Windows 11 or Windows 10: Worth the Upgrade?

Windows 11 has been officially unveiled by Microsoft and is set to roll out later this year. 

So, whether you are a Windows 10 Pro owner or Windows home, you might be wondering what the major differences between the two versions are and whether it is worth the upgrade. Here are some of the most important points to help you decide. 

Multitasking

Both Windows 10 and 11 have similar Snap Layout tools to help you organize your workflow and streamline multitasking. Windows 11, however, takes what was already good about this system and elevates it to the next level.

In Windows 11, Snap Layouts can be used to group your windows and save them to the taskbar, which can then be hovered over to tile windows in various sizes. Windows 10 on the other hand will keep the traditional Snap feature in which windows will need to be manually tiled out with a keyboard combination.

If you have a multi-monitor setup, Windows 11 will also remember how you had your windows set up and will save them in that state when you disconnect from a monitor then plug it back in, saving countless minutes of readjusting.

Android Apps 

For Windows 11 Microsoft is rebuilding the Microsoft store from the ground up, with a cleaner layout, more native apps such as Disney+ and the Adobe Creative Cloud, and integration of Android apps via Amazon’s Appstore.

With Windows 11 this means you will have access to a far larger app library than before, with apps such as TikTok being delivered directly to your computer. However, since most of the Android apps will not be optimized for computer monitors, these apps will be displayed in a narrower, vertical display like that on your phone.

Gaming

Undoubtedly one of the biggest features of Windows 11 that has fans excited is the optimized experience for pc gaming.

In terms of visuals, Windows 11 will be borrowing some of the features found in the Xbox Series X, including Auto HDR for crisp, vibrant colors.

The new ‘DirectStorage’ feature will also allow those with high-performance SSD cards to get even faster loading times without overloading the CPU.

Finally, DirectX 12 Ultimate will be supported, meaning you will automatically get the best performance for high-end PCs.

Start Menu and Taskbar

When taking in the differences between Windows 10 and 11 at a glance, one of the most obvious visual differences is the Start Menu and Taskbar.

In Windows 11 the Taskbar and Start Menu have been simplified and centered, with an appearance more akin to the MacOS than traditional Windows.

As mentioned, the Start Menu is more simplistic in nature as well, displaying only a static list of apps and your most frequently used documents. Although the whole system is customizable, Windows 10 may be the better option for those that want to be able to see all their important information in one place.    

Rollback

Finally, and perhaps most critically, is the fact that Windows 10 users who upgrade to Windows 11 will have 10 days to easily roll back the update if they decide it isn’t for them. As well as this, the update to Windows 11 will be free for Windows 10 users, so there isn’t much to lose in giving it a go.

Image Credit: Microsoft