GoKawiilMicrosoft stops using Copilot+ branding on new laptops, Surface exec confirms
Microsoft Surface CVP Brett Ostrum told Windows Central that new laptops meeting the Copilot+ hardware requirements are no longer being labeled with the Copilot+ badge, even though the underlying NPU and performance specs remain. Devices like the upcoming Nvidia RTX Spark N1X and Microsoft's own Project Zenith are shipping without the branding, and Microsoft says it's scaling back Copilot's visible presence in Windows 11 while promising better performance and reliability, including optimization for 8GB RAM systems.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The Copilot+ label launched in 2024 to distinguish AI-capable PCs, but its removal suggests the distinction may no longer serve a purpose now that many mainstream chips meet the 40+ TOPS bar Microsoft originally set. Microsoft insists it isn't retreating from AI itself—it continues developing dozens of Copilot features—so the change looks more like a rebranding or de-emphasis of the marketing tier than an abandonment of AI strategy.
- Microsoft has quietly stopped applying the Copilot+ badge to new eligible laptops, per Surface CVP Brett Ostrum.
- Devices like Nvidia's RTX Spark N1X and Microsoft's Project Zenith lack the Copilot+ label despite meeting requirements.
- Microsoft is simultaneously scaling back Copilot's Windows 11 footprint while continuing to expand its broader Copilot AI feature set.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 — The Surface Laptop 7 is Microsoft's flagship Copilot+ PC with a Snapdragon NPU delivering the 40+ TOPS on-device AI performance discussed in this branding shift. It's a great pick if you want the actual hardware capability behind Copilot+ before the naming fades away, with long battery life and a sleek design.
See Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 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: tomshardware.com — Jowi Morales, 2026-09-26
Published there as: “Microsoft quietly drops Copilot+ branding from new laptops”
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