A few months ago, Apple released the MacBook Neo, its most affordable MacBook. At the time, an ASUS executive admitted that the laptop came as a “shock” to the Windows PC industry, which is now in the process of responding.
Acer today launched the Swift Air 14 laptop, with US prices starting at $699. By comparison, the MacBook Neo starts at $599 for a 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM, or $499 for college students and academic workers. However, the MacBook Neo costs an equivalent $699 when configured with 512GB of double storage and a Touch ID button.
Powered by the new Intel Core Series 3 processor, the Swift Air 14 features a 14-inch display with a refresh rate of 120Hz and a resolution of 1,920 × 1,200 pixels, up to 512GB SSD, up to 16GB of RAM, an all-aluminum enclosure, and quad Ultra speakers with DTS:X. Like the MacBook Neo, the laptop supports Wi-Fi 6E.
Acer’s Swift Air 14The laptop is equipped with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Acer says the 70 Wh battery provides 19 hours of battery life for video playback and up to 16 hours of battery life for web browsing.
Like the MacBook Neo, the Swift Air 14 is available in vibrant colors, including green, blue, blossom pink, and lilac purple.
Acer said the Swift Air 14 will be available in North America starting in August.
Meanwhile, Qualcomm this week announced the Snapdragon C, a new processor designed for “entry-tier laptops” priced at “$300 and up.” Qualcomm said the processor delivers “responsive everyday performance” with “effective power efficiency.” The first Snapdragon C-powered laptops are expected to launch later this year, with dedicated brands including Acer, HP, and Lenovo, according to Qualcomm.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon C processorIndeed, Acer previewed the Aspire Go 15, the first laptop powered by the Snapdragon C processor. The laptop will have an “affordable” price point, but Acer did not provide specific pricing or a release date. Key features include a 15.6-inch display with a resolution of 1,920 × 1,080 pixels, up to 512GB SSD, up to 8GB of RAM, a 1080p webcam, two speakers, two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, one HDMI port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Acer said the Aspire Go 15 is made from 100% recyclable materials and has some parts made from recycled plastic, so it sounds like the laptop won’t have an all-aluminum enclosure like the MacBook Neo and Swift Air 14.
Finally, ASUS commented on the MacBook Neo again during its annual shareholder meeting today. According to Taiwan Economic Daily NewsASUS chairman Jonney Shih said the company could learn from Apple’s cost-saving plans with the MacBook Neo and see it as an opportunity. Stay tuned, he said.
On an earnings call last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook said customer response to the MacBook Neo has been “off the charts” since its launch.
Apple had high hopes for the MacBook Neo before announcing it, but the company was “still stretching” the level of enthusiasm the laptop would generate, according to Cook. He said demand for the MacBook Neo exceeded Apple’s expectations and helped drive a record number of first-time Mac buyers last quarter.
“We’re not going to be happy with the way things are going right now,” Cook said.
As for the Windows PC sector, maybe not so much.