Windows 11 is the latest version of Microsoft's operating system, released in October 2021. It comes with a refreshed visual design, new features, and under-the-hood technical improvements. In this review, we'll take an in-depth look at the technical changes and enhancements in Windows 11.
Visual Design
The most noticeable change in Windows 11 is the new visual design. Microsoft has simplified the aesthetics with rounded corners, pastel colors, and fluid animations. The Start menu is now centered on the screen with app icons arranged in the middle. The taskbar icons are also centered and stacked to save space.
Overall, the user interface feels cleaner and more modern. There is greater consistency across the OS, with redesigned apps like Settings adopting transparent backgrounds and rounded corners. The Mica material is a subtle frosted glass effect seen in app backgrounds and menus. It adds texture and depth to the UI.
Under the hood, Microsoft made adjustments to system fonts and icons. Icons have a fresh monochromatic style with bolder outlines. There are also five different desktop background patterns that complement the new design.
System Requirements
Windows 11 comes with steeper system requirements than previous versions. PCs need at least a dual-core 64-bit 1GHz CPU, 4GB RAM, and 64GB storage to install it. Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 are now mandatory - older systems without these features won't support the OS.
The increased requirements are due to the new security features and visual effects. Animations like Snap and smooth scrolling need a more powerful graphics card. The GPU must support DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 drivers. For the best experience, an 8th generation Intel Core processor or AMD Zen 2 CPU is recommended.
Overall, many PCs that ran Windows 10 won't be eligible for the free Windows 11 upgrade. Users may have to purchase new hardware to use the latest OS.
Multitasking and Window Management
Windows 11 improves multitasking with Snap Layouts, Snap Groups, and Desktops. Snap Layouts lets you instantly arrange app windows into preset layouts for multitasking. There are six layouts - two 50:50 splits, two 70:30 splits, and three columns. Snap Groups remembers the apps you snapped together so you can quickly restore your workflow.
Multiple Desktops have been upgraded as well. You can now set custom backgrounds per desktop and switch between them with a touchpad gesture. Overall, virtual desktops are more intuitive and user-friendly.
There are also subtle enhancements like the maximize button minimizing other restored windows when you maximize an app. Hovering over the maximize button reveals a sneak peek of your desktop. This improves productivity when managing multiple windows.
Settings and System Apps
The Settings app has been revamped with a refreshed design. Pages now have indented options, colored icons, and jump lists for quicker navigation. Related settings are grouped together for simplicity.
The Start menu also integrates your user profile and key system settings for easy access. Many system apps like the Snipping Tool and Media Player got visual redesigns too. Even Notepad and Paint have a new minimalist look.
Under the hood, Settings has a faster search engine and the system-wide Alt-Tab now displays all important apps. Overall, the system apps feel more modern, accessible, and integrated.
Performance and Gaming
Windows 11 provides better performance and responsiveness out of the box. Microsoft reduced browser memory usage by 32% so tabs load quicker in Microsoft Edge. They also optimized background efficiency so apps suspend quicker when not in use.
Auto HDR expands support for high dynamic range gaming. It can automatically add HDR effects to games. DirectStorage API enables graphics cards to load assets directly into GPU memory for faster loading times.
Windows 11 also introduces a gaming dashboard called Xbox Game Bar. It provides handy widgets during gameplay like real-time FPS, CPU and GPU usage monitors. There are also quick controls for game captures and background music.
With these enhancements, Windows 11 takes full advantage of modern hardware for responsiveness and high-end gaming.
Security
Security sees major improvements in Windows 11. Microsoft Pluton is a new hardware-embedded security technology that stores encryption keys in the CPU instead of software. This prevents credential theft attacks.
The new OS now blocks macros obtained from the internet by default in Microsoft Office. Apps like Office and Outlook also get sandboxing to isolate untrusted activities. The Smart App Control uses AI to block untrusted or unsigned applications.
The health check during setup uses firmware TPM 2.0 to confirm your device's hardware meets modern security standards. Secure Boot ensures only trusted OS files load during boot.
Overall, Windows 11 has much stronger protection against malware, ransomware, and malicious threats. The security foundations are built into the hardware and OS architecture.
Conclusion
Windows 11 delivers meaningful upgrades visually and technically. The UI feels modern, fresh, and sleek. Multitasking is easier with useful additions like Snap Layouts and Snap Groups. Performance and security see notable improvements too. The OS takes better advantage of new device capabilities.
However, the steep system requirements mean many existing PCs won't qualify for the free upgrade. There are relatively few groundbreaking features compared to previous version leaps as well. But overall, Windows 11 marks a new generation for Microsoft's OS with its redesigned interface and enhanced functionality. For new PC buyers, it's the obvious choice over the outdated Windows 10.