Windows PC Industry Reacts to Apple's Most Affordable MacBook Ever

Windows PC Industry Reacts to Apple's Most Affordable MacBook Ever Friday May 29, 2026 8:30 am PDT by Joe Rossignol A few months ago, Apple released the MacBook Neo , its most affordable MacBook ever. 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 introduced a Swift Air 14 laptop, with U.S. pricing starting at $699. By comparison, the MacBook Neo starts at $599 with a 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM, or at $499 for college students and educational staff. However, the MacBook Neo costs an equal $699 when configured with a doubled 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 a resolution of 1,920 × 1,200 pixels, up to a 512GB SSD, up to 16GB of RAM, an all-aluminum enclosure, and quad speakers with DTS:X Ultra audio. Like the MacBook Neo, the laptop supports Wi-Fi 6E. Acer's Swift Air 14 The laptop is equipped with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Acer says a 70 Wh 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 is available in colorful finishes, including sage green, frost 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 "breakthrough power efficiency." The first laptops powered by the Snapdragon C are expected to launch later this year, with committed brands including Acer, HP, and Lenovo, according to Qualcomm. Qualcomm's Snapdragon C processor Indeed, Acer has previewed the Aspire Go 15 , the first laptop powered by the Snapdr