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HN · ARMCurated

Linux runs on M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBooks

Summary

The Asahi Linux team reports how new drivers brought the M1 Pro and M1 Max up to the Linux level of the first M1 devices shortly after their release. The M1 Pro and M1 Max were released in October 2021. Initial support targeted Linux 5.17.

Ideas

  • New device trees describe additional Apple SoCs and MacBook models.
  • AIC2 support opens up the interrupt controller of the larger chips.
  • Drivers for SD card readers and SPI extend hardware coverage.
  • U-Boot support connects Apple's boot process with the usual Linux boot paths.

Insights

  • Clean upstreaming makes fast support for related hardware generations easier.
  • Reverse engineering becomes more sustainable when the results fit into shared subsystems.
  • A visible desktop does not yet mean complete device support.

Facts

  • Several Apple drivers had already been merged for Linux 5.16.

Recommendations

  • Check support for every device you need before installing.
  • Keep macOS available for firmware updates and recovery.

References

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