Armbian v25.5 boosts ARM device support and performance with key upgrades

Armbian v25.5 introduces a wide range of upgrades focused on expanding hardware compatibility and simplifying post-install configuration for ARM-based devices. Notable hardware additions include support for TI SK-AM69, Banana Pi M2+, BeagleBone AI-64, BeaglePlay, and PocketBeagle2. Rockchip-based boards now benefit from improved HDMI and audio thanks to upstream firmware updates, while the Rockchip64 edge branch moves to Linux kernel 6.14 for better peripheral support and performance. Developers also gain the option to build plain mainline kernels through new configurable patching logic.

Enhancements to the filesystem include improved EFI partition alignment and support for BTRFS subvolumes, offering greater flexibility in boot management. System stability has been reinforced through fixes to boot scripts, better serial console support, and a simplified logging system to aid diagnostics. The armbian-config utility allows users to easily deploy applications like Home Assistant, Grafana, and other self-hosted tools in isolated environments.

Wi-Fi setup is now more reliable, supported by improved detection logic and clearer documentation. These technical strides are complemented by community recognition: Armbian was honored with the 2025 NetBox Hero Award for its contributions to automation and open infrastructure, highlighting its role at the intersection of embedded systems and modern infrastructure practices.