While wandering the vast halls of Computex, it’s easy for all the PCs on show to blur into one big homogenous entity. How much more can you change the look and feel of a laptop, considering it’s already a pretty good form factor? Asus made a strong play with its stylish and colourful Zenbook 14 range, something that Acer has matched with its equally sleek Swift Air 14 laptops.
Like most computer brands exhibiting in Taipei, Acer had a lot of laptops on display. There were the brand’s 2-in-1 Swift Spin tablet-laptop hybrids, TravelMate business laptops, and a whole bunch of gaming gear across its Nitro and Predator range. Acer’s latest handheld gaming PC, the Predator Atlas 8, caught my eye among those using Intel’s new dedicated gaming chipset.
But the Swift Air 14 stuck in my mind, largely thanks to its combination of design, style, and affordability. Nearly every conversation I had at Computex was accompanied by some mention of how Windows PC manufacturers are responding to Apple’s foray into budget laptops with the MacBook Neo. As a result, people want better build quality, more power, and more colourful designs from affordable laptops.
Acer Swift Air 14 takes it up to the MacBook Neo
With a starting price of $1,399 in Australia, Acer’s Swift Air 14 laptops are a bit pricier than Apple’s base-level PC, but the philosophy is similar. It’s reasonably light at a bit over a kilogram, sports an all-metal build, and comes in a range of hues that deviate from typical laptop black or grey.
It runs on Intel’s more cost-effective ‘Wildcat Lake’ Core Series 3 chips (not the Ultra, which the Swift Spin uses), with up to 12GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. Acer claims the 70Wh battery lasts up to 19 hours of continuous video playback, which you’d be watching on its 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS screen.
Crucially, the Swift Air 14 has two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a USB-A port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. As positive as the MacBook Neo’s reception has been, its two slower USB-C ports are one of its drawbacks.
Seeing the laptops up close, the colours look smart, with just enough saturation to show some personality without looking cheap. I liked the pink and lilac finishes a lot, and hope that both colours come to Australia.
Acer’s latest affordable laptop, set to launch in Australia in the coming months, will likely go head-to-head with Dell’s revitalised budget XPS 13. Both laptops promise a high-quality and affordable alternative to Apple’s sub-$1,000 laptop, setting the stage for an era of better budget-conscious PCs.
Chris attended Computex 2026 in Taipei as a guest of Intel.
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