Microsoft, the new Copilot+ PCs are faster than Macs

Microsoft continues its campaign to seduce its Copilot+ PCs with Qualcomm or AMD chips . The aim is to directly challenge Apple's MacBooks, which have long used ARM chips and have established themselves with high performance and long battery life.

Traditionally, ARM-based Windows PCs have been seen as less powerful, slower, and less compatible than traditional Intel/AMD models or MacBooks . But now Microsoft wants to change that perception. The new Copilot+ PCs are much faster, more power efficient, and have AI capabilities built in. Translation: They can now compete on equal terms with MacBooks.

Are Microsoft Copilot+ PCs Better Than Macs?

In an ad for cell phones, Microsoft claims that its Copilot PCs are “ faster than a Mac .” In other words, Microsoft uses data from a year ago to claim that these computers are faster than a MacBook Air with an M3 chip . It also claims that the top-of-the-line models can outperform some newer M4 MacBook Airs.

Are the latest Copilot+ PCs really faster than a Mac ? It’s worth noting that the comparison is essentially based on a Cinebench benchmark , which only takes into account a few of the performance metrics. There’s also no mention of battery life, which puts Microsoft’s claimed comparative advantage into perspective. It’s worth noting, however, that PCs with ARM chips are gradually catching up with Macs with Apple Silicon chips .

Microsoft Shows Its Muscles, But It's Not Enough

To make these claims, Microsoft relies on tests conducted on benchmarks such as the Lenovo Yoga Clim 7x (Snapdragon X Elite) and the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 chips. For now, Apple's M4 chips remain very competitive, especially in terms of performance per watt. This means that they can guarantee high performance while maintaining very low power consumption, a factor that translates into longer battery life than Windows PCs, at least for now.