Windows 11 has been quite the hot topic in the tech world ever since its launch on October 4th. There are already plenty of reviews and opinions about it online, but it can be pretty confusing to get a clear picture of it and how it compares to Windows 10.
The following blog post will teach you all of the basics of Windows 11 and everything you should know when comparing the older and newer versions of the OS.
Windows 11 vs Windows 10
Keep reading to learn all of the basics about the security, design, and performance of Windows 11.
Security
Is Windows 11 more secure than Windows 10? You may have heard about the hardware requirements for Windows 11, which many people dislike.
To download Windows 11, you need at least an 8th-generation Intel Core processor, 64GB of storage, 4GB of RAM, Secure Boot support, and TPM 2.0.
Most people assume that these requirements are meant to convince users to purchase newer, more advanced devices. However, it’s actually due to security. Generally, the older and weaker the hardware, the less secure it is.
Hardware requirements alone make Windows devices more secure. For example, TPM 2.0 helps protect data, authenticate users, and helps enhance the security of Windows Hello.
There are also some other noticeable security improvements in Windows 11 compared to Windows 10, such as the “zero trust” strategy (not fully trusting any user), and the hardware requirements help achieve this.
Although Windows 11 is more secure than any previous version of Windows, you shouldn’t rely solely on the default security settings to keep you and your data safe. Download some additional cybersecurity apps, don’t miss out on software updates, and always be aware of the biggest cyber threats.
Design
There are many design tweaks in Windows 11: pretty much every detail was changed at least a little bit. Below are some of the most noticeable ones.
Overall look: there are now rounded corners instead of squared ones, and the icons have a new design with colorful pastel shades. You have 6 themes to choose from in Windows 11 (vs 4 in Windows 10).
The default font has also been changed to “Segoe UI Variable”. Another noticeable thing is that when windows are maximized or minimized, they move very smoothly and don’t fade like they do in Windows 10.
Start menu: looks very different, and almost everything is moved, omitted, or replaced.
For example, the search bar is now at the top of the menu rather than in the taskbar, and pinned apps are also at the top rather than the right. We also now have a “recommended” app section that gives recommendations based on your recently-used or most-used apps.
Taskbar: now in the center rather than on the left, the taskbar is a bit taller than in Windows 10.
The taskbar can be moved back to the left, but it can only be at the bottom, unlike with Windows 10, where you could move it around the top, bottom, left, and right.
Sound: It’s also worth mentioning sounds and how they’ve been changed in Windows 11. Pretty much all little sounds, such as the unlock sound, notifications, and alerts are now different compared to Windows 10.
Interestingly, these sounds are different when you switch from light mode to dark mode. The sounds are a bit softer and quieter in dark mode compared to light mode.
Performance
Experts report that Windows 11 offers improved performance over Windows 10. Windows 11 is faster than its predecessor because it focuses CPU power on apps and windows that are being actively used.
For example, if you have a bunch of windows open on your browser, but you haven’t been using them for hours or days, they will be “put to sleep” until you interact with them again.
However, Windows 11 might not be the best OS for gamers. This is mainly due to virtualization-based security (VBS). VBS separates a specific section of the operating system’s memory to keep it safe from malware. This feature might slow down your game by up to 30%. Although security is important, most gamers aren’t willing to sacrifice so much gaming power for the sake of increased data security.
Conclusion
Windows 11 is the newest and most improved version of Windows ever. However, Windows 11 has stringent hardware requirements and may offer poor performance to gamers.
For these reasons, Windows 11 may not be suitable for everyone just yet. Windows 10 is still a great OS, and it isn’t going anywhere until 2025 (when Windows 10 will no longer be supported on any device). Don’t rush to make any decisions, and take your time to determine whether Windows 11 is the best OS for you.
