Windows 12 is expected to be released around October 2024, with a version optimized for new Qualcomm hardware possibly arriving earlier in the year. The full version, which will take advantage of AI PC hardware, is expected to arrive in the second half of the year. Microsoft hopes that the new OS and AI PC hardware will encourage users to upgrade their systems, something that Windows 11 failed to achieve.
Key takeaways:
- Windows 11 has been less successful than Microsoft hoped, with many users choosing to stick with Windows 10 due to the high hardware requirements of the new OS.
- Microsoft is expected to release Windows 12 sometime next year, with the hope that AI-enabled PCs and new hardware will drive adoption.
- Microsoft's hardware partners are working on AI PCs, and the company is also investing in Arm-based CPUs for the PC market.
- Windows 12 is expected to take full advantage of AI and new hardware, potentially kickstarting a replacement cycle that Windows 11 failed to achieve.