Laptops and desktop PCs powered by Windows 11 are "up to 2.3x faster than Windows 10 PCs," Microsoft has claimed.

With a few months left until Microsoft ends support for Windows 10, it might sound like upgrading to its successor will dramatically boost performance on your PC, but the comparison may not be as straightforward as it appears.

Windows 10 remains the most popular version of the desktop operating system, which powers over 1 billion laptops, tablets, and desktop PCs worldwide. Microsoft will stop issuing free software updates to fix vulnerabilities, bugs, and critical glitches for any Windows 10 devices from October 14, 2025 onwards.

Microsoft will charge PC owners £22 for an extra year of critical security patches, although .

Microsoft has previewed several new features for Windows 11, which will launch later this year following the end of support deadline for Windows 10

If you're now considering an upgrade to Windows 11 based on the promise of faster performance and years of free security updates, you should understand what's behind these figures. The claim of a 2.3x boost in speed for Windows 11 comes courtesy of Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's Executive Vice President and Consumer Chief Marketing Officer, in .

The comparison is based on benchmarking tool Geekbench 6 and pits multi-core measurements from a new Windows 11 laptop against much older Windows 10 systems. This approach has drawn criticism, as it compares modern PC components running the latest software from Microsoft to machines from nearly a decade ago.

That said, if you plan on and switching to a new device, the figures are representative of the sorts of gains that you can expect from brand-new hardware designed for Windows 11.

Just don't expect to see anything like a 2.3x speed boost if you upgrade an existing Windows 10 device to the latest version of Windows 11. And that's if you can even upgrade your current hardware to the new operating system.

Between May and June 2025, Windows 11 usage increased by over 4%. At the current rate, it will overtake Windows 10 as the most popular version of the operating system ahead of schedule

Since the launch of Windows 11 four years ago, the minimum system requirements have proven to be a source of controversy due to the strict hardware demands, which many older computers cannot meet. According to some estimates, these requirements could later this year.

If your laptop or desktop PC does have the components required, Microsoft is offering anyone with a legitimate copy of Windows 10 a free upgrade to its successor. Some commentators have argued that a fair comparison from Microsoft's Executive Vice President would require testing both operating systems on identical specifications.

With support for Windows 10 due to be terminated in October, Microsoft has unveiled its next iteration of Windows 11.

Scheduled to roll out worldwide in the second half of this year, Windows 11 Version 25H2 will be the next major update. If you're planning to make the switch to Windows 11, Microsoft engineers have worked hard to ensure the update offers a smoother installation experience than previous versions.

The incoming 25H2 update will use what Microsoft calls an "enablement package" approach, meaning it shares the same codebase as Windows 11 24H2. As Microsoft's Jason Leznek : "How easy is it to move to Windows 11, version 25H2? As easy as a quick restart if you're on version 24H2!"

This represents a marked improvement over the Windows 11 24H2 rollout, which required a complete code swap that could take up to two hours on older machines. The new approach will download components quietly in the background, then enable them with a simple reboot, making the upgrade process far less disruptive for users.

Windows 11 25H2 will introduce several new features designed to enhance the user experience. As soon as you boot-up the machine, you'll find a new Start menu with a tweaked grid and category layout, allowing you to organise your applications into specific groups such as creative apps, games, streaming, or social media for quicker access.

The update will also include a new CPU throttling feature that reduces processor usage when you're idle or away from your PC for extended periods. This improvement aims to reduce power consumption — extending battery life for laptop users and reducing the amount of energy pulled from the mains on desktop PCs.

Windows 11 reworks the design of the operating system and brings the iconic Start Menu to the centre of the screen for the first time

Microsoft will continue to offer . If not, there's a one-off £22 charge to ensure your device remains protected. The Redmond-based company clearly wants you to upgrade to Windows 11 sooner rather than later, despite offering this temporary reprieve.

If you avoid the switch to Windows 11, you'll miss out on new Windows features, which will be exclusive to the Windows 10 successor moving forward.

However, the decision isn't straightforward for everyone, as Windows 10 has been shown to deliver better gaming performance than Windows 11 in some scenarios, providing a compelling reason for some users to resist the switch. There could also be compatibility issues with specific accessories or software.