pocknix-os 0.1.0

The first public release of pocknix-os - an Arch Linux ARM distro for Qualcomm Snapdragon
handhelds, in the spirit of CachyOS's Handheld Edition: a mutable, performance-tuned Arch
system that still boots straight into SteamOS-style Big Picture (native ARM64 Steam), with a
Plasma Mobile desktop one session-switch away and anything you like installable via pacman.

Downloads

Device family	Image
SM8550 - Retroid Pocket 6 (AYN Odin 2 family untested)	pocknix-sm8550-20260717-sd.img.zst (8.3 GB)
SM8250 - Retroid Pocket 5 (Flip 2 untested)	pocknix-sm8250-20260717-sd.img.zst (8.0 GB)

Verify your download (.sha256 files attached below, also served next to the images):

sha256sum -c pocknix-sm8550-20260717-sd.img.zst.sha256

• sm8550: bd8db7dd776352b27b4045ebd6fb28f5cddc31d30996dd99bc8459bf21900e55
• sm8250: 368ddaed3b25060849eb19ae3e6358093baa2b47ec4f6094558ff71e3e89df0c

Flash to a microSD using Balena Etcher or a similar app, then follow
How to install for your device -
the two families boot differently (SM8550 needs the ROCKNIX ABL; SM8250 boots off the stock
bootloader).

Highlights

• Native ARM64 Steam in Big Picture via gamescope; x86/Windows games through FEX + Proton ARM
• Plasma Mobile desktop session with Waydroid Android app support
• OTA updates: images ship pre-wired to the signed [pocknix] pacman repo - updating is
  sudo pacman -Syu, kernel included; no reflashing
• Tuned kernel: scx_lavd scheduler, 120Hz panel fixes (RP6), UHS-I SDR104 microSD
  (~13 -> ~85 MB/s), SteamOS-formatted microSD support
• Pocknix Control Decky plugin: fan curves, CPU scheduler, per-game FEX + audio-buffer tweaks
• ES-DE emulation with Steam-library favorites integration

Known limitations

• Suspend/resume is experimental
• AYN Odin 2 family and Retroid Pocket Flip 2 builds are included but untested on hardware
• First release - expect rough edges; issues and reports welcome