The [1]Linux 7.3 kernel is slated to be officially released on Sunday, 18 October, barring any last minute issues from coming about. With that said, here's a reminder about some of the most exciting features to look forward to in this next kernel version.

Exciting me the most about Linux 7.3 have been [2]some nice I/O performance improvements that deliver some [3]solid gains both for synthetic I/O benchmarks and carrying over to databases and other heavy I/O work. These I/O wins with Linux 7.3 have carried across [4]various systems .

Separately and also on the performance side are some [5]nice Btrfs performance improvements in Linux 7.3 .

Linux 7.3 also continues preparing for upcoming AMD Zen 6 platforms with now identifying the new low-power CPU core type complementing the typical performance and dense cores. The AMD HSMP driver and other platform drivers have also added support for upcoming Zen 6 client processors.

Another exciting hardware addition is [6]initial Apple M3 Pro / Max / Ultra support to complement the base M3 model added in Linux 7.2. But this code isn't yet ready for end-users and is just early bring-up.

For those still running early generations of AMD GCN GPUs, Timur Kristóf of Valve's Linux graphics team has landed [7]DRM format modifier support for old AMD GPUs as well as [8]improving GPU reset recovery support .

Also on the topic of old/low-end graphics hardware, Linux 7.3 brings the change for [9]improving vRAM management on systems with limited amounts of video memory . Another Linux win thanks to Valve.

For Linux gamers, further excitement with Linux 7.3 is [10]initial kernel driver support for the 2026 Steam Controller . There is also a [11]MSI Claw gamepad driver that was worked on by Valve.

More details on the many features of this next kernel version can be found via our [12]Linux 7.3 feature overview .



[1] https://www.phoronix.com/search/Linux+7.3

[2] https://www.phoronix.com/review/linux-73-amd-epyc

[3] https://www.phoronix.com/review/linux-73-panther-lake

[4] https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-7.3-Threadripper-9995WX

[5] https://www.phoronix.com/review/linux-73-btrfs

[6] https://www.phoronix.com/news/M3-Pro-Max-Ultra-Linux-7.3

[7] https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-7.3-AMDGPU-GFX6-Modifiers

[8] https://www.phoronix.com/news/AMD-GFX7-Soft-Reset-Linux-7.3

[9] https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-7.3-Improving-vRAM-Mgmt

[10] https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-7.3-HID

[11] https://www.phoronix.com/news/MSI-Claw-Gamepad-Linux-7.3

[12] https://www.phoronix.com/review/linux-73-features