Copilot+ PCs Explained: What the Label Means

What the Copilot+ PC label means

Copilot+ PC is a name Microsoft gives to a class of Windows 11 hardware. Microsoft's developer guide describes Copilot+ PCs as a new class of Windows 11 hardware powered by a high-performance neural processing unit (NPU) that can perform more than 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS). The NPU is a dedicated chip block for AI work, and Windows uses it to run a set of AI features locally on the laptop instead of in the cloud. If you want the background on what an NPU does, read what an NPU is and why laptops have one.

The label is not a performance tier in the usual sense. It does not tell you how fast the CPU is, how strong the graphics are or how long the battery will last on your workload. It tells you that the laptop clears a minimum hardware bar, so the Windows features Microsoft reserves for Copilot+ PCs will run on it. A Copilot+ PC can still be a thin everyday laptop, and a powerful gaming laptop can lack the label if its processor's NPU does not reach the required level.

It also helps to separate the label from the Copilot app. Copilot, Microsoft's AI assistant, is available on Windows 11 in general. The Copilot+ label covers a specific group of features that Microsoft designed to run on the device NPU.

Microsoft's hardware requirements

Microsoft publishes the Copilot+ PC requirements on its Windows 11 specifications page, next to the regular Windows 11 minimums. The Copilot+ PC bar is much higher than the base Windows 11 bar, mainly because of the NPU and memory requirements.

The key line is the processor. Microsoft requires a compatible processor or system on a chip (SoC) with an NPU capable of performing 40+ TOPS. A laptop that has an NPU below that level can still run Windows 11 and some NPU-assisted effects, but it does not qualify for the label.

Which chip families qualify

Microsoft's specifications page says the 40+ TOPS NPU requirement currently includes three families of chips. These span both Arm and x86 designs, so a Copilot+ PC is not tied to one type of processor.

Read the Intel line carefully. Microsoft names the Core Ultra 200V and 300V series. Intel sells other Core Ultra lines as well, and Microsoft's list does not name them, so a laptop with a Core Ultra chip is not automatically a Copilot+ PC. Check that the exact chip belongs to a listed series, or that the maker's spec page calls the model a Copilot+ PC. For help decoding Intel names, see Intel Core Ultra names explained.

• AMD Ryzen AI 300 and 400 series (x86)
• Intel Core Ultra 200V and 300V series (x86)
• Qualcomm Snapdragon X series (Arm). Microsoft's Windows on Arm documentation says the Snapdragon X Series offers 45 TOPS.

The Windows features tied to the label

Microsoft's Windows 11 specifications page lists the Copilot+ PC features. The list changes as Microsoft adds features through Windows updates, and availability varies by chip family, region and language. Microsoft's table marks some features, such as automatic super resolution, as available only on Snapdragon X series devices, so check the table for the chip you are considering.

Recall has the strictest requirements. Microsoft's Recall support page lists a Copilot+ PC that meets the Secured-core standard, a 40 TOPS NPU, 16 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, Device Encryption or BitLocker, and Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security with biometric sign-in. Microsoft states that saving snapshots for Recall is not enabled by default: you have to opt in, and snapshots are saved and encrypted on the local drive.

Windows Studio Effects shows how the label works in practice. Microsoft says Studio Effects require an NPU, and laptops whose NPU performs under 40 TOPS get a basic set: background effects, standard eye contact, automatic framing and voice focus. Extra effects such as portrait light and creative filters are limited to Copilot+ PCs.

• Recall (preview): search your past activity by describing what you remember
• Click to Do: actions on text and images on your screen; Microsoft notes actions vary by device, region, language and character set, and some need a subscription
• Improved Windows search: works with specific text, image and document formats, optimized for select languages
• Live Captions: translation for video and audio subtitles into English from 40+ languages
• Windows Studio Effects: camera and microphone effects for video calls
• Paint and Photos tools: Cocreator, generative fill, object select, sticker generator, image creator, relight, restyle image and super resolution
• Automatic super resolution, Snipping Tool perfect screenshot, Voice Access flexible commands and the agent in Settings

Arm vs x86 Copilot+ PCs: app compatibility

Because the label covers both Snapdragon (Arm) and AMD or Intel (x86) chips, the biggest practical difference between two Copilot+ PCs may be app compatibility, not AI features. An AMD or Intel Copilot+ PC runs the same x86 Windows software and drivers as any other x86 laptop.

A Snapdragon Copilot+ PC runs Windows on Arm. Microsoft's documentation says Arm apps run natively, while x86 and x64 apps run under emulation, and that Windows 11 can run unmodified x64 apps on Arm devices. Microsoft's Arm FAQ adds that Arm-based PCs running Windows 11, version 24H2 include the Prism emulator for improved performance in emulated apps. For the best performance and battery life, Microsoft recommends Arm-native apps, and it says the power-frugal Arm architecture lets these devices offer longer battery life.

The limits are drivers. Microsoft states that drivers for hardware, games and apps only work if they are designed for a Windows 11 Arm-based PC, that peripherals work only if their drivers are built into Windows 11 or the maker has released Arm64 drivers, and that games relying on anti-cheat drivers not made for Arm might not work. Microsoft also warns that apps which customize Windows, including some input method editors, assistive technologies and cloud storage apps, might have problems. Microsoft points buyers to the Windows on Arm Ready Software site to check apps and games before buying. Our MacBook or Windows laptop guide covers the wider platform choice.

Who benefits from a Copilot+ PC

A Copilot+ PC makes the most sense when you will actually use the features it unlocks, or when you want a Windows laptop that stays eligible for the on-device AI features Microsoft adds over time.

• People on frequent video calls who want the fuller set of Windows Studio Effects without extra software.
• People who watch or join meetings in other languages and want Live Captions translation into English on the device.
• Office and business users who want Click to Do, improved Windows search and, if their organization allows it, Recall. See our business laptop picks.
• Anyone buying a Windows laptop now who wants to keep it for years: the 16 GB memory floor alone is a sensible baseline for everyday multitasking.
• Developers building apps that use the NPU through Windows ML, since Microsoft's developer guidance targets Copilot+ PCs.

Who does not need the label

Plenty of buyers can ignore the badge. If you mostly browse, write, stream and use cloud apps, a non-Copilot+ Windows 11 laptop with a good screen, 16 GB of RAM and a solid battery will do the same everyday work. The label adds features, not general speed.

Gamers and creators who depend on a dedicated GPU should shop by GPU and cooling first. The NPU does not replace a graphics card for games or for running larger local AI models, and many heavy AI tools use the GPU rather than the NPU. If local AI is your goal, read laptop specs for local AI before you let the badge decide.

Finally, if you rely on older peripherals, niche drivers or games with anti-cheat, avoid assuming every Copilot+ PC will suit you. An AMD or Intel Copilot+ PC keeps full x86 compatibility, while a Snapdragon model needs an app and driver check first.

What to pick for your use

Questions

What is a Copilot+ PC?

It is a Windows 11 PC that meets Microsoft's Copilot+ hardware bar: a processor with an NPU capable of 40+ TOPS, 16 GB of DDR5 or LPDDR5 memory and 256 GB of SSD or UFS storage. Meeting that bar unlocks on-device AI features such as Recall, Click to Do and Live Captions translation.

Is every laptop with an NPU a Copilot+ PC?

No. Many recent chips include an NPU, but only NPUs capable of 40+ TOPS qualify, along with the memory and storage minimums. Microsoft currently lists AMD Ryzen AI 300 and 400 series, Intel Core Ultra 200V and 300V series and Snapdragon X series. Our NPU explainer covers the details.

Are Copilot+ PCs only Arm laptops?

No. Microsoft's list includes Arm chips (Snapdragon X series) and x86 chips from AMD and Intel. An AMD or Intel Copilot+ PC runs x86 Windows apps and drivers natively, while a Snapdragon model runs x86 and x64 apps under emulation.

Do I need a Copilot+ PC to use Copilot?

No. The Copilot assistant is available on Windows 11 in general. The Copilot+ label covers a separate group of features designed to run on the device NPU, such as Recall and the extra Windows Studio Effects.

Is Recall turned on automatically?

No. Microsoft states that saving snapshots for Recall is not enabled by default and you need to opt in. Snapshots are saved and encrypted on the local drive, and Recall also requires Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security plus Device Encryption or BitLocker.

Does a Copilot+ PC make games run faster?

Not by itself. Gaming performance depends mainly on the GPU and cooling. Microsoft lists automatic super resolution as a Copilot+ feature, but marks it for Snapdragon X series devices, and some anti-cheat games might not work on Arm. For AI-focused picks, see our laptops for AI.