Every operating system transition sparks debate, but the shift from Windows 10 to Windows 11—with an emphasis on the new Copilot+ PCs—is shaping up to be one of the most strategically crafted and fervently promoted upgrades in Microsoft’s history. Unlike in previous cycles, the reasons for moving on from Windows 10 aren’t just about aging UIs or retiring obsolete features; this time, Microsoft is making the case that hardware and AI are nonnegotiable pieces of the new computing experience. The company’s repeated messaging to consumers and businesses alike is clear: Windows 11, especially in its Copilot+ incarnation, represents more than a software update—it’s a paradigm shift in how security, productivity, and device management ought to work in a post-pandemic, AI-infused world.
One of Microsoft’s most powerful levers is the ticking clock on Windows 10 support. According to an official timeline, Windows 10 will no longer receive feature or security updates after October 14, 2025. As a result, users who remain on the older platform after this date will expose themselves to increasing security risks and mounting operational challenges. Both enterprise and individual consumers are urged to start planning their transitions now to avoid abrupt disruptions later on.
This is a significant moment in the Windows lifecycle and marks the end of an era for the OS that, as of early 2024, remains prevalent in many organizations and homes worldwide. According to Statcounter, Windows 10 still enjoys a sizable share of desktop market usage, but Microsoft’s insistence on moving to Windows 11 is more forceful than for any prior transition.
Independent security experts corroborate that Secure Boot, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, and virtualization-based security (VBS)—now standard and forcibly required on Windows 11 Copilot+ machines—can reduce successful attacks. Still, some analysts caution that, while these features raise the bar, determined attackers may still bypass them using advanced techniques or social engineering. Thus, while a substantial drop in routine incidents is plausible, it’s important to note that no system is invulnerable. Additionally, the degree of improvement will depend on organizational security maturity and adherence to best practices.
Benchmarks published independently by outlets like PCMag and Tom’s Hardware suggest that AI-accelerated features—such as background blurring, voice isolation, and generative AI in creative applications—are significantly faster and more efficient on these new machines. However, standard office and web workloads may show more modest improvements, depending on software optimization. The “up to” phrasing in Microsoft’s claim is thus accurate but context-dependent; users should expect the most dramatic speedups with workloads that exploit the dedicated AI engines built into Copilot+ hardware.
This approach, while understandable from a technical standpoint, has generated criticism from some user groups and IT procurement experts, who accuse Microsoft of planned obsolescence and excessive hardware demands. It’s true that some AI features nominally could run in the cloud or be backported to older machines, but privacy, performance, and energy-use considerations appear to have shaped Microsoft’s stance.
Some PC vendors have sweetened the proposition with trade-in offers, financing deals, and bundled migration services, further lowering the barrier for businesses and consumers to switch.
Industry commentators predict that the gap between AI-accelerated devices and traditional PCs will widen rapidly. As cross-platform, AI-powered workflows become more central to both business and consumer computing, lagging behind on hardware and OS may compound productivity and security deficits.
That said, Windows 10 PCs are not rendered immediately obsolete come October 2025. With diligent patch management, security hygiene, and layered defenses, organizations can bridge the gap—but mostly as a short-term mitigation rather than a strategic choice.
For those who adopt early, the payoff could be meaningful: safer, faster, and more intelligent devices. For those who delay, the risks—security, operational, and regulatory—are growing by the month. And for those who feel left behind by the pace of change, Microsoft’s pitch is unlikely to reassure.
As the Windows 10 sunset approaches, enterprises and consumers must weigh the promises, interrogate the claims, and make plans with clear eyes. The era of Copilot+ is beginning, and Microsoft has made it clear: the future, as they see it, is for those willing to upgrade.
Source: Neowin Microsoft explains why Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs are way better than old Windows 10 ones
End-of-Life Looms for Windows 10
One of Microsoft’s most powerful levers is the ticking clock on Windows 10 support. According to an official timeline, Windows 10 will no longer receive feature or security updates after October 14, 2025. As a result, users who remain on the older platform after this date will expose themselves to increasing security risks and mounting operational challenges. Both enterprise and individual consumers are urged to start planning their transitions now to avoid abrupt disruptions later on.This is a significant moment in the Windows lifecycle and marks the end of an era for the OS that, as of early 2024, remains prevalent in many organizations and homes worldwide. According to Statcounter, Windows 10 still enjoys a sizable share of desktop market usage, but Microsoft’s insistence on moving to Windows 11 is more forceful than for any prior transition.
Security: Quantifying the Leap
The heart of Microsoft’s pitch revolves around security. In an era of escalating cyberthreats and ransomware attacks, Microsoft claims that Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs deliver demonstrable improvements over their Windows 10 predecessors. The most striking number the company touts is a 62% reduction in security incidents for organizations using Surface and other Windows 11 Pro devices, compared to those running Windows 10. According to Microsoft, this figure is drawn from a commissioned study focused on actual customer deployments.Examining the 62% Claim
A figure like this naturally invites skepticism—few in cybersecurity believe in magic bullets, and the practical impact of an operating system upgrade on attack surface is often nuanced. Microsoft’s claim, however, is at least partially verifiable thanks to the cited Forrester Consulting study, which found that organizations using modern Windows 11 devices with features like Secure Boot and modern hardware root-of-trust support experienced materially fewer successful attacks. The study found reductions in malware infections, ransomware incidents, and firmware exploits.Independent security experts corroborate that Secure Boot, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, and virtualization-based security (VBS)—now standard and forcibly required on Windows 11 Copilot+ machines—can reduce successful attacks. Still, some analysts caution that, while these features raise the bar, determined attackers may still bypass them using advanced techniques or social engineering. Thus, while a substantial drop in routine incidents is plausible, it’s important to note that no system is invulnerable. Additionally, the degree of improvement will depend on organizational security maturity and adherence to best practices.
Secure Boot and Firmware Defenses
Microsoft specifically highlights Secure Boot and hardware-based protections as critical differentiators between Windows 10 and the new Copilot+ PCs. According to the company, features such as Secure Boot reduce firmware attacks by a factor of three—a claim rooted in research around modern device security baselines. Independent testing, including results published by security firms and government agencies, validate that Secure Boot, when properly implemented, can block many low-level attacks that plagued older machines. However, the effectiveness of these protections depends on the supply chain and correct configuration; there have been cases, documented in advisories, where Secure Boot vulnerabilities have emerged or been misconfigured, blunting its value.Productivity: Quantified Performance Gains
Productivity claims underpin another major pillar of Microsoft’s argument. The company asserts that workflows on Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs run up to 50% faster than on so-called “older devices,” a category that includes most Windows 10 hardware. This advantage, Microsoft says, extends across a range of scenarios: content creation, document review, and data analysis.Validating the “50% Faster” Claim
The origin of this statistic appears rooted in both internal benchmarks and customer feedback, as well as data shared by Microsoft partners such as AMD and Dell. In multiple product announcements and white papers, Microsoft demonstrates real-world performance enhancements, especially for AI-powered tasks and multitasking scenarios, that benefit from the new NPU (Neural Processing Unit) hardware shipping with Copilot+ PCs.Benchmarks published independently by outlets like PCMag and Tom’s Hardware suggest that AI-accelerated features—such as background blurring, voice isolation, and generative AI in creative applications—are significantly faster and more efficient on these new machines. However, standard office and web workloads may show more modest improvements, depending on software optimization. The “up to” phrasing in Microsoft’s claim is thus accurate but context-dependent; users should expect the most dramatic speedups with workloads that exploit the dedicated AI engines built into Copilot+ hardware.
Deployment Efficiency and IT Management
Another major productivity theme centers on device deployment and lifecycle management. Microsoft claims that Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs enable deployments that are up to 25% faster, making it easier for IT teams to provision and roll out new hardware. This accelerates onboarding and reduces time-to-productivity for both end users and enterprise teams.What Fuels this Improvement?
The deployment speedup is connected to Windows Autopilot, zero-touch provisioning methods, and tighter integration between modern hardware and management tools such as Microsoft Endpoint Manager/Intune. Automated driver updates, more granular management of apps and AI settings, and streamlined configuration contribute to this figure. While independent IT consultants surveyed by industry publications affirm that these features do simplify and speed up deployments, actual savings may vary based on organizational scale and infrastructure.The Case for Copilot+ PCs
Microsoft’s 2024 Surface Copilot+ PCs epitomize the hardware-software convergence that the company believes defines the future of Windows. Copilot+ branding denotes a combination of Windows 11, the latest silicon from Intel, AMD, or Qualcomm, and a dedicated NPU for handling on-device AI tasks. Core features exclusive (or best experienced) on Copilot+ PCs include:- Live Captions, Real-Time Translation, and Voice Focus: AI-powered enhancements for communication and accessibility.
- Recall: An AI-driven system capable of searching and summarizing past actions, content, and context—a feature requiring considerable local compute for privacy and responsiveness.
- Advanced Windows Copilot: Deeper integration with system settings, productivity apps, and cloud-connected Microsoft services, promising faster, more helpful assistance.
Why Hardware Matters
The AI workloads underpinning these features are only possible with the latest hardware. Microsoft and OEM partners are explicit: many Copilot+ innovations will not come to older Windows devices, regardless of OS version. In other words, upgrading to Windows 11 on an old PC can bring significant improvements, but the full vision of AI-powered productivity demands a next-gen device.This approach, while understandable from a technical standpoint, has generated criticism from some user groups and IT procurement experts, who accuse Microsoft of planned obsolescence and excessive hardware demands. It’s true that some AI features nominally could run in the cloud or be backported to older machines, but privacy, performance, and energy-use considerations appear to have shaped Microsoft’s stance.
Beyond Microsoft: Industry-Wide Endorsement
Microsoft’s ecosystem partners, including AMD, Dell, and others, are in lockstep with this narrative. Their marketing openly encourages replacing old hardware, echoing the message that full security and performance benefits require new machines running Windows 11. Analysts note that this sector-wide push is reminiscent of historic upgrade cycles, but with the additional urgency created by surging AI innovation and an escalating cyberthreat landscape.Some PC vendors have sweetened the proposition with trade-in offers, financing deals, and bundled migration services, further lowering the barrier for businesses and consumers to switch.
Potential Risks and Areas of Critique
While the benefits cited by Microsoft are substantive and supported by studies or product documentation, several important caveats and risks bear mentioning:Hardware Requirements and Accessibility
- Higher Minimum Specs: Windows 11’s hardware requirements have excluded millions of older-but-still-powerful PCs, creating e-waste concerns and accessibility challenges for education and nonprofit sectors. Microsoft’s rationale is that minimum specs are essential for security (TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, modern CPUs), but critics argue the cutoff is sometimes arbitrary or driven by business interests.
- Upfront Cost: Copilot+ PCs, being new and equipped with NPUs, typically come at a premium. Organizations and individuals with thin margins may find the transition financially painful, especially as refurbishment and recycling options for Windows 10 machines are limited.
Privacy and AI
- AI Feature Transparency: Features like Recall promise unprecedented productivity, but their data collection, storage, and analysis have sparked privacy debates. Microsoft assures that data remains on-device and is accessible only to the primary user, but outside researchers urge vigilance as AI-powered features often require new threat models and privacy impact assessments.
- Data Retention Policies: Regulatory compliance (such as GDPR) may be impacted by how Recall and similar features handle and purge sensitive or regulated data. Enterprises should seek technical documentation and legal opinions before wide deployment.
Real-World Deployment Gaps
- Software Compatibility: Some legacy applications and workflows may not yet be fully optimized or supported on Windows 11, particularly with ARM-based Copilot+ PCs. IT organizations must thoroughly test mission-critical software to prevent disruptions.
- Training and Change Management: New interfaces, features, and management tools require end-user and IT training. Organizations that underestimate these soft-costs may struggle with adoption or experience negative productivity dips during rollout.
Security Caveats
- False Sense of Security: While device-level protections in Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs are real, no OS is immune from zero-day vulnerabilities or user-based risks (phishing, weak passwords). Organizations must layer defenses and educate users, not treat OS migration as a panacea.
Looking Ahead: Futureproofing or Forced Obsolescence?
An honest assessment of the current landscape shows that Microsoft’s strategy is both proactive and, in some respects, aggressive. The move towards Copilot+ PCs and AI-centric experiences makes clear technical sense for some use cases, and the security-and-productivity gains are credible for organizations willing to modernize both hardware and IT governance. However, the high minimum requirements—paired with end-of-life pressure on Windows 10—may leave a significant chunk of legacy users in the cold.Industry commentators predict that the gap between AI-accelerated devices and traditional PCs will widen rapidly. As cross-platform, AI-powered workflows become more central to both business and consumer computing, lagging behind on hardware and OS may compound productivity and security deficits.
That said, Windows 10 PCs are not rendered immediately obsolete come October 2025. With diligent patch management, security hygiene, and layered defenses, organizations can bridge the gap—but mostly as a short-term mitigation rather than a strategic choice.
What Should Users and Organizations Do?
- Assess Device Readiness: Inventory existing hardware to determine Copilot+ PC eligibility. Begin scoping pilot projects for Windows 11 migration, particularly focusing on teams who will benefit most from AI enhancements.
- Plan Budgets Now: Factor hardware refresh cycles, training costs, and potential trade-in/recycling programs into 2025 IT budgets. Engage vendors early to lock in best terms.
- Test Critical Workflows: Rigorously validate line-of-business applications on the Windows 11 platform, paying special attention to ARM64 compatibility for Copilot+ devices.
- Educate End Users: Communicate the benefits and changes; provide step-by-step training, especially for security and privacy settings.
- Monitor Regulatory Guidance: Stay current with privacy regulations and obtain legal review for any AI-powered feature deployments that involve personal or sensitive data.
Conclusion: The New Standard—Ready or Not
Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs are not simply the next stage in Microsoft’s operating system evolution—they are a new baseline for what the company believes enterprise and personal computing should look like. Artificial intelligence and next-generation security are not optional extras for Microsoft; they are the foundation for the next decade of Windows.For those who adopt early, the payoff could be meaningful: safer, faster, and more intelligent devices. For those who delay, the risks—security, operational, and regulatory—are growing by the month. And for those who feel left behind by the pace of change, Microsoft’s pitch is unlikely to reassure.
As the Windows 10 sunset approaches, enterprises and consumers must weigh the promises, interrogate the claims, and make plans with clear eyes. The era of Copilot+ is beginning, and Microsoft has made it clear: the future, as they see it, is for those willing to upgrade.
Source: Neowin Microsoft explains why Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs are way better than old Windows 10 ones
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