Yureka Lilian has posted initial Linux kernel patches to enable support for Apple’s A18 Pro System on a Chip (SoC) and the new, budget-friendly MacBook Neo laptop. While a significant first step, current Linux support is severely limited.
The patches, released Friday, lay out the Device Trees and bindings necessary for the A18 Pro SoC – also found in the iPhone 16 Pro – and the MacBook Neo. Currently, the system can only successfully run on a single CPU core due to limitations with WFI and WFIT instructions. This is the beginning of a longer process to achieve full functionality.
Beyond kernel changes, modifications to the Asahi Linux project’s m1n1 bootloader are also required. The initial device tree includes a minimal set of devices: CPU cores, an interrupt controller, a watchdog, serial communication, and a framebuffer. Developers anticipate that it will take “quite some months” before the MacBook Neo can run Linux with full GPU acceleration and the functionality expected of a modern laptop. The patches are currently under review by the Linux kernel mailing list.
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