Microsoft’s Outlook for Windows is currently facing scrutiny over its notification handling, a feature that is intended to streamline user experience but has instead become a source of frustration. Users of Windows 11 have the option of two Outlook versions: the traditional Outlook Classic and the more modern new Outlook, which Microsoft is championing as the future of email management on the platform.
The new Outlook, built on the WebView2 framework, essentially functions as a browser window that loads Outlook.com. While it has made strides in launch speed, there is a noticeable lag when it comes to responding to email notifications. When a new email arrives, users expect to be taken directly to that message upon clicking the notification banner. However, the reality is that the new Outlook takes approximately 10 seconds to display the email after opening the app and loading the inbox, a stark contrast to the near-instantaneous access provided by Outlook Classic.
New Outlook takes 10 seconds to go from notification to the respective mail
To illustrate the disparity, consider this: if a user clicks on the notification banner, they are met with a delay that can be frustrating. In contrast, opening Outlook directly from the Start menu allows users to access their new emails in about five seconds, well before the notification even disappears from the screen. This discrepancy raises questions about the efficiency of the new Outlook, especially given that it is designed to enhance productivity.
The underlying architecture of the new Outlook contributes significantly to this performance issue. Built on Microsoft Edge’s WebView2 runtime, the app operates through a series of browser-like processes. Each interaction, including clicking a notification, requires the app to initialize its web layer, authenticate, and load the relevant content, which inherently adds to the wait time. In contrast, Outlook Classic runs as a single, compact process, allowing for quicker access to emails.
Outlook is based on WebView2, and like all web apps, it’s slow
Performance metrics reveal that the new Outlook consumes significantly more memory and CPU resources compared to its classic counterpart. While idle, the new Outlook uses between 490 MB and 636 MB of RAM, whereas Outlook Classic operates within a range of 117 MB to 148 MB. This fourfold difference in resource consumption is indicative of the challenges faced by web-based applications.
Despite these setbacks, Microsoft has made efforts to enhance the new Outlook since its initial release. Updates have introduced features such as improved folder search options and better shared mailbox access. However, the core issue of notification handling remains unresolved, as the inherent limitations of the WebView2 architecture continue to affect performance.
New Outlook is improving, but the gap with Classic isn’t closing anytime soon
As Microsoft pushes for wider adoption of the new Outlook, the company has acknowledged the performance limitations and is actively working on improvements. Upcoming updates promise to address some of the longstanding pain points, including a unified inbox view and enhanced calendar functionalities. Yet, many of these features are ones that Outlook Classic users have enjoyed for years, raising questions about the rationale behind the transition.
While Microsoft celebrates the growth of the new Outlook, much of this increase can be attributed to the forced migration of users from the retired Mail and Calendar apps. The improvements in launch speed are commendable, but until the notification experience aligns with the efficiency of Outlook Classic, the new Outlook may struggle to gain the trust of users who prioritize quick access to their emails.
A web app cannot fix performance issues
Looking ahead, the solution to these performance challenges may lie in a shift towards WinUI, which could pave the way for a native version of Outlook. For users who rely heavily on efficient notification handling, Outlook Classic remains the more reliable option, with support continuing until April 2029. As the new Outlook evolves, it will be interesting to see if Microsoft can bridge the gap between the two versions and deliver the seamless experience that users expect.
