KDE is set to release Plasma 5.24, the first major release of 2022. The beta version is already out and gives a glimpse of what new features to expect in KDE Plasma 5.24. This new version brings forward various updates spread across the entire KDE ecosystem and improves things like Wayland support and system navigation.
Read below to find out all the exciting new features you can expect in KDE Plasma 5.24, which will be released in February 2022.
What’s New in KDE Plasma 5.24?
Plasma 5.24 brings several system improvements, including a new Overview screen, better Wayland support, changes to the Breeze theme, improved window handling, and so on.
1. Addition of an Overview Screen
The new Overview screen closely resembles GNOME's Overview and supports a full-screen view. Users can invoke the new Overview by using the Meta + W key. It allows us to see the list of all open windows and virtual desktops. The search bar also allows KRunner-styled searching.
2. Changes to the Breeze Theme
Fan of KDE's Breeze theme will also notice several changes. The developers have renamed the base color scheme to Breeze Classic and removed the Breeze High Contrast scheme.
3. Increased Font Sizes
In terms of user experience, the font sizes have been increased for texts shown on the login, logout, and lock screens. It creates a more cohesive look, consistent with the window and avatar size.
4. Changes to the System Colors
The Formats page on the System Settings has been rewritten and provides a much clearer view than before. Users can now set custom accent colors on the Colors page and enable the Highlight Changed Settings option on Night Color.
5. Improved Wayland Support
Wayland support is also expected to improve in Plasma 5.24. It now supports colors that have a bit depth greater than eight. The DRM Leasing support also offers performance boosts for VR headsets.
Plasma 5.24 in a Nutshell
With their next stable release, KDE aims to bring forth many system-wide changes ranging from user experience to usability. The new Overview screen seems to be a great transition towards that step. Other highlighted updates include changes to the Breeze theme, Discover, System Settings menu, and Wayland.
Moreover, if you're using GNOME and contemplating moving to KDE, Plasma 5.24 might be a good starting point.