What are Copilot+ PCs? Here’s everything you need to understand.

      As you stroll through a laptop section in 2026, the Copilot+ PC branding stands out prominently on most Windows laptops. From Microsoft's Surface line to offerings from other manufacturers like Samsung, HP, and Dell, laptops sporting this badge signify they are equipped for AI capabilities. At first glance, the name suggests a computer featuring an upgraded version of the Copilot chatbot, which only partially captures its essence.

      A Copilot+ PC refers to a Windows 11 computer that satisfies Microsoft's hardware criteria for enhanced on-device AI functionalities, including a compatible processor with a dedicated NPU. Additionally, it requires a specific amount of RAM and storage, facilitating access to Windows features such as Recall, Click to Do, and more. Many of these features utilize the NPU to process data locally, decreasing dependence on cloud servers and improving efficiency in the background.

      Since the introduction of the initial Copilot+ laptops in June 2024, the badge has seen significant expansion. Initially, only Snapdragon X processors were compliant, but current models can also employ qualifying AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra chips, providing buyers with options between Arm and traditional x86 Windows systems. Here’s everything you should know.

      **What is a Copilot+ PC?**

      Copilot+ is Microsoft’s certification for a specific category of Windows 11 AI PCs. A qualifying device integrates a sufficiently powerful NPU alongside Microsoft's minimum requirements for memory and storage. The Copilot app itself does not necessitate this hardware. A standard Windows 11 PC can still utilize Microsoft Copilot since it relies on an internet connection. In contrast, Copilot+ systems benefit from a unique set of Windows features designed for local AI processing.

      It's important to note that purchasing a Copilot+ PC does not inherently include a premium Copilot or Microsoft 365 subscription. While most built-in Windows experiences are part of the operating system, certain features and connected services may require an account, internet access, or an additional subscription.

      **Copilot+ PC Hardware Requirements**

      - **Processor:** Compatible chip or system-on-chip with a 40+ TOPS NPU

      - **Memory:** 16GB DDR5 or LPDDR5

      - **Storage:** 256GB SSD or UFS

      - **Operating System:** Windows 11, with current Copilot+ experiences necessitating supported updates

      Currently, Microsoft identifies the following processors as compatible:

      - AMD Ryzen AI 300 and 400 series

      - Intel Core Ultra 200 and 300 series

      - Qualcomm Snapdragon X series

      However, simply having a processor categorized under one of these families does not guarantee that every configuration will support all features. Buyers should verify the presence of the Copilot+ PC badge and check the manufacturer's specifications.

      **What are TOPS, and why do you need an NPU?**

      Copilot+ PCs specialize in AI capabilities. Nonetheless, this was a significant challenge with previous generations of AI PCs. Although they had NPUs, there was little to no practical application for them. The NPU is a dedicated component of the processor optimized for handling AI workloads efficiently. While CPUs and GPUs can execute AI models, the NPU is specifically designed for prolonged tasks like background effects, image analysis, speech processing, and semantic searches without heavily taxing the main CPU or GPU.

      Microsoft measures the minimum NPU performance in TOPS, which stands for trillion operations per second. A Copilot+ PC requires at least 40 TOPS from its NPU. This measurement represents just one aspect of the device, without indicating the speed of the CPU or its gaming performance. Thus, two systems with the same Copilot+ label might offer vastly different performance levels in daily use.

      **AI PC versus Copilot+ PC**

      The term "AI PC" is a broad industry term that manufacturers generally use for computers with an NPU or other hardware designed to enhance AI tasks. In contrast, Copilot+ PC is Microsoft’s more precisely defined category. All Copilot+ computers are AI PCs, whereas many systems labeled as AI PCs may fall short of Microsoft's 40 TOPS benchmark or lack access to the complete Copilot+ feature set. For instance, an older Intel Core Ultra laptop might advertise AI features and an NPU but might not have the Copilot+ badge if its NPU doesn't meet Microsoft's requirements.

      **Are all Copilot+ PCs Arm computers?**

      No, not all Copilot+ systems are based on Arm architecture. The initial Copilot+ devices utilized Qualcomm’s Arm-based Snapdragon X processors, which seemed to tie the category closely to Windows on Arm. However, both Intel and AMD have since introduced qualifying x86 processors. Nevertheless, compatibility is not always uniform. While Snapdragon models can provide excellent responsiveness and battery efficiency, Windows 11 uses Microsoft’s Prism emulator to run many x86 and x64 applications that lack native Arm versions.

      **What AI features do Copilot+ PCs include?**

      Microsoft’s list of features for Copilot+ has expanded significantly since its launch. Availability can