Did we get confirmation from all sources – and from Intel, about the release timeframe for Windows 12? It seems like. Intel talked about its predictions for 2024, indicating that it expects 2024 to be a good year for client processors. This is a big deal for Intel as the next generation of its top processors, Meteor Lake, is due out in 2024. However, if Intel is right, it could be a big year for Microsoft as well.
This information comes from a transcript of the City 2023 Global Technology Conference. Most of it wasn’t very exciting – fireside chats are often not that interesting to the public – but there was one small comment that piqued our interest.
“We really think 2024 is going to be a very good year for clients [processors], specifically, due to Windows refresh. And we still think the installed base is quite old and needs a refresh and we think that could start next year, given Windows Catalyst. So we are optimistic about how things will be in early 2024,” Intel said, which was first shared by PCGamer.
The mysterious term “Windows Refresh” seems quite vague, and Windows 12 isn’t mentioned at any point. However, it’s hard to imagine that Intel would be excited about a particular Windows update unless it’s actually a new version of the operating system. After all, Microsoft releases patches regularly, but the redesigned Windows could match up well with the redesigned Meteor Lake. The chip is said to have an entirely new architecture, with separate compute, GPU, IO, and AI dies.
Intel Meteor Lake may be only for laptops, but Arrow Lake-S is also said to be coming for desktops in the second half of 2024, so it’s a big year for Intel. If the new chips offer great integration with Windows 12, that would be a strong reason for Intel to expect increased acceptance for both the new CPUs and the new OS.
Just as Intel’s plans are still a bit hazy, we don’t know much about Windows 12. In a way, it seems like Microsoft has been soft-launching Windows 12 by updating Windows 11 for some time. Microsoft CoPilot and its close integration into the OS is almost worthy of a Windows 12 feature, and yet, it’s already here.
Windows 12 is likely to further strengthen the integration with Copilot, embedding AI into the foundation of the operating system. Meteor Lake’s dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) on the SoC works very well.
The pace of Windows 11 adoption has been slowing down recently in both the consumer sector and businesses. Windows 12 will likely serve as the final nail in the coffin of Windows 10 and accelerate the adoption process. Will it come out in 2024 as Intel estimates? We’ll have to wait and see, but Intel’s little teaser seems to be much more than an idle comment.