Linux 7.2 Will Be Able To Boot On Apple M3 Macs - But Far From Useful For End-Users

Linux 7.2 marks a milestone by booting Apple M3 Macs, though daily use remains distant. Current support is limited to a minimal boot to a serial console. Patches by Janne Grunau establish a basic M3 device-tree for mid-June. The changes cover iMac 24-inch M3 (2023), MacBook Air 13-inch M3 (2024), MacBook Air 15-inch M3 (2024), and MacBook Pro 14-inch M3 (2023).

The patches add minimal device-tree elements: CPU cores, interrupt controllers, power states, watchdogs, serial interfaces, and I2C. Notebook device trees add a PWM for keyboard illumination; iMac and 14-inch models include an i2C USB-C controller. Despite these steps, practical use on day-to-day terms will take longer because graphics support and drivers are still not mainlined. The project still faces big architectural changes from M2 to M3 and awaits later generations like M4 and M5.