With the release of Windows 11, everyone is wondering if it’s worth upgrading. Some are afraid of bugs and glitches, while others think Windows 10 is good enough already. The truth is, Windows 11 isn’t perfect, and Windows 10 is quite a capable operating system. Switching to a new operating system is a big decision and you need to think about it carefully.
If you’re still using Windows 10 or even an older version of Windows, you’re probably hesitant to upgrade to a new version of Windows. Microsoft overhauled the interface and created a whole new user experience, but also brought a wide range of features to the table. Whether these features make a difference for you is up to you. In this article, we’ll break down the Windows 11 vs. Windows 10 feature battle and tell you what you’ll get if you upgrade.
A New Design
The most drastic change you’ll notice when moving from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is the interface design. Everything has been changed, from the Windows logo to the style of the folder and images in the file. The change is most noticeable when you open File Explorer.
Icons don’t look as flat and 2D anymore thanks to added color gradients and finer details, and all windows have rounded corners. In addition, the layout of menus and panels follows the same principles. Everything looks smooth and rounded. It’s no wonder many people think Windows 11 is stylistically closer to Mac OS than Windows 10.
Speaking of the macOS-like layout, Microsoft has also moved the taskbar to the center of the screen.
Fortunately, you can customize the taskbar. If you think this will bother you, Microsoft lets you move the taskbar to the left from the taskbar customization menu so you can always go back to the classic Windows desktop look.
That said, one aspect you’ll either love or hate is the context menu.
Microsoft has completely redesigned it for Windows 11. It looks much simpler and less cluttered, mainly because some of the popular commands have been turned into shortcuts. Options like Cut, Copy, and Rename are now just icons at the top of the menu. For some people, these icons are too small. Luckily, you can revisit the Windows 10 menu by clicking show more options or by pressing the shortcut Shift+F10. However, it would be nice to have a permanent change option.
dark mode
With Windows 11, Microsoft added a much more customizable system-wide dark mode. Windows 10 also has a dark mode, but it doesn’t look as modern, needs some tweaking, and offers fewer options. Windows 11’s dark mode is much easier on the eyes.
You can automatically apply a dark theme to everything from the taskbar to File Explorer to the Start menu. You can also change color, transparency and more. That said, you can even choose a dark color mode and further customize it to your liking.
Windows 10 has large tiles for every app. This is a legacy feature from Windows 8 and many people have criticized it. If you still don’t like this approach, you might like Windows 11’s redesigned start menu.
Microsoft designed the start menu to more easily manage your apps as a grid of icons. Windows 11 will automatically pin the apps you use or are most likely to use frequently, but you can select what goes in or out of the Start menu.
That said, Windows 11’s Start menu is simpler than its Windows 10 counterpart. The clean design will again remind you of macOS, but keep in mind that you lose the app information you get in the Windows 10 version. All you want is a simple Start menu that contains all the apps and documents you access, then Windows 11 might be the option for you.
Cortana is disabled by default
If you’re not a huge Cortana fan, you’ll be happy to know that you won’t have to follow the steps to turn it off. Although Cortana is already installed in Windows 11, it is disabled by default. To activate it, you will need to launch the app and log in.
Multitasking with Snap Layouts
Windows 11 is arguably easier to multitask than Windows 11 thanks to the addition of Snap Layouts. You can improve your productivity by consolidating all of your windows onto a single monitor. Simply hover your mouse cursor over the maximize button of a folder, browser page, or Windows application to see instant layout styles.
The layout you choose will automatically fit all your active windows to the layout tiles. You no longer need to tile each window manually.
Layout tiles follow the aspect ratio and size of your screen and adapt automatically.
That said, Windows 11 will also remember your dual monitor setup and layout. Windows 10 can be annoying when using a second monitor or an external monitor in the case of laptops because it forgets your layout once you unplug it and plug it back in. Microsoft has finally fixed this issue in Windows 11.
Better support for virtual desktops
Speaking of productivity and multitasking, Windows 11 comes with unlimited customizable virtual desktops. Create a separate virtual environment for study, work, side projects, and games.
Instant layouts are great, but the maximum view of a program is limited, so why not set up a virtual desktop for every program or group of programs you need? Simply go from your gaming session to your work session instantly. In Windows 11 you get more control over them than in Windows 10 by being able to fully customize each one. For example, in Windows 10, you cannot change the background of a separate virtual desktop.
widget
As mentioned above, in Windows 11 you no longer have Live Tiles, but that doesn’t mean Microsoft has removed this feature entirely. You get widgets instead.
Widgets will give you weather and traffic information, various recommendations, news sources, updates, and just about anything else depending on where you live and what interests you. Widgets in Windows 11 are powered by artificial intelligence, so they’re pretty good at giving you relevant suggestions.
To check the widgets, you can hover your mouse over the Widgets icon in the lower left corner of your taskbar. If the button is missing, the Widgets feature is probably disabled. To activate it, right-click on the taskbar, select taskbar settings, and click on the In/Stopped toggle next to Widgets.
Microsoft Teams Integration
Online communication has become increasingly important since the start of the pandemic, which is why Microsoft has decided to replace Skype with Teams. Microsoft Teams is now the default video conferencing app in Windows 11 and comes pre-installed. Chat with your friend, collaborate with your colleagues and share images, videos and documents for free.
Touch, pen and voice support
What makes Windows 11 really different from Windows 10 is its focus on mobile use. The simpler interface and overall design of almost everything caters to mobile users. Windows 11 is designed to support touch and pen controls as well as voice commands.
If you are a big fan of Windows mobile devices and touchscreen laptops, you will enjoy Windows 11. In addition to the visuals and the interface, Microsoft has significantly improved the touchscreen responsiveness and also added a keyboard on-screen that works just like the on-screen keyboard on your smartphone
Microsoft has also made advancements in voice input and pen support. You don’t need to install any additional software to tell the computer what to type for you. Also, Windows 11 has automatic punctuation, so it detects when you’re supposed to put a comma or period.
Android app support
One of Windows’ biggest updates is Android support. That’s right, you’ll be able to install Android apps on your Windows 11 PC. This feature goes hand in hand with the mobile-friendly user interface and enhanced touch and voice controls. Use Instant Layout to create an Android-like window and you’ll get the full experience.
the microsoft store
Microsoft has revamped the Microsoft Store. The store was initially not a huge success and many users avoided it, so Microsoft revamped it. The interface is much more intuitive and easy to use.
Microsoft Store is now split into a control sidebar and a content pane, which feels more modern than Windows 10’s approach. You can choose app categories, run a custom search, and browse the library without losing any time searching for controls.
That said, the interface hasn’t changed much. The new Microsoft Store will launch automatically when you click on a browser download link. Installing apps is a more streamlined process today.
Finally, Microsoft has entered into some interesting partnerships to make the Microsoft Store more interesting. The company has partnered with Amazon’s App Store, Adobe, TikTok, Zoom and others. You will find much more cool apps and games than before.
New Features for Players
This Windows update also brings some cool gaming-related features. If you have an Xbox, you might already know that you can play Xbox games on your PC with Xbox Game Pass, but Microsoft is now bringing more Xbox Series X features to PC as well. The most interesting features are DirectStorage and Auto HDR.
DirectStorage will directly improve your PC’s gaming performance as it speeds up loading times if you have an NVMe SSD. Your games will load faster, so you’ll have less time to refresh your memory, and your graphics will also load faster. If you are currently experiencing frozen graphics for a few seconds until everything loads, you should get Windows 11.
With Auto HDR enabled too, you’ll get an increase in color gamut, luminance and shadows. Your gaming experience will be significantly improved as everything will be more dynamic and immersive.
Is it worth the upgrade?
Whether or not upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is worth it depends on what you use your PC for. If you don’t care much about multitasking, touch control, and gaming, you can stick with Windows 10 until Microsoft adds more features. The current changes aren’t that revolutionary for the average Windows user.
That said, if you’re buying a new PC, you might as well start with a new OS and try Windows 11. Just make sure your PC meets the system requirements to run Windows 11. You probably remember the TPM 2.0 scandal . , so read our article carefully.
