A comparison of speed between Microsoft’s Windows 11 and Windows 10 shows that, in many tests, Windows 11 trails behind Windows 10. A video report on a popular video platform accompanies the findings.
Tests were performed on systems with hybrid architecture, using Intel Alder Lake processors and the new Thread Director feature. Reporters noted that Microsoft has previously claimed Windows 11 was designed to take full advantage of current hardware.
Tests involved the Raptor Lake-S Core i9-13900K running Windows 11 22H2 and Windows 10 22H2. In some scenarios Windows 11 performed better, but most results showed only small differences. In a number of cases, Windows 10 was faster, even though it had a later release date.
Overall, the results indicated nearly equal performance between the two operating systems, with Windows 10 holding a slight edge. The notable exception is the first-person shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, where Windows 11 demonstrated a clear advantage over Windows 10.
Earlier reports noted that Microsoft chose to omit the Explorer component from the explorer.exe process to improve system stability and reliability.
In summary, the speed landscape between Windows 11 and Windows 10 remains nuanced. While Windows 11 can match or exceed Windows 10 in certain tasks, many benchmarks show the older version still delivering parity or a small speed lead in a broad set of workloads. This is especially true when the system is configured with newer hardware that leverages the architecture updates, yet the practical differences may be minimal for many everyday tasks. For users evaluating upgrade options, the key considerations include workload type, hardware compatibility, and the specific software ecosystem in use. Additional context on how modern CPUs and Windows scheduling interact can help frame expectations for real-world performance. Attribution: PCWorld benchmarking report and follow-up analyses.