Is Now the Right Time to Buy an AI-Powered Copilot+ PC?

 

Corrections & Clarifications

Due to a production error, an earlier version of this story inadvertently included the wrong byline. It has been corrected.

If you're looking to buy a new laptop for the school year or as a holiday gift, you may be facing a significant decision: Should you purchase a next-generation AI-powered Copilot+ PC? However, the recent wave of announcements by laptop manufacturers and chipmakers has made that choice a bit more complex.

What is a Copilot+ PC, and Why Should You Consider One?

Copilot+ PCs are a new class of laptops equipped with cutting-edge, on-device generative AI capabilities. To earn the "Copilot+" designation from Microsoft, these laptops must meet specific AI processing requirements, including a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of at least 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS). These laptops promise longer battery life, fast performance, a sleek design, and an enhanced user experience.

One of the biggest advantages of Copilot+ PCs is that much of the AI processing happens directly on the device. In contrast, most current AI tools, like ChatGPT or image generators, rely on cloud processing. With on-device AI, your data remains private, securely stored on the laptop, and AI functions become faster, more personalized, and often free to use.

Even if you don't plan to use AI heavily, Copilot+ PCs are among the best on the market today, offering top-tier performance, security, and design—outperforming even some Apple MacBooks.

All Copilot+ PCs Are Not the Same

Copilot+ PCs vary widely in terms of chip platforms, configurations, performance, and price. This new category took off when Qualcomm introduced the first Copilot+ PCs based on its Snapdragon XElite and XPlus platforms, which set new standards for laptop performance in May of this year.

Following Qualcomm, Intel and AMD introduced their own Copilot+ PC platforms, known as Core Ultra 200V (Lunar Lake) and Ryzen AI300, respectively. Many OEMs, such as Lenovo, Dell, and HP, announced laptops with these platforms at the recent IFA consumer electronics show in Europe.

There are important differences between Qualcomm's platforms and those from Intel and AMD. Qualcomm's technology, borrowed from the smartphone industry, is known for its power efficiency and ability to enable ultra-thin, sleek designs with long battery life. However, the Arm-based Windows app ecosystem is still evolving, so some apps—especially games—may not be fully supported yet.

Intel and AMD platforms, based on the well-established X86 architecture, offer excellent app compatibility but are still proving their performance with the new Core Ultra 200V and Ryzen AI300 designs.

Why Is Now a Good Time to Buy?

Technology evolves quickly, and Copilot+ PCs are at a sweet spot of maturity, offering a wide variety of models across price points. Major manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell, HP, Samsung, and Microsoft have Copilot+ PCs available for both consumers and businesses.

For example, Lenovo offers the ThinkPad for enterprises, Yoga for premium consumers, and IdeaPad for mid-range buyers. Other manufacturers provide similar choices. Qualcomm has even introduced platforms for laptops in the $700 range, making this new technology accessible to more users.

Microsoft is also enhancing its AI features, offering tools for better video calls, live captioning, text-to-image creation, and more. As AI continues to evolve, the functionality and benefits of Copilot+ PCs will only expand.

Regardless of the specific model, all Copilot+ PCs come equipped with the same AI capability, ensuring consistent, powerful performance across the board.

Conclusion

If you're in the market for a laptop this year, now is an excellent time to consider a Copilot+ PC. With a variety of models, prices, and features available, you're sure to find a laptop that fits your needs—and you'll be investing in a future-proof device that's built for the AI-driven world ahead.