Acer targets MacBook Neo with $699 Swift Air 14 ahead of Computex
The Taiwan-based manufacturer unveils three new devices, with the Swift Air 14 positioned as a direct competitor to Apple’s latest offering, featuring Intel Core Series 3 processors and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity.
Acer has announced a suite of new laptop models ahead of the Computex technology trade show, headlined by the Swift Air 14, which is positioned as a direct competitor to Apple’s MacBook Neo. Starting at $699, the 14-inch device utilises Intel’s Core Series 3 “Wildcat Lake” processors, available in Core 5 or Core 7 configurations, both of which are six-core chips. The laptop features an all-aluminium chassis and is available in green, pink, purple, and a grey-blue finish.
While the Swift Air 14 starts with 8GB of RAM, mirroring the configuration of the MacBook Neo, it can be upgraded to 16GB. Acer claims the device weighs 1.25kg, similar to Apple’s offering, though it is slightly thicker at 12.9mm. The display offers a 1920 x 1200 resolution with 350 nits of brightness and supports a 120Hz refresh rate, covering 100 percent of the sRGB colour space. Connectivity includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a USB-A 3.2 port, providing more options than the Neo’s dual USB-C setup.
The second major announcement is the Aspire 18 AI, an 18-inch laptop designed for users seeking a large screen for general use. It is powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake) chips and can be configured with up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, including a second M.2 SSD slot. Despite its size, the device weighs 2.19kg and features a 1920 x 1200 resolution display with a 165Hz refresh rate and 400 nits of brightness.
Rounding out the trio is the Nitro 16 gaming laptop, which utilises an AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor, described by AMD as the world’s fastest mobile gaming processor due to its second-generation 3D V-cache. The system is paired with an RTX 5070 Ti GPU. Acer has not yet disclosed pricing for the Aspire 18 AI or the Nitro 16, leaving their value proposition open until launch.
Availability for the Swift Air 14 is set for July in regions outside North America, with an August launch in the US and a Q3 arrival in Australia. The Aspire 18 AI will follow a similar schedule, launching in July internationally and August in North America. The Nitro 16 is expected to launch in August across all regions. Acer also revealed the Aspire X 16 AI, a Predator Helios 18 AI, and a Panther Lake variant of the Swift Spin 14 AI 2-in-1, though pricing for these additional models remains to be determined.
