Fedora Asahi Remix 43 is now officially available, continuing the effort to make Apple Silicon Macs a viable platform for running Fedora Linux. Built through collaboration between the Fedora Asahi SIG and the Asahi Linux project, this release tracks closely with Fedora Linux 43 while focusing on the unique challenges of Apple hardware.
One of the more notable changes here is the shift to newer package management tools. RPM 6.0 arrives alongside the DNF5 backend for PackageKit, which feeds into both KDE Plasma Discover and GNOME Software. Fedora has been inching toward DNF5 for a while, and seeing it land here ahead of Fedora Linux 44 suggests the project is confident enough to push it into more real-world use. Whether that translates into noticeably faster installs and updates for everyday users is something folks will want to test themselves.
Hardware support continues to improve too, which has always been the big question mark with Apple Silicon Linux efforts. Fedora Asahi Remix 43 adds support for the Mac Pro, improves microphone functionality on M2 Pro and M2 Max MacBooks, and brings 120Hz refresh rate support to the built-in displays on MacBook Pro 14 and 16 models. That last one is especially important, since high refresh rate displays are a big part of the Apple experience, and losing that under Linux has been a sticking point.
On the desktop side, KDE Plasma 6.6 is positioned as the flagship experience, aligning with Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop 43. There is also a GNOME 49 variant for users who prefer a more traditional Fedora feel. Both options aim to stay close to upstream Fedora, which should help reduce fragmentation and make things easier to maintain long term.
For those not interested in a full desktop, Fedora Asahi Remix 43 also includes a Server variant for headless deployments and a Minimal image for users who want to build their own system from scratch. That flexibility is nice to see, especially since Apple Silicon machines are increasingly being repurposed for development and home lab use.
There is one thing I would argue needs to happen sooner rather than later, though. Support for the MacBook Neo feels imperative. At $599, that machine is already here, and I actually bought one myself. It hits a price point that Apple almost never touches, and that makes it incredibly interesting for Linux users. If Fedora Asahi Remix can get running well on that hardware quickly, it could end up being one of the most compelling low-cost Linux laptops around, despite wearing an Apple logo.
All in all, Fedora Asahi Remix 43 feels like another steady step forward rather than a flashy release. Apple still does not officially support Linux on its hardware, so progress like this depends entirely on community effort. The fact that things like high refresh rate displays and improved audio are now working shows just how far the project has come, even if there are still rough edges lurking under the surface.
