Quick Links
In the market for a new laptop? You’ve probably bumped into Microsoft’s Copilot+ laptops and wondered what on earth they are.
While Microsoft’s new Copilot+ laptop branding doesn’t give much away, it basically means you’ll be buying a new device with an AI processor, enabling on-device AI features.
What Are Microsoft’s Copilot+ Laptops and PCs?
Microsoft’s Copilot+ laptops (and PCs) are devices built with integrated AI processing. Where a “regular” PC or laptop uses a CPU and GPU, Copilot+ devices also come with an NPU (neural processing unit).
The integrated NPU helps deliver on-device AI features, meaning that AI features can run without access to the internet. Instead of waiting for Copilot to connect to a remote server to provide an answer to your question, a Copilot+ device uses its NPU to answer the question directly.
Copilot+ laptops and PCs also enable other AI features. For example, a Copilot+ laptop or PC can generate artificial images on the device. Now, software like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion already enable this on your local device, but you’ll typically need a high-end graphics card to make it worthwhile. A Copilot+ laptop or PC with an NPU can generate AI images on the device without requiring a high-end GPU or an internet connection.
Elsewhere, Copilot+ devices will see deeper AI integration into other apps, again enabled by the NPU. For example, Copilot+ devices with Adobe software will have access to enhanced editing tools and features, while the Windows Studio Effects package receives a heap of AI framing, effects, and more.
Microsoft Recall
Not every AI-enabled feature has been met with enthusiasm. Microsoft Recall is designed to take a constant stream of images from your desktop throughout the day, capturing what you’re up to deliver better and deeper AI integration. Basically, with enough screenshots and data, you can ask your Copilot+ device to find specific information, “recalling” moments from recent times.
For many folks,Microsoft Recall sounds like a privacy nightmare, and there was enough backlash thatMicrosoft officiallyplaced the feature on hold, switching it to an opt-in service rather than opt-out.
On this occasion, Microsoft listened to its users, but it won’t be the last time a tech company pushes deeper, privacy-invading AI integrations.
What Are Microsoft’s Copilot+ Specs?
Not just any device can carry the Copilot+ branding.Microsoft’s Copilot+ hardware requirementsdetail the exact minimum specs required for a Copilot+ device:
Note that these specs were delivered withMicrosoft’s announcementof the first Copilot+ laptops. As with other computer specs, these requirements are likely to change over time as AI processing hardware and capabilities develop. But, for now, this is Microsoft’s official Copilot+ spec.
At the time of writing, Copilot+ laptops ship with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite or X Plus SoC. But withIntel and AMD launching AI processors, it won’t be long until there is much greater variety when it comes to Copilot+ laptops and PCs.
Should You Buy a Copilot+ Laptop?
Since their June 2024 launch, Microsoft’s Copilot+ laptops have received an enormous amount of praise. Most have outstanding 20-hour plus battery life, are fast and snappy, and look sublime.Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop is incredibly easy to repair, too.
But under the surface, the first-generation of Copilot+ laptops are experiencing teething problems, with some going so far as todescribe Copilot+ laptops as a disaster.
Currently, as Copilot+ laptops are using Qualcomm’s ARM-based hardware (instead of the x86 most folks are currently using), support for most of the apps you know and use daily comes through an emulation layer. The additional processing means that some apps run slower than they should, which is frustrating. By extension, there are not enough native Windows on ARM apps at this point, which gives the feeling the Copilot+ spec launch perhaps came slightly too soon.
Furthermore, with AMD and Intel set to launch Copilot+ spec hardware with x86 processors, waiting just a little longer to buy a new Copilot+ laptop makes sense. Intel and AMD’s Copilot+ devices may not hit the same astronomical battery life figures, but if all of the software you want to run works without an issue, that’ll surely make up the difference.
