Faster performance, longer battery life and new features: How the NPU will turbocharge your next laptop

When it comes to shopping for a new computer, what performance specs are important to you? For a long time, having a fast central processing unit (CPU), was critical to having a smooth experience. Then graphics processing units (GPUs) were key to intensive tasks such as gaming or video editing. Apps that moved graphics algorithms from the CPU to the GPU gained performance improvements and extended battery life. 

And now, the neural processing unit (NPU) is one of the hot buzzwords in this new era of artificial intelligence (AI). As developers add more AI algorithms to their apps, the NPU becomes more critical because it’s dedicated to running these tasks. Moving AI algorithms from the CPU or GPU to the NPU brings ample performance and power benefits. 

But even beyond the hype of AI, it’s something you’ll want to consider if you’re looking to upgrade to a new, more powerful computer. You may not be ready to embrace AI or the features it brings — that’s okay! — but it’s important to understand that a powerful NPU brings a myriad of other benefits from helping existing programs run faster, bringing in new bells and whistles, or helping your computer run faster and longer on a single battery charge.

But what exactly does this mean for you? Let's consider the dedicated Qualcomm Hexagon NPU core with the Snapdragon X [Elite, Plus or Series] Platforms that power new Microsoft Copilot+ PCs from Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Acer, Asus and Honor. Here's what to keep in mind: 

Not all NPUs are equal

When it comes to the NPU, one primary way to measure performance is through a metric called trillions of operations per second (TOPS). While TOPS isn’t the sole factor in determining how well your computer can handle AI tasks, it’s a key measure that you should pay attention to. TOPS give your PC additional horsepower that will let you run the kind of AI tasks that would normally require you to have an internet connection so you can tap into a more powerful cloud service.

So instead of going through an internet connection to access the cloud, higher TOPS allow you to run AI tasks directly on your PC and get lightning-fast results. For example, Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus Platforms are capable of 45 TOPS. Check it out: 

Runs longer and cooler

The NPU can take on the kinds of tasks that would’ve stressed your CPU and caused it to gorge on battery life. By offloading those tasks to the NPU, your laptop will run effectively for longer stretches. Just how much of a difference does it make? 

Again looking at a device powered by Snapdragon, the Snapdragon X Elite got 2.6 times more performance per watt than the M3 processor and 5.4 times the performance of a PC laptop running on the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H during benchmark testing.¹ All those numbers translate into the ability for a Snapdragon X Elite PC to handle even the toughest tasks for longer than other devices. And beyond battery life, the dedicated NPU also allows the computer to run cooler despite continuous usage.

Enhanced apps and features

Having a powerful NPU will also make for an elevated PC experience overall. For example, Microsoft has tapped into the NPU in Snapdragon X Elite to power many new Copilot+ PC features in Windows. One of these features is Live Captions — it can translate any audio on your PC from 40 different languages into English in real-time.

In addition, the Hexagon NPU in Copilot+ PCs powered by Snapdragon deliver exciting new AI features on all your favorite Windows apps:

• Video conferencing app Zoom, said earlier this year that it would transition its Zoom Workplace app for Windows so that its AI-related video features would run on an NPU, and specifically pointed out its virtual background and portrait lighting effects. The upshot is you get longer Zoom calls per charge and without your PC heating up.

• Bytedance’s CapCut, a video-editing app popular with TikTokers, likewise transitioned its neural network powering its Auto Cut feature from the CPU to the NPU, allowing it to run five times faster.
• Algoriddim optimized djay Pro, its award-winning DJ software, to fully take advantage of the Snapdragon X Elite NPU. “The dedicated NPU sets new standards for speed and audio quality for the most demanding tasks like our Neural Mix source separation technology, allowing DJs to isolate and manipulate vocals, drums and instruments of any song in real time for endless creativity,” said DJ Angelo, World DJ Champion and head of brand for Algoriddim.

And these are just a few of the features that get the most of out an enhanced NPU. If you’re still not convinced about the benefits of an NPU on your PC, we’re collecting the best features brought to PCs by our Hexagon NPU on Snapdragon X Series Platforms all in one place.

So even if you aren’t caught up by the AI hype, it’s reassuring to know that all the sophisticated technology powering these features will also lead to a better overall experience, with benefits you may not even realize you needed.