Even if you want to play the latest Linux games, the LTS version is good enough — in fact, it is preferred. Ubuntu rolled out updates to the LTS version so that Steam would work better on it. The LTS version is far from stagnant — your software will work just fine on it. Should I install Ubuntu LTS or latest?
Ubuntu is one of the few Linux operating systems that offer LTS releases. LTS releases are supported and maintained with security updates and bug fixes for five years after the initial release. Due to this, LTS releases are always the most stable and secure.
Should I upgrade to Ubuntu LTS?
You’ll probably want to upgrade to every LTS version — new LTS versions are released every two years. If you stick with the LTS version, you’ll still get a new Ubuntu release every two years.
This will leave your system unsecured. If you choose an LTS release (any flavor) like Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, you don’t need to worry about upgrading to a newer release every 9 months. However, it may take some time before you have the latest versions of some software.
What is the LTS version of Ubuntu?
Every two years, in April, the LTS version is released. LTS releases are considered the ‘ enterprise-grade’ releases. They are typically used for production servers that need security and reliability, like web hosts. The last LTS release was in 2020, Ubuntu 20.04. The other release in 2020, Ubuntu 20.10, would have been called an interim release.
One more question we ran across in our research was “What is the difference between Ubuntu LTS and standard?”.
If you stick with the LTS version, you’ll still get a new Ubuntu release every two years. LTS versions are designed to be more polished, while the standard releases bring you the latest features that may not be completely finished yet.
Some have found that ubuntu 20.04 comes packed with Linux Kernel 5.4 will be supported till April 2025. And, the latest LTS point release is Ubuntu 20.04.3. Every LTS version release is followed by seven point releases, with extra extended security maintenance updates available for five more years (for a fee).
How often should I upgrade to the latest Ubuntu version?
Well, if you want to be on the bleeding edge, have the latest versions of all your software, and use the latest features before they make it to the LTS version of Ubuntu, upgrade to the every-six-month releases.
If you do not want to upgrade your version every nine months, stick with the latest LTS release. In other current Ubuntu releases, version 18.04 is still active. It will be supported till April 2023. But if you are going for a fresh Ubuntu install, go for the latest Ubuntu LTS release, which is 20.04.
Another popular inquiry is “How long does Ubuntu 20 LTS last?”.
Any Ubuntu release is supported until the end-of-life period. For LTS versions, this is usually five years. And, for non-LTS versions, it is nine months.