Mac Neo + Kubuntu

[natman]

Hi ,
Would like to buy a new laptop, and the mac neo appeals for my light use. Is installing Kubuntu on a mac a bad idea? Am I losing all the advantages of battery life etc etc cause the hardware was not designed for Kubuntu ?

[Snowhog]

AI Overview

As of early 2026, the Apple A18 Pro chip (used in the iPhone 16 Pro and the MacBook Neo) does not officially support Linux, nor is it supported by projects like Asahi Linux.

While the chip architecture is ARM-based and theoretically capable, the main limitations are the locked-down bootloader and the immense effort required to reverse-engineer drivers for new hardware.

Here is the current situation regarding Linux on A18-based devices:

• No Native Support: You cannot natively boot Linux on an A18-powered iPhone or the new MacBook Neo (A18 Pro) as you would on a standard PC.
• Asahi Linux Limitations: The Asahi Linux project, which brings Linux to Apple Silicon, currently only supports M1 and M2 series devices, with ongoing efforts for M3/M4. A18 support is not currently planned and is likely a long way off.
• The "MacBook Neo" Factor: Even though the new $599 MacBook Neo runs macOS and uses an A18 Pro chip, it uses a restricted boot process similar to iPhones/iPads rather than the slightly more open boot process of M-series Macs, making custom OS installation extremely difficult.
• Virtualization: You can run Linux in a virtual machine (e.g., using Parallels or UTM) on A18 macOS devices, but not as a primary native operating system.

Why Linux on A18 is Difficult
The Asahi Linux team notes that newer Apple silicon (M3/M4/A18) has more complex, tightly locked-down security mechanisms (such as the Secure Page Table Monitor - SPTM) compared to M1/M2 chips, making debugging and writing open-source drivers nearly impossible without Apple's help.