Windows 8 Editions and Comparison
Windows 8 Edition Comparison chart
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Comparison of Windows 8 editions |
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|
Features |
Windows RT |
Windows 8 |
Windows 8 Pro |
Windows 8 Enterprise |
| Availability[14] |
Pre-installed on devices |
Most channels |
Most channels |
Volume License customers |
| Architecture |
ARM (32-bit) |
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| Maximum physical memory (RAM)[15] |
? |
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| Trusted boot |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Picture password |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Start screen, Semantic Zoom, Live Tiles |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Touch and Thumb keyboard |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Language packs |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Updated File Explorer |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Standard apps[a] |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| File History |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Refresh and reset of OS |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Play To |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Connected standby |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Windows Update |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Windows Defender |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Better multi-monitor support |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| New Windows Task Manager |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| ISO image and VHD mounting |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Mobile broadband features |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Microsoft account integration |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Internet Explorer 10 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| SmartScreen |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Windows Store |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Xbox Live app (including Xbox Live Arcade)[16][17] |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Exchange ActiveSync |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Snap |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Can connect to a VPN? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Desktop |
Partial |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Supported third-party apps[4][18] |
Windows Store apps only |
Windows Store and desktop |
Windows Store and desktop |
Windows Store and desktop |
| Remote Desktop |
Client only |
Client only |
Client and host |
Client and host |
| Storage Spaces |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Windows Media Player |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Encryption features |
Device encryption |
Unavailable |
||
| Sideload Windows Store apps |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Boot from VHD |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Can join a Windows domain? |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Group Policy |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Hyper-V[22] |
No |
No |
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| AppLocker |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Windows To Go |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| DirectAccess |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| BranchCache |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Can be virtualized by RemoteFX? |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Services for Network File System[25] |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Microsoft Office apps bundled with OS[e] |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
| Windows Media Center |
No |
No |
Via an add-in |
No |
|
Windows RT |
Windows 8 |
Windows 8 Pro |
Windows 8 Enterprise |
|