Asahi Linux on M3

Asahi Linux, a distribution known for its compatibility with Apple Silicon devices, has now officially gained support for Macs equipped with the M3 series SoC. This development, which has been integrated into the installer, signifies a significant milestone for the project. The M3 series machines, like their predecessors the M1 and M2, will now benefit from nearly identical Linux support, with functionality spanning from the webcam and internal microphones to USB connectivity (up to 10 Gb/s), hardware-accelerated video decoding, WiFi, Bluetooth, and more. However, some features, such as full DCP support and GPU acceleration, are currently pending.

This transition is not without its caveats. Currently, performance and power efficiency in 3D acceleration are not optimized, as the project is still in its early stages. To access the new functionality, users must first install Asahi Linux in Expert mode via a macOS terminal. Post-installation, a system upgrade is recommended to ensure all features are up to date.

The team behind Asahi Linux extends gratitude to their supporters on OpenCollective and GitHub Sponsors, acknowledging that the availability of M3 hardware was a possible outcome of this generous backing. Looking forward, the team anticipates constructive feedback from users and remains committed to refining the experience of using Asahi Linux on M3 devices.