Microsoft Urges Upgrade to Copilot+ Windows 11 PCs

• Key Takeaways:
• Microsoft is promoting a new “Copilot+” class of Windows 11 PCs designed for on-device AI.
• Copilot+ guidance highlights devices with NPUs offering 40+ TOPS, plus modern storage and memory configurations.
• Microsoft says Copilot+ PCs will accelerate productivity with features like Recall, image generation in Paint, Live Captions and Windows Studio Effects.
• Some recent AI-capable laptops with smaller NPUs may not qualify as Copilot+ devices.

What Microsoft means by Copilot+ PCs

Microsoft has begun positioning a subset of Windows 11 machines as “Copilot+ PCs,” a marketing label for systems built to run on-device AI features. The company says: “All Copilot+ PCs are Windows 11 PCs, but not all Windows 11 PCs are Copilot+ PCs.”

Specs and definition

In Microsoft’s guidance, Copilot+ devices are associated with modern hardware — examples include RAM and storage configurations and, crucially, a neural processing unit (NPU) able to deliver 40+ TOPS (trillions of operations per second).

Specs at a glance

Microsoft’s material references 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and NPUs rated at 40+ TOPS as indicators of the Copilot+ class, although exact implementation varies by manufacturer.

Features Microsoft highlights

Microsoft frames Copilot+ PCs as productivity accelerators. Promoted features include an integrated Copilot key, Recall (timeline-style screen capture and search), image generation in Paint, Live Captions with translations, Microsoft Photos edits and Windows Studio Effects for video calls.

On-device AI and security

Microsoft emphasizes NPUs for secure, low-latency on-device processing. The company argues these components enable offline or private workloads that cloud-only approaches cannot.

What this means for buyers

For shoppers, the takeaway is pragmatic: some newer laptops marketed as “AI PCs” may not meet Copilot+ thresholds if their NPUs are below 40 TOPS. That can affect performance for Microsoft’s flagship on-device features.

Alternatives and considerations

Practically, desktop GPUs and gaming laptops already run many AI models locally. Buyers should weigh build quality, GPU performance and price alongside NPU claims. Several OEMs, including Dell, have signaled they will balance AI branding with other priorities like gaming and durability.

Bottom line

Copilot+ is Microsoft’s attempt to standardize a new PC class optimized for on-device AI. The label highlights hardware trends — NPUs, RAM and storage — but buyers should compare real-world performance and features rather than rely on marketing alone.

Microsoft demo video (source): https://www.windowslatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Windows-11-Paint-AI-animatinos-1.mp4