Windows 11 vs Windows 10: A Comprehensive Comparison of Features and Performance

[rahulkhorwal]

Feature Windows 11 Windows 10

User Interface	Fluent Design with new Start Menu and Taskbar	Classic Start Menu and Taskbar
System Requirements	64-bit Processor with 2 cores, 4GB RAM, and 64GB Storage	64-bit Processor with 1 GHz clock speed, 2GB RAM, and 20GB HDD
Widgets	Integrated Widgets for quick access to information	No integrated Widgets
Virtual Desktops	Improved virtual desktops with snap layouts and new animations	Virtual desktops with limited functionality
Touch Controls	Improved touch controls for touch devices	Limited touch controls
Gaming Performance	Improved gaming performance with Auto HDR and DirectStorage	Similar gaming performance to Windows 11
Microsoft Store	Redesigned Microsoft Store with support for Android apps	Traditional Microsoft Store
Security	Enhanced security features with Windows Hello and TPM 2.0	Similar security features to Windows 11
Multitasking	Snap Layouts and Snap Groups for improved multitasking	Basic multitasking capabilities
Task Manager	Updated Task Manager with more details and options	Similar Task Manager to Windows 11
File Explorer	Redesigned File Explorer with a new layout and features	Traditional File Explorer with limited features
Start Menu	New Start Menu design with pinned and recommended apps	Classic Start Menu with limited features
Cortana	Separated from search and no longer integrated into the taskbar	Integrated into the taskbar
Updates	Automatic updates with fewer interruptions and improved control	Similar update process to Windows 11
Compatibility	Improved compatibility with new hardware and software

Windows 11 and Windows 10 are both operating systems developed by Microsoft, but there are some key differences between them. Windows 11 features a new user interface with a redesigned Start Menu and Taskbar, improved touch controls, enhanced security features, and integrated widgets for quick access to information. It also has improved virtual desktops, gaming performance, and multitasking capabilities. Windows 11 requires a 64-bit processor with 2 cores, 4GB RAM, and 64GB storage, while Windows 10 requires a 64-bit processor with 1 GHz clock speed, 2GB RAM, and 20GB HDD.

Windows 11 has a redesigned Microsoft Store with support for Android apps, while Windows 10 has a traditional Microsoft Store. Windows 11 also has an updated Task Manager with more details and options and a redesigned File Explorer with a new layout and features. The Start Menu in Windows 11 has a new design with pinned and recommended apps, while Windows 10 has a classic Start Menu with limited features. Cortana is separated from search in Windows 11 and is no longer integrated into the taskbar, while it is integrated into the taskbar in Windows 10.

Both operating systems have similar security features, update processes, and compatibility with hardware and software. However, Windows 11 offers improved performance and features compared to Windows 10, making it a better choice for those looking for a more modern and efficient operating system.

[#2]

If Win11 didn't go out of their way to simplify the user experience (i.e. get rid of redundancy) I would upgrade, however, there are too many features of Win10 that are crucial to me that are not supported on Win11 (i.e. pinning folders as "toolbars" on taskbar).
Thank you for your comparison however, it was a good read.

[#3]

@rahulkhorwal it looks to me your summary is a bit biased, there is nothing negative from Windows 11.

In my opinion the functionalities present in Windows 10 has been removed without notify the users, for example the possibility to move the taskbar to any side (bottom, top, right, left) is not anymore supported.

Just to add few other useful, at least for me, functionalities:

- what about live tiles ? Not supported anymore

- in W11 there is a lot of improvement for gaming; what about professional usage (please do not start the discussion to use W11 pro/enterprise) ?

- maybe only me, but I did not find any way to have the list of installed program and Apps listed like in W10 when I click on Windows icon (AKA start)

It is a common feeling the W11 is more Mac look and feel oriented. Does it mean Microsoft is unable to create an attractive graphic interface to compete with Apple and they gave-up, hence try to gain market share by using a more Mac oriented GUI ?

Unfortunately W10 will be out of support by Oct '24 otherwise I will revert back to it.

[#4]

@rahulkhorwal Copilot is introduced in Windows 11.

I think in future it will be integrated to be able to do anything like organising windows, open folders, maybe even install softwares instead of using chocolatey(like how MAC users used homebrew) or the respective software package.

So the Copilot usage will be as ubiquitous as the Windows start menu because it can probably do everything that the start menu does and can also do everything that current Bing copilot/Microsoft copilot search website does.

[#5]

@Ricc57 I don't see any bias in his comparison. Also windows 10 is supported til Oct '25 not 24 genius

[#6]

This doesn't look like a unbiased comparison. E.g. it says:

Start Menu

New Start Menu design with pinned and recommended apps

Classic Start Menu with limited features

A 'Classic Start menu' is one of Windows 7 or Windows XP. Somewhere during the W10 lifecycle the W10 menu became very usable with a full free definable layout of groups, icons in several sizes, etc. So what this should have been is W11 - W10:

Start Menu

New Start Menu design with limited features, impossible to arrange content or resize menu  plus a recommended apps section which can not be turned off, wasting space if a user keeps it empty.

Windows 10 extensive menu which can be fully customized

Together with other imposed limitations compared to W10, like the impossibility to move the taskbar to the right of the screen (a logical place with wide screens) I won't install W11, even if W10 support stops. Does Microsoft really wonder why the market share of W11 is so low and so slowly growing? Here's an answer. With deliberately taking away useful W10 options (Why? Most users would work with whatever defaults Microsoft sets anyway) Microsoft will keep (especially power) users on W10.

[#7]

Upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and it is quite amazing experience with Windows 11.

[#8]

Thanks for the list, @rahulkhorwal. The following criticism is in no way directed at You.

I also am a bit miffed with the apparent reduced customizability. I installed windows approx. 2 weeks ago.

What I've run into, so far: I'm not enabled to ...

- ... reduce the size of the taskbar and or taskbar icons

- ... automatically unhide all system tray icons

- ... customize the start menu

- ... customize the right-click context menu

I understand that things like these are minuscule parts of what an OS does. Still, I don't really understand why it's necessary to remove these choices. As a user I run into these limitations constantly. Please enlighten me :-).

Maybe I'm naive. Also, I could have researched this before upgrading, but I really, really did not expect that upgrading would entail less, not more, functionality.

While there may be registry 'hacks' or third party software that fixes these issues, future Windows updates void these. But it seems that is the only choice at the moment.

To me it feels like "pay more, get less". This is probably unfair as there are probably are multiple improvements under the hood. Nevertheless, that's my feeling. And yes, I'm a annoyed, but the criticism is meant constructively!

Otherwise, Windows 11 is running smoothly.

Apologizing for any language errors. English is not my first language.

Thanks for reading.

[#9]

@notreallynikhil this is your opinion.
And, first of all, learn how to respect the opinion of the others.
I could have made a mistake on EOL date for W10 and there is no reason to be offensive.
If I were the admin, people like you will be immediately banned.
My 2 cents

[#10]

> states his opinion and expects people to have the same one
> proceeds to write factually incorrect content (and wants to be an admin)
> then starts losing his cvap over a rando who corrected him

Get a job fam?

[#11]

I agree, I was offended on your behalf.

[#12]

@Wyany6632 

I think this depends on how much one values "more beautiful" (which is personal) against seriously reduced functionality and adaptability (which is objective). You fit neatly in Microsoft's profile because most efforts of Microsoft are towards changing a lay-out instead of making things work better. That is unfortunate. I've played with W11 on a few system. I liked the Snap layouts. I don't find W11's UI more beautiful (but not ugly either). I did not notice any improvement in the search function (there are mixed reports over this on the internet) but maybe there is, after all searching in W10 left a lot to be desired so they could hardly have made that function worse. The huge step back in the Start menu compared to W10 however determines my verdict. Like Jacob_BH  writes: if you just update expecting to have a better Windows there's a larger chance that you get disappointed than that you get happy. And that's a shame which Microsoft could have easily avoided. No doubt this contributes to the dramatic low acceptance rate of W11.

[#13]

on frustrating so called "improvement" in Windows 11 is the outrages "Modern Standby" S0. It is supposed to save wake time but does the opposite.

My older (7 years old) Windows 11 Laptop comes out from S3 sleep in no time.

This new S0 does noting much besides turning of the screen.

Even The option to turn of network connection was not an immediate suggested option. I had to go through the internet to find out how to get this option.

Microsoft forces PC manufacturers like Dell to disable S3 in the firmware for no reasonable reason.

Now I have to use Hibernate instead. Which makes my laptop turn on time much longer 

[#14]

@rahulkhorwal Windows 10 is better
Material investment is faster and more efficient
Lists are easier
The appearance is more lively
The design of Windows 11 is very, very bad and ugly

[#15]

@Jacob_BH Jacob? I really appreciate you candidness. There's really nothing naive about your assessment of Windows 11. By comparison to Windows 10, you present being spooked by Windows 11 omitting Windows 10 features which made your Windows experience more convenient. Among those thngs Windows 10 enabled you to do which Windows 11 doesn't are having the option to:
* reduce the size of the taskbar and or taskbar icons.
* automatically unhide all system tray icons.
* customize the start menu
* customize the right-click context menu
* and so on.
Far from Windows 11 running smooth -- by comparison to Windows 10. Sort of disturbing on this side of things since I have Windows 10. But I believe in the Microsoft Windows ethics in terms of its overall service excellence (not withinstanding the fact that 365 is to me an overdone piece of A.I. crap. No program should be so terrible as to allow scrolling without user permission and instructions for user to do extra things and waste time learning how to keep this from happening. I shouldn't happen to begin with]. Other than that, I'd rather stay with Microsoft because it has security features and options I don't believe any other web entity 'automatically' has in place.
But your feedback is very important to me in that Windows 10 will be gone in 2025. Windows 11 will be in full force. So the issues you've had with Windows 11 help prepare me for what's up ahead. I won't like it for perhaps all the same reasons. But just like you've adapted, so will I since Microsoft is the most reliable on the web -- as far as I'm concerned. I don't work for Microsoft in any capacity, but in spite of its flaws, for me it's the best, safest way to go.
No language or written errors, by the way. Your post is perfect for me. Thanks for writing it.

[#16]

It could be better if Windows 11 had the default option to disable automatic update. This happens too frequently and eat up more disk space.

[#17]

@Younzkn  What about it was amazing, that one liner tells us nothing.

[#18]

Functionality is what I look for, not eye candy which afterall is just a GUI.

[#19]

@Robinesky

You wrote "Windows 10 will be gone in 2025."

That will certainly not be true. Microsoft plans to stop updates in 2025. Meaning that many users will run 'unsupported' software from then as I don't see the current huge base of W10 users update to W11 in a year. I certainly won't.

Interesting fact: Windows 11 market share declined in March and April (to 26%) with W10 now up to 70% (see e.g. https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-10-reaches-70-market-share-as-windows-11-keeps-declining/). Just do the math....

One again, If Microsoft would stop taking away functionality in new versions they would not evoke so much aversion, which now seems to be part of their business model, and W11 market share would have been way higher.

[#20]

You already wrote that as (or copied that from) Wyany6632. See the reply on that.