The Core Ultra 7 155H has an 11 TOPS NPU, while Snapdragon X and the Core Ultra 7 258V reach 45-48 TOPS. That gap matters because the Copilot+ PC standard requires an NPU of 40 TOPS or more to run many local AI features. With a laptop with an NPU, you need to look at what it is actually for, and avoid assuming that having AI means the machine will game better or render heavy graphics faster.
How AI Processing Works in Today's Laptops With an NPU
Laptops with an NPU include a Neural Processing Unit, a block dedicated to AI and machine learning tasks that run directly on the device. Common tasks include image recognition, microphone noise suppression, background blur, live captions, conversation translation, light image generation and smart assistant support. The key point of an NPU is power efficiency, which lets the machine handle light AI work without pushing the CPU or GPU to run continuously.
| Generation or platform | Verified AI specs | Real-world difference for everyday users |
|---|---|---|
| Intel Core Ultra Series 1, Meteor Lake | Core Ultra 7 155H has an 11 TOPS NPU, 33 TOPS total AI, Cinebench R23 1.743 single-core and 15.028 multi-core | Basic AI camera features, but below the 40 TOPS Copilot+ threshold |
| AMD Ryzen 7040 and 8040 | Ryzen 7000 AI is around 10 TOPS, Ryzen 8040 reaches 16 TOPS | Enough for light AI tasks, suited to office work and basic online meetings |
| Qualcomm Snapdragon X and X Elite | Hexagon NPU 45 TOPS, Snapdragon X X1-26-100 scores Geekbench 6 2.123,5 single-core and 10.584 multi-core | Meets Copilot+, good battery life, but legacy apps and drivers on Windows ARM need checking |
| Intel Core Ultra 200V, Lunar Lake | Core Ultra 7 258V has a 47 TOPS NPU, Arc 140V GPU 64 TOPS, 115 TOPS total | Fits thin and light laptops, online meetings, live captions and local AI |
| AMD Ryzen AI 300, Strix Point | Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has a 50 TOPS NPU, Cinebench R23 2.018 single-core and 21.761 multi-core | Meets Copilot+, with a multi-core CPU far stronger than many mainstream thin-and-light platforms |
| Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Plus | Qualcomm announced a Hexagon NPU of 80 TOPS, with some X2 Elite versions reaching 85 TOPS | High AI headroom, but retail machines in Vietnam still need real-world testing |
In the past, many AI tasks could still run on the CPU or GPU, but they usually drew more power. In an online meeting, the machine has to separate the background, suppress noise, correct eye contact and process the camera feed continuously. If all of that lands on the CPU, the laptop runs hotter and the fan becomes more noticeable. If it lands on the GPU, battery life suffers too, especially on thin and light laptops.
TOPS is the figure commonly used to describe AI processing power, simply put the number of trillions of operations per second. However, a higher TOPS figure does not mean every application gets faster in proportion. The software has to support the platform properly before the NPU can show its value. That is why Hung Phat suggests treating the NPU as one part of the overall configuration, alongside the CPU, RAM, SSD, display and battery.
How the NPU, CPU and GPU Differ at AI Processing
In a laptop with an NPU, the CPU, GPU and NPU still play different roles. The CPU suits general tasks such as launching apps, handling spreadsheets, browsing, compressing files and coordinating the system. The GPU excels at parallel processing and is commonly used for graphics, games, 3D rendering, video export and some heavy AI models. The NPU is designed for repetitive AI calculations at low power, so the machine runs well when the operating system assigns the right work to each processing block.
For everyday users, the easiest difference to notice is in tasks that run continuously. During a 1-2 hour video meeting, Windows Studio Effects can blur the background, auto-frame the shot and suppress noise locally. If the NPU handles this well, the CPU has more room left for the browser, Word, Excel or accounting software. If your main need is spreadsheets, MISA and eTax, you can also read our article on laptops for accounting that run Excel and MISA.
One point needs to be clear: an NPU does not raise game FPS the way many people expect. Games still depend mainly on the GPU, CPU, RAM and the machine's power design. An NPU also does not replace an RTX card for 3D work, training large AI models or heavy video rendering. If your goal is gaming, prioritize a discrete GPU and good cooling; our article on mid-range gaming laptop configurations will fit that need better.
Practical Uses and Common NPU Generations
The clearest use of an NPU today is in local AI features. Under the Copilot+ PC standard, Microsoft requires an NPU of 40 TOPS or more, along with conditions for memory and storage. Once a machine meets this standard, it can support Recall, Live Captions with translation, Cocreator and Windows Studio Effects processed right on the device. The benefits are faster responses in some situations, less reliance on the network and better privacy.
Early generations such as Intel Core Ultra Series 1 or AMD Ryzen 7040/8040 do have an NPU, but its capability usually falls short of the Copilot+ threshold. The Core Ultra 7 155H has an 11 TOPS NPU, 33 TOPS total AI and an 18 TOPS Intel Arc iGPU. The Ryzen 8040 raises this to 16 TOPS, enough for AI camera features and basic tasks. With Snapdragon X, Intel Core Ultra 200V and AMD Ryzen AI 300, the 45-50 TOPS range has become more common, and is a better fit if you want to use local AI features in Windows in 2026.
If you are buying a laptop with an NPU for office work, you should tell "AI PC" and "Copilot+ PC" apart. "AI PC" is a broad label that many brands use as long as a machine has some AI-supporting component. Copilot+ PC has clearer requirements, and the 40 TOPS NPU threshold is the key one. So the Core Ultra 7 155H is still fine for office work, studying, online meetings and light multitasking, but it does not meet the Copilot+ standard on the NPU requirement.
Which Configuration Everyday Users Should Prioritize
For office work, studying, browsing, online meetings and light entertainment, an NPU is a plus but not the top criterion. You should prioritize 16GB of RAM or more if you often keep many tabs open and use Teams, Excel, a browser and internal software at the same time. The SSD also needs enough capacity for the system to run comfortably. On a limited budget, upgrading the RAM or choosing a stable CPU usually makes a more noticeable difference than chasing TOPS alone.
The groups that should prioritize a laptop with a strong NPU are people who hold many online meetings, work on the move, need good battery life and want to try Windows' local AI features. If you often use live captions, content translation, background blur, noise suppression or light content generation, the 45-50 TOPS range makes a clearer difference. For people who only use Word, Excel, a browser and watch movies, Core Ultra Series 1 or Ryzen 8040 still does the job well.
One drawback to weigh is that the software ecosystem is still uneven. Some AI features depend on the Windows version, region, language and specific application. On a Snapdragon X machine running Windows ARM, you should check accounting software, printers, digital signatures or legacy drivers before buying. If your work involves important data, security needs to go hand in hand with AI; you can read more about how to turn on BitLocker on a new laptop to understand disk encryption on Windows.
Choosing an AI Laptop That Fits Your Needs in Ho Chi Minh City
If you ask Hung Phat which option to choose, the answer depends on how you use the machine day to day. Basic office users should first pick a machine with a solid CPU, 16GB of RAM, a roomy SSD and an easy-to-read display. People who often hold online meetings, work on the move and want to use Copilot+ features should prioritize a platform with an NPU of 40 TOPS or more. Those doing graphics, video editing or heavy AI work still need to look at the discrete GPU, RAM capacity and cooling instead of focusing only on the NPU figure.
On cost, machines with newer AI platforms usually sit in a higher segment than mainstream office laptops. The difference can range from a few million to more than ten million VND depending on the CPU, RAM, display, thinness and brand. If your budget falls in the 20-30 million VND range, you need to balance Copilot+, RAM and display quality. Hung Phat advises against paying extra just for the "AI" label on the sticker.
In Ho Chi Minh City, you should try tasks close to your real needs in person before deciding. Open a browser with many tabs, run office apps, and test the camera, microphone, fan noise and battery life based on the recommended configuration. If you need Copilot+, check clearly whether the chip platform reaches 40 TOPS or more. If you don't need local AI, choosing a machine with a balance of RAM, SSD and display will be more economical.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How is the NPU in newer laptops different from earlier generations?
The big difference lies in local AI processing power and the software standard that comes with it. The Core Ultra 7 155H has an 11 TOPS NPU, while the Core Ultra 7 258V reaches 47 TOPS and the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 reaches 50 TOPS. 40 TOPS or more is the key threshold for meeting Microsoft's Copilot+ PC requirements.
Does a laptop without an NPU become outdated quickly?
Not necessarily. A laptop without an NPU still works well for Word, Excel, browsing, online classes, watching movies and plenty of office software. If you don't use Copilot+, don't spend much time on video meetings and don't need AI running directly on the machine, the CPU, 16GB of RAM and a good SSD still matter more.
How much more do I need to spend to get a stronger NPU?
The difference depends on the machine segment, not just the NPU. Going from an 11-16 TOPS platform to the 45-50 TOPS group, the cost usually rises by a few million to more than ten million VND because it comes with a newer CPU, a better display, a thinner body or a larger battery. If you only do basic office work, that money may be better spent on RAM or an SSD.
Which specs should I use to identify a laptop with this technology?
Look at the processor platform name and the NPU's TOPS figure. For example, Snapdragon X has a Hexagon NPU of 45 TOPS, the Core Ultra 7 258V has a 47 TOPS NPU, and the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has a 50 TOPS NPU. For a laptop with an NPU meant for Copilot+, check for the 40 TOPS or higher mark instead of just looking at an "AI PC" sticker.
