MediaTek MTU3 USB 3.x Dual-Role Controller
The on-chip USB 3.x controller block found on MediaTek SoCs, supporting both host and device (gadget) modes on a single port. It is used in MediaTek-based phones, tablets, set-top boxes, and embedded boards such as the current Genio IoT platforms.
recommendation
It should stay because the hardware is still shipping in newly-sold MediaTek silicon, including the Genio 360 and Genio 520 IoT platforms with their 10-year longevity commitment, and the driver is still actively maintained upstream — patches were posted as recently as October 2025, with feature work for newer SoCs landing in 2023. MediaTek's own Android common kernel branches also still carry it, so removing it would break a large pool of contemporary devices.
repository signals
sources
- spinics.net
October 26, 2025 patch traffic still touched `drivers/usb/mtu3`, indicating ongoing upstream maintenance rather than abandonment.
- spinics.net
A second October 26, 2025 patch in the same area shows the driver was still receiving reviewable upstream fixes in late 2025.
- spinics.net
In April 2023 the driver gained optional `xhci_ck` and `frmcnt_ck` support explicitly described for dual-role controllers and newer 4nm/advanced-process SoCs, which is modernization work, not retirement work.
- spinics.net
In April 2023 MTU3 gained userspace role-switch control support, another sign of active feature maintenance.
- mediatek.com
MediaTek's current Genio 360 product page advertises USB 3.2 Gen1 and a 10-year longevity program, showing new MediaTek embedded platforms with USB3 are still being sold.
- mediatek.com
MediaTek's current Genio 520 page lists a USB 3.2 Gen1 host/device-capable interface, consistent with ongoing deployment of MediaTek dual-role USB3 IP in new products.
- android.googlesource.com
Android common kernel tag `android16-6.12-2025-06_r5` still carries MTU3 code, suggesting continuing downstream use in contemporary Android/MediaTek device trees and products.
codex reasoning notes (technical)
Local `sed` on Kconfig identifies this as the MediaTek USB3 dual-role controller driver, and local `rg` on `mtu3_plat.c` shows OF matches for MediaTek SoCs. Local `git log` shows substantive touches through late 2025. Web search result URLs from Spinics show late-2025 patch traffic and 2023 feature work for newer SoCs; web searches for lore removal/deprecate terms returned no relevant MTU3 removal discussion. MediaTek product-page URLs were obtained via web search and show current Genio platforms with USB 3.2, while the Android common kernel URL came from web search and shows MTU3 still present in a 2025 Android kernel tag. There is no natural generic replacement driver; this is SoC-specific controller support that still appears active and commercially relevant.