The OS has several enhancements, including a revamped GNOME Initial Setup for ARM64 devices, improved file management features, and a seamless experience with dialog boxes that adjust to aspect ratios.

When the system boots up, you'll see the 20 Years Ubuntu logo at the bottom of the screen. You can also set the desktop background to the original Ubuntu 4.10 wallpaper, and a Warty Brown accent colour is an option to complete the feel. To round out the experience, Ubuntu 24.10 uses the original startup sound from 4.10, which plays every time you log in."

The most significant change is that ARM64 devices now use GNOME Initial Setup. This offers a cleaner, slicker setup process after the first install.

 Setting up Ubuntu 24.10 in a virtual machine on a MacBook Air felt easier to install and use than on MacBooks and Windows laptops. The new dialogue boxes adjust based on the Windows aspect ratio, which is useful for portrait devices like smartphones and tablets.

Several other quality-of-life updates in Ubuntu 24.10 include new File Manager features. These make navigating bookmarks and internal drives easier on the sidebar.

 Apps now use the default File Manager when browsing your hard drive, providing a more seamless experience. Running a search on non-indexed folders now shows an info button explaining why the search query is taking longer than usual.