Windows 11 Announcement Impacts Client OS Planning Cycle

• Windows 11, a new version of the Windows client OS that will become generally available on Oct. 5, 2021, includes changes to the UI but has few compelling features for organizations.
• Windows 11 hardware requirements are significant and exclude many currently deployed devices capable of running Windows 10, including most Surface devices.
• Organizations should reevaluate their client OS plans, beginning with their hardware purchasing decisions.

This report was updated on Sept. 6, 2021, to reflect the upcoming general availability of Windows 11 and the relaxing of some of the original processor requirements.

The announcement of Windows 11 on June 24, 2021, and the version’s upcoming general availability on Oct. 5, 2021, is forcing organizations to reevaluate their client OS deployment plans. Although the next version of Windows has few features organizations will find compelling, potentially significant new minimum hardware requirements will force organizations to accelerate or slow down hardware purchases and further rethink client OS deployment. Since the announcement, Microsoft has changed the hardware specifications, signaling its plans for the next major version of Windows are still in flux.