In May 2024, Microsoft unveiled a new initiative called Copilot+ PC for Windows laptops. If you’re not a regular in the Windows scene, you might have greeted the announcement with a perplexed shoulder shrug—perplexity that remains owing to what appears to be ambiguous communication around the term.
Today, I’ll clarify everything for you, outlining what Copilot+ is, its significance (or lack thereof), and most critically, if your next laptop should be a Copilot+ PC.
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The confusion likely stems from here. Copilot is Microsoft’s generative AI chatbot, initially launched in February 2023 as Bing Chat and later renamed Copilot—”Your everyday AI companion.” You can explore it by visiting copilot.microsoft.com or, if you own a Windows machine manufactured post-January 2024, by pressing the Copilot button next to the space bar. Copilot is straightforward: a web-based tool designed to generate text, create images, and assist in brainstorming ideas.
While Copilot+ might sound like an enhanced version of Copilot, it is in fact a completely new class of PC hardware dedicated to AI functions.
Microsoft has defined strict criteria for what computing equipment qualifies for the Copilot+ designation. Key among these requirements is the stipulation that the PC must incorporate an AI processor, specifically a neural processing unit (NPU), that is capable of 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS), supported by 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of SSD storage. Although advertised to possess “all-day battery life,” this isn’t included in the formal specifications. Currently, only laptops have received the Copilot+ PC label, but theoretically, desktops could meet the criteria in the future.
The core of these requirements hinges on the capacity for 40 TOPS. At their introduction, the only chips that fulfilled this condition came from Qualcomm, featuring the specially built Snapdragon X Elite chipset—deviating from the traditional Intel or AMD processors associated with Windows machines. (Qualcomm is predominantly known for manufacturing the majority of processors found in smartphones.) The Snapdragon series utilizes ARM architecture, unlike the x86 frameworks that have led the PC domain since the late 1970s.
In simple terms, ARM chips prioritize a streamlined, efficient design, moving away from the complex processes that have been key to improving x86 performance over the years. Chances are, your desktop runs on an x86 processor, while your smartphone operates on an ARM chip.
Windows PCs based on Qualcomm/ARM started in the late 2010s, yet they failed to make a significant market impact. Microsoft’s initial foray in 2019 with Qualcomm-powered PCs was a notable failure. Interest in ARM-based PCs languished until Apple transitioned to its own ARM-based chips in 2020, dramatically enhancing performance and battery life with its ARM M1 chips. This reignited interest in Windows on ARM, pushing Microsoft to intensify its efforts with Qualcomm and introduce the Copilot+ PC brand.
No x86 processor had achieved Microsoft’s 40 TOPS specification—until recently. Previously, AMD and Intel’s NPUs peaked below 20 TOPS, but their latest releases have surpassed this threshold. Devices featuring AMD Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel Core Ultra 200V series now meet the criteria for Copilot+ PCs. By November 2024, these Intel and AMD laptops are expected to gain Copilot+ enhancements through Windows Update.
The specifics of TOPS may not mean much to the average user. More importantly, what functionalities do these TOPS provide? Copilot+ PCs offer a suite of six exclusive features.
Beyond these capabilities, Copilot+ PCs are adept at handling standard business applications such as Microsoft Office, web browsers, among others. They often surpass similar priced Intel and AMD laptops in performance benchmarks. Additionally, their battery efficiency is commendable, owing to the reduced power demands of ARM CPUs.
There’s a notable challenge in the ARM ecosystem. For many years, Windows software has continuously been developed to operate effectively on x86 processors. Introducing a different chip architecture means substantial changes are required in the software infrastructure. This is a massive task given the sheer volume of applications available today.
Today, the compatibility of applications on ARM has improved compared to five years ago, largely due to Microsoft’s Prism emulator, which helps in bridging the differences between software designed for x86 processors and ARM CPUs. However, not all issues are solved. Certain applications do not run, some are under development, and others depend on emulation, which generally leads to decreased performance. While there is no definitive guide on what is supported, this website provides the most detailed overview available.
The reality is that the more you demand from your computer beyond basic tasks, the more you’re likely to encounter compatibility challenges. Several games and specific applications like VPNs either do not function or perform poorly on ARM. Even widespread applications such as Google Drive for Desktop are not supported on ARM. Moreover, many standard Windows benchmarks fail to run on ARM platforms, which complicates direct performance comparisons with x86 systems.
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge Copilot+ PC
Graphics performance to date has been notably weak on Copilot+ PCs, due to the Snapdragon chipset’s integrated GPU being less capable than those by Intel and AMD, coupled with the lack of support for more robust discrete graphics. For those who are enthusiasts in gaming or need to perform GPU-intensive tasks like video rendering, a Copilot+ PC might not meet your needs.
The issues mentioned will not affect the forthcoming Intel- or AMD-based Copilot+ PCs, as they will not face ARM compatibility problems, although they may offer lesser battery life compared to current models.
Currently, Copilot+ PCs are suitable for users who prioritize exceptional battery life and do not demand high performance from their devices. Some of the AI features in Copilot+ PCs, such as Live Translate, are incredibly effective, while others may appear as mere gimmicks. The future importance of features like Recall is yet to be determined, which might concern privacy-focused individuals.
In assessing Copilot+ PCs, it is crucial to evaluate them based on their individual performance, features, and costs, which can significantly differ than one might expect.
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