Overview

• Channel data shows a late surge in hardware purchases ahead of the October 14 end of support, with Context reporting Q3 consumer growth linked to the cutoff.
• Omdia estimates about half of corporate PCs are still on Windows 10, and roughly 20% of remaining devices cannot meet Windows 11 requirements such as TPM 2.0 and modern CPUs.
• Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates for businesses start at $61 per device in year one and double each subsequent year, pushing many organizations toward new hardware.
• Analysts note that most newly sold PCs are AI-capable, yet customers cite a supported and manageable operating system as the main reason to refresh.
• Security bodies warn of increased exposure once patches end, while surveys and telemetry indicate sizable groups plan to stay on Windows 10 despite the risks.