Windows 8 vs Windows 10, which one is better? Is Windows 10 better than Windows 8? Should you upgrade to Windows 10? Now, this post is helpful for you and you can know the answers to these questions. Also, MiniTool will show you how to upgrade your PC to Windows 10.

Now Windows 10 operating system is the latest version of Windows and many persons have installed it on their PCs. Although many users initially resisted the change, it is proved to be one of the most popular operating systems of Microsoft.

However, there are still obstinate users of previous systems who have not made a decision. And they are still using Windows 8/8.1 although it will end in January 2023. Perhaps you are also one of the users.

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In the following part, we will show you some significant differences between Windows 8 and Windows 10 and you can know which is better and whether you should perform an update.

Windows 8 VS Windows 10

In this part, we will make a comparison of Windows 8 and 10 in some aspects, including performance, feature, stability, security, mobility, and gaming. Now, let’s see them.

Windows 8 VS Windows 10: Performance

In general, some persons or companies look at it against the previous version when a new operating system is released by Microsoft. Similarly, TechSpot made a performance test.

This company installed Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 with updates applied. The machine used for testing has 8GB RAM, an Intel Core i5 process, a 1TB disk, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 graphics card.

Tip: Some of you may be curious about Windows 7 vs Windows 10. Just read this post – Windows 7 vs. Windows 10: It’s Time to Upgrade to Windows 10.

Synthetic benchmarks like Future mark PCMark 7 AND Cinebench R15 show Windows 10 is faster than Windows 8.1 that is faster than Win7.

In other tests like booting, Windows 8.1 is faster than Windows 10, about 2 seconds. Performance in specific apps like Photoshop or Chrome is a bit slower in Windows 10. But Windows 10 can wake from Sleep and Hibernate mode more quickly than Windows 8.1.

In most cases, the tests show that there is no obvious difference in performance between Windows 8.1 and 10. Sometimes Windows 10 is a bit faster and sometimes it is a bit slower. That is, you don’t worry about a drop in performance if you want to upgrade to Windows 10. Up to now, Windows 10 always works pretty well.

Windows 8 VS Windows 10: Features

The obvious difference between Windows 8 and 10 is reflected in features.

Start Menu

The Start menu is the biggest change when comparing Windows 8 and 10. For Windows 8, a huge problem is that it neglects the classic desktop and Start menu.

In Windows 10, the Start menu is back and it contains the Live Tiles of Windows 8. You can move and re-size the tiles based on your needs.

Besides, the search bar is more advanced than the previous versions of Windows. Once you start typing, Windows 10 starts finding search results for your topic via the local machine and the web.

Cortana

Another feature of Windows 10 is Cortana, an intelligent voice assistant that was first appeared in Windows Phone 8.1. Now, it can be used on PC. But it is not available in Windows 8. With Cortana, you can search the web, set alarms, take notes, send emails, search for files, and more.

Task View

In Windows 8, apps installed from Store or modern apps always open in full screen. Unlike traditional desktop programs, they can’t be resized. While in Windows 10, all the apps including programs installed from Store can be resized. And you can run as many as you like at the same time.

Besides, Windows 10 has a feature called Snap Assist that allows you to organize your program windows in a single desktop. Up to four apps can be snapped per screen.

Virtual Desktop

Windows 10 offers another important feature called virtual desktop that is a significant element for businesses. It enables you to keep different sets of apps open in different desktops. This is helpful to compartmentalize your work and avoid having a cluttered desktop with several open windows.

In addition to these four features, Windows 10 also has some other improvements in features, for example, Windows Hello, PC settings, Action Center, and more. Here, we won’t show you.

In conclusion, Windows 10 wins Windows 8 in features.

Windows 10 VS Windows 8: Stability

Since Windows 95, Windows 10 is the biggest overhaul of the operating system. Even so, Windows 8 is greatly stable and shows any signs of errors, bugs, glitches, and other consequences that can irritate you. It is more stable than Windows 10.

Frankly speaking, Windows 10 is a bit unstable. As you know, Microsoft always releases some updates for the system but they often cause problems. Accidental file deletion, crashes, glitches, etc. are reported from time to time. Of course, the general stability is better than it was but the issues are irritating you for a long time.

But for Windows 10, the stability factor is not a strong suit and it never will be.

Windows 8 VS Windows 10: Security

In security, which is better Windows 8 or 10?

Apparently, Windows 10 is better than Windows 8 in terms of security. The newer product offers new features and enhances old features.

  1. It gets updates quickly compared with other Windows versions.
  2. It supports all types of the older and newer bio-metric device present on your computer.
  3. It has new and advanced Windows Defender, built-in antivirus software that can be used to detect and remove many common viruses & malware.
  4. It supports previous versions of programs, making it more secure when running a similar app. That is, the app will less likely crash.
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Windows Defender

Windows 8 VS 10: Mobility

Windows 8 is a pretty great tablet operating system but it is largely limited by a poor selection of high-quality programs in Store.

Windows 10 is better than Windows 8 in mobility. This system offers a feature call Continuum that can adjust a device’s user interface to adapt different form factors.

For example, if you are using a 2-in-1 device, Windows 10 can automatically detect a keyboard and adjust the view of your device to that of a traditional desktop computer. If you don’t connect a keyboard to the device, Windows 10 prompts you to enter Tablet Mode.

Windows 8 VS Windows 10: Gaming

Compared with Windows 8, Windows 10 has made big improvements in gaming.

Xbox is the gaming center of the operating system. You can chat with friends, view the Xbox activity feed, track the Xbox gaming stats, and more. You can stream Xbox One games from the console to a PC. That is, you can play the Xbox-exclusive games on your PC.

Besides, Windows 10 allows you to record every game. What’s more, Windows 10 supports DirectX 12 that brings improved performance and graphical features to new games.

In gaming, Windows 10 is a winner. It offers better game performance & game framerates and handles windowed gaming better. Now, it is the standard for graphics driver development.

Conclusion

After reading so much information about Windows 10 vs Windows 8, you know Windows 10 is better than Windows 8 in many aspects. If you want more persons to know the comparison of these two operating systems, you can share them on Twitter by clicking the following button.

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On the other hand, as mentioned above, Microsoft will end the support for Windows 8 in January 2023. So, we recommend you to upgrade to Windows 10 as soon as possible if you haven’t installed Windows 10. Besides, the migration to Windows 10 is smoother than anything experienced in the past.

In the following part, let’s see how to upgrade Windows 8 to Windows 10.

How to Upgrade Windows 8 to Windows 10

Before You Upgrade

If you decide to upgrade to Windows 10 after reading the part of Windows 8 vs Windows 10, there are some things you should pay attention to before the update to avoid some potential problems.

  1. Check for any recent driver updates for the storage hardware and network.
  2. Download and install the available BIOS updates for your hardware. For systems originally sold in 2015 or earlier, before Windows 10’s release, this point is very important.
  3. Temporarily uninstall low-level tools and third-party security programs that may interfere with the update. Just reinstall them after the upgrade.
  4. Disconnect all unnecessary devices like external hard drives and USB drives.
  5. Create a system image for your system so that you can restore the system to a normal state if the update causes some system issues.

To do this work, you can use the professional Windows backup software, MiniTool ShadowMaker. It is designed to back up the system by default. Besides, you can use it to back up files, disks, and partitions. Just download it by following the button below.

MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 1: Launch MiniTool ShadowMaker to continue.

Step 2: Under the Backup page, system partitions are selected as the backup source. Just go to Destination to choose an external hard drive as the target path.

Step 3: Click Back up Now to start the system backup.

back up system with MiniTool ShadowMaker

Now, it’s time to start Windows 10 upgrade from Windows 8.

Method 1: Use Media Creation Tool

Media Creation Tool offered by Microsoft can be used to upgrade your computer and perform a clean install. To upgrade to Windows 10, just follow these steps below:

Step 1: Download Media Creation Tool by clicking Download tool now from the official website.

Step 2: Launch it and accept the terms.

Step 3: Check Upgrade this PC now and continue.

upgrade this PC

Step 4: The Setup tool is downloading Windows 10. This may take some time.

Step 5: Windows 10 Setup is checking your PC.

Step 6: It time to install Windows 10. Just decide what to keep, for example, keep personal files and apps. And click Install.

ready to install

Step 7: Your PC will restart several times to complete the installation process.

Method 2: Use Windows 10 Update Assistant

Windows 10 Update Assistant is also helpful for you to upgrade Windows 8 to 10.

Tip: This way requires you to activate your copy of Windows 8.

Step 1: Also download this tool by clicking Update now from Microsoft’s official website.

Step 2: Launch it, accept the license terms and it will check the device compatibility including CPU, memory, disk space, and operating system.

Step 3: The tool is downloading Windows 10 update.

getting your upgrade ready

Step 4: Ater the update process is finished, restart the PC to let the change take effect.

Tip: If you want to install Windows 10 on your new hard drive, follow the guide – How to Install Windows 10 on a New Hard Drive.

Bottom Line

Here we come to the end of this post. After reading this article, you know much information about Windows 8 vs Windows 10. Generally, Windows 10 is better than Windows 8. If you want to upgrade to Windows 10, follow the above two methods to easily perform the update.

If you have any suggestions, let us know in the Comment part or contact us via [email protected].

Windows 8 VS Windows 10 FAQ

Is Windows 10 better than Windows 8?
Windows 10 is better than Windows 8 in many aspects, for example, features, security, mobility, gaming, and more.
What’s the difference between Windows 8 and Windows 10?
The obvious difference between Windows 8 and Windows 10 is features, including the start menu, task view, virtual desktop, Cortana, etc. Besides, they are also different in gaming, performance, security, mobility, and more.
Is Windows 10 or 8 better for gaming?
Windows 10 is better than Windows 8 because of its improvements in gaming, especially the supports for Xbox and DirectX 12.
Can I get Windows 10 for free if I have Windows 8?
The Get Windows 10 tool is no longer supported by Microsoft. You need to offer a Windows 8 key when you install Windows 10. And Windows 10 will be installed and activated on your computer.
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