Ubuntu Core 26 targets IoT devices and embedded systems, offers up to 15 years of security maintenance

Canonical has just introduced Ubuntu Core 26, based on the recently-released Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and designed for IoT devices and embedded systems, with precise Linux builds, optimized OTA updates, live kernel patching, and enhanced hardware-backed protection for mission-critical deployments. Offered with up to 15 years of security maintenance, Ubuntu Core 26 minimal, immutable operating system enables reduced installation times, 90% smaller OTA updates, and precision-led builds via Chisel. Every component is a containerized snap, just like in prior Ubuntu Core releases. Canonical says it can help companies meet requirements for the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) with securely designed and private AI deployments relying on hardware-based trust. Ubuntu Core 26 highlights: Faster snap installation and updates - An improved snap-delta format reduces update sizes between 50% and 90% for most snaps. For instance, updates to the Core base snaps dropped from 16MB to 1.5MB in size. This lowers data usage