Linux 6.17 brought several useful Apple Silicon changes upstream, but it did not deliver complete Mac support or a finished Apple GPU driver. The key additions were the Apple SMC core, its GPIO and reboot-controller drivers, and device-tree groundwork for future GPU integration. Some related DART improvements for M2 Pro, M2 Max, and M2 Ultra arrived in Linux 6.18-rc1 instead.
What Apple Silicon changes landed in Linux 6.17?
According to Asahi Linux’s October 24, 2025 progress report, the cycle’s central upstream change was the Apple System Management Controller (SMC) core driver, alongside drivers for the SMC GPIO controller and reboot controller. Asahi said the SMC work followed mailing-list discussions dating back to 2022.
The practical result is limited but meaningful: devices already running upstream kernels can reboot gracefully, and the SMC components lay groundwork for upstream Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support. That groundwork should not be confused with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth being fully enabled for every Apple Silicon Mac by Linux 6.17.
Did the Apple GPU driver make it into Linux 6.17?
No. The GPU-related change in 6.17 was device-tree schema and property work, not a complete upstream Apple GPU driver. Device trees describe hardware to the kernel, including information that drivers need from firmware. Asahi characterized these changes as a small part of the overall GPU effort but an important step toward stabilizing the interface a future driver will use.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
In other words, Linux 6.17 improved the groundwork for GPU integration; it did not, by that change alone, provide full upstream Apple GPU support.
What belongs to Linux 6.18-rc1, not 6.17?
Release boundaries matter for M2 Pro, M2 Max, and M2 Ultra. Asahi reported that support for a larger DART address space on those chips required four-level page tables. The related changes and device trees were merged and available in Linux 6.18-rc1, a later release candidate—not in Linux 6.17.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Does Linux 6.17 fully support my M1 or M2 Mac?
No single kernel-release headline establishes complete support for every Apple Silicon computer. Support varies by chip variant and individual Mac model, and a feature may be upstream, available only in the downstream linux-asahi kernel, a work in progress, or unsupported. Check the project’s current M1 and M2 feature support tables for the exact model and feature; the tables are updated, so their current entries are more useful than a general statement about “M1” or “M2.”
When checking a feature, distinguish boot and firmware support from a kernel driver and from the user-facing function you want to use. Also note the kernel release in which the change landed: a device-tree update or driver foundation does not necessarily mean the complete feature is usable.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteRank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
What else did Asahi report alongside the kernel work?
m1n1 and its UEFI installation bundle
Asahi describes m1n1 as the bridge between Apple firmware and Linux. The project said its UEFI-only installation bundle had become outdated and could not boot modern Asahi kernels. A new continuous-integration pipeline automatically builds the bundle so it can be uploaded and used by the installer more often. Asahi also released m1n1 v1.5.2 with compatibility for upstream USB and GPU device-tree schemas.
Apple Device Tree handling in Rust
The project rewrote Apple Device Tree handling in Rust while preserving the existing C API. The report says the developers found no speed difference between the old and new implementations, including the overhead of the foreign-function interface. This is not a plan to port all of m1n1 to Rust: Asahi said its priorities are safety-critical boot-chain components and C APIs that are unsound or awkward to use.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
USB-based bring-up with tuxvdmtool
Asahi introduced tuxvdmtool, a Linux reimplementation of macvdmtool. It can reboot an Apple Silicon device over USB and route its primary UART output over USB, enabling low-level device bring-up without macOS as the host. The initial version depends on downstream USB-C mux driver changes; Asahi said a future release is intended to use the kernel’s built-in i2c-dev interface and remove those patches.
An early-alpha Windows application demonstration
The report also showed 64-bit Windows applications running under WINE outside muvm. This was a separate experimental project update, not a result of the Linux 6.17 SMC or GPU device-tree merges. Asahi called the work early alpha and warned that ARM64X and ARM64EC support was incomplete, so many applications might not work.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
How to interpret the 6.17 progress
- Upstream progress: SMC core, GPIO, and reboot-controller support landed in 6.17, enabling graceful reboot on devices already running upstream kernels and preparing for further integration.
- GPU progress: Device-tree groundwork landed, not a complete upstream Apple GPU driver.
- Later development: The larger-address-space DART changes and relevant device trees for M2 Pro, Max, and Ultra were reported in 6.18-rc1.
- Model-specific reality: Consult the feature table for the exact Mac; upstream status does not mean every feature works on every model.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
