Windows 10 Support Ends In 2025, Should You Spend Big On A Windows AI Laptop?
Microsoft is ending the support for Windows 10 in less than a year from now. This means 2025 could be the right time for millions to invest in a new system, especially if their current PC cannot be upgraded to Windows 11. This year we have seen a slew of AI PCs rolling out in the market, and promises a lot, advancement and future-ready features.
Qualcomm and Intel are well and truly in the mix with their new AI hardware. But does it make sense to invest in a technology that is still in its nascent phase? This is our overall outlook on this segment and what people should consider before going big on their next PC/laptop or Mac.
Windows 10 Goes Away, What Now
Microsoft has made it impossible for a lot of existing Windows PCs to be upgraded to version 11 if they want it through the official channel. The free Windows 11 update is available only if your system supports TPM 2.0 security technology. Many have criticised the company for complicating matters rather than letting more existing Windows PCs to run for years. The Windows 10 official support ends in October 2025, and the company is unlikely to offer anymore updates, unless something critical is needed.
What You Get With Windows 11
Windows 11 has been around for a while, so it is not like a completely new version. However, Microsoft continues to bring new AI tools to the operating system, which is why the TPM 2.0 security is paramount for the machines. The UI of Windows 11 is refreshing and you will mostly find it fluid and responsive to most tasks. The start menu has a new position on the taskbar and most of the tools are in the form of apps now.
The AI PC Era Is Here?
All brands are putting their eggs in the AI basket and even analysts have talked about the future of this segment relies on the new lineup of products. The new Snapdragon X Elite and the Intel Lunar Lake AI processors have shown their worth, especially with improved battery efficiency and that makes them an equal along with the Apple Macs these days. People tend to argue that if they had to spend over Rs 1 lakh+ they do that on a MacBook which gives them a longer shelf life. And that is a fair point but Windows has improved over the years and the quality of PCs available in the market makes us believe they are as durable as their counterparts.
The thing with AI PCs is that companies are charging a premium, and most of the laptops we have tested this year cost well over Rs 1 lakh and that is a challenge. In markets like India, where the average price of a laptop is around Rs 60,000, the levels need to get affordable and quickly. Qualcomm seems to have something in the pipeline that could at least bring these AI features to an 80k laptop in the near future, so we wait and see how that market evolves.
Worth Buying an AI PC?
Now that you have gone through the history of Windows 11, how Windows 10 will become unusable for many in 2025, it is time to answer the big question. Should you spend big on a Windows AI laptop? What we will say is that AI Windows laptops are potent but it is still early days to really talk highly about the AI nature of these machines.
Having said that, you are assured to get long battery life, notice less heating, while the other aspects continue to improve as time moves. Unless you really need to invest in a new machine, you can wait for more options that will roll out in 2025 and maybe cost less than the current models. The technology is surely going to become mainstream and that will result in wider availability of these laptops across different price bands in the market.