Linux 5.13 adds initial support for Apple M1

The Linux 5.13 kernel adds preliminary support for Apple M1 SoC and Apple devices in 2020 (Mac Mini, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air).

On the first day of the Linux 5.13 merger window, the six branches for the SoC tree have been submitted and merged into the mainline. The most notable among them is the support for Apple M1/Apple Silicon SoC and current devices. These are only preliminary support. There is still a lot of work to be done before it can be used officially, such as support for accelerated graphics. The rest of the work may be completed in the near future when Linux users will be able to use Apple devices normally.

Docker Desktop Preview Apple M1

In addition to Apple’s ARM-related work, Linux 5.13 also adds support for the old ARM Nuvoton WPCM450 platform. WPCM450 has attracted much attention because it is the BMC in the Supermicro X9 server board and some other server motherboards. In addition, the 5.13 device tree update also includes STMicroelectronics STM32H750, NXP i.MX8QuadMax, Qualcomm SC7280, and TI AM64x Sita4ra.

In general, this batch of patches provides an exciting set of ARM hardware support for Linux 5.13.