Windows 11 vs. Windows 10: Should You Upgrade & Differences

Should Windows 10 Computers be Upgraded to Windows 11?

"I purchased a brand new laptop a few months ago and kept getting upgrade messages on my computer as the hardware configuration met the upgrade requirements for Windows 11. However, I have been using Windows 10 for several years and am not sure if I can get used to the new design of Windows 11, so I have been stuck in a tangle. Is Windows 11 better than Windows 10? Can anyone give some solid advice? I'd like to learn more about the differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11."

Windows 10 was released in July 2015, and Windows 11 was released in June 2021. In addition to the differences in visual effects, there are also significant differences in performance, stability, and functionality.

Therefore, please read the following in detail to fully understand the differences between Windows 10 and 11, which will help you make the right choice on whether you should upgrade Windows 10 computer to Windows 11.

Windows 11 vs. 10: Performance Differences

In this part, I'll show you the Windows 10 vs. Windows 11 performance differences in some different aspects.

The Improvement of Memory Management 📝

Compared with Windows 10, the first focus of Windows 11 to improve performance is the improvement of memory management. Enables foreground applications executing on the computer to get more CPU resources by updating the system resource allocation algorithm to reduce default applications such as OneDrive and Skype. From the results shown by Microsoft, it is possible to increase the startup speed of applications such as Excel when the CPU is under 90% high load.

The Improvement of Sleep Mode 🔋

To boost Windows 11 performance, Microsoft has improved Sleep Mode. It is possible to keep the memory working while the Windows 11 computer is in Sleep Mode. This will effectively improve the speed at which the computer wakes up from sleep. For example, Windows 11's Sleep Mode wake-up time is reduced by about 25% compared to Windows 10.

The Improvement of Edge Browser 🌊

Another improvement of Windows 11 compared to Windows 10 is the Edge browser. If you use the browser in Windows 11, then you can get more extra performance. For example, enabling the sleep index tab function on the Edge browser can save 32% of memory and 37% of CPU usage.

The Improvement of Disk Usage and Browser Caching 🚩

The final performance improvement is disk usage and browser caching. Compared with Windows 10, Windows 11 further expands the use of compression technology and changes the default rate of applications. In order to make the binary files in the system access on-demand when the application is loaded, the disk space occupied by the application will be optimized, and the disk space occupied by the browser cache will be further reduced.

The Improvement of Games 🤖

In terms of games, DirectX 12 Ultimate built into Windows 11 can provide better visual effects and frame rates. DirectStorage can also directly decompress the data in the display adapter to reduce the game loading time, which will effectively improve the game performance of Windows 11.

It is worth mentioning that although DirectX 12 Ultimate and DirectStorage can also be used on Windows 10, you need to install them yourself, and the improvement of game performance is not as good as Windows 11.

All in all, compared to Windows 10, Windows 11 is better in terms of performance.

Windows 10 vs. Windows 11: Stability Differences

Windows 11 is still a brand new operating system that has been released for less than a year. Even if Microsoft keeps updating the version to improve system errors, it is still much less stable than Windows 10, which has been released for 6 years.

These include a fixed slowdown of NVMe SSDs, and a Windows 11 memory leak that has not been fixed so far. This will cause the Windows 11 system to take up extra memory and waste system resources when you execute multiple files. All in all, compared to Windows 11, Windows 10 is better in terms of stability.

Windows 10 vs. 11: Feature Differences

In addition to the differences in performance and stability, Windows 10 vs. Windows 11 features vary as well.

Start Menu and Taskbar

For most users, the Start Menu and Taskbar are the biggest difference between Windows 11 and Windows 10. In Windows 10, the Start Menu and Taskbar are located on the left side of the screen. In Windows 11, the Start Menu and Taskbar are moved to the center of the screen, looking more like MacOS and ChromeOS.

In addition, Windows 11 also removes the Live Tiles, Cortana, and Timeline features on Windows 10. And move News & Interests from the taskbar to the left side of the screen, where you can view news, weather, traffic information, and more. Overall, the Windows 11 Start Menu and Taskbar look more advanced and visually appealing.

Multitasking and External Monitor Support

Microsoft's improvements to multitasking are unique to Windows 11. You can use Snap Layouts to group windows and store them in the taskbar to enhance multisystem tasking. In addition, you can hover over the Maximize button to display windows of various sizes, again a feature unique to Windows 11.

In addition, Windows 11 solves one of the biggest headaches on Windows 10, namely the problem of external monitor windows not being stored. When you use an external monitor on your Windows 11 computer, the system will automatically remember the window on the monitor and restore the window directly after the external monitor is relinked, which will save you a lot of trouble if you use an external monitor frequently, which is the advantage of Windows 11.

Tablet Mode

Windows 11's Tablet Mode looks closer to the iPad, and Microsoft has improved the touch mode to make it easier to use and show more effects. Windows 11 also adds new gestures to the Windows Ink taskbar for opening and closing windows, switching between desktops, and new options, a big improvement over Windows 10's Tablet Mode.

Microsoft Store

You can get support for Android apps through the Amazon Appstore in the Microsoft Store, which is one of the features unique to Windows 11. In ddition, Windows 11 supports 32-bit applications like Firefox, which is not available in the Microsoft Store in Windows 10.

Compatibility

Compatibility is the most direct difference between Windows 11 and Windows 10 in the eyes of many users. For example, when it comes to CPUs, Windows 11 requires at least Intel 8th generation Core or AMD Ryzen 2000 series, where the former was released in 2017 and the latter in 2018. Although Windows 11 is also easing CPU requirements, if your computer is too old, it will likely not perform Windows 11 perfectly.

Support and Update Cycle

Usually, Windows 10 is updated every six months, while Windows 11 breaks this update rhythm, changing from the original six-month update to an annual update. In addition, Microsoft has also announced that it will stop supporting updates to Windows 10 in 2025.

Windows 11 vs. Windows 10: Which Is Better?

Which is better Windows 10 or 11? Overall, Windows 11 is better than Windows 10 in terms of performance and features. However, due to the short time of release, there are still many problems or errors that need to be solved. So in terms of stability, it is slightly inferior to Windows 10.

To sum up, if your computer was purchased before 2017, then it is not recommended to upgrade to Windows 11. If your computer was purchased in 2017 and after, then you can consider upgrading to Windows 11, which will bring a new experience and more features.

Of course, just looking at the time to buy a computer is still too general. Therefore, the following will introduce you to the requirements for upgrading your Windows 10 computer to Windows 11, which will help you judge whether your computer can be upgraded to Windows 11.

Requirements for Upgrading Windows 10 Computers to Windows 11

Like Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 free upgrade to Windows 10, you can also upgrade to Windows 11 for free as long as your computer meets the Windows 11 upgrade requirements. If you want to upgrade your computer to Windows 11, please check against the following table.

In addition, the Windows 11 upgrade also requires an Internet connection and MSA. All versions of Windows 11 require Internet access for updates, downloads, and the use of certain features. Upgrading Windows 11 Home Edition requires an Internet connection and a Microsoft Account (MSA) to complete the device setup.

Make A System Backup Before Upgrading to Windows 11

Upgrading a Windows 10 computer to Windows 11 allows you to experience a brand-new system interface, design, and functionality, provided the computer meets the Windows 11 upgrade requirements.

But it must be remembered that the Windows 11 system still lacks stability. Therefore, it is recommended that you use AOMEI Backupper Standard for system backup before upgrading to prevent any system-related issues brought about by Windows 11 upgrade. In addition, when you are not used to the operation or interface of Windows 11, you can also restore to Windows 10 using the system backup image created earlier.

AOMEI Backupper Standard can provide you with free and professional system backup services. And allows you to backup system files, boot file related partitions (EFI system partition and recovery partition, etc.), system disk applications, and user profile files to any location, including external hard drives, network locations, NAS devices, etc.

In addition, the software also provides a Windows 11 check tool to make Windows 11 upgrade requirements clear at a glance. This allows you to more targeted replacement of computer hardware to meet upgrade requirements.

1. Download and install AOMEI Backupper on your computer. Run AOMEI Backupper and select Backup -> System Backup.

2. In the System Backup window, choose the storage path of your system backup and then click the Start Backup button.

💥 Note: If you have more than one backup task at the same time, you can also change the task name by tapping the pencil icon in the upper left corner.

Before the backup starts, you can click on Options, Schedule Backup and Backup Scheme in the lower left corner for additional settings.

• Options: Allows you to add comments to backup tasks and enable email notifications for free, and after upgrading to the Pro version, you can also enable encrypted backups to increase the security of your system backups.
• Schedule Backup: Allows you to open the scheduled backup function for free, and set up a daily, weekly, monthly, USB plug in, and event triggers automatic backup.
• Backup Scheme: Allows you to change the system backup method to incremental backup or full backup for free. After upgrading to the Pro version, you can also use differential backups and enable automatic cleanup backups.

Summary

Windows 11 vs. Windows 10, if you are not sure which is better, please read this article in detail to fully understand the differences between Windows 11 and Windows 10 in terms of performance, stability and functionality, and then decide whether to upgrade to Windows 11 based on your computer configuration.

If you decide to upgrade your Windows 10 computer to Windows 11, it is recommended that you use AOMEI Backupper Standard to backup computer before upgrading to prevent various problems caused by system upgrade.