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| Linux Mint |
If your laptop wheezes when you open three browser tabs, you’re already asking the right question: MATE or Xfce? Both Linux Mint editions are purpose-built for speed, stability, and low resource use. Both will run happily on modest hardware. And both inherit Linux Mint’s famously sensible defaults and tools. But they do feel different—philosophically, visually, even ergonomically. Let’s dive in.
TL;DR
- Pick Xfce if you want the leanest feel, granular panel control, and you value a “set-and-forget” desktop that sips resources. In Mint 22.2 it still ships with Xfce 4.18 (despite upstream 4.20 existing) and sticks to Xorg, which keeps things boring—in a good way.
- Pick MATE if you prefer a classic GNOME-2 vibe with heavyweight stability and sane defaults. Mint 22.2 ships MATE 1.26, and gains all the new Mint 22.2 goodies (fingerprint auth, sticky notes sync, etc.) just like Xfce.
What’s new in September 2025 (Mint 22.2 “Zara”)—and why it matters
Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara” (released September 2025) is still based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and supported until 2029. It brings quality-of-life updates that apply across Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce editions: native fingerprint login/sudo, a refreshed login screen, and a much nicer Sticky Notes app with Android sync via companion app. Kernel updates in 22.2 also improve hardware support. All of that comes without abandoning Mint’s conservative stability stance.
> Editions & versions in 22.2: Cinnamon 6.4, Xfce 4.18, MATE 1.26. Kernel baseline noted as 6.14 in several roundups.
MATE vs Xfce: the big picture
Design philosophy
- MATE continues the GNOME-2 tradition: Applications / Places / System menus, classic panels, and a “don’t surprise me” workflow. It’s familiar, predictable, and ergonomically consistent.
- Xfce aims for minimal overhead and modularity. Panels, applets, whisker menu, and the Thunar file manager emphasize speed and simplicity. Upstream Xfce 4.20 added experimental Wayland groundwork, but Mint 22.2 sensibly stays on 4.18/Xorg for stability.
Resource usage in practice
Both are light; Xfce is typically a hair lighter; MATE often feels a touch more “traditional desktop”. Benchmarks and user reports vary by theme, compositor, and applets, but the consensus is: you won’t go wrong with either on low-spec machines.
Wayland reality check
- Xfce upstream: experimental Wayland support landed in 4.20.
- Mint Xfce 22.2: stays on 4.18 (Xorg), so no Wayland yet—stable and predictable.
- MATE: status-quo on Xorg; Wayland is not production-ready. Translation: if you need Wayland features today, these aren’t the editions to chase them in.
System requirements (realistic expectations)
Mint’s official baseline is modest—2 GB RAM minimum, 4 GB recommended, 20 GB storage, 1024×768—and this applies across editions. That said, Xfce’s panel/plugins and compositor defaults usually yield the lowest overhead out of the box. On anything with 4–8 GB RAM and an SSD, both feel snappy.
Side-by-side comparison
| Area | MATE (Mint 22.2) | Xfce (Mint 22.2) |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop version | MATE 1.26 | Xfce 4.18 |
| Display server | Xorg | Xorg (upstream 4.20 has experimental Wayland, but not in Mint 22.2) |
| Feel | Classic GNOME-2 workflow, cohesive and steady | Minimal, modular, highly tweakable panels/whisker |
| Performance | Very light; consistent and battery-friendly | Lightest feel; tends to edge out MATE on older hardware |
| New in Mint 22.2 | System-wide fingerprint auth; refreshed login; improved apps | Same Mint 22.2 niceties apply |
| Best for | Users who love classic desktop metaphors and polish | Users who want maximum responsiveness and less overhead |
([9to5Linux][2])
Daily-use ergonomics
Panels & applets MATE’s panel is conservative yet thorough; Xfce’s panel is a tinkerer’s playground with fine-grained controls and plugins. Both integrate Mint tools (Update Manager, Software Manager, WebApp Manager) cleanly.
File management Caja (MATE) vs Thunar (Xfce): both are fast. Thunar’s plugin ecosystem and bulk-rename are excellent; Caja’s context-menu actions and spatial mode appeal to classic GNOME users. (Parity is close in 2025; pick based on preference.) (General ecosystem characterization based on upstream features and Mint defaults.)
Theming & readability Both render the Mint Y themes crisply. Xfce 4.18 handles dark themes reliably; upstream 4.20 improved detection, but Mint is on 4.18 for now.
Performance notes for old hardware
- With a dual-core CPU and 4 GB RAM, Xfce’s lighter compositor and panel typically shave a few MB and cycles versus MATE—useful on HDD-bound laptops. On SSDs, the practical gap narrows dramatically.
- Swapping Cinnamon for MATE or Xfce remains one of the easiest “instant speed-ups” for ex-Windows 10 machines. Mint 22.2’s kernel/userspace updates help with Wi-Fi, touchpads, and newer GPUs.
What stays the same (and is great) in both editions
- Mint’s LTS base and Update Manager keep your system boringly reliable through 2029.
- Mint X-Apps (Xviewer, Xed, etc.) deliver consistent GTK apps that behave similarly in MATE and Xfce.
- Welcome app, Driver Manager, Timeshift integration—the “it just works” extras that make Mint feel friendly—are common to both.
Recommendation matrix (choose your path)
- You want the lightest touch and endless panel tweaks → Xfce.
- You want a classic desktop that feels instantly familiar → MATE.
- You’re migrating a relative’s aging PC and don’t want support calls → Either; default to Xfce if the machine has ≤4 GB RAM.
- You care about Wayland today → Neither MATE nor Mint’s Xfce 4.18 will scratch that itch in 22.2; consider Cinnamon’s experimental Wayland or another distro/DE for now.
Installation tips for a smooth first boot
- Use an SSD if possible. Even on old hardware, this is the single biggest boost.
- After install: open Driver Manager for GPU/Wi-Fi firmware, then Update Manager for first wave updates.
- Theme & font check: set a readable font size and enable fractional scaling only if you need it.
- Timeshift snapshot before heavy customization—cheap insurance.
(Applies identically to MATE and Xfce on Mint 22.2.)
Bottom line
Both MATE and Xfce in Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara” embody Mint’s north star: fast, friendly, and stable. Xfce feels slightly leaner; MATE feels classically complete. Because both inherit Mint’s LTS polish and new 22.2 comforts (fingerprint login, better notes syncing, refined greeter), your choice is less about “which one works” and more about which workflow you vibe with. And that’s exactly how desktop Linux should be.
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