Linux 6.17 has been released with Intel/AMD laptop gains, storage boosts & lower latency

Linux kernel 6.17 official release introduces a broad set of hardware and core system improvements. The update brings out-of-the-box Xe3 graphics support for Intel 'Panther Lake' laptops and proper web camera integration for 'Lunar Lake' models via the IPU7 driver. AMD laptop users benefit from SmartMux, allowing automatic graphics switching for greater power efficiency. Unified Attack Vector Controls now make managing CPU vulnerabilities such as Spectre and Meltdown easier by consolidating mitigation options, while new AppArmor rules extend control to AF_UNIX socket access, live patching is now supported on ARM64 systems, and ARM gains Branch Record Buffer Extension (BRBE) support.

Addressing networking and storage, the addition of DualPI2 congestion control reduces latency for gaming, streaming, and real-time workloads. SSD longevity is enhanced with efficient zero-writing support for both NVMe and SCSI drives, while EXT4 file system gains scalable block allocation for better I/O performance. New scheduling policies drop uniprocessor support, standardizing multicore operation, and proxy execution helps mitigate priority inversion in desktop applications. Other networking changes include multipath TCP improvements with the TCP_MAXSEG option and per-interface forwarding controls for IPv6.

Hardware compatibility expands further with support for Lenovo Legion Go handhelds, Apple M1/M2 Macs with proper rebooting, ASUS Zenbook A14 Snapdragon X1 Plus/Elite, Raspberry Pi 5’s RP1 I/O chip, and the Flydigi Apex 5 controller. Additional improvements include Corsair HX1200i PSU monitoring, mapping for F13–F24 keys, and new HD Audio drivers across select laptops. Linux 6.17 is bundled with Ubuntu 25.10 and will reach Ubuntu 24.04 LTS in 2026, with manual installation options for those who want it earlier.