Microsoft is pushing its latest operating system by claiming that Windows 11 PCs can be up to 2.3 times faster than Windows 10 PCs. This assertion, however, is less about software enhancements and more about the differences in hardware.

While the blog post promotes the speed benefits of Windows 11, it ultimately neglects to disclose that the performance comparison relies on new hardware against older models, notably Intel processors from as early as 2015.

Key Highlights

• Microsoft aims to persuade users to switch from Windows 10 to 11 ahead of the latter’s support expiry.
• The performance claims pull from Geekbench 6 benchmarks that pit today’s processors against those of several generations back, skewing interpretative perspectives.

“Based on testing performed by Microsoft in December 2024 using Geekbench 6 Multi-core score comparing a selection of Windows 10 PCs with Intel Core 6th, 8th and 10th generation processors and Windows 11 PCs with Intel Core 12th and 13th generation processors. Performance will vary significantly by device and with settings, usage and other factors.”

Translation: Based on a limited benchmark with considerable hardware variances, the real-world performance gains for average users transitioning from Windows 10 to 11 could be overstated.

The company continues its campaign to pull users onto its updated operating system basis, but it might be hard to convince those who see through such marketing strategies.