FreeBSD 15.0: Notable Improvements for Desktop and Laptop Users

FreeBSD 15.0 introduces a range of updates that strengthen the system’s usability on desktops, laptops, and general-purpose machines. Several areas that matter most to daily users—networking, graphics, and desktop environments—see meaningful development in this release.

A key update is expanded WiFi support. FreeBSD 15.0 adds drivers for Realtek’s rtw88 and rtw89 chipsets, used in many current laptops. Intel iwlwifi support has also been refined, and the installation media now includes a dedicated WiFi firmware package, making it easier for a wider range of wireless adapters to function immediately after installation.

Graphics hardware support also advances. By incorporating newer Linux DRM driver code, FreeBSD improves compatibility and performance on modern Intel and AMD GPUs. This benefits both X11 and Wayland sessions, with smoother acceleration and more consistent behavior across display setups.

Desktop environments gain from this foundation. KDE Plasma, GNOME, Xfce and others continue to be available through packages, and improved hardware support helps these environments run more reliably. Work on a more desktop-friendly installer is ongoing and aims to simplify initial setup in future releases.

The system as a whole also receives updates. Optimized libc routines bring performance improvements on amd64, and various device drivers—covering networking, audio, PCI, and storage—have been updated for better compatibility and stability.

Taken together, these changes make FreeBSD 15.0 a solid release for users running the system on everyday hardware, offering broader support and a smoother experience across a wide range of setups.

Grab it now!
https://download.freebsd.org/releases/amd64/amd64/ISO-IMAGES/15.0/