Microsoft Windows 10
The most popular desktop OS for good reason
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Pros
- Fast startup
- Rich software and device ecosystem
- Intuitive interface conveniences
- Touch screen support
- Biometric Hello login
- Strong gaming options
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Cons
- Separate Settings app and legacy control panels
- Still uses the Registry
- Few recent major updates with Windows 11 taking over
Windows 10 is still the world's most popular operating system for desktop computers, with more than a billion active PCs running it. Despite Microsoft's focus on the shiny new Windows 11, the company continues to support Windows 10 with service updates through at least 2025. The OS offers unique capabilities like touch input, face login, deep security, and mixed-reality tools. Important but more mundane features include an improved screenshot tool, better window arrangement, and unified notifications. Windows 10 has reached a point of polish and functionality to earn it a PCMag Editors' Choice award, and it's still preferable to Windows 11 for its more helpful Start menu, Taskbar, and touch gestures.
What's the Latest Version of Windows 10?
The latest version of Windows 10 is 22H2 (for 2022, second half). Microsoft has noted that major updates would come once per year, and 22H2 is not one of those. Rather, this update is for security, performance, and reliability, similar to what were formerly called service updates. Bugs are still being squashed, and some first-party apps and features continue to receive updates alongside their Windows 11 counterparts. For example, Windows 10 got the updated Phone Link app, and the new Media Player app has appeared in a preview build.
Earlier updates included noticeable changes. The Chromium-based Microsoft Edge became the built-in web browser that powers not only the Edge browser but also Microsoft Store apps that require web access. That means both the browser and the apps that use the web engine become more compatible with websites, since the underlying rendering code is the same used by Google Chrome. It's worth noting, too, that Edge runs on not only Windows, but also Android, iOS, macOS, and now even Linux.
Windows 10 has also benefited from feature additions in between the major updates, such as the News and Interests Taskbar panel and the Meet Now icon in the Taskbar, for creating ad-hoc video conferences.
Standout Windows 10 features that appeared subsequent to its initial release still deserve mention, including Clipboard History (a lifesaver if you copy and paste frequently), a powerful screenshot tool, Timeline, Focus Assist, Game mode, Dark mode, Nearby Sharing, parental controls, and an updated News app. The Phone Link app syncs photos, SMS messages, and even voice calls from Android phones and LTE-equipped laptops. Even with all these advanced features, the OS remains familiar to longtime Windows users. For intrigued Apple users, I've compiled a list of 15 Windows tips for Mac users.
