Recently, the developers of the Linux Mint distribution announced that they have started releasing updated iso images that include newer versions of the Linux kernel. This update comes in response to user feedback regarding issues with supporting new hardware. For instance, Linux Mint 22.3, which was initially launched in January, was shipped with kernel version 6.14. However, a Hardware Enablement (HWE) update has now been released with kernel version 6.17 sourced from Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS.
By providing these intermediate updates to iso images, Linux Mint aims to address compatibility issues and ensure a smoother user experience with newer hardware. This move comes as part of an extension of the release preparation cycle, leading to the decision to shift the publication date of the next Linux Mint release from early September to late December 2026.