Linux Kernel 7.3-rc1 was released on August 30, 2026, with approximately 40.98 million lines of code, driven largely by a significant AMD DCN6 register header dump. This release introduces initial USB4 and Thunderbolt support for Apple M1 through M3 chips, along with a new Apple PMGR driver for power management. Additionally, a major overhaul of KVM guest memory conversion has been implemented, and progress continues with Rust kernel drivers and Intel thermal improvements. The release candidate series will last about six weeks, with the stable version of Linux 7.3 expected to be finalized in mid-to-late October 2026

Linux Kernel 7.3-rc1 Released: 41M Lines, Apple Thunderbolt, and KVM Overhaul

Linux Kernel 7.3-rc1 was released by Linus Torvalds on August 30, 2026, pushing the kernel to approximately 40.98 million lines of code. The massive diff size is primarily driven by a huge AMD DCN6 register header dump, though significant functional updates include initial USB4 and Thunderbolt support for Apple M1 through M3 chips. Developers also landed a major 45-patch series for KVM guest memory conversion, alongside continued growth in Rust kernel drivers and refined Intel thermal throttling. The release candidate series will run for roughly six weeks before Linux 7.3 stabilizes, with the final version expected in mid-to-late October 2026.

Linux Kernel 7.3-rc1 Released: 41M Lines, Apple Thunderbolt, and KVM Overhaul @ Linux Compatible