Windows 11 looks modern and inviting. And you might be tempted to give it a try. But before you jump on the bandwagon, it may be better to stick with Windows 10.
For starters, Windows 10 is already well-supported. Software and hardware compatibility issues are few and far between. On the other hand, there have been major compatibility issues with Windows 11.
Let’s see some more reasons why you should hold out on Windows 11.
1. Unlike Windows 11, Windows 10 Runs on Everything
One of the biggest reasons not to upgrade to Windows 11 is that you are unable to. Windows 11’s hardware requirements are a significant step-up for some people.
The biggest and the toughest requirement is that computers will need to have an 8th gen Intel or a Zen 2 AMD CPU with a TPM 2.0 chip. Moreover, the CPU also needs to support secure boot.
Although these CPU requirements are nothing extraordinary, a surprising number of people are still running considerably older hardware than what Microsoft mandates for Windows 11. If you are one of these people, you have no choice but to buy a new PC to get Windows 11.
So, if you don’t want or can’t get a new PC, you are forced to stay on Windows 10. But as you will see later on, staying on Windows 10 is not as bad as you think.
2. Windows 11 Is Buggy and Lacks Polish
Windows 11 is less than a year old. Jumping on the latest version of Windows shortly after release is never a pleasant experience. For instance, when Windows 10 launched in 2015, it was buggy. And although the OS did get fixed eventually, people who adopted it initially were essentially glorified beta testers.
Windows 11 is fresh out of the oven. It is missing features, has a lot of bugs, and new hardware and software compatibility issues are being found and fixed constantly.
Therefore, if you want a bullet-proof PC experience, it would be better to wait a while before jumping onto Windows 11.
3. Windows 10’s Taskbar Is Miles Ahead of Windows 11’s Offering
The Windows 10 taskbar is by no means perfect, but it works quite well. It is customizable and has a lot of features. Simply put, there is not a lot that’s wrong with it.
When Microsoft debuted Windows 11’s centered taskbar, users expected a certain level of polish from it. Unfortunately, the new taskbar leaves a lot to be desired.
First, the Windows 11 taskbar isn’t as customizable as Windows 10’s. For instance, you can’t make it taller or move it around the screen. Additionally, the new taskbar is permanently centered, and you can’t left-align it without using a 3rd-party app.
In short, if you are in love with the Windows 10 taskbar, you most likely won’t like using the new taskbar. So, until Microsoft can fix it, it may be better to stick with Windows 10 and its trusty taskbar.
4. Android Apps Are Nowhere to Be Seen on Windows 11
Technically, this is not a reason to choose Windows 10 but a reason not to jump on Windows 11. But you get our point.
When Microsoft launched Windows 11, it proudly showcased Android apps running on Windows, natively for the first time. Three months after release, Android apps on Windows 11 are only available on the preview builds.
Even if you were to become a Windows Insider and install a preview build, you’d only have a selection of fewer than 50 apps to choose from.
5. Windows 11 Is Just Like Windows 10
Windows 11 wasn’t supposed to be a new version of Windows. It was meant to be a substantial update to Windows 10 and termed as Windows 10 Sun Valley Update. Microsoft pulled a fast one on all of us by renaming the Sun Valley Update into Windows 11.
In other words, Windows 11 is Windows 10 in disguise. There is incredible feature parity between the two OSes. Except for a few features, anything that you see on Windows 11, you can find a version of it on Windows 10.
Until Microsoft delivers on the promised, platform-differentiating features like Android app support, the incentive to move on to Windows 11 is little.
6. Windows 11’s Biggest Gaming Features Are Also on Windows 10
Microsoft is calling Windows 11 “the best Windows for gaming” and the company has packed many cool gaming-centric features in the OS to substantiate that claim. Some Windows 11 gaming features include AutoHDR, DirectStorage, and deeper Xbox app integration.
All the above-mentioned features are either already on Windows 10 or coming to Windows 10, in one form or another. For instance, DirectStorage is coming to Windows 10 even though Microsoft claimed that the feature will be exclusive to Windows 11.
Similarly, Microsoft had also claimed that AutoHDR is Windows 11-exclusive. We weren’t surprised that the company backtracked on that decision and AutoHDR now ships with Windows 10 Build 21337 in the Windows insider program.
Next, while Windows 11 comes with the Xbox app out of the box, you can get the same app on Windows 10 as well.
Finally, when it comes to actual gaming performance, there is practically no difference in frame rates. In some outlier cases, you may get a few more frames per second on Windows 11, but that’s it.
Long story short, if you were hoping for a measurably better gaming experience on Windows 11, you might be disappointed.
7. Microsoft Will Support Windows 10 Until 2025
Just like it did with Windows 7 after the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft will keep supporting Windows 10 Until 2025. This means that if you are running Windows 10, you will continue to get bug fixes, new features, and security patches.
So, you don’t have to worry about Microsoft abandoning Windows 10 for Windows 11, at least for a few years to come.
Microsoft Has a Lot to Fix in Windows 11, but It’s a Good Start
Microsoft has got a lot right with Windows 11. It has a beautiful design, useful features like Snap Layouts, and is a free upgrade. But, as we’ve just seen, there are still a lot of reasons why someone might want to remain on Windows 10. And most of these reasons are issues that plague Windows 11.
Let’s hope Microsoft fixes these issues and makes switching to Windows 11 worthwhile.
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