Microsoft believes in the potential of its Copilot+ PCs and claims, in a short video shared on its social networks, that they are much more powerful than the MacBook Air M3. At the heart of the demonstration are multi-core tests on Cinebench 2024 and the Redmond company highlights a shocking figure: some high-end Windows PCs, badged Copilot+, are said to be up to 58% faster than a MacBook Air equipped with the M3 chip. The machines featured include models like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x and Microsoft's Surface Laptop (both with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processor), as well as the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (with AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 375).
The asterisk that changes (almost) everything
While the comparison with the MacBook Air M3, launched in mid-2024, may seem flattering for Microsoft, one crucial detail is worth noting: the figures cited in the advertisement are from May 2024. However, Apple has since rolled out its M4 chips, including on its new MacBook Airs.
Microsoft's communication is all the more curious given that in a blog post, the company claims that some of its PCs Copilot+ remains faster even against these MacBook Air M4s. It is still based on the same Cinebench 2024 test in multi-core, but the gap is closing considerably. Microsoft's own figures reveal, for example, that a Surface Laptop with Snapdragon X Elite would obtain, on average, 784.6 points to 950 points in multi-core, compared to 866 points for the 15-inch MacBook Air M4. The advantage, while real on two of the three 13.8 and 15-inch Surface Laptops tested, is far from the 58% initially trumpeted.
Microsoft's communication "oversights"
Microsoft's campaign also seems to miss several crucial aspects, including single-core performance. While the Copilot+ PCs shine in multi-core, the situation is reversed in single-core usage, and the MacBook Air M3 and M4 maintain a clear lead in this area. A Surface Laptop with Snapdragon X Elite, for example, would score from 120 points (Surface Laptop 13.8") to 123 points (Surface Laptop 15") in single-core on Cinebench R24, compared to more than 170 points for a MacBook Air M4. However, the Redmond company does not mention this in its comparison.
Furthermore, it should be noted that almost all of the Copilot+ PCs tested are, to our knowledge, equipped with active dissipation systems (with fans). Conversely, MacBook Airs are known for their passive cooling and this fanless design can limit sustained multi-core performance, but it offers a different user comfort, not highlighted by Microsoft. Finally, Apple's trump card remains the performance per watt ratio, and the M3 and M4 chips excel in this area.
With these clarifications, our intention is not to tell you that the M3 or M4 MacBooks would be better than the Copilot+ PCs. We also tested the 7th generation Surface Laptop (13.8 inches, Snapdragon X Elite) in July 2024 and indicated that this laptop was a worthy opponent for Apple's MacBook Air.
Beyond benchmarks: a war of ecosystems and AI
This new advertising war is part of a broader strategy for Microsoft. With the end of Windows 10 and the advent of ARM-based PCs, the goal is to reposition the Windows PC as the platform of choice for artificial intelligence with Copilot+. These new machines are designed for local AI functions, without systematic reliance on the cloud, an argument that could weigh against a more progressive approach from Apple with "Apple Intelligence."
Ultimately, the PC vs. Mac war is far from over, and it's played out on much more than just raw speed.
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