Best Copilot+ PC in 2024

Next-gen AI PCs with access to Copilot+ features in Windows 11 were announced in May 2024, and major laptop manufacturers like Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, and Surface are busy expanding their lineup of Copilot+ PCs.

The selection of Copilot+ PCs continues to grow with the announcement that select Intel and AMD laptops receive access in November, ending the Qualcomm exclusivity that began at launch.

Copilot+ PCs bring features like Windows Recall, Live Captions, Auto Super Resolution, local AI text and image creation, advanced Windows Studio Effects, and more. If you want a great Windows laptop with cutting-edge AI features, long battery life, and excellent performance, a Copilot+ PC is the way to go.

Recent updates

November 14, 2024: Our favorite Copilot+ PCs remain the same, but I've updated prices to ensure you're looking at the most recent info. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are approaching, so I've also added some new buying advice below my top picks. — Cale Hunt

The quick list

Daniel Rubino
Daniel Rubino

As head of laptop testing and reviews on Windows Central, I'm confident that these Copilot+ PCs are the best on the market today. Though a couple of options lack full written reviews, we've thoroughly tested all of the laptops on list.

Cale Hunt, Windows Central
Cale Hunt

I've reviewed hundreds of laptops for Windows Central, and I have a clear idea of what makes a good system. When it comes to Copilot+ PCs, a mix of my own experience and the testing done by my colleagues helps me curate a perfect list of laptops.

The best Copilot+ PCs in 2024

Why you can trust Windows Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Best overall

Windows Central Best Award

Surface Pro 11 with detachable Pro Flex wireless keyboard. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Most versatile Copilot+ PC for most users

Specifications

SoC: Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-80), Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-64)
NPU: Qualcomm Hexagon (45 TOPS)
Memory: 16GB, 32GB LPDDR5x
Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Battery: LCD: 48WH, OLED: 53Wh
Display: 13 inches, 2880x1920 (2.8K), OLED or LCD, 3:2 aspect ratio, 120Hz, touch

Reasons to buy

+
2.8K OLED touch display with inking
+
The best 2-in-1 design on the market
+
Starts at a competitive price
+
Tons of versatility for most users
+
Lots of configuration options

Reasons to avoid

-
Keyboard and active pen sold separately
-
No 5G connectivity until Fall 2024

Microsoft's Surface Pro 11 was the first Copilot+ PC revealed to the world on May 20, and it should prove to be the most versatile option for most users. It retains the stellar 2-in-1 design from recent Surface Pro predecessors, with a fold-out stand on the back and a detachable keyboard/touchpad portion. It's as easy to use as a tablet as it is a notebook.

The biggest news is likely the inclusion of an OLED touch display. It's the first time that Microsoft has added an OLED option alongside the usual LCD, perfect for anyone who needs deep color and contrast. The display measures 13 inches, it has a boxy 3:2 aspect ratio ideal for a tablet, and it hits a 2880x1920 resolution. A dynamic refresh rate hits up to 120Hz, and inking support is included.

In Windows Central Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino's Surface Pro 11 review, he remarked:

"New this year is the optional OLED panel, which offered 550 nits of brightness in my tests and is VESA DisplayHDR 600 (high-dynamic range) compatible. This makes movies and compatible video games pop with extreme brightness (up to 900 nits, according to Microsoft). There is also support for Dolby Vision, a form of HDR that enhances contrast in video content encoded in supported movies."

On that note, the new Surface Pro Flex keyboard and Surface Slim Pen are both accessories sold separately. While many older Pro keyboards are compatible with the Pro 11, the new Pro Flex keyboard finally adds wireless connectivity, allowing you to use it when separated from the tablet. A combination Pro Flex keyboard and Surface Slim Pen adds about $450 to the total price, but you can get the keyboard alone for about $350.

Powering the new Surface Pro 11 is either a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-80) or Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-64) System-on-Chip (SoC). The more powerful X Elite is tied to the OLED display, while the X Plus comes with an LCD display. You can otherwise get up to 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM and up to 1TB of M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid-state drive (SSD) that can be upgraded after purchase.

Optional 5G connectivity to complement standard Wi-Fi 7 is now also available.

👀Read our full Surface Pro 11 review

🔎See our analysis: Surface Pro 11 vs. Surface Pro 10 for Business: ARM or Intel for your next 2-in-1?

Best MacBook Pro competitor

The 16-inch Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge with number pad (Image credit: Samsung)

2. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge

Available in 14- and 16-inch sizes

Specifications

SoC: Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-80 or X1E-84)
NPU: Qualcomm Hexagon (45 TOPS)
Memory: 16GB LPDDR5x
Storage: 512GB, 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Battery: 14-inch: 55.9Wh, 16-inch: 61.8Wh
Display: 14 or 16 inches, 2880x1800, 16:10, AMOLED, 120Hz VRR, 120% DCI-P3, touch, 400 nits (500 nits HDR)

Reasons to buy

+
Available in two sizes, 16-inch model has a numpad
+
Beautiful high-res AMOLED display options
+
Quad speakers with Dolby Atmos
+
Galaxy AI is great for those invested in Samsung's ecosystem
+
Available with the top-tier X Elite (X1E-84) SoC

Reasons to avoid

-
No IR camera
-
Limited configuration options

Samsung's Galaxy Book4 Edge is your best option if you're looking for a MacBook Pro competitor. It's available in 14- and 16-inch sizes, and Samsung offers configurations with the two top-tier Snapdragon X Elite chips. It's still unclear at what TDP they run, but expect strong performance and efficiency for a wide range of tasks.

The laptops each have an AMOLED display with 2880x1800 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, 120Hz variable refresh rate, 120% DCI-P3 color, and up to 500 nits brightness with HDR enabled. These displays are ideal for specialized work, and the quad-speaker setups with Dolby Atmos contribute to an excellent media experience.

These laptops are sleek and lightweight, yet they offer a relatively generous selection of ports. The 16-inch model even has a number pad and microSD card reader to help boost productivity. There's no IR sensor here for Windows Hello, but you do get a fingerprint reader for biometric security.

Samsung's Galaxy AI is another layer on top of Copilot+ features, and it's perfect for anyone invested in the Galaxy ecosystem. It essentially allows you to pair your phone with your laptop and use AI features cross-platform while you work. It's a similar experience to what Apple has to offer with its ecosystem.

If the Galaxy Book4 Edge isn't quite what you want, Microsoft's Surface Laptop 7 is another great option. It comes in 13.8- and 15-inch sizes, it received a minor design refresh with rounded edges, and the haptic touchpad from Sensel is outstanding. The Laptop 7 is available with Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips, and it starts at a more affordable price.

🔎See our analysis: Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge vs. MacBook Pro (M3): AI ecosystems, ARM performance, and sleek designs

Best business

HP's EliteBook Ultra G1q is made for professionals. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)

3. HP EliteBook Ultra G1q

Secure and durable business laptop

Specifications

SoC: Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-78)
NPU: Qualcomm Hexagon (45 TOPS)
Memory: 16GB LPDDR5x
Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Battery: 59Wh
Display: 14 inches, 2240x1400 (2.2K), touch, 300 nits

Reasons to buy

+
Includes HP Wolf Pro Security, is a Secured-Core PC
+
Windows 11 Pro is default
+
5MP IR webcam above a 2.2K display
+
19 MIL-STD 810 durability certifications

Reasons to avoid

-
Not as good of a value as the OmniBook X for casual users
-
Only one color option

Professionals who need a secure and sleek laptop will no doubt want to check out HP's EliteBook Ultra G1q. However, HP also has the OmniBook X 14, which is basically the same laptop minus a bunch of added business features. It's more affordable, and it comes in a sharp Ceramic White color finish.

The EliteBook Ultra G1q starts at a higher price due to its default inclusion of Windows 11 Pro, HP Wolf Pro Security with a one-year subscription to its antivirus, and 19 MIL-STD 810 durability certifications. It's also a Secured-Core PC. If you often deal with sensitive data, this is the way to go.

Windows Central's Zachary Boddy went hands-on with the EliteBook Ultra G1q, noting:

"The EliteBook Ultra G1q is more expensive than its comparable Copilot+ PCs because of its enterprise-specific features and capabilities. Still, this laptop may be one of the best Windows on ARM PCs for those who need that added peace of mind."

The system runs on a Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-78) chip with an 18W TDP, and you can get 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and a 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. The 14-inch display is not OLED, but it has a crisp 2240x1400 (2.2K) resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, touch functionality, and 100% sRGB color. Above the display is a 5MP webcam with an IR sensor and privacy shutter.

Ports include USB4, USB-C 3.2, USB-A 3.2, and 3.5mm audio; wireless connectivity is handled by Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 and modern Bluetooth.

👀Read our HP EliteBook Ultra G1q hands-on review

🔎See our analysis: HP OmniBook X 14 vs. EliteBook Ultra G1q: HP's Copilot+ laptops have one major difference that significantly skews pricing

Best bright screen

Windows Central Best Award

Lenovo's Yoga Slim 7x has a bright OLED display. (Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)
Gorgeous Copilot+ PC with bright OLED display

Specifications

SoC: Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-78)
NPU: Qualcomm Hexagon (45 TOPS)
Memory: 16GB, 32GB LPDDR5x
Storage: 512GB, 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Battery: 70Wh
Display: 14.5 inches, 2944x1840, OLED, touch, 100% DCI-P3, 90Hz, 1,000 nits

Reasons to buy

+
Thin and light design
+
3K OLED touch display up to 1,000 nits
+
Quad speakers with Dolby Atmos
+
Comfortable keyboard with 1.5mm travel

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited port selection
-
No inking support listed

Lenovo's Yoga Slim 7x, which Lenovo pegs as a Gen 9 model to keep up with its other Yoga devices, is a sleek laptop weighing in at just 2.82 pounds (1.28kg) and measuring 0.51 inches (12.9mm) thin. That's extra impressive considering it has an aluminum chassis with MIL-STD 810H durability certifications. The laptop has four 2W speakers with Dolby Atmos, pairing extremely well with the 14.5-inch touch display.

It uses an OLED panel with 100% DCI-P3 and sRGB color, it has Dolby Vision and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 600 certification, X-Rite factory calibration, and a 90Hz refresh rate. It even hits up to 1,000 nits brightness, making it a great option if you need a laptop with a bright screen. The keyboard's 1.5mm key travel provides plenty of comfort even during long days of typing, and there's a large touchpad for easy pointing.

Windows Central's Zachary Boddy reviewed the Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9), saying:

"The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) fulfills all of my needs for a compact and portable Windows laptop and does so for significantly less than $1,500. I enjoyed using this laptop so much that at times I almost forgot I was reviewing it. My initial impressions were easily matched and exceeded during my full review term, too, with the Yoga Slim 7x redefining for me what a Windows on ARM device can accomplish. Even among the new generation of WoA laptops, though, the Yoga Slim 7x stands out."

Lenovo chose the Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-78) SoC for the Yoga Slim 7x, and it's supported with up to 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM and up to a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. It all runs on a sizable 70Wh battery to help keep up with the bright OLED display.

👀Read our full Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) review

Best design

Dell's XPS 13 (9345) has the same great design as usual, but comes with Snapdragon X chips. (Image credit: Dell)

5. Dell XPS 13 (9345)

The futuristic XPS design comes to Windows on ARM

Specifications

SoC: Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-80), Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-64)
NPU: Qualcomm Hexagon (45 TOPS)
Memory: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB LPDDR5x
Storage: Up to 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Battery: 55Wh
Display: 13.4 inches, up to 2880x1800, OLED, 400 nits, 60Hz

Reasons to buy

+
Three high-end display options, including 2.8K OLED
+
Quad-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos
+
Seamless haptic touchpad, comfy typing
+
Beautiful and sleek design

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited port selection
-
Not everyone likes the design

Dell overhauled its XPS lineup for 2024, bringing new XPS 14 and XPS 16 models to complement the flagship XPS 13 powered by Intel Core Ultra CPUs. But Dell wasn't done there; it announced the XPS 13 (9345) with a Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-80) SoC, up to 64GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and up to a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.

The CNC-machined aluminum chassis has some interesting design choices that you may love or hate. The most noticeable is the lattice-free keyboard with keycaps lacking space between. Below the keyboard is a seamless glass palm rest that hides a haptic touchpad. Above the physical keys is a row of capacitive touch function buttons. This setup might take some getting used to — and might be too much for users who often use the function row or Escape key — but the result is a clean and futuristic look.

The laptop has four 2W speakers with Dolby Atmos for impressive audio, and above the screen is a 1080p webcam with an IR sensor for Windows Hello. Ports are very limited with just a couple of USB4, but a quality Thunderbolt dock or hub can mostly fix the issue.

The 13.4-inch display might be the most impressive piece of this laptop. It's available in three flavors, starting with the more affordable FHD+ non-touch option with a 120Hz refresh rate and 500 nits brightness. Next is a QHD+ resolution with touch functionality, 500 nits, 120Hz refresh rate, and an anti-reflective finish. And finally, the 3K OLED touch option brings the best color and contrast, with 400 nits brightness, a 60Hz refresh rate, and an anti-reflective finish. All displays feature Dolby Vision support.

🔎See our analysis: Dell XPS 13 (9345) vs. XPS 13 (9340): Copilot+ AI features or proven Intel Core Ultra performance?

Best performance

Windows Central Best Award

The ASUS Vivobook S 15 (S5507) features a Snapdragon X Elite SoC running at 45W. (Image credit: Windows Central)
Snapdragon X Elite with a 45W TDP

Specifications

SoC: Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-78), Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-64)
NPU: Qualcomm Hexagon (45 TOPS)
Memory: 16GB, 32GB LPDDR5x
Storage: 512GB, 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Battery: 70Wh
Display: 15.6 inches, 2880x1620, 16:9 aspect ratio, OLED, 120Hz, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 600, glossy, 600 nits peak (HDR), 100% DCI-P3

Reasons to buy

+
Snapdragon X Elite runs at 45W
+
Keyboard with number pad and 1.5mm travel
+
3K OLED display at 120Hz
+
Good battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
16:9 aspect ratio
-
No haptic touchpad

The Asus Vivobook S 15 (S5507) is a standout Copilot+ PC for a couple of reasons. First, it's one of the only options that runs its Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-78) SoC at a full 45W TDP, delivering strong performance for standard processing and graphics. ASUS lists an X Plus configuration as well, but the initial launch looks to be limited to the X Elite chip along with 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.

In our testing of the Vivobook S 15 (S5507), it was able to trade blows with Apple's M3 chip and also kept up with or surpassed Intel Core i7 and Core i9 chips in synthetic benchmarks. App emulation slowdown is no longer really an issue in most cases, though battery life does take a hit when emulating. Still, we saw more than 14 hours from the 70Wh battery in PCMark 10's Applications test. In real-world usage, it was able to last an entire workday and into the next while going about the usual web browsing, email, and office tasks.

The other standout feature is the 16:9 display aspect ratio in a time when most non-gaming PCs have made the move to a taller 16:10 or even 3:2 ratio. You don't get as much vertical space with which to work, but the screen is otherwise impressive.

In our ASUS Vivobook S 15 (S5507) review, Windows Central Senior Editor Zac Bowden called it "the star of the show" next to the new silicon. It measures 15.6 inches and has a 2880x1620 resolution, an OLED panel with awesome color and contrast, a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, up to 600 nits brightness with HDR enabled, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 600 certification.

The Vivobook's generous port selection should make it easy to connect accessories without needing a Thunderbolt dock. It has dual USB4, dual USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1), HDMI 2.1, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card reader. And if you're often dealing with spreadsheets, the number pad should come in handy.

ASUS includes a bunch of its own AI apps to complement the standard Copilot+ features. ASUS AiSense Camera adds some AI-powered security, while StoryCube can help manage digital assets.

👀Read our full ASUS Vivobook S 15 (S5507) review

🔎See our analysis: ASUS Vivobook S 15 vs. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge: These Copilot+ PCs are slim and sleek, but you only need one

Best for creators

Windows Central Best Award

The ProArt PX13's OLED touch display steals the show. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
AMD-powered Copilot+ PC for creators

Specifications

SoC: Up to AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
NPU: XDNA 2 (50 TOPS)
GPU: Up to Radeon 890M (integrated), up to NVIDIA RTX 4060 Laptop (discrete)
Memory: Up to 32GB LPDDR5x
Storage: Up to 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Battery: 73Wh
Display: 13.3 inches, 2880x1800, OLED, touch, 60Hz, 500 nits HDR

Reasons to buy

+
Beautiful OLED touchscreen
+
Versatile convertible design
+
Excellent AMD Ryzen AI performance
+
Decent port selection
+
Comes with ASUS AI software

Reasons to avoid

-
Fans get loud under load
-
Short battery life

With select AMD and Intel systems expected to get Copilot+ access in November 2024, the ASUS ProArt PX13 is a recent release that should appeal to those who love Team Red.

It's powered by up to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of 50 TOPS, up to an NVIDIA RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, as well as 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. That's a lot of power for a convertible laptop that weighs only about 3 pounds.

In Windows Central Editor Rebecca Spear's experience when reviewing the ProArt PX13, battery life is not a strong point. However, performance is capable of keeping up with creative software, especially with the discrete GPU. The 13.3-inch OLED touch display with 2800x1800 resolution also gets full marks from Spear, with her remarking:

"From the moment I first turned the ProArt on, I could tell it had a gorgeous OLED display that supported HDR. As such, I wasn't at all surprised when my colorimeter revealed that the display produced 100% of sRGB, 96% of AdobeRGB, and 100% of P3. That's a really good score and exactly the color range I want to see in a creative laptop. It also has a wide viewing angle, looking decently clear even from an extreme side-view, so I don't have to worry about being positioned directly in front of it at all times."

The keyboard and touchpad are comfortable, the camera and speakers are quality, and its sleek convertible design is met by an included ASUS Pen 2.0 for easy inking.

👀Read our full ASUS ProArt PX13 review

Best Intel

The ASUS Zenbook S 14 is one of the first laptops to feature Intel's Core Ultra Series 2 mobile CPUs. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
One of the first laptops with Intel Core Ultra Series 2

Specifications

SoC: Up to Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
NPU: Intel AI Boost (47 TOPS)
GPU: Intel Arc 140V (integrated)
Memory: Up to 32GB LPDDR5
Storage: Up to 512B M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Battery: 72Wh
Display: 14 inches, 2880x1800, OLED, touch, 120Hz

Reasons to buy

+
Up to 20 hours of battery life, as tested
+
Gorgeous chassis and form factor
+
x86-64 platform supports everything with no emulation required

Reasons to avoid

-
Raw multi-core performance is below its most threatening rivals

The Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) is the first laptop featuring Intel's "Lunar Lake" mobile CPUs that we've tested, and it'll be one of the first Intel PCs to receive Copilot+ access in November.

Windows Central Senior Editor Ben Wilson went hands-on with the Zenbook S 14 to test its performance and battery life, ultimately noting:

"So far, the trade-off of fewer cores and a focus on power efficiency has undoubtedly dropped the mid-range Core Ultra 7 258V below its expected competitors, at least in raw multi-core performance tests. Still, the gains in battery life and integrated graphics could be an argument towards the Zenbook S 14's ~$1,000+ MSRP being worth it."

The Intel Core Ultra 258V we tested came in below the Snapdragon X Plus in raw performance, but battery life has gone way up in terms of what's usually expected from an Intel system. Wilson saw an average of about 15 hours of runtime on a charge, making it a great option for those who don't often work near an AC outlet. And because it's an x86-64 system, you don't have to worry about any potential ARM64 limitations or emulation.

The Zenbook S 14 has a beautiful 14-inch OLED display with 2880x1800 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, it has dual Thunderbolt 4 ports (and more), and it features Wi-Fi 7 with Bluetooth 5.4.

👀Read our ASUS Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) hands-on review

How to choose the best Copilot+ PC for you

Copilot+ PCs only entered the market in 2024, but they're already some of the most popular devices out there. And while there were quite a few Copilot+ PCs announced on May 20, the news that select AMD and Intel systems are getting access in November has expanded the list to eight total picks.

At the top of the list remains Microsoft's Surface Pro 11. It's the most versatile option thanks to its 2-in-1 design with a detachable keyboard and built-in stand; you can use it as a tablet or as a notebook depending on your workflow. The best part aside from the X Elite and X Plus chips is likely the addition of an OLED touch display option, bringing outstanding color and contrast with a crisp 2.8K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.

If you're in search of a business PC, HP's EliteBook Ultra G1q has some impressive security and manageability perks for professionals. For a thin and light PC, Lenovo's Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 9) should be great for creative work or media consumption, while Samsung's Galaxy Book4 Edge is a top alternative to the MacBook Pro for anyone who wants to give Windows on ARM a go.

Dell's XPS 13 (9345) remains the Copilot+ PC with the best design, though you'll have to get used to the seamless haptic glass touchpad, lattice-free keyboard, and capacitive touch buttons along the function row. And finally, the ASUS Vivobook S 15 (S5507) brings impressive performance thanks to a Snapdragon X Elite running at a full 45W TDP. It's the first Copilot+ PC we reviewed, and we were so impressed that we gave it a Windows Central Best Award.

Laptops with AMD Ryzen AI 300 and Intel Core Ultra Series 2 CPUs are expected to get access to Copilot+ in the near future, and that opens up the ASUS ProArt PX13 for creators and the Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) for anyone who wants a sleek Intel-powered Ultrabook with extra AI tools.

Should I wait for Black Friday or Cyber Monday to buy an AI PC?

In my 8+ years of experience covering Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, I've seen some truly shocking sales on laptops. With the recent AI PC craze and this year's launch of Copilot+ laptops, I don't doubt that many people are considering an upgrade.

Black Friday lands on November 29 this year, and Cyber Monday follows up on December 2, 2024. The entire weekend will be filled with ongoing promotions, but many retailers have started early. You might even be able to find some Black Friday price protection on the PC you want.

My top pick, the Surface Pro 11, is almost always on sale somewhere even outside of major promotions like Black Friday. At the time of writing, for example, you can save $150 on a Pro 11 with keyboard bundle. That's not nearly as impressive as some other discounts I spotted this year, and I suggest you wait to see what Microsoft has in store for its latest 2-in-1.

Samsung's Galaxy Book4 Edge is a stellar choice if you want a MacBook Pro alternative, and Samsung almost always takes advantage of Black Friday to drop prices on its laptops. Models were recently up to $500 off before returning to full price, so I'd wait to see if any upcoming sales can match.

Dell's XPS 13 (9345) has long been a favorite, and like Samsung, Dell always goes big on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It's not discounted at the time of writing, so it's an easy recommendation to wait until later in the month when big sales start popping up. In previous years, even baseline models have been discounted by hundreds of dollars. You can always check in on Dell's Black Friday deals, which change from week to week.

ASUS has a trio of laptops in my guide, and the Vivobook S 15 will likely see the lowest price. It's already 23% off at Amazon a couple of weeks before Black Friday, which for some might be enough.

Bottom line? Unless you see a major deal on a laptop you need now, I suggest waiting for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The best prices have traditionally landed on the actual weekend of the event, and that should be no different this year.

What is Copilot+ and how does it differ from an AI PC?

Deciphering all the new terms surrounding 2024's laptop and PC landscape isn't always easy. AI PCs containing a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) kicked the year off in a big way, while Microsoft and Qualcomm took things to the next level a few months later with Copilot+.

Copilot+ is an umbrella term for a set of advanced AI features in Windows 11, as well as laptops with the ability to run the features locally. The first wave of Copilot+ PCs are all powered by a Snapdragon X Elite or Snapdragon X Plus ARM64 SoC, though that is changing soon with the latest AMD and Intel mobile chips.

All Copilot+ PCs are technically AI PCs, though the reverse is not true. Some of the best AI PCs do not make the cut for Copilot+ due to their not having an NPU with enough power. The current benchmark set by Microsoft is an NPU with 40 TOPS of power, surpassed by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X NPU with 45 TOPS.

So why buy a Copilot+ PC? In many cases, it means you're getting your hands on Qualcomm's impressive ARM64 chips with strong performance and efficiency. For many people, the Copilot+ perks — including things like Live Caption, advanced Windows Studio Effects, local image and text creation through Cocreator, and the delayed Windows Recall — will be secondary to design and performance appeal.

What to look for in a Copilot+ PC

Microsoft Surface Pro 11 with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite

Battery life is a big deal for Copilot+ PCs, especially those with Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)

Copilot+ PCs are essentially just laptops with an NPU powerful enough to run Microsoft's built-in Windows AI tools. They typically come with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips, though the expansion to Intel and AMD now offers more variety.

The same general buying advice we always offer across laptop remains the same for Copilot+ PCs. You want a display that suits your workflow, you want enough performance to not be slowed down, and you want a build quality that won't go bust before you're ready to upgrade. But you should focus more on battery life and performance in Copilot+ PCs. Qualcomm still seems to be the best option if you want the best efficiency to performance ratio, but the ARM64 architecture might not be for everyone.

If you don't want to deal with ARM emulation or worry about some specialized apps not working at all in Windows on ARM, I suggest sticking with an Intel or AMD Copilot+ PC. On the other hand, Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus chips are now showing up in more affordable devices, so the tradeoff in cost might be good enough that you give ARM a try.

Are Copilot+ PCs good for gaming?

The first run of ARM64 Copilot+ PCs featured Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus SoCs equipped with an Adreno integrated GPU capable of up to 4.6 TFLOPs in the X1E-84 chip. To put that into perspective, the Xbox Series S is capable of 4 TFLOPs.

These numbers are really only a small part of a larger story. As covered by Senior Editor Richard Devine, Snapdragon X gaming compatibility and performance is likely "going to blow your mind." Will it rival a high-end gaming laptop's experience? No, but that's not what Copilot+ PCs are made for.

Nevertheless, with more than 1,300 compatible titles listed on the WorksOnWoA website and evidence of the X Elite being able to play Baldur's Gate 3 at a respectable level, most Copilot+ PCs should be able to accommodate some lighter gaming when the focus is off of AI and productivity.

One of the new Copilot+ features is Auto Super Resolution, a tool baked right into Windows 11. It's basically Microsoft's answer to NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS, leveraging NPU power for real-time AI upscaling.

As for AMD and Intel Copilot+ PCs, they too have strong integrated GPUs capable of some lighter gaming. And as is the case with the ASUS ProArt PX13 that I recommend, you're now going to see more Copilot+ PCs ship with discrete GPUs with a lot more power for anyone who wants to play some games.

How we test laptops at Windows Central

ASUS ProArt PZ13 Copilot+ PC tested with a decibel meter

Some fan noise testing done on the ASUS ProArt PZ13 (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

How we test laptops at Windows Central is more involved than you might imagine. Because our team of reviewers essentially adopts a PC during the review process, it's easy to determine its strong and weak points in everyday use.

Design and build quality are most apparent, and we examine carefully how everything lines up and note any weak points (especially in terms of hinge strength and chassis materials). This naturally leads us to test the speakers, camera, ports, webcam, and security features, as well as the keyboard and touchpad.

It's then on to the display, where we use specialized instruments to measure things like brightness and color reproduction across the important color gamuts. We also analyze how well the display deals with glare and touch.

Finally, performance is carefully measured using a suite of benchmark tools. We run tests for the CPU, GPU, and storage; in the case of Copilot+ PCs, we add AI benchmarks to tax the NPU. Battery life is also taken into account. It's one thing to offer synthetic benchmark results for runtimes, but thanks to our laptop adoption method, we can also confidently give a real-world runtime.

We then take all of the individual scorecards from each section to deliver an overall star rating. Anything at four stars or more is considered recommendable, while the three-star range usually has some concessions. Anything at two stars or below is best left alone.

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Cale Hunt
Contributor

Cale Hunt brings to Windows Central more than eight years of experience writing about laptops, PCs, accessories, games, and beyond. If it runs Windows or in some way complements the hardware, there’s a good chance he knows about it, has written about it, or is already busy testing it.