Raspberry Pi Desktop catches up with Debian 13 after 4-year wait

A lightweight, familiar desktop environment is now available for older PCs and Intel Macs, potentially reviving outdated hardware.

Raspberry Pi Desktop has been updated to version 6, based on Debian 13 "Trixie." This release marks the return of the Raspberry Pi Desktop for x86 PCs and Intel Macs after a four-year hiatus, skipping over Debian 12. The previous version, based on Debian 11, had its long-term support end on August 31st. The new release features a Wayland-based desktop, similar to the latest Raspberry Pi OS for ARM devices, and includes the Raspberry Pi Connect remote-control service. However, this PC edition is now exclusively 64-bit, supporting compatible PCs and Intel Macs but not Apple Silicon models. Users will need to perform a fresh installation, as in-place upgrades from the older 32-bit release are not supported.

The re-release of Raspberry Pi Desktop for x86 architectures signifies a renewed commitment to providing a user-friendly, low-resource operating system for a broader range of hardware beyond the company's own single-board computers. By skipping Debian 12 and jumping to Debian 13, Raspberry Pi is aligning its PC-based offering with the latest stable Debian release, ensuring access to updated software and security patches for users reviving older machines.

This move may appeal to users seeking an alternative to more resource-intensive operating systems or those looking to repurpose older laptops and desktops. The shift to x86-64 only also indicates a strategic focus on modernizing the platform's compatibility, though it excludes users with older 32-bit hardware or those on newer Apple Silicon Macs.