- Microsoft just split the Canary test channel into two paths
- One of these will see underlying platform changes initiated
- This will likely be the 27H2 update next year, which will unite Arm PCs and AMD/Intel devices – and it’s a release that Microsoft has to get right.
Microsoft has just split the earliest preview builds of Windows 11 into two different paths, one of which will apparently lead to the big update next year.
Windows Central noted the announcement from Microsoft and observed that one of the two paths that the Canary channel has been distributed will likely make it to the 27H2 update next year.
Microsoft says splitting the channel this way is for the following reason: “This will help us validate platform changes at various stages while continuing to deliver new features and experiences to Insiders [testers] in the Canary Channel.”
In other words, the current Canary releases will continue to be builds in the 28000 series, with the new channel having build numbers in the 29500 series (starting with 29531 right now).
The “platform changes” mentioned means switching to a new underlying platform for Windows 11 from the current ‘Germanium’ base (heralded with the 24H2 update).
Of course, Arm PCs will already get a new platform, which is codenamed ‘Bromine’ and will arrive immediately with Windows 11 version 26H1. This is because the Snapdragon X2 silicon, which is debuting shortly, requires some tinkering under the hood. Other non-Arm PCs won’t get this at all – and don’t need it, or the risk of it causing problems with those devices – so will have a separate 26H2 update (which will still be on Germanium).
So effectively, Arm PCs and AMD/Intel (x86) PCs will be on two different versions of Windows 11 for their underlying platform this year – but they’ll still have the same features on top.
Next year, however, both of these platforms will be merged in the 27H2 update, which is likely to have just started testing. Windows Central guesses that this may be codenamed ‘Strontium’.
Analysis: Strontium canaries
In short, what’s going to happen is that canary testers who choose the new (later) build series will be testing the foundation of Windows 11 27H2. This means that they will not get new features, as these will be delivered to the other (earlier) Canary builds.
It’s hard enough for Microsoft to rework the foundation of the operating system without throwing new features on top of that activity to cause more potential bugs and confusion. So the smartest move is to separate these builds, as we see here (and has been done before).
In fact, it’s not just that they won’t get new options, but the 29500 series testers will see some features cut initially, as Microsoft explains: “Please note, due to the focus on platform development for this path, you may notice a temporary loss in some features that you have today. These features will return to this new active development build.”
In the bigger picture, if this is version 27H2 – which seems very likely – this is the incarnation of Windows 11 that Microsoft aims to make less buggy and generally more performant, as the software giant recently promised. This is going to involve quite a bit of work under the hood, and I imagine this revamping of the very guts of Windows 11 is what’s starting right now. We’re also seeing evidence of more tweaking above ground, so to speak, smoothing out existing features in the form of bug squashing and making everything more responsive.
All of this suggests that Microsoft’s campaign to ‘fix Windows 11’ and the basics of the operating system is really underway, and it’s great to see action being taken – but we need to see the results before we get too enthusiastic here.
Aside from the actual coding and the task of polishing Windows 11, we also need to see Microsoft improve its QA processes to better catch bugs early so that fewer of those bugs end up being inflicted on the computing public. Far too many bugs plague Windows 11 release candidates, and it’s been that way for some time now – ever since 24H2.
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