The next feature update for Windows 11 is expected to be released later this spring, just a few months before Microsoft releases the next generation Windows client. Microsoft even designed a hardware button specifically for Copilot. We don't know the exact launch date, but Dell may be able to give us a clue, of course, if you believe the information in the promotional materials is accurate.
This week, Dell announced its new XPS laptops, and its marketing materials touted, among other things, its support for Wi-Fi 7. The footnote stated that Wi-Fi7 requires Windows 11 "24H1 version, which cannot be downloaded until April CY24 and can not be factory installed in August CY24."
As a major hardware partner of Microsoft, Dell obviously has some knowledge about the upcoming release of Windows. Furthermore, this statement is consistent with the recently released Intel Wi-Fi 7 driver "pending operating system support." A recent knowledge base article from Netgear also shows that Wi-Fi7 needs to be updated to Windows 11 to be supported.
There is no information yet on whether Microsoft plans to release a large Windows 11 update in the first half of 2024, so Dell's promotional materials may refer to the upcoming, smaller "Moment 5" update. The next version of Windows sounds more like a contender for a full version upgrade, especially with recent reports that Microsoft wants to stick to one "version" of updates per year and doesn't want to further segment the Windows market with "Windows 12." Therefore, the expected big update may retain the current Windows 11 branding, but the version number is 24H2 (this version naming method has always been confusing).
No matter what Microsoft calls the next Windows 11 update, the time frame Dell mentioned is reasonable. The "Moment5" update (or 24H1 build as Dell calls it) is expected to complete development in February, become an optional update for early access users in March, and be fully rolled out in April's "Patch Tuesday" update.