Ubuntu 25.10 beta comes with the Linux 6.17 kernel and more

Scheduled to launch on October 9, Ubuntu 25.10 "Questing Quokka" has just received a new beta release. In addition to the Desktop, Server, WSL, and Cloud products, Ubuntu 25.10 beta also updates the test versions of Edubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Budgie, Cinnamon, Kylin, Studio, Unity, and Xubuntu. According to the official release news piece, the beta images "are known to be reasonably free of showstopper image build or installer bugs" and the features included are about the same as those to be included in the final release.

Those interested can update from Ubuntu 25.04 to 25.10 beta, but all the images are also available for download. The kernel included in all the images is 6.17. The Server image includes the next-gen Subiquity server installer, which provides the fast and easy live session and install processes from the Desktop version to its sibling.

In addition to the Linux kernel mentioned above, the list of updated elements to be found in 25.10 also includes systemd 257.9, Netplan 1.1.2, gcc 15.2, Python 3.13.7, Rust 1.85, OpenJDK 25, Firefox 142, LibreOffice 25.8, and more. Xorg is now a part of the past, since Wayland is the only possible choice when using GNOME. Ubuntu Insights is replacing Ubuntu Report in GNOME Initial Setup. The default image viewing app is not Loupe, which replaces eog. The GNOME Terminal has been replaced with Ptyxis (previously known as Prompt). The full release notes for Ubuntu 25.10 can be found on this page.