All articles tagged with #hardware requirements
Apple unveiled iOS 27 and a new Siri AI at WWDC 2026, but its most powerful on-device AI model will only run on newer hardware: iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone Air, plus iPad with M4+ 12GB RAM or Mac with M3+ 12GB RAM. The base iPhone 17 with 8GB RAM cannot run the top model on-device; other devices can still use many features via Private Cloud Compute, though at slower speeds.
The Outer Worlds 2, built on Unreal Engine 5 with advanced graphics features, has been tested across over 30 GPUs to evaluate performance, image quality, and VRAM usage, providing insights into hardware needs for optimal gameplay.
Flyoobe, a tool for bypassing Windows 11 hardware requirements, has been updated to version 1.11, adding a new initial setup UI, improved script execution, and new extensions, enhancing its capabilities to customize and clean Windows 11 installations. The app briefly disappeared from GitHub but was quickly restored.
watchOS 26 introduces new features like the Notes app, watch face hints, and Control Center upgrades, but several key features such as Wrist flick, Live Translation, Automatic volume adjustment, and updated Smart Replies are only supported on the latest Apple Watch models (Series 10, Series 9, Ultra 2) released in 2023 or later, potentially prompting users to upgrade their devices.
watchOS 26 introduces new AI-powered features for Apple Watch, such as Live Translation, Smart Replies, and Workout Buddy, each with different hardware requirements involving specific Apple Watch models and iPhones, depending on whether features use on-device models or rely on the paired iPhone's AI capabilities.
The upcoming sci-fi game Hell is Us demands high-end hardware like an RTX 4090 for 4K 30 FPS gameplay on PC, highlighting the increasing hardware requirements for modern, visually impressive Unreal Engine 5 games, even with DLSS and FSR enabled.
Recent confusion over Microsoft's Windows 11 hardware requirements arose from a minor update to an old support article, leading to false reports that the company had relaxed its standards. In reality, Microsoft's hardware requirements for Windows 11 remain unchanged, and the update merely involved minor edits to the article. The misunderstanding highlights ongoing issues with Microsoft's communication strategy regarding Windows 11 compatibility.
Microsoft has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining strict hardware requirements for Windows 11, emphasizing that the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 is essential for security and future-proofing. Despite the upcoming end of support for Windows 10 in October 2025, Microsoft insists on TPM 2.0 and other security features, making Windows 11 compatible only with CPUs released from 2018 onward. While workarounds exist for unsupported hardware, Microsoft is encouraging users to upgrade to new PCs, using full-screen prompts to highlight the end of Windows 10 support.
Microsoft will block devices with incompatible software, hardware, or drivers from upgrading to Windows 11 version 24H2, with apps like StartAllBack and ExplorerPatcher being among those that could be blocked. While software blocks can be bypassed by updating or uninstalling the problematic app, hardware blocks, such as the requirement for processors to have the SSE4.2/4a instruction set, pose a greater challenge. Users are advised to stay updated on official documentation for major update blocks and to check their PC's hardware compatibility before the public release of Windows 11 version 24H2.
Microsoft has removed 44 Intel Xeon E series processors from the official list of processors supported by Windows 11, without providing an explanation. The removal of these chips will not impact consumers directly, but it highlights the stricter hardware requirements imposed by Microsoft for Windows 11. Users should check the compatibility of their processors before upgrading to the new operating system. In other news, Intel has decided to discontinue making NUCs (Next Unit of Computing) but will allow Asus to continue their development and manufacturing. Intel is shifting its focus to the "AI PC" and revamping its processor naming and graphics card offerings.
Windows 10 is not being discontinued, but will reach its "end of life" in 2025. Upgrading to Windows 11 will depend on the age of your computer, how you use it, and your plans to replace it. Check if your hardware meets Windows 11 requirements using Microsoft's PC Health Check app. Even if your hardware is compatible, check for software compatibility issues with older programs. Don't upgrade if your system is unstable or error-prone. Make sure to have a verified backup of your critical data before upgrading.