Ubuntu 22.04 LTS plans to stick to Linux 5.15

It turns out that Ubuntu 22.04 LTS plans to use the Linux 5.15 kernel as its default kernel. This makes sense because Linux 5.15 is also a long-supported kernel, but unfortunately, the Ubuntu LTS version doesn't always use the LTS kernel version, and v5.15 has been announced for half a year when "Jammy Jellyfish" was released in April. This is a particularly unfortunate option for those with the latest hardware, but at least there are Ubuntu mainline kernel PPA and other non-default options available.

In a discussion about Ubuntu's GNOME plan for 22.04, Canonical's Sebastien Bacher mentioned that "the plan is to use 5.15 in LTS, but the OEM and HWE versions will be upgraded to 5.17 at some point".

So, if this plan sticks to it, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS will use Linux 5.15 by default, and in 2023, Ubuntu 22.04.2 LTS will use the new Ubuntu 22.10 hardware to enable the kernel, while Ubuntu's OEM partners such as Dell also have the ability to ship updated kernels for their latest Linux pre-installed systems.

Linux 5.15 does make sense for Ubuntu 22.04 because both are Long Term Support (LTS) releases. Linux 5.15 LTS was released at the end of October, Linux 5.16 was released last week, and then Linux 5.17 should be released around the end of March, so Linux 5.17 will not appear by default in Ubuntu's 22.04 release anyway.

Linux 5.16 brings Alder Lake S graphics support enabled by default, FUTEX2 futex_waitv system calls, which are very important for the development of Wine/Steam Play games, I/O optimization, fuller AMDRyzen 6000 mobile series support, Intel AMX support, which is also very important for Xeon Sapphire Rapids servers in the Ubuntu LTS version, There are many other hardware support additions and improvements. Some fixes/PCI ID additions may be posted back to Linux 5.15 or by Ubuntu's kernel build, but there may not be any major projects that follow.

So, while Linux 5.15 LTS makes sense for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS from a logistical standpoint, especially Linux enthusiasts and those who want to run Ubuntu on the latest Intel/AMD hardware are better off using third-party/unofficial kernel builds until the HWE kernel is introduced in future versions of Jammy Jellyfish. Thankfully, Ubuntu Mainline Kernel PPA offers convenient Linux 5.16 or Linux 5.17 mainline kernel builds when Ubuntu 22.04 is officially released, as well as other third-party kernel builds/PPAs. With Canonical wanting to make Ubuntu the "best Linux desktop for gaming," perhaps they'll come up with a more recognizable/user-friendly way, such as running more of the latest Linux mainline stable versions on Ubuntu.