Ubuntu’s upcoming version, 26.04 LTS, will introduce higher minimum system requirements for the first time since 2019. Users will need at least 6GB of RAM to run the operating system smoothly. The specifications state that Ubuntu Desktop 26.04 requires a 2 GHz dual-core processor or better, a minimum of 6GB RAM, and 25 GB of available hard drive space. Notably, while the RAM requirement has increased, the CPU and storage requirements remain unchanged compared to previous versions.
The last update to processor requirements was in the 17.10 release, and the free disk space requirement has been fixed at approximately 25 GB since the 18.04 LTS version, ensuring that installation is not possible with less.
In practical terms, it is still feasible to install Ubuntu 26.04 LTS on devices with less than 6GB of RAM (as long as there is at least 25GB of disk space), but users may experience a less optimal performance.
For users seeking alternatives, various Ubuntu flavors, including Lubuntu, have lower system requirements. Additionally, users can opt for a manual installation using the netboot installer to build their system from a minimal base.
The system requirements for Ubuntu Server 26.04 are more lenient and depend on specific use cases. The main ISO version can be installed on systems with as little as 1.5GB of RAM and 5GB of hard drive space, while cloud images require even less—1GB of RAM and 4GB disk space.
More details can be found on the official Ubuntu site.