Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is set to be available on the SpacemiT K3, the first commercially available processor compliant with the RISC-V RVA23 standard. This collaboration between Canonical and the China-based SpacemiT aims to enhance support for RISC-V processors, with Ubuntu 24.04 also being compatible with the SpacemiT K1 AI chip, which lacks the advanced features found in the K3 due to Canonical’s requirement for RVA23 support introduced in 2025.
The partnership emphasizes a strong integration of open-source operating systems within the RISC-V ecosystem, promising significant advantages for developers working with this architecture. The RISC-V RVA23 specifications include advanced capabilities such as enhanced security features, hypervisor support, and vector computing tailored for AI applications.
The SpacemiT K3 boasts an impressive 8-core CPU design with clock speeds up to 2.4 GHz, offering a powerful computing performance of 60 TOPs aimed at AI workloads, complemented by high memory capacity of up to 32GB. In contrast, the K1 model, also an 8-core chip, performs at a modest level of 2.0 TOPs and has a memory ceiling of 16GB. Despite the K1’s lack of RVA23 capabilities, its broader adoption means support expansion is beneficial.
According to Sun Yanbang, President of SpacemiT, this collaboration seeks to meld the mature Ubuntu software ecosystem with cutting-edge RISC-V hardware to further innovation in intelligent computing solutions.
While RISC-V processors haven’t yet penetrated the consumer market in a mainstream way—with most interest being found in specialized tech circles—a report indicates that RISC-V is projected to capture 25% of the global market share in sectors like IoT, edge computing, robotics, and automotive technologies.
The introduction of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS on the SpacemiT K3 will be officially available in April 2026, solidifying Ubuntu’s position as a key operating system for diverse applications on RISC-V hardware.
For more details, check out the official announcement.