Classic vs. New Outlook: What is new?

In the world of digital communication and productivity, Microsoft Outlook stands as a cornerstone for both personal and professional use. With the latest update of Office 2021, users now have the opportunity to experience the new Outlook for Windows, which promises a modern, streamlined design and advanced features aimed at enhancing your productivity. In this blog post, we will delve into the major differences between the classic Outlook and the new Outlook, helping you decide which version suits your needs best.

A Glimpse into the New Outlook

The new Outlook for Windows brings the latest features, intelligent assisted capabilities, and a sleek, simplified design. This update is tailored to help users connect, organize, and complete tasks more efficiently. The new Outlook is available for those with a Microsoft 365 subscription, and Microsoft is keen on user feedback to continuously improve the experience.

Key Enhancements in the New Outlook

  1. Modern and Simplified Design: The new Outlook boasts a clean, user-friendly interface that enhances readability and usability.
  2. Microsoft Copilot Integration: This AI-driven feature assists in drafting emails, scheduling, and other tasks, making it a powerful tool for productivity.
  3. Improved Calendar and Event Management: Enhanced features like in-person event scheduling, meeting insights, and better integration with online meeting tools (e.g., Zoom, Webex) offer a seamless calendar experience.
  4. Advanced Email Management: New functionalities like email pinning, snoozing, and scheduled sending provide users with greater control over their inbox.
  5. Enhanced Search Capabilities: The new Outlook includes advanced search options and refiners, making it easier to find emails, files, and calendar entries.

How to Switch to the New Outlook

Switching to the new Outlook is straightforward if your accounts are supported. Look for the toggle switch in the upper-right corner of your current Outlook or Windows Mail app. Selecting this will download the new app, and you can import your settings from the classic version. If you wish to revert to the classic Outlook, simply turn off the toggle switch.

Feature Comparison: Classic vs. New Outlook

To provide a detailed comparison, let’s break down the features available in both versions of Outlook.

Account Support

FeatureClassic OutlookNew Outlook
Work or school accountAvailableAvailable
Microsoft accounts (Outlook.com, Hotmail.com)AvailableAvailable
Gmail, iCloud, YahooAvailableAvailable
IMAP, POPAvailableAvailable
Exchange (on-prem and on-prem ADFS)AvailableUnder investigation
Multiple mail profilesAvailableUpcoming
Shared mailbox/foldersAvailableUpcoming

App Framework

FeatureClassic OutlookNew Outlook
Calendar moduleAvailableAvailable
Custom formsAvailableNot supported
LDAP SupportAvailableNot supported
Multiple window supportAvailableAvailable
Notes moduleAvailablePartially available
Offline supportAvailableUpcoming
.PST supportAvailableUpcoming
Tasks moduleAvailableAvailable
ThemesPartially availableAvailable
VDI SupportAvailableNot supported

Calendar Features

FeatureClassic OutlookNew Outlook
3-day calendar viewAvailableAvailable
Add attendees as optionalAvailableAvailable
Category colorsAvailableAvailable
Delegate accessAvailableUpcoming
Edit this and all following events in a seriesNot supportedAvailable
In-person eventsNot supportedAvailable
Group calendarsAvailableAvailable
Meeting insightsPartially availableAvailable
My Day / To-do barAvailableAvailable
Quick creation of eventsAvailableAvailable
Save meeting as a draftAvailableAvailable
Sensitivity labelsAvailableAvailable
Shortened meetingsAvailableAvailable
Show as working elsewhereAvailableAvailable

People Features

FeatureClassic OutlookNew Outlook
Address bookAvailablePartially available
Browsable (Global Address List)AvailableNot supported
Contacts/PeopleAvailableAvailable
Contact ListsAvailableAvailable
Contact CategoriesNot SupportedAvailable
Distribution groups managementAvailableUpcoming
Favorite contactsAvailableAvailable
Offline supportAvailableUpcoming
Preview contactsAvailableAvailable

Extensibility

FeatureClassic OutlookNew Outlook
COM add-insAvailableNot supported
Content formsAvailableNot supported
Web add-insAvailableAvailable
Spam reporting, phishing, and smart alert improvementsUpcomingUpcoming

Folders

FeatureClassic OutlookNew Outlook
Account reorderAvailableUnder investigation
Favorite foldersAvailableAvailable
Favorite groups, people, categoriesNot supportedAvailable
Favorite shared foldersAvailableUpcoming
Folder reorderAvailableUpcoming
Online archiveAvailableAvailable
Public foldersAvailablePartially available
Search foldersAvailablePartially available

Help and Support

FeatureClassic OutlookNew Outlook
Contact support (in-app)AvailableAvailable
Premium supportAvailableUpcoming
Give feedbackAvailableAvailable
Help (in-app)AvailableAvailable

Mail and Search

FeatureClassic OutlookNew Outlook
Calendar answersNot supportedAvailable
RefinersNot supportedAvailable
File answersNot supportedAvailable
File tabNot supportedAvailable
Online archive search results in primary mailboxNot supportedAvailable
Speller suggestionsAvailableAvailable
Search settingsAvailableAvailable
Search file suggestionsAvailableAvailable
Search mail suggestionsAvailableAvailable
Search calendar suggestionsAvailableAvailable
Teams TabNot supportedAvailable
Top ResultsAvailableAvailable

Security and Compliance

FeatureClassic OutlookNew Outlook
Block senderAvailableAvailable
Continuous access evaluationAvailableAvailable
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)AvailablePartially Available
Mandatory labelingAvailableAvailable
Report phishing or junkAvailableAvailable
Spam reporting, phishing, and smart alert improvementsUpcomingUpcoming
Sensitivity labelsAvailableAvailable
S/MIMEAvailableUpcoming

Teams Integration

FeatureClassic OutlookNew Outlook
Meeting chatNot supportedAvailable
Presence indicatorsAvailableAvailable
Reply by chatAvailableUpcoming
Share to TeamsAvailableAvailable

Personalization and Customization

The new Outlook allows for extensive personalization to fit your unique workflow. Here are some of the standout customization features:

  1. Ribbon Customization: Adjust the size and commands of the ribbon to match your needs. This feature is particularly useful if you prefer a more streamlined or a more classic, feature-rich interface.
  2. Navigation Bar: Easily switch between Mail, Calendar, Contacts, and other frequently used apps.
  3. My Day Feature: Access your calendar or tasks without leaving your inbox, ensuring you stay on top of your schedule.
  4. Pinned Emails: Pin important emails to the top of your inbox for quick access.
  5. Snooze Emails: Temporarily remove emails from your inbox and have them reappear at a scheduled time.

Conclusion

The new Outlook for Windows, available with Office 2021, offers a host of new features and improvements designed to enhance productivity and streamline communication. Whether you prefer the classic, tried-and-true Outlook or are eager to explore the modern, feature-rich new Outlook, Microsoft provides options to suit various preferences and needs.

Switching between the classic and new Outlook is simple, allowing you to experiment and determine which version enhances your workflow. Microsoft continues to listen to user feedback, ensuring that both versions evolve to meet user demands effectively.

What do you think of the new Outlook? Have you tried it yet? Share your experiences and feedback in the comments below!


Feel free to visit our webshop, Carbide Software, to get your copy of Office 2021 and start exploring the new Outlook today!

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