Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Windows 11 VS Pop!_OS

Compare Windows 11 VS Pop!_OS and see what are their differences

Windows 11 logo Windows 11

New Windows experience bringing you closer to what you love

Pop!_OS logo Pop!_OS

A developer-focused minimalist Linux distro from System 76
  • Windows 11 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-27
  • Pop!_OS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-01

Windows 11 features and specs

  • Redesigned User Interface
    Windows 11 introduces a new, modern look with a centered taskbar, rounded corners, and a simplified Start menu, improving the overall aesthetic and user experience.
  • Enhanced Virtual Desktops
    The new virtual desktops feature allows users to create separate desktops for different tasks or projects, which can improve productivity by keeping workspaces organized.
  • Improved Performance
    Windows 11 boasts a more efficient operating system with faster wake times, better resource management, and optimized battery performance for supported devices.
  • DirectStorage Support
    Gamers benefit from DirectStorage, which enables faster load times and improved gaming experiences by allowing the graphics card to load data directly from the SSD.
  • Snap Assist and Snap Layouts
    Windows 11 offers improved multitasking capabilities with Snap Assist and Snap Layouts, making it easier to arrange open windows and boost productivity.

Possible disadvantages of Windows 11

  • Hardware Compatibility
    Windows 11 has strict hardware requirements, meaning older devices may not meet the minimum specifications needed to upgrade.
  • Learning Curve
    The redesigned UI and new features might require users to adapt to the changes, which could result in a steeper learning curve for some people.
  • Limited Android App Support
    While Windows 11 offers the ability to run Android apps, the feature is limited and requires the use of the Amazon Appstore, which has fewer apps compared to Google Play.
  • Migration Challenges
    Users upgrading from older versions of Windows may face challenges with migrating their settings, applications, and data to the new operating system.
  • Potential Bugs and Instability
    As with many new operating systems, early versions of Windows 11 might experience bugs and stability issues that could affect productivity and user experience.

Pop!_OS features and specs

  • Optimized for Productivity
    Pop!_OS is built with various features oriented towards productivity, such as a customized GNOME desktop environment that includes tiling window management and keyboard shortcuts.
  • User-Friendly Installation
    The installation process for Pop!_OS is straightforward and user-friendly, making it accessible for both beginners and advanced users.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Pop!_OS is developed by System76, a hardware manufacturer, ensuring excellent support and compatibility with a wide range of hardware, particularly their own computers.
  • Regular Updates
    The operating system receives regular updates, ensuring that users have access to the latest features, security patches, and improvements.
  • Pre-installed NVIDIA Drivers
    Pop!_OS offers a version with pre-installed NVIDIA drivers, which simplifies the setup process for users with NVIDIA graphics cards.

Possible disadvantages of Pop!_OS

  • Limited Community Support
    While Pop!_OS has a growing community, it is still relatively small compared to more established distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora, which might make finding solutions to specific issues more difficult.
  • Resource Intensive
    Pop!_OS's GNOME-based desktop environment can be more resource-intensive compared to other lightweight desktop environments, which might not be ideal for older hardware.
  • Default GNOME Environment
    Some users may prefer other desktop environments over GNOME, and while it's possible to install them on Pop!_OS, it doesn’t come with this flexibility out of the box.
  • Designed for System76 Hardware
    Although it works well on various hardware, Pop!_OS is primarily developed for System76 devices, which might lead to some optimizations not being as effective on non-System76 hardware.
  • Learning Curve for New Users
    New users coming from Windows or macOS might find certain aspects of Pop!_OS different and challenging, such as the tiling window manager and keyboard-driven workflow.

Analysis of Pop!_OS

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Pop!_OS is highly regarded in the Linux community, praised for its ease of use, especially for individuals who need good hardware support out of the box, such as developers and gamers. However, as with any Linux distribution, user preference plays a big role, and trying it out is the best way to see if it meets your needs.

Why this product is good

  • Pop!_OS is a popular Linux distribution developed by System76. It is designed to provide a clean, efficient, and user-friendly desktop experience. Its strong points include excellent support for NVIDIA GPUs, a customized GNOME desktop environment with added features, and the Pop!_Shop for easy application management. It's also noted for its focus on privacy and security, alongside seamless updates and system performance.

Recommended for

  • Developers seeking a stable and customizable platform
  • Gamers needing reliable GPU support
  • Users new to Linux looking for a smooth and straightforward experience
  • Individuals concerned with system privacy and security

Windows 11 videos

Windows 11 - What's New?

More videos:

  • Review - My Thoughts on Windows 11!
  • Review - Windows 11 Reactions: It Runs Android Apps! (Kinda)

Pop!_OS videos

Pop!_OS Is Even Better With 19.10 (Full Review)

More videos:

  • Review - Moving In - Pop!_OS 19.04 Review
  • Review - Using Pop!_OS 19.10 ep. 1 - Intro, Installation, Desktop and Gaming Prep

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Windows 11 and Pop!_OS)
Operating Systems
6 6%
94% 94
Linux
5 5%
95% 95
Linux Distribution
6 6%
94% 94
Windows
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Windows 11 and Pop!_OS

Windows 11 Reviews

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Pop!_OS Reviews

10 Most Popular Linux Distros of the Year 2023
Although Pop!_OS is based on Ubuntu, it is still able to make its unique place among Dekstop users because of its fast performance, with a customized GNOME desktop environment to provide a polished interface and out-of-the-box installed software & drivers. The US hardware distributor System76 developers behind the Pop!_OS also offers Laptops and desktops with pre-installed...
12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
Pop!_OS is based on Ubuntu and uses the COSMIC desktop environment, which is Pop!_OS’ homemade desktop environment based on GNOME. However, unlike GNOME, it’s a lot cleaner and has got a few neat tricks up its sleeve, like the keyboard shortcuts, which makes Pop!_OS one of the cleanest Linux systems. Overall, Pop!_OS is a great option for budding creators as well as folks...
Source: beebom.com
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Pop!_OS has been developed by System76 and is based on Ubuntu. The operating system offers GPU support for AMD and Nvidia as well as their programming interface CUDA. Pop!_OS has a high-quality desktop environment and offers a tiling function that benefits gamers.
Source: www.ionos.com
7 Best Rufus Alternatives To Create Bootable USB In 2022
Popsicle is a USB flasher shipped with Pop!_OS, one of the most popular Linux distributions. One of the best features of the tool is that it allows you to flash an ISO to multiple USB devices simultaneously.
Source: fossbytes.com
13 Best Linux distros for gaming in 2022
The Pop!_OS distro by hardware vendor System76 is one of the best options for gamers who want to assemble their own gaming installation.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Pop!_OS seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 456 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Windows 11 mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Windows 11 yet. Tracking of Windows 11 recommendations started around Jun 2021.

Pop!_OS mentions (456)

  • Part 1: Getting Started With Linux
    To start using Linux, I personally would recommend going with Pop!_OS. You got a few options here: either you can run it on a VM or install it on Bare Metal. Don't worry, I got you covered—you can use any one of the following methods:. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • The Future Is Niri
    Did you see Pop OS? https://pop.system76.com/ They follow ubuntu releases, kind of. The downside, they went all in into their new desktop env - cosmic, and until they release it they won't move on from 20.04.. I really loved the tiling feature in PopOS 20.04 which came out of the box. But then I bought a new laptop, and had to move to arch to use it.. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Apple's Software Quality Crisis: When Premium Hardware Meets Subpar Software
    Please try a distro [0] maintained by a company making their own Linux laptops. [0] https://pop.system76.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Perl 🐪 Weekly #707 - Is it ethical?
    What is Pop!_OS? Sounds like the name of one of the kids of Elon Musk. But no. It is apparently an Ubuntu-based Linux operating system for STEM and creative professionals. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Malibal and Coreboot Have a Disagreement
    > We no longer ship to Colorado due to the actions of System76's Principal Engineer (https://www.system76.com), Pop_OS! Maintainer (https://pop.system76.com), and Redox OS BDFL (https://www.redox-os.org) named Jeremy Soller (https://soller.dev). Source: https://portal.malibal.com/kb/a1064/why-dont-you-ship-to-colorado/ Err, what? I really can't follow the logic here. What does some dude have to do with Colorado. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Windows 11 and Pop!_OS, you can also consider the following products

Zorin OS - A powerful operating system designed to make your computer faster, more secure and easier to use. DownloadDownload Lite - Install Zorin OS - Education - .

Linux Mint - Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people.

Fedora - Fedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.

Manjaro - Manjaro Linux is a linux distribution which is based on arch linux. It uses the PACMAN package manager.

EndeavourOS - An Arch-based distro with a dynamic and friendly community in its core

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.