Let’s compare the software sizes of the latest major macOS release and the latest Ubuntu Desktop LTS (Long Term Support) release.
As of June 2025:
- Latest macOS Release: macOS Sonoma (currently version 14.x)
- Latest Ubuntu Desktop LTS Release: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat)
Here’s a comparison:
macOS Sonoma (Latest Stable Release)
- Installer Download Size: The macOS Sonoma installer (downloaded from the App Store) is typically around 12.1 GB.
- Installed Size: Once installed, macOS Sonoma itself can occupy 23 GB or more of storage space. This can vary slightly depending on the specific Mac model and pre-installed applications.
- Required Free Space for Installation/Upgrade: Apple generally recommends having at least 25-35 GB of free space on your hard drive to successfully download and install macOS Sonoma. If upgrading from a much older macOS version (e.g., OS X El Capitan or earlier), it might require up to 44 GB of free space. This extra space is needed for the installation process, temporary files, and system updates.
Key points for macOS:
- macOS is a complete, proprietary operating system with a large number of pre-installed applications (Safari, Mail, Photos, Music, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, etc.), drivers for a wide range of Apple hardware, and extensive system frameworks.
- The size includes the core OS, a sophisticated graphical user interface, and a significant suite of first-party applications.
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Desktop (Latest LTS Release)
- ISO Download Size: The Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Desktop ISO file (the image you download to create a bootable USB) is approximately 5.7 GB.
- Installed Size: A fresh, minimal installation of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Desktop typically requires around 25 GB of free disk space. The actual space used after installation (without additional software) is usually less than that, often in the range of 10-15 GB, but 25 GB is the recommended minimum for comfortable use.
- Required Free Space for Installation: Ubuntu Desktop requires a minimum of 25 GB of free space on the hard drive for installation.
Key points for Ubuntu Desktop:
- Ubuntu Desktop also comes with a full graphical desktop environment (GNOME by default) and a selection of essential applications (Firefox, LibreOffice, Rhythmbox, etc.).
- It’s generally more modular than macOS, allowing users to install only the software they need.
- The base installation is typically smaller than macOS because it doesn’t include the same depth of hardware-specific drivers for a single vendor’s ecosystem, nor does it pre-install as many large first-party applications.
- Lighter Flavors: If space is a major concern, lighter Ubuntu “flavors” like Lubuntu (uses LXQt) or Xubuntu (uses Xfce) have even smaller ISO sizes (often 2-3 GB) and can install in much less space (e.g., 8-15 GB recommended).
Summary Comparison (Approximate):
As you can see, Ubuntu Desktop generally has a significantly smaller software footprint both in terms of download size and the space it occupies after installation, especially compared to macOS. This makes Ubuntu an excellent choice for older machines or systems with limited storage.