Kernel version 15.3

Currently, I have severe sound problems under 15.2 and was considering upgrading to 15.3. I was hoping to get a kernel bump after 2 yrs. To my disappointment, I realize that the very same kernel version is shipped with 15.3 as compared to 15.2. I would like to install a newer, stable version of the kernel. This means that the KOTD repository is not an option as it contains unstable release candidates. Are recent, stable kernel versions available for installation with 15.3?

Hi
Don’t rely on version numbers, in openSUSE (and SLE) fixes, enhancements, CVE’s etc are backported, version number changes are very rare. The kernel in Leap 15.3 is about on a par with 5.9 series now. If you having specific issues, why not raise a bug report if running Leap 15.3 and see if it can be fixed with the system kernel…

There is also Kernel:stable, you could try this one.

Thank you for the suggestion. In the past kernel upgrades have solved a lot of hardware problems for me, so upgrading is an easy try to fix problems. Otherwise, I will follow your suggestion. Does your answer imply that the 5.3.18 from 15.3 is actually different from the 5.3.18 of 15.2 or will they keep in sync until 15.2 is retired?

Does your answer imply that the 5.3.18 from 15.3 is actually different from the 5.3.18 of 15.2

Yes.

Kernel from Leap 15.3 is a backported kernel from 5.9, kernel from Leap 15.2 is a backported kernel 5.6.

If you need a newer Kernel, you can use the kernel:stable Repo, now on kernel 5.12.9.
But all kmps from the official OSS Repo do not work with this kernel.