The Copilot+ PC badge identifies Windows 11 laptops equipped to run advanced AI capabilities locally, leveraging dedicated NPUs and meeting Microsoft’s hardware standards. First introduced in 2024, these AI-ready devices are now offered by major manufacturers including Microsoft, Samsung, HP, and Dell.
- Copilot+ PCs must have 40 TOPS NPU performance and meet memory/storage criteria.
- Supports both Arm-based and x86 processors with local AI feature sets.
- Copilot+ badge is distinct from general AI PC marketing and premium Copilot service.
What happened
Microsoft has launched the Copilot+ PC certification to identify Windows 11 laptops capable of supporting advanced AI features processed on-device. Since June 2024, the program has expanded beyond Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors to include certain AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra chips. This certification means that such laptops have a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) delivering at least 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS), along with sufficient RAM and storage to support Microsoft’s growing AI feature set.
The Copilot+ badge appears on devices from Microsoft’s own Surface lineup and other leading PC manufacturers including Samsung, HP, and Dell. These hardware specifications allow new Windows innovations such as smoother AI-powered search, Recall, and Click to Do, which run efficiently with minimal reliance on cloud resources, improving responsiveness and battery life.
Why it matters
The introduction of Copilot+ PCs marks a significant step in mainstreaming AI integration in everyday computing by ensuring a baseline hardware capability that can handle AI workloads locally. Dedicated NPUs free up CPU and GPU resources by efficiently managing AI background processes like image analysis, speech recognition, and semantic search without sacrificing system performance or battery life. This contrasts with many prior AI PC models that featured NPUs but lacked meaningful AI use cases or standards.
Microsoft’s strict requirements differentiate Copilot+ PCs from generic AI-labeled devices, addressing consumer confusion around AI branding. Although all Copilot+ PCs are AI PCs, not all AI PCs meet the Copilot+ standard, making the badge a reliable indicator of superior AI hardware readiness and access to exclusive Windows AI experiences. However, owning a Copilot+ PC does not automatically include premium Copilot app subscriptions, which may require separate purchases or online connectivity.
What to watch next
Future developments will likely center on expanding the Copilot+ PC ecosystem both in terms of hardware compatibility and software enhancements. Microsoft is expected to refine AI features tailored to the local processing capabilities of certified devices, potentially adding more productivity and creative tools that leverage the dedicated NPU and optimized AI workloads.
Buyers should continue monitoring updates on supported hardware configurations and the growing lineup of manufacturers offering Copilot+ models. As AI capabilities become a key differentiator for laptops, understanding the distinctions between vanilla AI PCs, Copilot+ certified machines, and premium Copilot services will be crucial. Additionally, how these on-device AI features integrate with broader enterprise and consumer software ecosystems will shape adoption and benefits.