GoKawiilMicrosoft drops 'Copilot+ PC' branding from new Surface devices
Microsoft's newly announced Surface Pro (2nd Edition) and Surface Laptop (2nd Edition) meet all technical specs for the Copilot+ PC label but aren't marketed under that name, according to Surface VP Brett Ostrum. Both machines use Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus chips with an 80 TOPS NPU, well above the 40 TOPS threshold Microsoft originally set for the category. Microsoft's Copilot+ PC marketing page has also been quietly replaced with one for 'performance PCs.'
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Qualcomm's Kedar Kondap suggests the devices still deliver the same AI capabilities, just without the branding, implying the label itself—not the underlying technology—is being phased out. This could indicate Microsoft views on-device AI hardware as now standard rather than a differentiator worth a special marketing push, though the company hasn't stated this explicitly.
- New Surface Pro and Laptop models exceed Copilot+ PC hardware requirements but drop the branding
- Microsoft's Copilot+ PC marketing page has been replaced by a 'performance PCs' page
- Qualcomm suggests the same AI-on-device experience continues, just without the terminology
Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch — This is the very device discussed in the article, featuring Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Plus chip and a powerful 80 TOPS NPU for on-device AI tasks. It's a great pick for anyone wanting a thin, fast Windows laptop built for the next generation of AI-accelerated computing.
See Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-09-25
Published there as: “Microsoft stops insisting you need a "Copilot+ PC"”
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