Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs: A Genuine Leap or Just Marketing Hype?
Microsoft has recently introduced its Copilot+ PCs, claiming they surpass the performance of Apple’s MacBook Air M4. These new machines are said to offer significant enhancements in speed and battery life compared to older Windows laptops. However, a closer examination reveals that these assertions may be more about marketing than substantial technological advancements.
Understanding the ‘Plus’ in Copilot+
The term Copilot in Microsoft’s branding indicates a focus on AI-driven capabilities. The addition of Plus suggests superior hardware and performance enhancements. Microsoft describes these PCs as taking the best of Windows 11 and supercharging it. However, this description appears to be more of a marketing strategy than a reflection of tangible improvements.
Performance Comparisons: A Closer Look
Microsoft frequently compares Copilot+ PCs to five-year-old Windows devices, claiming up to five times faster performance. While it’s true that modern processors, GPUs, and storage solutions outperform those from 2020 or 2021, this progress is a natural evolution of hardware technology and not necessarily a result of the Copilot+ designation or AI features.
Microsoft’s Performance Claims
In a marketing document from December 2025, Microsoft stated that top-performing Copilot+ PCs are faster than the MacBook Air M4 and up to five times quicker than a five-year-old Windows PC. These claims are based on internal benchmarks conducted between June and September 2025, showing up to 5x gains in Cinebench 2024 multi-core scores compared to an average five-year-old system. However, the full results of these benchmarks have not been published, leaving the claims unverified.
Additionally, Microsoft asserts that Copilot+ PCs are up to 3.7 times faster in AI tasks than earlier Windows 11 AI PCs. This improvement is attributed to the increase in NPU performance from 15 TOPs in older AI PCs to around 40 TOPs in Copilot+ PCs.
Battery life is another highlighted area, with claims of up to 19 hours of web browsing, 27 hours of local video playback, and 22 hours of streaming. Compared to older laptops, these figures represent gains of up to 4.4 times in certain scenarios.
The MacBook Air Comparison
Microsoft’s assertion that top-performing Copilot+ PCs outperform the MacBook Air M4 in Cinebench 2024 multi-core tests lacks context. The company has not disclosed which models were tested, their configurations, or the specifics of the benchmarking process. Without these details, the claim remains difficult to verify.
Furthermore, this comparison overlooks real-world factors such as efficiency, sustained performance, and software optimization—areas where Apple has traditionally excelled.
The Copilot Key: A Central Feature
Microsoft emphasizes the Copilot key as a central feature of the AI PC experience. This dedicated key is designed to enhance productivity for students, office workers, and casual users. The NPU enables smoother multitasking and faster responses when using Copilot features. For instance, students can summarize lengthy articles or create flashcards from notes, professionals can draft emails during meetings, and everyday users can plan trips or manage tasks with a single key press.
Final Thoughts
While Microsoft presents Copilot+ PCs as a significant advancement, many of its performance claims are based on comparisons with outdated hardware and lack transparency in benchmarking. Although these machines are faster and more efficient, the Plus designation often appears to be more of a branding exercise than a clear, measurable improvement.
The comparison to the MacBook Air M4 is attention-grabbing but lacks the detailed information needed to substantiate the claim convincingly.
