At the threshold of obsolescence, Windows 10 is confronting the twilight of its reign. With the end-of-support date looming, Microsoft’s heralded operating system, which took the digital world by storm in July 2015, must now contend with its own eclipse. It’s hard to grapple with the reality that the platform, which repaired Windows 8’s reputation, is aging.
This once-celebrated behemoth of compatibility and user-friendly design is now facing the daunting task of transitioning its vast user base to the new frontier of Windows 11. The forthcoming years are critical; Microsoft must strategise not only to innovate but also to persuade its loyal following to embark on the next chapter.
So, is choosing a Windows 10 laptop or PC still a viable option? Is it worth investing in an operating system that has reached its peak and is on the brink of being replaced? Let’s delve deeper into the current state of Windows 10 and evaluate if success has indeed become its greatest challenge.
Navigating Windows 10’s Sunset and Support Lifecycle
As Windows 10 nears the culmination of its lifecycle, marking October 14, 2025, as its end-of-support date, users must weigh the implications of this milestone. On that autumn day, the mainstream editions—Home, Pro, Pro Workstation, Enterprise, and Education—will cross the threshold into a new era devoid of Microsoft’s security updates.
While PCs will undoubtedly remain operative, the absence of patches will expose them to an escalating threat landscape. Windows 10 Enterprise editions, however, have varied timelines due to the Long Term Servicing options.
The initial 2015 release will join the mainstream editions in cessation come 2025, while the 2016 follow-up benefits from an extended reprieve until October 13, 2026. The Long Term Servicing nomenclature evolved in 2019’s LTSC edition, which extends its lifespan until January 9, 2029.
An outlier, the Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021, curiously truncates its support to a concise five years, culminating on January 12, 2027. This tapestry of timelines presents a complex departure from the widely anticipated ten-year lifecycle, ushering a critical phase for users to adapt and secure their digital environments.
The Reality of Windows 10’s Persistence in the PC Landscape
As we project two years into the future, the pertinent question becomes: how many PCs will still be operating on Windows 10? Despite a market currently reeling from the pandemic-induced expansion and now showing signs of a slowdown, it’s reasonable to anticipate that upwards of 200 million new Windows PCs will be purchased annually in the time to come. In the most favourable outlook, each of these new devices would supplant a Windows 10 system, which would subsequently be decommissioned.
Additionally, we might see around 100 million units displaced by alternatives like Chromebooks, iPads, and Macs. Yet, in scenarios where PCs reach obsolescence without direct replacements, as users perhaps pivot to relying solely on smartphones or tablets, there remains the stark possibility of hundreds of millions still tethered to Windows 10 upon reaching its support finale in October 2025.
This predicament predominantly affects those with no viable upgrade path. For many, this is due to their machines being of an older make, not up to par with Windows 11’s hardware prerequisites—essentially, any PC pre-dating design innovations post-2018. It’s vital to recognise that this cohort includes numerous economy models leveraging dated designs and incompatible CPUs, yet these were marketed as new as recently as 2019 and 2020.
On the corporate front, countless IT departments have only recently concluded their transitions to Windows 10 and view the prospect of another migration with discernible trepidation. Additionally, there exists a staunch contingent within the user community, a group we can term the ‘Windows 10 diehards’.
These individuals, frequently vocal across support forums, express discontent with the direction taken by Windows 11. While some will capitulate and update their systems, a significant number are poised to resist the change.
Windows 10’s Potential for Extended Support Lifelines
The lingering question among Windows 10 users is whether Microsoft will extend the support deadline for this prevalent OS, drawing parallels with the extended life of Windows XP and Windows 7. Observing past precedents, it’s clear Microsoft has occasionally bent its own rules.
Windows XP’s support stretched far beyond its intended expiry date, receiving patches for high-profile threats like WannaCry years later. Windows 7 users also had the paid option for Extended Security Updates (ESU) following its January 2020 end-of-support date.
Given this history, an argument can be made that Windows 10, especially on devices incapable of meeting Windows 11’s stringent hardware requirements, might witness a similar fate. However, owners of aging systems have limited options: shifting to a different operating system such as ChromeOS Flex or desktop Linux, unofficially upgrading to Windows 11 with all the implied risks, or persistently using Windows 10 and bracing for potential security vulnerabilities.
The tech giant and its manufacturing allies may advocate for consumer transition to newer hardware, yet economic realities suggest otherwise for a substantial user base. Often, the pragmatic—and regrettably risky—choice for many, including budget-conscious individuals and businesses, is extending their use of Windows 10 for as long as functionality permits.
Notwithstanding Microsoft’s recommendations, experience with PC owners demonstrates a tendency to stretch the lifespan of their devices, a pattern that raises concerns about future cybersecurity resilience for unsupported systems.
