LXDE VS MATE

Compare LXDE VS MATE and see what are their differences

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LXDE

Why will you like it? Less resource needs. You can use it on your less-pricey embedded board or salvaged computer. Component-based design. Don't want something in LXDE, or you don't want to use LXDE but only part of it?

MATE

The MATE Desktop Environment is the continuation of GNOME 2. It provides an intuitive and attractive desktop environment using traditional metaphors for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.

Landing page //
2023-06-20

Landing page //
2021-03-06

LXDE

Website: lxde.org

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MATE

Website: mate-desktop.com

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LXDE features and specs

Lightweight
LXDE is designed to be lightweight, making it ideal for older hardware and systems with limited resources.
Fast Performance
Due to its low-resource usage, LXDE provides fast and responsive performance even on less powerful machines.
Customizable
LXDE is highly customizable, allowing users to modify the interface and functionalities to suit their needs.
Low Memory Usage
LXDE uses significantly less memory compared to more feature-rich desktop environments, maximizing available system RAM.
Modular Components
LXDE consists of modular components that can be used independently or replaced, offering flexibility to users and developers.

Possible disadvantages of LXDE

Basic Appearance
LXDE's default appearance is considered quite basic and lacks the visual polish seen in more modern desktop environments.
Fewer Features
LXDE sacrifices some features and functionality to maintain its lightweight footprint, which may limit advanced user needs.
Inconsistent User Experience
Due to its modularity and simplicity, there might be inconsistencies in user experience compared to more integrated environments.
Development Pace
The development and updates of LXDE are slower compared to other desktop environments, potentially leading to a lack of new features and slower bug fixes.
Limited App Integration
Some applications may not integrate as seamlessly with LXDE as they do with other desktop environments like GNOME or KDE.

MATE features and specs

User-Friendly Interface
MATE provides a simple and intuitive interface, which is especially appealing to users who are familiar with traditional desktop environments. It mimics the look and feel of GNOME 2, making it easy for new users to adapt.
Lightweight Performance
The MATE desktop environment is designed to be less resource-intensive compared to other contemporary desktop environments, which makes it suitable for older hardware and systems with limited resources.
Highly Customizable
MATE allows for a high degree of customization, enabling users to tailor the desktop environment to their personal preferences, from panel configurations to themes and extensions.
Active Development
MATE is actively maintained and developed, ensuring regular updates, security patches, and new features that keep the environment modern and compatible with the latest software.
Stable and Reliable
As a fork of GNOME 2, MATE has a well-established codebase that emphasizes stability and reliability, making it a solid choice for users who value consistency in their desktop environment.

Possible disadvantages of MATE

Less Modern Features
While MATE is stable and reliable, it may lack some of the modern features and visual effects found in more contemporary desktop environments, which could be a downside for users seeking the latest desktop innovations.
Community and Support
Although MATE has an active development team, it may not have as vast a community or as many resources for troubleshooting and support as more popular desktop environments like GNOME or KDE.
Default Appearance
The default appearance of MATE might feel dated to some users who prefer a more modern or sleek design, though this can be mitigated through customization.
Limited Integration with Cutting-edge Technologies
MATE may have limited integration with the latest technologies and applications compared to other desktop environments that prioritize early adoption of new features and standards.

Analysis of LXDE

Overall verdict

LXDE is good for users who prioritize performance and simplicity over a more visually intricate and feature-rich environment. It provides a stable and reliable experience with essential features while maintaining fast responsiveness.

Why this product is good

LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment) is known for its simplicity, speed, and minimal use of system resources. It is particularly well-suited for older hardware, computers with limited processing power, or users who prefer a more traditional and straightforward desktop interface. Its modular design allows for greater flexibility and customization, making it a preferred choice for users who want to build their desktop environment according to their needs.

Recommended for

Users with older computers or limited hardware resources
Those seeking a lightweight and fast desktop experience
Linux enthusiasts who prefer a traditional desktop interface
Users requiring a customizable and modular environment

LXDE videos

+ Add

Desktop December - LXDE Review

MATE videos

+ Add

Mate Endurance PE Treatment - Two Month Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to LXDE and MATE)

LXDE

MATE

Linux

62 62%

Linux

38% 38

Desktop Environments

59 59%

Desktop Environments

41% 41

Operating Systems

59 59%

Operating Systems

41% 41

Window Manager

64 64%

Window Manager

36% 36

User comments

Share your experience with using LXDE and MATE. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare LXDE and MATE

LXDE Reviews

9 Best Linux Desktop Environments to Use in 2023

Another elegant and portable desktop environment is LXDE. LXDE stands for Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment. It uses minimal RAM compared to other desktop environments since it uses so few resources. LXDE is better suited to cloud workstations with older specifications, such as netbooks or outdated hardware.

Source: geekflare.com

Top 10 Best Desktop Environments in 2020

Lightweight and Low-resource can be considered the same, but in this case, there’s a difference. XFCE is a lightweight desktop environment even with a whole lot of built-in customizations and UI perks. LXDE, on the other hand, is a DE that is built to be as low-resource as possible. You certainly can add animations, but they need to be downloaded separately.

Source: www.journaldev.com

The 12 Best Linux Desktop Environments

LXDE is a user-friendly, energy-efficient, and lightweight Linux desktop environment. It is based on the GTK+, so LXDE can be a good alternative to Xfce if it runs slower on your system. It proves that LXDE is supported for all distros. Therefore it can be supported on older machines too.

Source: linuxhint.com

MATE Reviews

9 Best Linux Desktop Environments to Use in 2023

MATE is actively being developed in order to enable new technologies while maintaining a conventional desktop experience. Ubuntu MATE features low system requirements, making it appropriate for current workstations, single-board PCs, and older systems. The MATE desktop environment improves the performance & appearance of your machine.

Source: geekflare.com

The 8 Best Ubuntu Desktop Environments (22.04 Jammy Jellyfish Linux)

Development of Mate was started by Arch Linux as a fork and continuation of GNOME 2 in response to the negative reception of GNOME 3. Therefore, this desktop is the first choice for many users that liked GNOME 2.

Source: linuxconfig.org

Top 10 Best Desktop Environments in 2020

MATE was created as a response to the drop in user experience when Gnome 3.x was launched. Being a fork, it’s very similar to Gnome’s predecessor and adds more features along with additional community support. This desktop environment caught attention when Linux Mint used MATE instead of Gnome 3 for its user interface.

Source: www.journaldev.com

The 12 Best Linux Desktop Environments

The story behind Mate’s creation is that when the Gnome community decided to move forward from Gnome 2 to Gnome 3, then many developers of Gnome decided to use Gnome 2 existing codes and created Mate. Therefore Mate does not have different extensions like Gnome 3, but it is easy to use, faster and customizable. Developers of Mate have invested a good effort and time to...

Source: linuxhint.com

The Best Desktop Environments For Linux (We Tested Them So That You Don’t Have To)

Ubuntu MATE is one of the official flavors of Ubuntu that utilizes the MATE desktop. Some other popular Linux distributions like Linux Mint, Manjaro, etc, also offer MATE editions of their distributions.

Source: itsfoss.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, LXDE seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

LXDE mentions (1)

Touchpad Settings on Qtile with GUI App
That said, you can look into lxinput https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Openbox#GUI_configuration https://lxde.org or... I don't know if kde-config-touchpad is still valid. Source: over 2 years ago

MATE mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of MATE yet. Tracking of MATE recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing LXDE and MATE, you can also consider the following products

Xfce - Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment for UNIX-like operating systems. It aims to be fast and low on system resources, while still being visually appealing and user friendly.

LXQt - The LXQt team is proud to announce the release of qtermwidget and qterminal, both in version 0. 8. 0. Read more..

KDE Plasma Desktop - Plasma Workspaces is the umbrella term for all graphical environments provided by KDE.

GNOME - An easy and elegant way to use your computer, GNOME is designed to put you in control and get things done.

i3 - A dynamic tiling window manager designed for X11, inspired by wmii, and written in C.

KDE - The KDE® Community is a free software community dedicated to creating an open and user-friendly computing experience, offering an advanced graphical desktop, a wide variety of applications for communication, work, education and entertainment and …

KDE Plasma Desktop vs LXDE

KDE Plasma Desktop vs MATE