Microsoft Windows 10 Features & Editions

Article
1/17/2024

Summary

In this article, we will look into the different editions of Windows 10 address the needs of consumers, ranging from individuals to large enterprises. Furthermore, each edition varies in terms of features and functionality. Choosing the appropriate edition is an important choice for organizations or as per customer requirements.

Windows 10 Editions

Windows 10 Home
Windows 10 Pro
Windows 10 Enterprise
Windows 10 Education
Windows 10 Mobile
Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise
Windows 10 IoT editions

Windows 10 Home

Windows 10 Home is the consumer-oriented desktop edition of Windows 10. It offers the familiar Windows experience for PCs, tablets, and hybrid laptop/tablets. Windows 10 Home includes several new features, including:

Cortana, the new personal digital assistant
Microsoft Edge, the new web browser
Continuum tablet mode for touch-capable devices
Windows Hello biometric sign-in
Virtual Desktops
Photos, Maps, Mail, Calendar, Music and Video, and other built-in universal Windows apps

Windows 10 Pro

Windows 10 Pro builds on the features of Windows 10 Home, with many extra features to meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Windows 10 Pro also is suitable for advanced consumers who are looking for features such as Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption and virtualization. Windows 10 Pro offers the new Windows Update for Business, which will:-

Reduce management costs
Provide controls over update deployment
Offer quicker access to security updates
Provide access to the latest innovation from Microsoft on an ongoing basis. Windows 10 Pro provides the following additional features
Domain Join and Group Policy Management
BitLocker
Internet Explorer with Enterprise Mode
Client Hyper-V
Microsoft Azure Active Directory Join
Windows Store for organizations
Enterprise Data Protection

Windows 10 Enterprise

Windows 10 Enterprise builds on the features of Windows 10 Pro, with additional features for large enterprises. Windows 10 Enterprise is available to volume licensing customers only. These organizations can choose the pace at which they adopt new technology, including the option to use the new Windows Update for Business. Windows 10 Enterprise also allows customer access to the Long Term Servicing Branch as a deployment option for their mission‑critical devices and environments. Windows 10 Enterprise offers new features, including Credential Guard and Device Guard to protect against security threats. Windows 10 Enterprise also supports a broad range of options for operating system deployment and device and app management. Windows 10 Enterprise provides the following additional features: ·

Direct Access
Windows To Go Creator
AppLocker
Windows Branch Cache
Start Screen Control with Group Policy
Credential Guard
Device Guard
Long Term Servicing Branch

Windows 10 Education

Windows 10 Education offers the same features as Windows 10 Enterprise, except for Long Term Servicing Branch. This edition of Windows 10 is suitable for school staff, administrators, teachers, and students. Windows 10 Education is only available through academic volume licensing.

Windows 10 Mobile

Windows 10 Mobile is for smaller, mobile, touch-centric devices, such as smartphones and tablets. It offers the same new universal Windows apps that Windows 10 Home includes, in addition to a new touch-optimized version of Microsoft Office. On new devices, Windows 10 Mobile can utilize Continuum, so you can use the phone like a PC when it is connected to a monitor with larger screen resolution. Windows 10 Mobile runs universal apps only. You cannot run desktop applications.

Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise

Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise is for business customers on smartphones and small tablets. It is available only to volume licensing customers. Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise provides businesses with flexible ways of managing updates. In addition, Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise provides quicker access to the latest security updates, and access to the latest features from Microsoft on an ongoing basis. Windows 10 on the phone shares many of the same features as its desktop version, including the same kernel, UI elements, menus, Settings, and even Cortana.

Windows 10 IoT

Windows 10 has three editions for Internet of Things (IoT)
Windows 10 IoT Core is suitable for small devices, such as robots, toy cars, and sensors
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise is suitable for devices, such as ATMs and industrial robotics
Windows 10 IoT Mobile is suitable for handheld terminals and automobiles

Comparison

Delivering Windows as a Service	Home	Pro	Enterprise	Education
Windows Update	x	x	X	X
Windows Update for Business		x	X	X
Current Branch for Business		x	X	X
Long Term Servicing Branch			X

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