While the Linux 6.4 merge window won't be kicking off until the end of April or early May, below is a look at many of the features expected for this next kernel version. The list is based on my monitoring of the many subsystem "-next" branches for seeing what's likely coming for v6.4 -- barring any last minute problems from being uncovered or objections from Linus Torvalds.
So some of what's expected for Linux 6.4 when released this summer includes:
- Initial Apple M2 bits have been mainlined including the Device Tree files for the 2022 MacBook Air, 2022 MacBook Pro 13-inch, and 2023 Mac Mini. However, due to some missing functionality, this support on the upstream kernel for Linux 6.4 won't exactly be usable for end-users... But it's moving in the right direction.
- 36+ more ASUS motherboards will enjoy sensor monitoring support with driver improvements set for Linux 6.4.
- Intel LAM support for Linear Address Masking will try once again to be mainlined.
- Intel CET Shadow Stack support looks to be mainlined for Linux 6.4.
- The Qualcomm QAIC accelerator driver is being introduced as the latest to join the recent Linux accelerator subsystem.
- 4K support for the Rockchip DRM driver .
- More Intel Meteor Lake graphics preparations .
- More Intel Habana Labs Gaudi2 code is going into that AI driver with Linux 6.4.
- DRM deadline hints for graphics drivers to help influence the GPU frequency/performance characteristics.
- Speed binning for the Panfrost DRM driver as well as supporting new MediaTek SoCs.
- Initial enablement pieces for AMD's multi-XCC CDNA accelerator have started for Linux 6.4 but further work is still needed to land.
- The AMD CDX bus is being introduced as an interface between APUs and FPGAs.
- AMD P-State Guided Autonomous Mode as another improvement/alternative over P-State EPP that appeared in Linux 6.3.
- The AMD graphics driver has new power features for the Steam Deck .
- Intel IAA 2.0 accelerator preparations .
- Intel Lunar Lake audio support .
- AMD SFH Ambient Color Sensor support .
- Intel Sierra Forest EDAC support .
- Suspend/resume fixes for some AMD Picasso laptops .
- Better MSI laptop support thanks to the MSI-EC driver landing.
- Improved Btrfs scrub code that is ~10% faster as a nice improvement there.
- Improved concurrent I/O performance with the Device Mapper .
- A tablet mode switch driver for Lenovo Yoga laptops to properly notify user-space on 2-in-1/convertible laptops when switching over to tablet orientation.
- The Novatek i2c touchscreen driver that has been used by some Android tablets over the years.
- Fixing a Nintendo controller driver issue where in effect the controllers were being turned into vibrators by rumbling indefinitely.
- Support for several Kye/Genius drawing tablets .
- Turtle Beach REACT-R and Recon Xbox controller support .
- PCMCIA/CardBus to USB drivers are set to be removed as part of clearing out unused/unmaintained PCMCIA drivers .
- Dropping the SLOB memory allocator is on the table.
- Dropping a very old workaround for far outdated Linux distributions.
- The in-kernel Zstd code will hopefully be updated .