surprises me. → MATE. 

  • I’m curious about Wayland but want an easy fallback. → Cinnamon (test Wayland; keep X11 handy). 

  • I’m reviving an old laptop/office PC for basic tasks. → MATE. 

Final Verdict

In September 2025, Cinnamon remains the most cohesive, future-leaning Mint experience—especially with active Wayland work and the tightest integration with Mint’s tools. MATE stands tall as the dependable classic: fast, familiar, and ideal for aging hardware or users who prefer a stable, traditional workflow. Either way, with Linux Mint 22.2 you’re getting a polished, LTS desktop that you can set up this afternoon and trust for years. 

Notes for power users (quick specifics)

  • Cinnamon in 22.2: 6.4.x series, experimental Wayland session; more Wayland/input/menu polish planned for 22.3. 

  • MATE in 22.2: Classic X11-first workflow; upstream Wayland support remains incomplete/early in 2025. 

  • Distro updates in 22.2: Polished login, revamped Software Manager, Hypnotix “Theater/Borderless,” improved Sticky Notes with Android sync and Wayland compatibility—benefit all editions. 

Happy Minting.

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