Windows 11 is a free update, but you might have to pay for it

Microsoft finally launched Windows 11 earlier this week, proving that the operating system update isn’t what many feared — a Windows 10 paint job. Windows 11 comes with a new user interface that puts the start menu front and center, which is the kind of visual transformation that would qualify as a Windows 10 theme makeover. But Windows 11 also brings over various new features that users will be excited about. There’s a new way to arrange and manage windows that might improve multitasking and productivity, a new Microsoft Store experience that introduces support for Android apps on Windows, improved tablet features for laptops with touchscreens, and brand new gaming features borrowed from Microsoft’s Xbox universe. Add to that Microsoft’s claims that Windows 11 will be faster to wake and boot, that updates will be significantly smaller, that browsing will be faster in Edge, and that Windows 11 uses less energy than before and is the most secure version of Windows so far, and you end up with an OS update worth installing on your PCs.

The best part about Windows 11 is that it’s available free of charge, which means Windows 10 users will be able to update their devices without paying any upgrade fees to Microsoft. However, some people will have to shell out extra cash for Windows 11 because Microsoft has stricter compatibility rules that exclude many older computers from running the new OS.