Add support for Acer Predator PHN16S-71 (Helios Neo 16S AI)

[edlelis]

Model

Acer Predator PHN16S-71 (Helios Neo 16S AI)

Hardware

• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (Arrow Lake-HX)
• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5070
• iGPU: Intel Arc integrated (Xe / xe driver)
• Display: 16" OLED 2560x1600 @ 240Hz (Samsung ATNA60DL03-0)
• BIOS: Insyde V1.26 (03/03/2026)

OS

• Distribution: CachyOS
• Kernel: 7.0.8-1-cachyos
• Linuwu-Sense version: latest main (commit 73a25ec)
• Compiler used: clang 22.1.5 (sudo make CC=clang LD=ld.lld install)

What works

• Module compiles and loads successfully with clang
• acer_wmi unloaded, linuwu_sense loaded in its place
• Basic Acer WMI hotkeys detected (input device created)
• Brightness control works

What doesn't work

• No predator_sense directory created in /sys/module/linuwu_sense/drivers/platform:acer-wmi/acer-wmi/
• No /sys/firmware/acpi/platform_profile exposed
• No fan control interface
• No RGB keyboard control
• Thermal profile switching unavailable

Key dmesg output

[ 0.000000] DMI: Acer Predator PHN16S-71/FTYPE_ARX, BIOS V1.26 03/03/2026
[ 1.098258] wmi_bus wmi_bus-PNP0C14:00: [Firmware Bug]: WMBF method block execution control method not found
[ 1.098339] wmi_bus wmi_bus-PNP0C14:00: [Firmware Info]: FDAE8C0C-6FA2-49C3-87A0-97483BE485F2 has zero instances
[ 1.098382] wmi_bus wmi_bus-PNP0C14:01: [Firmware Bug]: WQ00 data block query control method not found
[ 6.607208] acer_wmi: Acer Laptop ACPI-WMI Extras
[ 6.607255] acer_wmi: Function bitmap for Communication Button: 0x0
[ 432.062819] linuwu_sense: Acer Laptop ACPI-WMI Extras

Note: Function bitmap for Communication Button: 0x0 suggests this model uses a different WMI command set that linuwu_sense doesn't recognize yet.

Reference

Since PTX17-71 received support recently (commit ffd5dcb), the same approach might be adaptable for PHN16S-71 (similar generation Predator Helios line).

Happy to test patches, provide more diagnostics, or run any commands you suggest.

[shwetankg07]

Data point for this model: the four_zoned_kb WMI writes do nothing on the PHN16S-71. They return AE_OK and the state even reads back correctly, but the LEDs never change. The actual RGB controller is a separate i2c-HID chip, an ENE KB5130 (0CF2:5130), driven with feature reports of 11 bytes on report ID 0xa4.

Protocol docs and a working userspace implementation: https://github.com/shwetankg07/kbrgb (see PROTOCOL.md). Two EC quirks verified on real hardware: the brightness byte range is 0 to 100, and the 0x0f all zones mask is broken, so zones must be written individually. Fan and platform control from linuwu_sense keeps working alongside it.