Windows 11 Achieves 35% Market Share; 52% of Gamers Love the New Operating System
Since its release, Windows 10 has consistently outperformed its successor, Windows 11. Despite Microsoft’s efforts, including enhancements and AI integration, the new operating system has not fully met expectations. However, there’s a silver lining: Windows 11 has surpassed the 35% market share milestone this month.
The predecessor, Windows 10, has seen a decline, dropping to about 60% market share as Windows 11 gradually increases its foothold in the desktop sector. If this trajectory remains constant, it’s likely that Windows 10 will dip into the mid-50% range, which could prove troubling for its advocates.
In September 2024, Windows 11 accounted for 33.42% of the market, while Windows 10’s share was 62.75%. By October, these figures shifted to 35.58% for Windows 11 and 60.95% for Windows 10, according to the latest statistics from Statcounter.
Additionally, Windows 11 has become the preferred operating system among gamers. According to the Steam Hardware & Software Survey for October 2024, there has been a significant increase of 4.28% in the user base of Windows 11 64-bit, while Windows 10 64-bit users fell by 2.71%, now representing 45.95%.
Is it time to switch?
Microsoft has committed to supporting Windows 10 until October 14, 2025, which is less than a year away. The company has no plans to extend its consumer edition support, as indicated by their Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.
To continue receiving security updates for an additional year, customers will need to pay $30. After October 2026, users will face the difficult choice of moving away from Windows 10 to Windows 11. While the Enterprise editions have a different ESU program offering three additional years of support, consumers are limited to a one-year extension purchase.
With less than a year remaining, both Microsoft and Windows 10 users must make important decisions. There’s also lingering confusion regarding how Microsoft will respond to potential backlash from over 50% of the desktop market share.
Many question the rationale behind paying $30 (a third of the price of a Windows 11 Home license) for just a year of security updates. Why isn’t there an option for longer-term plans for consumer editions? Are the system requirements for Windows 11 going to render many existing PCs unusable?
Microsoft has been promoting its advanced Copilot+ PCs as being five times faster than popular models from five years ago. While improved hardware may provide advantages in performance, is it reasonable to pressure Windows 10 users into purchasing new machines solely to accommodate Windows 11?
We hope that Microsoft addresses these pressing concerns and considers solutions that will allow Windows 10 to continue functioning without forcing users into the “AI era.”
Leave a Reply