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

After a four-year wait, Raspberry Pi Desktop has finally returned, now based on Debian 13 Trixie. This updated release brings the familiar Pi desktop to PCs and Intel Macs, making it a worthwhile option for those seeking a simple, lightweight Linux for reviving older machines. While Raspberry Pi's primary focus remains on manufacturing and selling affordable Arm single-board computers, it also maintains its own custom Debian-based distribution.

Most Pi owners stick with the official Pi OS, which is Debian-based but heavily optimized to require minimal memory and storage space. The desktop environment of Pi OS evolved from LXDE and was initially known as PIXEL. However, there has been a dedicated version for x86 PCs and Intel Macs, sharing a similar desktop experience without the included Mathematica.

The last substantial update to Raspberry Pi Desktop occurred when the company released a Debian 11-based version in mid-2022. Debian Bullseye was released in 2021, and the Raspberry Pi Desktop continued receiving updates for years. However, its Long Term Support ended on August 31, 2023. The Pi OS 5, based on Debian 12, was released in 2023, featuring a new Wayland-based desktop.

Unfortunately, no x86 PC version accompanied it. Upon Debian 13's first point release, Pi OS 6 arrived in October 2025. One year later, the PC edition has caught up, offering the same Wayland-based desktop with Raspberry Pi Connect remote-control service. Notably, the PC edition is now limited to x86-64 architecture, supporting compatible PCs and Intel Macs, but excluding Apple Silicon models.

Existing users will need to perform a fresh installation instead of an in-place upgrade from the previous 32-bit release. Despite not having tested the new version, plans are underway for a detailed examination in the near future.