Analysts have warned that Windows 10 end-of-life plans could lead to a global torrent of electronic waste, with millions of devices expected to be thrown away in the coming years.
Canalys research shows that up to 240 million PCs worldwide could be canceled as a result of the move to Windows 11, raising critical questions about device upgrades and vendors' responsibility to extend lifecycles.
A key concern highlighted by Canalys was Microsoft's current practices regarding Windows 11 device compatibility .
Minimum system requirements for installation. windows 11 on a PC it means that users must have a processor of at least 1 GHz or faster along with a minimum of 4 GB of RAM. Storage requirements are also set at a minimum of 64 GB.
Many of the devices that will be discarded after the Windows 10 support deadline, set for October 2025, will not meet these requirements despite being in โgood conditionโ and potentially recycled by companies.
The consultancy added that many of these 240 million devices will end up in landfills.
"Its incompatibility with the latest supported version of Windows greatly reduces its value for restoration and resale," Canalys said.
"If all of these were folded laptops, stacked on top of each other, they would form a stack 600 kilometers higher than the moon."
In the coming years, Canalys warned that this could put significant pressure on IT budgets, with many organizations adjusting their finances as a result of the difficult economic conditions.
Suppliers โhave the responsibility to extend useful lifeโ
Canalys said its research highlights the critical need for device makers and software providers like Microsoft to "maximize product lifespan."
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He Environmental impact of massive device scrapping. It will be important, the consultancy warned, and suppliers should focus more on supporting circular economy objectives.
"OEMs must build durability, repairability and recyclability into the design of their devices, and operating system vendors must ensure that these devices are usable and secure for as long as possible," he said.
The lack of strong regulatory standards at present means there is no impetus for suppliers to change practices in this regard, Canalys noted.
Windows 10 end-of-life security support has been expanded
In December, Microsoft announced plans to provide extended security updates for Windows 10 through 2028, allowing users to continue receiving critical security patches after the official end of support deadline.
However, to access this, users will have to pay an as yet unspecified fee.
Canalys welcomed the move as a positive step to extend shelf life, but noted that these fees could be prohibitive for some organizations on tight budgets.
"While providing extended support may extend the life of PCs not eligible for Windows 11, the cost of these security updates will likely be a barrier for many users," he warned.
Pricing plans for Windows 7 Extended Support Scheme for example, it started at $25 per PC for the first year of support, but eventually quadrupled to $100 per device annually.
"If Microsoft pursues a similar pricing structure for extended Windows 10 support, the most cost-effective option will be migrating to newer Windows 11-capable PCs, forcing older PCs to be scrapped."
