Is the updated Windows 11 really Windows 12? Experts have provided evidence

The Windows 11 24H2 update, released in 2024, is a topic of much conversation, as it is being called not just an annual update, but a hidden new version of Windows that many would consider Windows 12. Despite keeping the Windows 11 name, this update has fundamental changes, which suggests that we are looking at an almost new operating system.

One of the main reasons for this comparison is that Microsoft is returning to the three-year cycle of major update releases that the company practiced before Windows 10. However, instead of officially releasing Windows 12, the corporation decided to keep the new features within Windows 11. This is reminiscent of the model when new versions of the system appeared mainly with the purchase of new PCs, XDA reports.

The key difference between the 24H2 version is the use of a new platform codenamed Germanium. Unlike the previous updates (22H2 and 23H2), which were built on the old platform, Germanium brings significant internal changes, including better optimization for Arm-based devices. This makes the system more efficient even on older computers.

Despite the deep technical changes, the OS has remained almost unchanged visually and functionally for ordinary users. New features, such as support for different archive formats and the Sudo command in the terminal, are useful but not revolutionary. The breakthrough innovations are mostly centered around Copilot+, but to take advantage of the full set of features, users will have to purchase new PCs with NPU-enabled processors.

Features such as live captioning with real-time translation and offline image generation are only available on new computers released after June 2024. Microsoft continues to encourage customers to upgrade their hardware by maintaining support for older devices but focusing the most interesting new features on modern models.

Microsoft's approach is beneficial for both the company and its manufacturing partners, who get an incentive to sell new devices. At the same time, this decision helps to avoid the harsh criticism that the company received after the release of Windows 11 when many users were forced to upgrade their hardware.

Despite the lack of an official name, Windows 12, the impressive changes under the hood of 24H2 suggest that the new OS is already here. The future will show whether Microsoft will decide to release a version called Windows 12, but at the moment its key features are already starting to take shape in the new update.

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