CoPilot Plus PC vs MacBook M3: Which is Better For You in 2024?

If we were to place the most powerful laptop models together side by side today, Microsoft CoPilot+ PCs and Apple MacBook M3 are both on the list. The battle for artificial intelligence power and dominance has dragged Microsoft and Apple to push for high-end laptops with more AI capabilities while maximizing battery life.

Microsoft is keen to market its new Surface CoPilot Plus PC, using multiple benchmarks as weapons to challenge its rival, the Apple MacBook Air M3.

While Apple MacBooks promises a future upgrade to a more powerful M4 processor later in 2024, Microsoft’s new Qualcomm ARM-based Surface CoPilot Plus PC beats the current Apple bestselling MacBook Air M3 in many benchmarks, including in neural processing performance and battery life.

This article explores everything you need to know about CoPilot+ PCs and MacBooks to help you have a good buying guide for your next laptop purchase.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. CoPilot+ vs. MacBook M3: Latest Models Specs
3. CoPilot+ vs. MacBook M3: Which Is the Best for You in 2024?
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. CoPilot+ vs. MacBook M3: Latest Models Specs
3. CoPilot+ vs. MacBook M3: Which Is the Best for You in 2024?
Show Full Guide
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

CoPilot+ vs. MacBook M3: Latest Models Specs

The table below summarizes the Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th edition) and Apple MacBook Air M3 specifications since they are the latest or best-selling models.

CoPilot+ vs. MacBook M3: Which Is the Best for You in 2024?

Deciding on which product to purchase between the Microsoft CoPilot+ and Apple MacBook M3 depends on your user preference and peculiar needs. If you are looking for criteria like performance, software, design or AI functionality, here is a deep dive into how the latest CoPilot PC compares to Apple’s MacBook M3.

CoPilot+ vs. MacBook Air M3: Software Comparison

CoPilot Plus OS wins on AI functionality

New Microsoft CoPilot PCs are powered by ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X chipsets and run on Windows 11 24h2, a newer version of the Microsoft Windows 11 operating system (OS) designed for AI. The OS is compatible with many software, productivity tools, and Microsoft services. It also brings a suite of new AI features like Voice Clarity, HDR Background Support, and Energy Server to the CoPilot+ PCs.

On the other hand, MacBook Air M3 runs on macOS. This OS is known to bring many functions to the MacBook Air, including slow-motion screensavers, video conferencing, autocorrect, profiles in Safari, search filters, etc.

macOS tends to offer more reliability, smoothness, and easier configuration in the MacBook Air, while Windows 11 is great for its customizability, wider application library, and more diverse form factors.

CoPilot Plus vs. MacBook Air M3: Performance

CoPilot+ is better in NPU power and multithreaded performance

Both the CoPilot Plus and MacBook Air performances rely heavily on their chipsets. Microsoft CoPilot+ is equipped with ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X chipsets with two variants: 10-core Snapdragon X Plus and 12-core Snapdragon X Elite.

The two chipsets’ performance rivals that of the Apple MacBook Air, which is equipped with Apple Silicon M3 processors.

Microsoft claimed in its Surface event in May that one of its new Surface CoPilot Plus PCs with Snapdragon X Elite chipset outperformed Apple’s MacBook Air M3 15″ by up to 58% in sustained multithreaded performance, while delivering better battery life.

Both laptops offer fast neural processing power, with Microsoft’s Qualcomm Hexagon coming ahead with a claim of 45 trillion operations per second (TOPS), while Apple’s M3 achieves about 18 TOPS.

This big advantage may tighten when the M4 MacBook arrives this year with a promise of 38 TOPS.

CoPilot Plus vs. MacBook Air M3: Design

MacBook Air M3 wins on portability

Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 7 CoPilot Plus PC and MacBook Air have similar designs — they are sleek, lightweight, and portable, and both are among the best-built aluminum chassis laptops we have today.

The new Surface Laptop 7 has some improvements from the previous generation with razor-thin bezels, a brilliant touchscreen display, premium audio, an AI-enhanced camera, and a haptic touchpad.

The MacBook is more aesthetic with a blockier appearance. Its bezels are not that thin, especially on the bottom chin, and it has a notch accommodating the webcam and Face ID. The CoPilot Plus Surface Laptop base model is 13.8 inches and is reasonably lightweight and thin at 2.96 pounds and 0.69 inches. On the other hand, MacBook Air 13-inch is thinner at 0.44 inches and lighter at 2.7 pounds.

CoPilot Plus vs. MacBook Air M3: AI Features

Both companies claim AI dominance

Microsoft and Apple both market CoPilot+ PCs and MacBook Air M3 as the most powerful AI laptops. Microsoft says CoPilot Plus PCs bring entirely new and powerful AI experiences by leveraging powerful processors and many AI models to unlock experiences you can run locally or directly on the device. These include Recall, AI-powered Cocreator, CapCut, LiquidText, Live Captions, and more.

On the other hand, Apple marketed the MacBook Air as the “best consumer laptop ” for AI. Since Apple transitioned to Apple Silicon, all their Macs have been touted as a great platform for AI experiences.

The macOS in the MacBook Air M3 delivers intelligent features that support productivity and creativity, and this includes; AI Math Assistance in Goodnotes 6, Pixelmator Pro, and CapCut.

MacBook Air M3 can also run AI models and supports cloud-based solutions that tap into the power of AI such as the Microsoft CoPilot for Microsoft 365, Adobe Firefly, and Canva.

Which Laptop is Best for Students?

New CoPilot PCs and MacBook Air M3 are good for college students due to their suite of productivity apps powered by AI. Microsoft CoPilot PCs offer LiquidText and allow you access to the latest AI models including GPT-4o from their partners at OpenAI. The MacBook is better with real-time speech-to-text, translation, and text predictions, and even has a Stage Manager which can help students focus on the task in front of them.

Which Laptop is Best for Work?

When it comes to work and productivity, both CoPilot Plus and MacBook are excellent. The two laptops leverage AI to offer creative features and apps like Canva, Adobe, CapCut, and Studio Effects. CoPilot will somehow have a slim edge since it has a longer battery life and can give you more hours for general productivity. Aside from that, the two laptops are on par for productivity tasks.

Which Laptop Wins on Price?

CoPilot Plus PCs started shipping out on June 18 at $999.99 base pricing. The MacBook Air M3 shipped at $1,099, and $999.99 for education. Microsoft seems to keep their pricing lower to compete with Apple’s MacBook Air M3 which already has more reception since it was released in March.

CoPilot Plus should win on this pricing since it offers better battery life and NPU performance while still keeping the price below the starting price of the MacBook.

The Bottom Line

The CoPilot PC vs MacBook M3 comparison is something every potential PC buyer should study before making a purchase.

The two are some of the most advanced laptops for AI operations or tasks. CoPilot was reported to have outperformed Apple’s MacBook Air M3 by up to 58% in a sustained multithreaded performance and can deliver up to 20 hours of local video playback or 15 hours of web browsing on a single charge.

This is up to 20% more battery in local video playback than what is obtainable in MacBook Air.

While the two offer similar capabilities when it comes to AI functionality, CoPilot Plus is better for creativity tasks. MacBook Air, on the other hand, is more portable and should be a better pick for a college student.

FAQs