Copilot+ PC
Also known as: Copilot Plus PC, Copilot+ laptop
A Copilot+ PC is a Windows 11 computer that meets Microsoft's minimum requirements for on-device AI, including a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of at least 40 trillion operations per second, 16 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage.
These machines unlock Windows features that run locally, such as live captions with translation, image generation in Paint, improved Windows search, and Recall. While Copilot+ PCs often bring excellent battery life, many people use few of the AI features in daily life.
Copilot+ PC, explained at three levels
At home
A Copilot+ PC is like a kitchen with a dedicated espresso machine. You could make coffee on the stove, but the special machine does it faster and with less energy. These Windows laptops add a chip called an NPU that is built only for the maths behind AI, so features like live caption translation and smarter search run right on the laptop instead of the internet, without draining the battery.
At work
A Copilot+ PC is a Windows 11 laptop that meets Microsoft's standard for running AI on the device itself. It includes a neural processing unit, or NPU, rated at 40 trillion operations per second or more, plus at least 16 GB of RAM. Businesses care because some AI features then run locally, which is faster and keeps more data on the machine, though features like Recall need a policy decision first.
At home
Copilot+ PCs add a third processor next to the CPU and graphics: a neural processing unit, or NPU. It is designed for the maths behind AI, running it far more efficiently than the other two. That lets the laptop run AI features locally, such as live captions with translation, image generation in Paint and smarter search, without sending everything to the cloud and without draining the battery. The label means it meets Microsoft's minimum of 40 TOPS from the NPU.
At work
Requirements include an NPU rated at 40 TOPS or more, at least 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. Early models used Qualcomm Snapdragon X Arm chips, later joined by AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra 200V processors. Copilot+ features are part of Windows and separate from Microsoft 365 Copilot, a paid subscription that runs in the cloud. Arm models emulate x86 apps well, but drivers, VPN clients and security agents need native support.
At home
Recall, the feature that saves snapshots of your screen so you can search your past activity, stays off unless you turn it on. Snapshots are encrypted and stored locally, unlocked with Windows Hello, and you can exclude apps and websites. Still, anyone who signs in as you could search everything you have seen. In my view, think carefully before enabling it on a shared or family computer, and filter out banking and private messaging apps.
At work
Microsoft disables Recall by default on managed business devices, and administrators control it and other AI features through Intune or Group Policy, including snapshot retention and app exclusions. Evaluate data protection implications under privacy law before allowing it. NPU capability is becoming a factor in refresh planning as security agents, conferencing tools and line-of-business apps start using on-device AI. Pilot Arm models with your full software stack, including printing and smart card readers, before committing.
Real-world examples
At home
Lena bought a Snapdragon Copilot+ laptop for university. She mainly loved the all-day battery, but also used live captions to translate a French lecture into English.
At work
Thomas manages IT for a Gatineau consulting firm. During the Windows 10 refresh, he bought Copilot+ PCs but kept Recall disabled by policy until legal reviewed it.
How it compares
| feature | Copilot+ PC | Standard Windows 11 PC |
|---|---|---|
| NPU | 40+ TOPS required | Optional or weaker |
| Minimum RAM | 16 GB | 4 GB |
| On-device AI features | Yes, such as Recall and live translation | Limited |
| Chip options | Qualcomm, AMD, Intel | Many |
Copilot+ PCs add local AI features on top of standard Windows 11.
For analysts
When teams ask for 'AI laptops,' I'd identify which specific features they'd use. Often the real benefit is battery life, not AI, which changes how you justify the purchase.
History & origin
Microsoft announced the Copilot+ PC category on May 20, 2024, with the first laptops shipping in June using Qualcomm's ARM-based Snapdragon X chips. AMD's Ryzen AI 300 and Intel's Core Ultra 200V ('Lunar Lake') chips qualified later in 2024. Recall, a feature that captures screenshots of your activity so you can search your history, drew strong privacy criticism, and Microsoft delayed it, made it opt-in, and added encryption before releasing it broadly in April 2025. Meanwhile, Windows 10's end of support in October 2025 pushed many organizations to buy new PCs, often Copilot+ models. In my view, the hardware is ahead of the software, and buyers should choose these PCs for battery life first and AI second.