Microsoft says Copilot+ PCs are faster than the MacBook Air with M4. The company also claims that these machines deliver a significant improvement in performance and battery life compared to older Windows laptops. But when you look closely, most of these comparisons raise more questions than answers.
Microsoft has never clearly explained what makes a Copilot+ PC truly “Plus.” The “Copilot” name already signals an AI-focused device. The “Plus” branding, according to the company, is a result of stronger hardware and improved performance. In its own words, these PCs take what Windows 11 does best and “supercharge it.”
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But that framing leans heavily on marketing.
Microsoft often compares Copilot+ PCs to five-year-old Windows devices. It says these new systems are up to five times faster. Technically, that is true. Newer processors, GPUs, and storage will always outperform hardware from 2020 or 2021. However, this improvement has little to do with the Copilot+ label or AI features.
It simply reflects normal hardware progress.
Microsoft’s Performance Claims
In a marketing document spotted by WindowsLatest, Microsoft said that the top-performing Copilot+ PCs are faster than the MacBook Air with M4 and up to five times quicker than a five-year-old Windows PC. The document was published in December 2025, before newer Intel Panther Lake and Ryzen AI chips even reached the market.
Microsoft backs this claim with internal benchmarks run between June and September 2025. According to the company, Copilot+ PCs show up to 5x gains in Cinebench 2024 multi-core scores compared to an “average” five-year-old system.
However, Microsoft has not published the full results.
The company also says these machines are up to 3.7x faster in AI tasks than earlier Windows 11 AI PCs. The reason is simple. Older AI PCs offered up to 15 TOPs of NPU performance. Copilot+ PCs push that figure to around 40 TOPs.
Battery life is another area Microsoft highlights. It claims up to 19 hours of web browsing, 27 hours of local video playback, and 22 hours of streaming. When compared to older laptops, the company reports gains of up to 4.4x in some scenarios.
The MacBook Air Comparison
Microsoft states that “top-performing” Copilot+ PCs beat the MacBook Air M4 in Cinebench 2024 multi-core tests.
That statement lacks context. Microsoft does not share which models were tested, how they were configured, or how the benchmarks were run. Without those details, the claim remains hard to verify.
It also ignores real-world factors like efficiency, sustained performance, and software optimization, areas where Apple traditionally performs well.
Microsoft also places heavy emphasis on the Copilot key. The company argues that this dedicated key improves productivity for students, office workers, and casual users.
According to Microsoft, the NPU allows smoother multitasking and faster responses when using Copilot features. Students can summarize long articles or turn notes into flashcards. Professionals can draft emails during meetings. Everyday users can plan trips or manage tasks with a single key press.
The message is clear. Microsoft believes the Copilot key is central to the AI PC experience.
Final Thoughts
Microsoft presents Copilot+ PCs as a major leap forward. But many of its performance claims rely on comparisons with aging hardware and limited benchmark transparency.
Yes, these are faster and more efficient machines. But the “Plus” advantage often sounds more like branding than a clear, measurable category.
The MacBook Air M4 comparison grabs attention. What it lacks is the detail needed to make that claim truly convincing.
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