Windows 11: the boxed version is coming

For a while, the only way to get Windows 11 was through a Windows 10 update or by downloading the ISO online. However, Microsoft is now introducing a new retail box for its new operating system… but its contents may not contain what you expect.

New boxes of Microsoft Windows 11

As noted by Neowin, the US store Best Buy has been selling Windows 11 in a boxed version. And if Microsoft wants to, there's a good chance we'll start seeing these packages around the world.

The boxes are available in two colors; a clean white for the Windows 11 Home edition, and a dark blue for the Pro version. And interestingly, the price matches the Windows 10 retail editions: $139.99 for the home version and $199.99 for the Pro, respectively.

So what's in the box? Since CD drives are no longer a guarantee on PCs (especially laptops), the boxes contain a Windows 11 USB drive with the installation files stored on it. As such, as long as your computer has a USB slot (and it should!) then you'll be good to go.

Is physical installation media still popular?

It's interesting to see Microsoft release physical media these days. With so many easy ways to download and install Windows 11 from the internet, it might be baffling why Microsoft still sells boxed versions.

However, the internet is still not fast enough in some countries to download large files like Windows 11. Some ISPs still have unstable, slow connections, which would make downloading an entire operating system a lengthy task.

As such, Microsoft likely made this move based on data suggesting that physical retail products are still worth selling. And as long as people struggle to download large files online, there's a good chance they'll continue to be a thing for the foreseeable future.