Windows 11 is getting a new performance boost feature, designed to speed up your everyday tasks. The feature, called Low Latency Profile, utilizes temporary CPU clock speed boosts to improve responsiveness in tasks such as launching apps, opening content menus, and other common actions within Windows.

Soon after news of the feature spread, some users started to brand the technique ‘lazy’ – now, Microsoft VP & Member of Technical Staff, Scott Hanselman, has responded to criticism by saying “it’s not cheating; this is how modern systems make apps feel fast,” pointing towards the alternative such as open-source Linux and Apple’s macOS.

This is how modern computer science works, says Microsoft VP

Whether you seen this as a lazy or cheap way of gaining performance, due to a lack of ‘real’ optimization, Hanselman is putting the point across that it isn’t something unique to Windows. It has long been popular to make fun of Windows for its numerous flaws, but the likes of Apple have been making performance gains in the same way.

Hanselman admits that some of the backlash on social media can be put down to trolling, but “some just think that they are right”. He says “Let Windows cook” with the feature, also adding that smartphones do the exact same thing “Constantly” – it’s simply a part of modern computer science, says the Microsoft developer.

Low Latency Profile is currently being tested in the Windows Insider Program, boosting your CPU to max frequency for around 1-3 seconds when triggering a high-priority task such as accessing the start menu or launching programs. Reportedly, these boosts can offer up to 40% faster launch times for first-party apps such as Edge and Outlook, and up to 70% gains for the Windows interface – again, think the start menu or context/right click menus.

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Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.