Linux NPU Driver v1.28.0 released
Intel just dropped a new Linux driver version; 1.28.0 is what you've got now, but it’s really more noteworthy because this update helps your system use the built-in NPU processing power better. This stuff matters if you’ve picked up one of their Core Ultra machines, like those using Meteor Lake or Lunar Lake CPUs. Those processors are designed to handle AI tasks directly on-chip, and updated drivers ensure that kind of smart work gets done smoothly.
One thing worth pointing out is that this latest release effectively puts an end to support for Ubuntu 22.04 users who still have older NPU hardware. Intel seems focused now on newer platforms, but it’s a bit of a heads-up: if you’re rocking those older NPUs from, say, Meteor Lake or Lunar Lake (and aren't moving to a fresher Ubuntu), you’ll need an upgrade path for your OS.
On the flip side, though, they’ve definitely broadened compatibility. This latest 1.28.0 driver now officially supports systems featuring the Panther Lake CPU as well, which is excellent news if that’s one of your devices. Getting it sorted should be easier than before.
To give a clearer picture, Intel tested this new software version on several setups: machines with the Meteor Lake and Lunar Lake processors are covered, plus they confirmed success on those running the newer Panther Lake platform. During these checks, they specifically tested Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, equipped with kernel 6.14.0-36-generic, across various firmware versions.
This isn’t just about adding features; there have also been updates to core software components related to the NPU stuff. Level Zero has received a bump to v1.24.2 now, OpenVINO updated all the way to version 2025.4, and the compiler for NPU tasks switched over to a new build based on OpenVINO_rev.5fb69ea. They even refreshed the GPU driver to version 25.35.35096.9.
If you're just looking for the driver files themselves, there's nothing particularly revolutionary here. The release notes are pretty barebones about what specific issues got fixed or how things improved under the hood; not much detail has spilled out in that regard yet. Intel might be saving some specifics for later down the line; it happens often enough with these kinds of updates.
Still, knowing this driver is available for compatible Core Ultra devices provides you something to go on. It means Intel isn't stopping their work on smoothing things out for NPUs, and users can reasonably expect continued software tweaks and fixes coming through as time goes on.
Release Linux NPU Driver v1.28.0
Support for Ubuntu 22.04 has been dropped from this version
Panther Lake support has been added in this release Verified with the following configuration
