A few months ago, Apple launched the MacBook Neo, its most affordable MacBook ever. At the time, an ASUS executive admitted that the laptop was a “shock” to the Windows PC industry, which is now reacting.
Acer today introduced a Swift Air 14 laptop, the price of which in the United States starts at $699. For comparison, the MacBook Neo starts at $599 with a 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM, or $499 for students and education staff. However, the MacBook Neo costs $699 when configured with a dual 512GB of storage and a Touch ID button.
Powered by a new Intel Core Series 3 processor, the Swift Air 14 features a 14-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1920×1200 pixel resolution, up to a 512GB SSD, up to 16GB of RAM, an all-aluminum body, and four speakers with DTS:X Ultra audio. Like the MacBook Neo, the laptop supports Wi-Fi 6E.
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Acer Swift Air 14The laptop is equipped with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Acer claims that a 70Wh battery provides up to 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 comes in colorful finishes including Sage Green, Frost Blue, Floral Pink, and Lilac Purple.
Acer said the Swift Air 14 would be available in North America starting in August.
Meanwhile, Qualcomm this week announced the Snapdragon C, a new processor designed for “entry-level laptops” priced at “$300 and up.” Qualcomm said the processor delivers “responsive everyday performance” with “breakthrough power efficiency.” The first Snapdragon C-powered laptops are expected to launch later this year, with committed brands including Acer, HP and Lenovo, according to Qualcomm.
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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, but Acer did not provide a specific price or release date. Key specifications include a 15.6-inch display with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels, up to a 512GB SSD, up to 8GB of RAM, a 1080p webcam, dual speakers, two USB-C ports, a USB-A port, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Acer said the Aspire Go 15 is made from 100% recyclable materials and some components are made from recycled plastic. So it looks like the laptop won’t have an all-aluminum body like the MacBook Neo and Swift Air 14.
Finally, ASUS commented on the MacBook Neo again at its annual shareholder meeting today. According to Taiwan Daily economic newsASUS President Jonney Shih said the company could learn from Apple’s profitable strategy with the MacBook Neo and saw it as an opportunity. Stay tuned, he said.
During an earnings conference call last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook said customer response to the MacBook Neo had been “off the charts” since its launch.
Apple was very optimistic about the MacBook Neo before announcing it, but the company still “underestimated” the level of excitement the laptop would generate, according to Cook. He said demand for MacBook Neo exceeded Apple’s expectations and helped drive a record number of new Mac buyers last quarter.
“We couldn’t be happier with the way things are going right now,” Cook said.
As for the Windows PC industry, maybe not so much.
