Linux Mint is providing new HWE images for version 22.3 “Zena”, based on the current Linux kernel 7.0. The “Hardware Enablement” editions target users with newer hardware that benefits from a more recent kernel.
The jump is significant: compared with the standard image of the 22.x series, the HWE variant skips roughly two years of kernel development. In its standard edition, Mint 22.3 continues to use the Cinnamon 6.6 desktop. Existing Mint users do not need to reinstall – the HWE kernels arrive as a regular software update.
More than just a new kernel
- Reworked system administration: the kernel tool has been redesigned and now tracks kernels on a series basis.
- Cinnamon improvements: full Fcitx5 input-method parity across Wayland and X11, plus a replacement for the discontinued gnome-kbd layout viewer.
This keeps Linux Mint true to its philosophy: a stable base, complemented by optional, newer kernels for current hardware – without forcing users into a full reinstall. For owners of new laptops or GPUs, moving to the HWE kernels can resolve driver and stability issues.
