Summary

Purchasing a Windows PC wasn’t tough until Microsoft unveiled Copilot+ PCs.

Let’s make this difficult choice easy for you.

What Constitutes a Copilot+ PC?

Lenovo laptop showing file explorer in Windows 11

ACopilot+ PC includes a processor with an onboard NPU.

Copilot+ PCs are also designed with security and privacy in mind.

Microsoft collaborated with chip manufacturers like Qualcomm to add aPluton security chip, which is another mandatory requirement.

New Roku streaming sticks.

How Are Current Windows 11 PCs and Copilot+ PCs Different?

Will these features make a difference?

That depends on what you are looking for.

Testing the performance of an array of laptops

Hannah Stryker / MakeUseOf

Let’s take Auto SR, for example.

It is an upscaling feature that ensures crisp visuals without compromising gaming performance.

Since it relies on the NPU, it frees up the CPU and GPU to execute the game.

microsoft copilot website screenshot

Otherwise, that burden would also fall on these components.

Locally processing the AI requests reduces the output time.

If you do that with Microsoft’s Image Creator service or Copilot, the experience will be slower.

you might also leverage the NPU power in apps like Adobe, CapCut, and more.

Another lucrative aspect of these Copilot+ laptops is performance and energy efficiency.

Do You Need an AI PC Right Now?

The short answer is no.

Otherwise, a regular Windows 11 laptop remains an excellent option because you get variety here.

Not to mention the fact that entry-level and mid-range Windows laptops won’t meet the hardware requirements anyway.

Another attribute to consider is the processor variety available for current Copilot+ PCs.

Granted, the situation will improve as app developers build ARM versions.

If you’re free to, waiting is your best bet.

Intel and AMD have announced new processors with more powerful NPUs than Qualcomm.