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Asahi Linux has published a new progress report, outlining its work around the Linux 7.0 kernel cycle and previewing upcoming changes for Fedora Asahi Remix 44.
One of the standout updates is the release of Asahi Installer 0.8. This version upgrades the bundled m1n1 stage 1 component to 1.5.2, adds support for the Mac Pro, and introduces a new firmware update mode. A major improvement here is how firmware updates are handled users can now refresh vendor firmware, including support for ambient light sensors, directly through the installer without manually modifying the EFI System Partition. The process can be triggered from macOS Recovery, making it far more user-friendly.
Power efficiency has also seen measurable gains. New drivers for the Power Management Processor on Pro, Max, and Ultra Apple Silicon systems reduce idle power usage by around 0.5 watts on devices like the 14-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro, roughly a 20% improvement. However, this feature is not enabled by default yet, as it still requires broader validation and upstream integration.
Display support continues to evolve, with progress made in understanding how Apple’s DCP firmware enables Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). Testing has already been conducted on external VRR monitors and MacBook Pro ProMotion displays. As a result, VRR is expected to be introduced as an optional kernel parameter (appledrm.force_vrr) once the feature is finalized.
Audio support is also improving. A new ASoC bus-keeper API, scheduled for inclusion in Linux kernel 7.1, replaces earlier Apple-specific implementations. Additionally, headphone jack support for the CS42L84 codec now includes a wider range of sample rates, extending up to 192 kHz.
Support for newer hardware, particularly Apple’s M3 systems, is still under development but progressing steadily. The Asahi kernel tree now includes updates for PCIe, keyboard and trackpad input, system management controllers, reboot handling, and NVMe storage. While functionality is approaching the early alpha stage seen on M1 systems, installation on M3 hardware is not yet supported through the installer.
Looking ahead, the report also highlights changes coming with Fedora Asahi Remix 44, expected alongside Fedora Linux 44. New KDE-based installations will switch to Plasma Setup instead of Calamares, and the Plasma Login Manager will replace SDDM for fresh installs, while existing systems will retain their current setup.
Finally, the distribution is moving closer to upstream integration by dropping its custom Mesa and virglrenderer builds. Users will transition to standard Fedora packages, reflecting broader improvements in upstream support for Apple Silicon and reducing the need for project-specific modifications.
For more details, see the announcement.
