The Copilot+ AI PC era is upon us, but despite the hype surrounding Arm-based laptops, x86 processors from AMD and Intel are poised to dominate the market. Analyst firm Omdia forecasts a surge in Arm-based Copilot+ AI PC shipments, rising from 800,000 units in 2024 to 5.2 million in 2025—a significant increase of over 533%. However, the x86 platform is expected to see an even more dramatic rise.
In 2025, Omdia predicts a staggering 34.2 million units of x86-based Copilot+ AI PC laptops will be sold, a massive 17,000% increase from this year. This growth is attributed to the launch of AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 series “Strix Point” APUs, featuring new XDNA2-based NPUs specifically designed for Copilot+ integration. AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 “Strix Point” APU powers my current laptop, a testament to the burgeoning AI capabilities of these processors.
Intel, not to be outdone, is set to launch its next-generation Core Ultra 200 series “Lunar Lake” processors with significantly enhanced NPUs for even greater AI performance. These new processors, alongside AMD’s Strix Point APUs, are poised to fuel the projected 34 million+ x86 AI PC laptop shipments in 2025.
While Arm-based laptops, like Microsoft’s Surface line, will continue to gain traction, the forecast suggests a considerable dominance of x86 processors. In 2026, Omdia anticipates 60.7 million x86-powered AI PC laptops shipped, compared to just 14.5 million Arm AI PC laptops. This trend highlights the significant advantages of x86 in terms of AI processing power, a factor that is likely to shape the future of the Copilot+ AI PC market.
