Windows 11 is not proven to be faster than Windows 10 on the same computer. Microsoft’s April 2023 comparison recorded higher scores for Windows 11 Pro laptops in every tested pair, but each Windows 11 system was a newer or different laptop than its Windows 10 counterpart. The results therefore measure complete PC configurations—not the speed effect of changing only the operating system.
What Microsoft’s tests actually show
Microsoft’s paper, revised in April 2023 and benchmarked by Principled Technologies, compared four pairs of laptops: HP ProBook 450 G8 with Windows 11 Pro against ProBook 450 G6 with Windows 10 Pro; HP EliteBook 850 G8 against 850 G5; Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga G6 against X1 Yoga G3; and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 against T480. The paper describes the newer machines as current-generation systems and the Windows 10 models as roughly five years old. Read the full comparison at Microsoft’s Windows 11 Pro laptop comparison.
Across those configurations, the Windows 11 laptops posted the higher result in every listed benchmark. The largest differences were:
| Test | Maximum reported advantage for the Windows 11 configuration | What it represents |
|---|---|---|
| PCMark 10 overall | Up to 68.9% higher | General PC productivity and responsiveness |
| PCMark 10 Applications | Up to 34.3% higher | Common application tasks |
| SYSmark 2018 overall | Up to 22.5% higher | Office and productivity workloads |
| SYSmark 25 overall | Up to 22.3% higher | Newer productivity workload suite |
| WebXPRT 4 in Microsoft Edge | Up to 41.9% higher | Browser-based work |
| Procyon Office Productivity | Up to 34.1% higher | Microsoft Office productivity |
| 3DMark Fire Strike | Up to 246.2% higher | Graphics-heavy performance |
| Zoom conference-call battery life | Up to 36.3% longer | Battery runtime during the reported calls |
| Web-browsing battery life | Up to 101.7% longer | Battery runtime during the reported browsing test |
These are maximum differences among Microsoft’s tested laptop configurations, not guaranteed gains from installing Windows 11. Newer processors, graphics, memory, storage, batteries, firmware, drivers and thermal designs can all affect the outcome. The study was published by Microsoft, so it should not be treated as an independent same-hardware operating-system experiment.
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The underlying PCMark results
Microsoft reported these PCMark 10 overall scores (Windows 11 Pro configuration / Windows 10 Pro configuration) for the four pairs:
| Pair | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 10 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| HP ProBook 450 G8 / 450 G6 | 4,187 | 2,677 |
| HP EliteBook 850 G8 / 850 G5 | 4,108 | 2,726 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga G6 / G3 | 4,523 | 2,677 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T14 / T480 | 4,674 | 2,871 |
The 3DMark maximum deserves particular caution: a large graphics score difference can reflect the tested machines’ graphics hardware and configuration rather than an operating-system multiplier.
Why the answer is not a universal Windows 11 win
An operating system is only one part of a performance result. Processor generation and power limits, RAM capacity and speed, SSD or hard-drive performance, graphics hardware, cooling, firmware, drivers, background applications and Windows build can each change how a workload behaves. A browser test may favor one configuration while a game or video export favors another.
To establish an operating-system-only effect, a controlled comparison would need the same computer, identical drivers and applications, matching power settings, the same Windows build conditions and repeatable workloads. The Microsoft comparison does not provide that isolation: its paired laptops are different models and generations. No current independent, same-hardware comparison establishes a universal speed ranking between Windows 11 and Windows 10.
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What this means for your own PC
If your Windows 10 computer meets Windows 11 requirements
Do not expect a percentage increase simply because the upgrade is free. Measure the tasks that matter to you—startup, application launches, browser work, gaming, creative software or battery life—before and after the change if speed is your priority. Keep current drivers, remove unnecessary startup software and use the same power mode when comparing results.
Microsoft says Windows 10 version 22H2 devices that meet Windows 11 requirements can upgrade at no charge. Check eligibility through Windows Update or Microsoft’s Windows 11 System Requirements page and the PC Health Check app. Back up important files first. Microsoft’s upgrade FAQ says you normally have 10 days after upgrading to return to Windows 10 while keeping migrated files and data; after that period, reverting requires a backup and clean installation. See the Windows 11 upgrade FAQ.
If your computer is ineligible
Buying a new Windows 11 laptop or another PC that meets the requirements can provide newer hardware, but the purchase—not Windows 11 alone—is what may deliver a substantial speed improvement. Microsoft does not establish that every ineligible Windows 10 computer becomes fast after an unsupported installation of Windows 11.
If your workload is demanding
Minimum requirements are a compatibility floor, not a performance guarantee. For Windows 11, Microsoft lists an approved 1 GHz or faster processor with at least two cores, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability, TPM 2.0, DirectX 12-compatible graphics with WDDM 2.0, and a display larger than 9 inches. Windows 11 Home and Pro for personal use require internet access and a Microsoft account during initial setup. Confirm the application maker’s and PC maker’s recommendations as well.
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Support is now a separate reason to move
Microsoft says Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Windows 10 still runs, but standard security and software updates and technical support have ended. Eligible consumers can use Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates program through October 12, 2027; availability and eligibility are conditions of that program. Details are in Microsoft’s Windows 10 end-of-support notice.
Most software and accessories that worked with Windows 10 are expected to work with Windows 11, but Microsoft recommends confirming compatibility with the specific publisher or accessory manufacturer. Support status can justify upgrading even when benchmark speed is unchanged.
A fair way to compare Windows 11 and Windows 10
- Use the same hardware where possible. Record the exact CPU, RAM, storage, graphics adapter and PC model.
- Record software conditions. Note the Windows edition and build, driver versions, firmware, power mode and background applications.
- Test representative work. Include the office, browser, game, creative or specialist applications you actually use, plus battery tests if mobility matters.
- Repeat each test. Use the same benchmark version and method, run multiple passes and report the results rather than relying on a single score.
- Disclose the source. Identify whether the result comes from Microsoft, an independent laboratory or your own controlled test.
Microsoft Support notes that “The processor in your PC will be a main determining factor for running Windows 11.” That requirement statement is about compatibility, and it also illustrates why an operating-system label cannot predict performance by itself.
Verdict
In Microsoft’s April 2023 laptop comparisons, Windows 11 Pro configurations were faster and often lasted longer on battery than the paired Windows 10 configurations. The evidence does not show that Windows 11 itself is faster on identical hardware, so there is no universal winner for the exact same PC. Choose Windows 11 for support, security and compatibility when your hardware qualifies; choose a newer computer when you need more performance, and judge that gain by the hardware and workload rather than the Windows version alone.
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