LXQt vs LXDE (October 2025): The Featherweight Showdown That Still Matters

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TL;DR: If you want a modern, Qt-6-based, Wayland-ready lightweight desktop that keeps moving forward, pick LXQt. If you’re reviving very old or resource-starved machines and you’re fine staying in the X11 lane with a classic workflow, LXDE still delivers.

Snapshot, October 2025

  • LXQt latest stable: 2.2.0 (April 17, 2025). LXQt now targets Qt 6 and offers an optional Wayland session that’s maturing quickly. In short: actively developed, modern toolkit, clear roadmap.
  • LXDE remains maintained, lean, and squarely X11-centric, built primarily on GTK2 with some GTK3 builds floating around. It’s stable but intentionally conservative — “if it ain’t broke…”

Origins & Direction

LXDE began life in 2006 with a simple promise: a fast, modular desktop that ran well on minimal hardware. A decade later, experimentation with a Qt port led to a merger with Razor-qt, birthing LXQt — same lightweight spirit, new toolkit, new runway. Today, most forward development energy sits with LXQt; LXDE continues as the classic option.

Wayland, X11, and the “Future-Proof” Question

  • LXQt: Since version 2.0, big components (desktop module, runner, notifications) are Wayland-ready under compositors like Labwc, Wayfire, KWin, Hyprland, or Sway. The lxqt-wayland-session package is updated regularly, making LXQt one of the lightest Wayland-capable environments available.
  • LXDE: Designed for X11 with Openbox as its default window manager — and that’s still the happy path. If your needs are strictly classic X and ultra-low overhead, LXDE remains comfortable and predictable.

Performance & Footprint

Both desktops are light. The performance difference usually depends on the window manager and background services rather than the desktop itself.

  • LXDE feels faster on extremely old machines or those with less than 1 GB of RAM.
  • LXQt is nearly as fast but adds modern niceties: improved theming via Qt 6, better HiDPI support, and smoother scaling under Wayland. GTK2 (used by LXDE) has limited HiDPI awareness, which can cause scaling issues on high-resolution screens.

Windows, Panels, and the Feel of the Desktop

  • Window managers: LXQt is window-manager-agnostic — you can pair it with Openbox, KWin, Xfwm, or even i3. LXDE traditionally ships with Openbox and expects it.
  • Panels & tools: LXQt’s panel and utilities (qterminal, lximage-qt, etc.) follow a modern design and update cycle. LXDE relies on its classic lxpanel and older PCManFM (GTK2).

File Managers: PCManFM vs PCManFM-Qt

Both are extremely fast. PCManFM-Qt (LXQt) and PCManFM (GTK) (LXDE) share the same origin, but the Qt version integrates better with newer themes and supports high-DPI displays. Both handle virtual filesystems (SMB, MTP) through GVFS.

Distro Ecosystem

  • Lubuntu (24.04 LTS) uses LXQt as its default desktop, combining light performance with long-term Ubuntu support.
  • Debian continues to ship both LXDE and LXQt task options, allowing users to test each easily on the same base system.

HiDPI, Theming, and Polish

If you use a 1080p or higher-resolution screen, LXQt handles scaling and theme consistency much better. The Qt 6 framework and optional Wayland backend give it cleaner rendering. LXDE’s GTK2 base can appear fuzzy or inconsistent unless mixed with GTK3 components.

Who Should Choose What

Choose LXQt if you want:

  • Active development and modern support.
  • Wayland compatibility and Qt 6 performance.
  • A modular, lightweight desktop that feels current.

Choose LXDE if you need:

  • Maximum performance on very old or limited hardware.
  • Pure X11 workflows and absolute stability.
  • A no-surprises environment that changes rarely.

Practical Migration Tips (LXDE → LXQt)

  1. Keep Openbox to preserve shortcuts and keybindings when switching.
  2. Rebuild your panel layout manually — most lxpanel items have LXQt panel counterparts.
  3. Test Wayland separately before making it your main session, since compositor behavior varies.

Feature Comparison

Area LXQt (2025) LXDE (2025)
Toolkit Qt 6 GTK2 / GTK3 (mixed)
Display Stack X11 & Wayland-ready X11 only
Window Manager Any (Openbox, KWin, Xfwm) Openbox
Development Status Active (2.2.0) Minimal updates
HiDPI Support Excellent via Qt 6 Limited
Ideal Use Modern lightweight systems Legacy or ultra-low-spec PCs

Final Verdict

LXQt is the lightweight desktop moving boldly into the Wayland era. LXDE remains the timeless, battle-tested choice for keeping ancient hardware alive. The future belongs to LXQt — but the past still boots beautifully with LXDE.

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