Comply with ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
Of all of the laptops that were announced at Computex earlier this month, Acer’s Swift Air 14 introduced some much-needed colour and affordability to a barrage of very highly effective (and really costly) high-end PCs. Beginning at $699the Swift Air 14 is a competitively priced laptop computer with aggressive specs that does not really feel low-cost.
Additionally: Dell XPS 13 (2026) vs. MacBook Neo: I compared both budget laptops, here’s which one I’d buy
Set to be launched later this summer time, the Swift Air 14 is only one of some Home windows PCs which can be direct responses to Apple’s MacBook Neo — its $599 laptop computer that disrupted the funds laptop computer market so totally that PC manufacturers had been pressured to reply inside a matter of months.
The Swift Air 14 is available in distinctive colours, options upgradeable storage (as much as 1TB), and has a big, fast-charging battery. How does it evaluate to the Neo? This is the breakdown primarily based on specs, preserving in thoughts I’ve solely gone hands-on with the Swift Air 14 and have not examined it over an prolonged time period.
Specs
|
Apple MacBook Neo |
Acer Swift Air 14 |
|
|
Show |
13-inch non-touch, 60Hz refresh, 2408 x 1506 decision, 500 nits |
14-inch non-touch, 120Hz refresh, 1920 x 1200 decision, 350 nits |
|
Weight |
2.7 kilos |
3.0 kilos |
|
Processor |
Apple A18 Professional |
As much as Intel Core 7 processor 350 |
| RAM/Storage | 8GB / 256GB-512GB | As much as 16GB / As much as 512GB (upgradeable to 1TB) |
| Battery | 36.5 Whr (as much as 16 hours) | 70 Whr (as much as 19 hours) |
| Digicam | 1080p FaceTime HD digicam | FHD IR digicam |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Value | Beginning at $499 for college kids, $599 basic | Beginning at $699 |
1. Battery and endurance
Winner: Acer Swift Air 14
Each gadgets are very energy-efficient. However the Swift Air 14 has a bigger cell (70Whr versus the 36.5Whr on the Neo), which Acer says lasted as much as 19 hours throughout its video playback take a look at. That is partially due to Intel’s Core 7 “Wildcat Lake” sequence processor, constructed particularly to energy thin-and-light, marathon-battery laptops.
The Swift Air 14 can be extraordinarily quick at charging, reaching 50% in simply half-hour — smartphone-level charging that extends its longevity even additional.
Additionally: I saw the first Nvidia RTX Spark laptops – these 4 models will lead the new ultrabook boom
I ought to observe that the Neo’s battery is, on paper, extra environment friendlyhowever the Swift Air 14 merely has extra to attract from, probably permitting for extra wiggle room for customers who’re exceptionally good at managing their battery energy. I would estimate this equates to 1-2 full days of labor in observe.
2. Show
Winner: MacBook Neo
The show on the Neo seems to be nice for its worth level, and in comparison with the Acer Swift Air 14, it beats it. It is brighter (500 nits versus 350), has higher decision (2408 x 1506 on the Neo versus 1920 x 1200 on the Acer), and options Apple’s liquid retina expertise for a vibrant, crisp picture you possibly can mistake for a way more costly laptop computer.
Nonetheless, the show on the Swift Air 14 will not be dangerous. It has a quicker refresh charge (120Hz versus 60 on the Neo), and regardless that it is a barely decrease decision, it is a full inch bigger (14 inches versus 13 inches).
Digicam and video name expertise
Winner: MacBook Neo
The most effective issues concerning the MacBook Neo is how properly it performs in comparison with the Air and Professional. That features any video name expertise on FaceTime, Zoom, Groups, or Google Meet. The Neo has a 1080p FaceTime HD digicam that is superb normally — not only for laptops on this worth vary. The FHD digicam on the Swift Air 14 will not evaluate, each when it comes to uncooked digicam high quality and integration along with your smartphone.
3. Ports and I/O
Winner: Acer Swift Air 14
The Swift Air 14 has a reliable set of ports that beats the Neo, arms down. You’ve got obtained two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports (the Neo solely has one USB 3 and USB 2), plus a USB-A port and three.5mm audio jack. Translation: the Swift Air 14 has extra ports, they usually’re quicker. It is a regular I/O loadout you’d discover on any typical midrange PC, whereas the Neo’s I/O setup is distinctly extra “funds”.
4. Worth
Winner: MacBook Neo
It comes all the way down to this: the MacBook Neo for $499 for college kids is the very best bang-for-buck laptop computer deal in the marketplace proper now. Arms down. If you happen to’re an educator or pupil, there’s not a lot else in the identical worth vary that brings the identical high quality expertise, options, and construct, and it is so simple as that.
Additionally: Windows rivals to MacBook Neo are here – but I’m more excited for Google’s response
The Acer Swift Air 14 begins at $699 and has comparable {hardware}, with slightly extra RAM and storage choices (the Swift Air 14 is upgradeable to as much as 1TB of storage — double the Neo), but when sheer affordability is what you are after, the Neo is unbeatable. In actual fact, I would prefer to see the beginning configuration of the Swift Air 14 introduced down barely, and counsel watching on the market pricing in case you’re seeking to purchase when it is obtainable later this summer time.
Author’s alternative
As beforehand talked about, I have never had an opportunity to make use of the Acer Swift Air 14 for an prolonged interval, however primarily based on my restricted time with it, I am assured it is a stable contender to the MacBook Neo. It has higher/quicker I/O, extra storage and RAM choices, and a colourful palette, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a Home windows PC, and 8GB of RAM on a Mac simply is not the identical as on a PC.
As of now, I would nonetheless go along with the Neo as a result of its efficiency, person expertise, and show are simply so good for the worth. The Neo can be cheaper than the Swift Air 14, which is tough to imagine because it competes with it — and even beats it — in a number of classes. As of now, Home windows PC producers have but to completely handle the $499 pupil pricing on the Neo.
Additionally: After using MacBook Neo, it’s clear Windows needs to rethink its PC strategy (and fast)
Certain, the Neo has trade-offs (no keyboard backlighting, fewer ports), nevertheless it makes up for them with Apple’s wealthy ecosystem of integrations, an excellent trackpad, stable efficiency, and higher worth.
