An AI PC today is mostly a normal PC with a dedicated AI chip that makes a handful of Windows features faster, quieter and more private. It does not turn a laptop into ChatGPT, and it will not run large language models on its own. Buy one for what it does well, and buy something else for what it cannot do.
The label "AI PC" is now on almost every new business laptop and mini PC, so it helps to separate the Microsoft definition from the marketing. This post explains the Copilot+ PC requirement, the features that exist today, where a neural processing unit (NPU) stops being useful, and three very different store examples: the ASUS Ascent QN10, the ASUS ExpertBook P3 and the MSI Prestige N16 Flip AI+ with NVIDIA RTX Spark.
Which "AI PC" is which?
| Device | AI hardware (vendor figure) | Meets the 40+ TOPS NPU bar? | Good for | Price (23 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS Ascent QN10 (Snapdragon X2 Elite, 32GB) | NPU up to 80 TOPS (ASUS) | Yes; listed as a Copilot+ PC | Copilot+ features, NPU apps, small local models | S$2,375 |
| ASUS ExpertBook P3 P3406CCA (Core Ultra 7 255H) | NPU 13 TOPS; 96 overall platform TOPS (Intel) | No | Everyday business work, GPU-accelerated AI apps, cloud Copilot | S$2,099 |
| MSI Prestige N16 Flip AI+ C1XMT-224SG (RTX Spark, 32GB) | Blackwell RTX GPU + Grace CPU superchip (NVIDIA) | Confirm with us per SKU | Local AI development, creative work | S$4,974.08 |
| MSI Prestige N16 Flip AI+ C1XMT-222SG (RTX Spark, 128GB) | Up to 128GB unified memory (NVIDIA) | Confirm with us per SKU | Larger local language models on a laptop | S$10,854.12 |
Prices are as listed on 23 Oct 2026; all four were in stock at the time of writing.
What makes a PC a Copilot+ PC?
Microsoft's developer guide describes Copilot+ PCs as having "a high-performance Neural Processing Unit (NPU)" that "can perform more than 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS)", and says "many of the new Windows AI features require an NPU with the ability to run at 40+ TOPS". That is the line that matters. A laptop can carry an "AI" sticker because it has any NPU at all, but only machines that clear the 40+ TOPS NPU bar get the Copilot+ features.
The ASUS ExpertBook P3 P3406CCA-LY0040X (S$2,099) shows why the distinction matters. Intel lists its Core Ultra 7 255H processor at 13 NPU TOPS and 96 overall platform TOPS, most of which comes from the GPU. That is a capable business laptop, and its GPU can accelerate AI-aware apps, but its NPU is below Microsoft's Copilot+ threshold. Similarly, the listing for the ASUS NUC 16 Pro Ultra 5 325 states that ASUS does not publish a Copilot+ certification for that configuration. Cloud-based Microsoft Copilot runs in a browser on all of them.
What can an AI PC actually do today?
On Microsoft's Copilot+ PC page, the named features are Click to Do and improved Windows search, with footnotes saying Click to Do actions "vary by device, region, language, and character sets" and that search "works with specific text, image, and document formats only". Microsoft also notes that "Copilot+ PC experiences vary by device and market and may require updates continuing to roll out".
The best-known feature, Recall, is a good example of the trade-offs. Microsoft's IT documentation lists its requirements as a Copilot+ PC with a "40 TOPs NPU", "16 GB RAM", "8 logical processors" and "256 GB storage capacity", plus Device Encryption or BitLocker and Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security. It also says "snapshots are locally stored and locally analyzed on your PC" and are not sent to Microsoft. For business buyers, the important line is this: "By default, Recall is disabled and removed on managed devices." In other words, if your PCs are managed by IT, the headline AI feature is off until your administrator decides otherwise.
Beyond Windows itself, an NPU runs AI tasks in apps that are built for it, such as background effects, transcription or small on-device models, while leaving the CPU and GPU free. The ASUS Ascent QN10 (S$2,375), which ASUS rates at "up to 80 TOPS NPU performance", is the clearest example in our catalogue: a mini PC built around the NPU. Its listing also points out that its 32 GB of memory is soldered and that, as an Arm system, some specialised software should be checked first; see Your Next IT Upgrade Could Be a Downgrade for why that matters.
The case for buying an AI PC now
Hardware bought in 2026 is likely to stay in service for several years, and Microsoft is building new Windows features around the NPU. Buying below the 40+ TOPS bar today means those features will not arrive on that machine later. Local processing also suits privacy-sensitive work, because the data stays on the device. If the price difference is small within your budget, choosing a Copilot+ class machine keeps options open.
The case for waiting, or not paying extra
Many office roles will not notice the difference. Email, spreadsheets and Teams calls do not need an NPU, and cloud Copilot works on any modern PC. On managed fleets, Recall is off by default anyway. And Arm-based Copilot+ PCs bring app-compatibility checks that some firms are not ready for. Paying a premium for features nobody will switch on is the kind of spend we describe in 7 IT Products Companies Keep Overpaying For.
What can't an NPU do?
It cannot run large language models well. Large models are limited by memory size and bandwidth, not NPU TOPS, so they belong on a GPU with plenty of memory or on a system with large unified memory. NVIDIA describes RTX Spark as "a single superchip combining an NVIDIA Blackwell RTX GPU and an NVIDIA Grace CPU" with "up to 128GB of unified memory", built "to run large language models and AI agents locally". In our catalogue that is the MSI Prestige N16 Flip AI+ C1XMT-224SG with 32 GB (S$4,974.08) and the C1XMT-222SG with 128 GB (S$10,854.12). For a desk-based machine shared by a team, the ASUS Ascent GX10 128GB / 1TB (S$7,200) is the GB10 option. Our guide to why 128GB unified memory matters, the NVIDIA RTX Spark laptop guide and ASUS Ascent QN10 vs GX10 go deeper.
SourceIT's verdict
An AI PC is worth buying for the PC first and the AI second; if the AI is the main job, buy for memory, not NPU TOPS.
For most office staff, buy the right business PC and treat Copilot+ capability as a tie-breaker. For teams that want on-device AI features, choose a machine that clearly clears the 40+ TOPS NPU bar and confirm your management policy for features such as Recall. For anyone who wants to run real language models locally, skip the NPU debate and size the memory. And before buying any AI hardware, define the use case: The Biggest Mistake Companies Make When Adopting AI explains why, and Is the Traditional Office PC Finally Dying? covers where AI PCs fit in the wider fleet.
Buying AI PCs in Singapore
SourceIT is an ASUS reseller and supplies MSI with local warranty; confirm the term for your SKU when requesting a quote. Browse AI workstations and servers, order online, or use Request for Quotation on the product page. Call (65) 6978 3502, email Sales@sourceit.com.sg or use our contact page. Government and education buyers can procure through GeBIZ and Vendors@Gov, where we are registered; see government sales.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Copilot+ PC requirement? Microsoft says many new Windows AI features require an NPU that can run at 40+ TOPS. Recall additionally lists 16 GB RAM, 8 logical processors and 256 GB storage.
Is every AI PC a Copilot+ PC? No. Many laptops have an NPU below 40 TOPS. Intel lists the Core Ultra 7 255H in the ASUS ExpertBook P3 at 13 NPU TOPS, so it is not Copilot+ class.
Is Recall turned on for business PCs? Not by default. Microsoft says Recall is disabled and removed on managed devices unless IT enables it.
Can an AI PC run ChatGPT-style models offline? Small models, yes. Large language models need large GPU or unified memory, such as RTX Spark laptops or a GB10 system like the ASUS Ascent GX10.
Do I need an AI PC to use Microsoft Copilot? No. Cloud-based Copilot works through the browser or app on any modern PC; Copilot+ features are the on-device extras.
Which store AI PC has the highest NPU rating? Of the examples here, the ASUS Ascent QN10, which ASUS rates at up to 80 TOPS, at S$2,375 as listed on 23 Oct 2026.
