Zorin Releases Zorin OS 16.3
- Paul Thurrott
- Jul 27, 2023
-
7
Zorin today announced the release of Zorin OS 16.3, the latest version of its user-friendly Linux distribution.
“We’re thrilled to report that Zorin OS 16 has been downloaded over 5.3 million times, all in under two years after its initial release,” the announcement post notes. “Today, we’re excited to announce the launch of Zorin OS 16.3. It’s packed with improvements that elevate your computing experience even further.”
Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox
Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!
"*" indicates required fields
Zorin OS 16.3 is one of a handful of Linux distributions that have caught my attention in recent years, and I’ll be upgrading to this new release when we get home from Mexico. Key new features in Zorin 16.3 include:
Zorin Upgrader. This new tool solves a long-standing problem with previous Zorin OS releases: there was no way to upgrade to new versions in place. You can use this to upgrade to new versions or between editions like Zorin OS Core and Pro.
Zorin Connect improvements. Zorin Connect is Zorin OS’s phone integration tool and it lets you connect with your Android phone. The new version offers improved Spotify playback controls, automatic connections to trusted networks, improved translations, and other improvements.
LibreOffice improvements. Zorin OS 16.3 comes with LibreOffice 7.5, the latest version of this open-source office productivity suite. It offers improved compatibility with Microsoft Office documents, a refreshed design with an improved dark mode, and more.
Improved apps. Many of the apps that ship with Zorin OS 16.3 have been updated, and the system supports Flatpak, AppImage, and Snap packages for those that need more apps.
Underlying updates. Zorin OS 16.3 is built on the same version of the Linux kernel as that in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, and it ships with updated hardware drivers, adding support for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, 4060 Ti, and 4060 graphics cards, and the latest security patches. Zorin OS 16.3 has the same support lifecycle as the initial 16.0 release: it will be supported with software updates and security patches until April 2025.
You can download Zorin OS 16.3 from the Zorin website. Or, you can use the Zorin Upgrader to upgrade to this release via a previous version.