Acer has just released a competitor to the MacBook Neo that features an improved display, enhanced memory, and additional ports.
Acer’s new competitor to Apple’s MacBook Neo brings enhanced RAM, increased storage, and a 120Hz display
Acer’s latest model, the Go Air, appears to be a direct response to Apple’s affordable MacBook Neo, aiming to incorporate hardware features that Apple overlooked.
In China, Acer has introduced a new configuration of the Go Air featuring Intel’s recently launched Core i5 320 processor. It includes 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and a 512GB SSD, available for CNY 5,499, which is approximately $815. However, there has been no announcement for global availability for this model, though it closely resembles the Acer Swift 14 showcased at Computex 2026.
While this pricing is higher than the starting cost of the MacBook Neo, Apple’s entry-level laptop offers only half the storage capacity. The 512GB version of the MacBook Neo is priced at $799, making them relatively comparable options.
Acer
Does the Acer Go Air outperform in all areas?
The Go Air features a 14-inch, 1920 x 1200 IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate and DC dimming. In contrast, the MacBook Neo has a smaller 13-inch IPS screen with a higher resolution of 2408 x 1506 and is rated by Apple at 500 nits of brightness. Thus, Apple excels in pixel density and resolution, whereas Acer provides a smoother experience for scrolling, animations, and compatible games with its higher refresh rate.
This advantage is notable on a budget-friendly productivity laptop. The Go Air boasts two Thunderbolt 4 ports along with a USB-A port. On the other hand, the MacBook Neo includes two USB-C ports, but only one supports USB 3 speeds of up to 10Gbps and DisplayPort, while the second is limited to USB 2 speeds at 480Mbps. Apple officially supports one external display up to 4K and 60Hz.
Acer
The competition narrows down at the 512GB storage level
Currently, Apple retails the MacBook Neo for $699, which includes 8GB of unified memory and 256GB of storage. Upgrading to 512GB raises the price to $799, with RAM remaining at 8GB. The Go Air’s configuration in China comes with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for approximately $815 when converted. Due to taxes, regional pricing, and currency fluctuations, this $16 difference does not allow for a straightforward comparison. However, the Go Air offers additional memory, faster connectivity, and the 120Hz display as competitive advantages.
Surprisingly, it is also quite portable. Acer claims the Go Air weighs 1.19kg (about 2.62 pounds) and has a thickness of 12.99mm. In comparison, the MacBook Neo weighs 2.7 pounds and is 12.7mm thick, resulting in minimal difference for carrying. Acer has integrated a 70Wh battery into the Go Air, boasting a claimed runtime of up to 19 hours, as well as 100W USB-C charging that reaches 50% in 30 minutes. The MacBook Neo utilizes a smaller 36.5Wh battery, rated for up to 16 hours of video playback or 11 hours of web browsing. However, these manufacturer estimates derive from different testing methods, so they should not be treated as a definitive battery-life comparison.
The Intel Core i5 320 is a six-core Wildcat Lake chip built on Intel's 18A architecture. It features two performance cores, four efficiency cores, a maximum turbo frequency of 4.6GHz, integrated graphics, and a 16-TOPS NPU. While this processor may not represent the highest performance Intel offers, it serves everyday use much like the A18 Pro in the Neo, rather than intense productivity tasks.
Vikhyaat Vivek is a tech journalist and reviewer with seven years of experience in consumer hardware coverage.
Your Mac may have a screen sharing issue that hackers are already exploiting
It's important to install that pending macOS update you’ve been ignoring.
Apple recently addressed a significant screen sharing vulnerability in macOS, but evidence indicates that hackers had already infiltrated unpatched Macs, taking control for cryptocurrency mining prior to the repair.
Read more
The US aims to exclude foreign robots, but its local supply chain may not be sufficient yet
Establishing a robot supply chain from scratch requires years of effort that Washington isn't permitting.
The FCC has a reputation for using its Covered List to eliminate Chinese tech presence in American markets, and robots have now become its latest focus. Foreign-made humanoids, quadrupeds, and even robotic vacuums must now be primarily manufactured in the U.S. to be sold domestically (via Rest of World).
What do the new regulations entail?
Read more
MelGeek MADE68 Ultra V
Other articles
Tesla Discreetly Activates Power Export Feature on Its Top-Selling Electric Vehicle
Tesla has discreetly activated vehicle-to-load capabilities on the Model Y Premium in the US using an $80 adapter, limited to 2.4kW. However, vehicles in Europe and Canada still lack this feature.
Samsung may significantly increase its foldable offerings in 2027, with reports suggesting five new models.
A recent leak suggests that Samsung's foldable range might almost double by 2027, introducing two distinct wide-format Fold models alongside an Ultra, a Flip, and a TriFold.
Jeff Gundlach suggests that classifying AI chips as an asset class appears to signal a market peak.
Jeff Gundlach has criticized Nvidia's $500 billion financing consortium, questioning the rationale behind using assets of uncertain longevity as collateral for long-term debt.
Synchrony aims to integrate your Amazon and Walmart store cards into ChatGPT.
Synchrony is collaborating with OpenAI to enable shoppers to make payments using store cards within ChatGPT, but one of its executives stated that the integration process could take as long as a year.
Terra Industries secures $52 million in seed funding and establishes its inaugural office outside of Africa.
Terra Industries has successfully completed its seed round, raising $52 million through three tranches over eight months, and is inaugurating its first office outside of Africa in London.
Tesla Discreetly Activates Power Export Feature on Its Top-Selling Electric Vehicle
Tesla has discreetly activated vehicle-to-load functionality on the Model Y Premium in the US, using an $80 adapter limited to 2.4kW. However, vehicles in Europe and Canada still lack this feature.
Acer has just released a competitor to the MacBook Neo that features an improved display, enhanced memory, and additional ports.
Acer's newest Go Air combines Intel's Core i5 320 processor with a 120Hz display, 12GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, positioning it as a strong rival to Apple's MacBook Neo.