What Is a Copilot+ PC? Microsoft's AI Laptop Standard Explained (2026)

Updated June 2026 · 10-minute read

If you've looked at laptops recently, you've probably seen the "Copilot+" label on a lot of them. Microsoft introduced this certification in mid-2024 as a way to identify PCs with enough AI processing power to run its new suite of AI features. By 2026, Copilot+ PCs are the mainstream - most new mid-range and premium laptops carry the certification.

But what does it actually mean? What features do you get? Is a Copilot+ PC meaningfully different from a regular laptop? And if you're in the market for a new computer, does the certification matter for how you actually use a computer day to day? This article answers all of those questions.

The Technical Requirement: 40 TOPS NPU

A Copilot+ PC is a Windows 11 laptop or desktop that meets Microsoft's minimum specification for AI performance. The core requirement: the device must have a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of at least 40 TOPS - Tera Operations Per Second.

An NPU is a specialised chip designed to run AI calculations efficiently. It's separate from the CPU and GPU, and it handles AI inference tasks - running language models, processing images, enabling real-time features - far more efficiently than a general-purpose processor.

The 40 TOPS minimum wasn't arbitrary. Microsoft calculated it as the threshold needed to run its Copilot+ features - particularly Windows Recall - in real time at acceptable quality without unacceptable battery drain. Below this threshold, the features either run too slowly or drain the battery too quickly to be practical.

The chips that meet this requirement in 2026:

Note that Apple's M-series chips - used in MacBooks - are not part of the Copilot+ certification since it's a Windows specification. Apple's Neural Engine performs comparable AI tasks through Apple Intelligence on macOS, but under a completely separate architecture and branding.

The Copilot+ Features You Actually Get

Windows Recall

Recall is the most talked-about Copilot+ feature and the one that makes the certification meaningful. It creates a searchable timeline of everything you've done on your PC - every webpage, document, email, app, and conversation - stored as AI-indexed snapshots.

The practical application: you can search your entire computing history in plain language. "Find that article about electric cars I was reading last month." "What was the name of that restaurant I looked up on Tuesday?" "Show me the document where I was working on the Q3 report." Recall searches through everything you've seen on screen and finds it, showing you the relevant screenshot and a link to reopen it.

Recall generated significant privacy controversy when it was announced - the idea of a feature that screenshots everything you do raised legitimate concerns. Microsoft has addressed this by making Recall opt-in rather than on by default, storing all data encrypted on-device (it never leaves your PC), and allowing you to pause or delete Recall data at any time. Sensitive content like banking websites and incognito browsing windows are excluded automatically.

Live Captions with Real-Time Translation

Copilot+ PCs can generate live captions for any audio playing on the device - video calls, YouTube videos, podcasts, anything - with real-time translation into English from over 40 languages. This runs entirely on the NPU, so it works without internet and without sending audio to any server. Practically useful for watching foreign language content, participating in multilingual video calls, or following along with audio content in noisy environments.

Cocreator in Paint

Microsoft's built-in Paint app has generative AI image editing on Copilot+ PCs. You can use text prompts to generate or modify images, remove objects, add elements, or change backgrounds - similar to what Adobe Firefly offers in Photoshop, but available in a basic app that comes with Windows. The image generation runs on-device using the NPU.

AI Explorer and Windows Search

Windows search has been upgraded with semantic understanding on Copilot+ PCs. Instead of needing to remember exact filenames, you can search for files by describing their content - "the spreadsheet with the budget breakdown from last quarter" - and Windows finds them by understanding meaning rather than just matching text strings.

Restyle Your Photos

The Photos app on Copilot+ PCs can apply AI style transfers - turning a standard photo into a watercolour painting, a sketch, or other artistic styles. Also runs on-device via the NPU.

Windows Copilot Sidebar

All Windows 11 devices have access to the Copilot sidebar - an AI chat panel powered by Microsoft's AI services that can answer questions, summarise content, generate text, and assist with tasks. This is available on all Windows 11 PCs, not just Copilot+. What Copilot+ adds is on-device AI features that work without internet, not the cloud Copilot chat.

What's cloud vs on-device: Windows Recall, Live Captions translation, Cocreator in Paint, and AI image features run on the NPU on-device. The Copilot chat sidebar and Microsoft 365 Copilot features use cloud processing. Both are available on Copilot+ PCs, but they have different privacy implications.

Copilot+ PC Performance Beyond AI Features

The AI features are the headline, but Copilot+ certified PCs - particularly those using Snapdragon X Elite and Intel Core Ultra 200V - tend to offer better battery life and performance efficiency than their predecessors. This is partly because the NPU offloads AI tasks from the CPU, reducing overall power consumption, and partly because the chips in this generation were designed with efficiency as a primary goal.

Real-world battery life on Snapdragon X Elite laptops has been consistently impressive in independent testing - 15-20 hours of productivity use is achievable on thin-and-light form factors. Intel Core Ultra 200V devices have been similar. If battery life is a priority, Copilot+ devices tend to do well on that metric regardless of whether you use the AI features.

Performance for general tasks - web browsing, office applications, video calls, code editing - is strong across all Copilot+ certified chips. Gaming performance varies; Snapdragon X Elite had limited game compatibility at launch that has improved but remains behind Intel and AMD for Windows gaming. If gaming matters to you, check specific game compatibility before buying a Snapdragon device.

Copilot+ PC vs MacBook: The AI Comparison

Should You Buy a Copilot+ PC?

If you're buying a new Windows laptop in 2026, you'll almost certainly end up with a Copilot+ device whether you seek one out or not - the certification has become standard on anything mid-range or above from major manufacturers.

The question isn't really "should I get Copilot+?" as a special decision - it's more "is this generation of Windows laptops worth upgrading to?" And the honest answer is yes for most users: battery life improvements are real, performance is strong, and Recall is genuinely useful once you've enabled it and adjusted to searching your own computing history.

If you're choosing between Copilot+ PC and MacBook, the decision usually comes down to software ecosystem. If you need Windows-specific applications, Copilot+ PCs are the obvious choice. If you're in the Apple ecosystem and don't have Windows dependencies, MacBooks remain compelling. The AI features on both platforms are strong in 2026 - neither has a decisive advantage, and the differences are more about ecosystem fit than raw AI capability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Copilot+ PC to use Microsoft Copilot?

No. Microsoft Copilot - the AI chat assistant accessible from the Windows taskbar - works on any Windows 11 device with internet access. What requires a Copilot+ PC are the on-device AI features: Windows Recall, Live Captions translation, Cocreator in Paint, and AI-powered photo tools. The cloud-based Copilot chat is available on all Windows 11 machines.

Is Windows Recall private and safe to use?

Microsoft addressed the privacy concerns raised at Recall's announcement by making it opt-in, storing all data encrypted on-device only, excluding sensitive content like banking and incognito browsing, and providing easy controls to pause or delete the history. Independent security researchers have verified that Recall data does not leave the device. Whether you're comfortable with the feature ultimately depends on your own privacy preferences - it's a personal choice, not a safety issue.

Which is better - Snapdragon X Elite or Intel Core Ultra 200V?

For battery life and thin-and-light portability, Snapdragon X Elite has an edge. For Windows application compatibility - particularly legacy software and games - Intel Core Ultra 200V is more reliable. Both exceed the Copilot+ requirement comfortably and perform similarly for everyday productivity tasks. Choose Snapdragon for maximum battery life; choose Intel or AMD if you need broad application compatibility.

Can I upgrade my existing laptop to be a Copilot+ PC?

No. The Copilot+ certification requires specific NPU hardware that is built into the processor. It cannot be added to an existing laptop through software updates or hardware additions. If your current laptop doesn't have a qualifying NPU, you would need to buy a new machine.

Does a Copilot+ PC require a Microsoft 365 subscription?

No. The Copilot+ features built into Windows 11 - Recall, Live Captions, Cocreator in Paint - are included with the operating system and do not require a subscription. Microsoft 365 Copilot, which adds AI features within Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, is a separate subscription product aimed primarily at businesses. They are different products that share the "Copilot" name.

Copilot+ PC specifications and features are updated by Microsoft through Windows updates. This article reflects the current state of Copilot+ as of June 2026. Feature availability may vary by device manufacturer and Windows version.