Rhino Linux has released its 2025.4 snapshot, and while the update includes several technical changes, it also offers a clearer look at where the project is heading next year. Much of the recent work has been tied to Rhino Linux’s sponsorship with the UBPorts Foundation, and that effort is now starting to show up in shipped software.
A major highlight of this release is progress around Lomiri. The desktop, best known from Ubuntu Touch, is becoming a bigger part of the Rhino Linux story, especially on PINE64 hardware. The team has delivered two new packages, rhino pine lomiri core and ubxi lomiri desktop, marking real movement from collaboration to distribution.
The ubxi lomiri desktop package works on both PINE64 devices and generic images. That makes it easier for users to test Lomiri outside of mobile focused hardware, without committing to a full device switch.
Rhino Linux has also begun rolling out Lomiri as the default desktop on PINE64 devices. This change is not abrupt. Unicorn Mobile images are still supported and maintained, giving existing users time to adjust and choose what works best for them.
Beyond desktop changes, 2025.4 includes several platform updates. Multiple Pacstall bugs have been fixed, improving reliability for users who depend on it. Kernel versions have also been refreshed across supported devices, reflecting Rhino Linux’s need to balance modern kernels with hardware specific stability.
Generic ISO images now ship with Linux kernel 6.18.1 generic. PinePhone and PineTab images use 6.12.62 sunxi, while PinePhone Pro images move to 6.18.1 rockchip. PineTab2 images ship with 6.9.0 okpine, and Raspberry Pi images use 6.17.0 raspi.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Rhino Linux team is planning a noticeable change to its release process. Snapshot releases will happen more frequently, and they will no longer be blocked by a single platform having issues. Images that are verified as working will ship, while problematic platforms may be delayed until fixes are ready.
This shift should allow faster iteration and quicker access to updates, even if it means releases are no longer perfectly synchronized across all hardware.
Communication is also set to evolve. Not every snapshot will receive its own blog post. Instead, the team plans to publish broader update posts a few times per year, summarizing changes across multiple releases.
The project is also continuing work on goals set in 2025. Additional UBXI packages, new disk image spins, and improvements to OS builder workflows and documentation are all planned for the coming year.
Rhino Linux 2025.4 feels like a transitional release. Lomiri is becoming more established, support for diverse hardware continues to improve, and the team is being open about how its processes need to adapt as the project grows.
