Rhino Linux 2026.1 It is now available as the latest major update to this Ubuntu-based distribution, focused on providing a stable and modern rolling release experience. The new version arrives with significant new features, most notably the official introduction of a Lomiri edition, as well as the adoption of the Linux 7.0 kernel to improve compatibility and performance. This release comes five months after 2025.4 and it's the first one of 2026.
The project continues to evolve as a distinct alternative within the Ubuntu ecosystem, committed to a model of continuous updates and its own tools such as pacstallIn this edition, the developers have focused a large part of their efforts on collaborating with UBports to extend Lomiri's support beyond mobile devices, now allowing the use of this environment on conventional x86_64 and ARM64 systems as well.
Rhino Linux 2026.1 focuses on Lomiri and Linux 7.0
The main new feature of Rhino Linux 2026.1 is the arrival of generic ISO images with Lomiri, the environment formerly known as Unity 8 and currently maintained by UBports. This interface aims to revive the concept of convergence, allowing for a seamless user experience across mobile devices, tablets, and desktop computers.
Although Lomiri desktop support is still under development, project leaders say that significant progress has been made in recent months. Users can choose between the traditional Xfce-based Unicorn Desktop or the new Lomiri experience by clicking on the "Unicorn" text on the downloads page, which will open a menu where they can select "Lomiri."
Another important change is the incorporation of the Linux 7.0 kernelThis version introduces improvements in hardware compatibility, performance optimizations, and new capabilities for modern architectures. Rhino Linux 2026.1 particularly improves support for recent devices and ARM platforms.
The distribution also maintains its Ubuntu-based rolling release philosophy, using Canonical's development branch instead of traditional LTS versions. This allows users to receive much more up-to-date software and components without needing to reinstall the system with each major release.
Rhino Linux also continues to rely on Pacstall, its system inspired by the Arch Linux AUR, which facilitates the installation of recent packages and applications from outside the official Ubuntu repositories. With this, the project aims to combine the stability of Ubuntu with the flexibility and rapid updates that many users currently seek in a modern Linux distribution.