deepin vs Mageia
deepin: A polished desktop environment with its own apps. Mageia: A community fork of Mandriva with its own control center. Here is how they differ, and which one suits you.
Quick verdict
- BeginnersdeepinBoth are beginner-friendly; deepin has a macOS-like layout.
- GamingTieBoth are a similar fit here.
- Older hardwareTieBoth are a similar fit here.
- Latest softwareTieBoth are a similar fit here.
- Long-term stabilityTieBoth are a similar fit here.
Specs compared
| Feature | deepin | Mageia |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity rank (30d) | #41 | #46 |
| Latest version | — | — |
| Based on | Independent (formerly Debian-based) | Independent (Mandriva fork) |
| Release model | Stable | Stable |
| Desktop | Deepin Desktop (DDE) | KDE Plasma, GNOME, Xfce |
| Package management | APT · deepin App Store | urpmi · DNF |
| Init system | systemd | systemd |
| Experience level | Beginner | Beginner |
| Suggested RAM | 4 GB+ | 4 GB+ |
| Architectures | x86_64 | x86_64 |
| First released | 2004 | 2011 |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Good for | Everyday use | Everyday use |
Key differences
- deepin is based on Independent (formerly Debian-based), while Mageia is based on Independent (Mandriva fork).
- deepin ships Deepin Desktop (DDE); Mageia ships KDE Plasma, GNOME, Xfce.
- Software comes from APT · deepin App Store on deepin and urpmi · DNF on Mageia.
Choose deepin if…
- visually refined, integrated desktop
- in-house applications and control center
- simple graphical installer
Desktop is heavier than Xfce or LXQt
Full deepin profileChoose Mageia if…
- central graphical control center
- community governance
- fixed, predictable releases
Release gaps can be long
Full Mageia profiledeepin vs Mageia: FAQ
Is deepin better than Mageia?
Neither is better for everyone. deepin is the stronger pick for beginners; Mageia for a different set of needs.
Which uses less RAM, deepin or Mageia?
Both need about 4 GB of RAM for a comfortable desktop. The desktop environment affects memory use more than the distribution.
Is deepin based on Mageia?
No. deepin is based on Independent (formerly Debian-based); Mageia is based on Independent (Mandriva fork).
Can I switch from deepin to Mageia without losing files?
Back up your home folder first. If /home is on a separate partition you can reinstall without formatting it, but a clean install with restored backups is safest.