What is a Copilot+ PC, and do you need one?

If you've shopped for a laptop lately, you've probably seen the words Copilot+ PC on the box and wondered what that really means. The label is everywhere now, but most of them don't come with an attached explanation.

This article breaks down what a Copilot+ PC is, why it matters, and what to look for using the HP OmniBook X Flip, a Copilot+ PC, as a real-world example.

What is a Copilot+ PC, exactly?

A Copilot+ PC is a Windows laptop with a dedicated chip called an NPU, or neural processing unit, made to handle AI tasks. A regular laptop runs everything through its main processor, so AI work competes with everything else you're doing. In simple terms, a Copilot+ PC is designed to run AI-powered experiences more efficiently while keeping everyday tasks responsive

You don't need to know the engineering to feel the result. The AI features run in their own lane, and the rest of the laptop keeps doing its job without a fight.

What does that mean for day-to-day use?

In practice, the NPU quietly handles all the AI work happening in the background. On a video call, it can clean up background noise and adjust your camera feed in real time. It also powers the Windows AI assistant baked into the system. Because those jobs run on the NPU rather than the main processor, speed doesn't take a hit while they work. That's particularly useful for students and professionals who regularly multitask across video calls, documents, browser tabs, and AI-powered tools.

The HP OmniBook X Flip is a clear example of how this all comes together. It pairs an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor with a 47 TOPS NPU. That combination drives things like the Poly Studio AI features for cleaner calls. These gains come from the Copilot+ PC platform as a whole, not the processor on its own.

What to look for in a Copilot+ PC

When you're comparing Copilot+ PCs, the NPU is what matters most. Look at its TOPS rating, or trillions of operations per second, because a higher number means more AI work handled smoothly.

From there, the processor and memory fill in the rest. A capable processor like an Intel Core Ultra 7 keeps the whole system responsive, and 16GB of RAM or more gives you room to run several things at once. Taken together, those three specs tell you how well a laptop will hold up as AI features become more common. For most students and everyday users, that means looking for a balance of AI capability, multitasking performance, and battery life rather than chasing the highest specifications alone.

Key HP OmniBook X Flip Specs

• Intel Core Ultra 7 processor
• 16GB RAM
• 512GB SSD storage
• 14-inch 2K touchscreen display
• Up to 16.5 hours of battery life
• Up to 22 hours of video playback

FAQs about Copilot+ PCs

Are Copilot+ PCs worth it?

They're worth it if you regularly go on video calls, do photo or video editing, or rely on AI-assisted features because the NPU keeps those tasks from slowing everything else down. Even if you don't lean on AI features today, a Copilot+ PC is ready for where software is heading, so it can be a more future-ready option as AI-powered experiences become more common across Windows applications.

Can my laptop run Copilot+ features?

Only laptops certified as Copilot+ PCs with a qualifying NPU can run the full feature set. A standard laptop without that hardware can't be upgraded into one. If you want these features on your next machine, look for the Copilot+ PC label specifically, not just any newer Windows laptop.

What's the difference between a Copilot+ PC and a regular Windows laptop?

A regular Windows laptop runs everything, including AI tasks, through its main processor. A Copilot+ PC offloads that AI work to a dedicated NPU instead. That difference is what keeps performance smooth even when AI features are running in the background.