Asus and Chuwi Launch Intel Wildcat Lake Laptops to Challenge MacBook Neo

A fresh wave of affordable Windows laptops powered by Intel’s latest Wildcat Lake processors is arriving in the market, taking direct aim at Apple’s entry-level MacBook Neo. Apple’s MacBook Neo has been widely acclaimed for striking the balance between performance and value, all while mixing in the familiar macOS environment and signature material build. The Neo was released at an inflection point in the consumer electronics space as AI companies bought up time and inventory from chip and memory factories, cranking up prices for RAM, storage, and other parts. At $599, it was a cheap and cheerful laptop, but at $699, it is markedly less cheap. Most of Apple’s traditional competitors have struggled with the same challenges when it came to adapting their own products across different price brackets, but Asus and Chuwi have both unveiled new hardware in China, positioning their machines to compete across price and performance brackets that have shifted amid recent component cost increases.

Chuwi UniBook Targets Budget Shoppers With Intel Core Series 3

Chuwi seems to be an exception among competitors, having grown its way into prominence with shoppers on Amazon, AliExpress, and the opinion battleground of YouTube by essentially making Windows-based MacBook Neo competitors in different form factors for years: welterweight Windows notebooks, 2-in-1s, and mini PCs featuring relatively current mid-range processors or older flagship chips at cut-rate prices. Chuwi grew out of Shenzhen, China’s Silicon Valley, back in 2004, spending the first several years of its life focused on MP3 players before partnering with Intel and Microsoft in 2013. With licenses to manufacture Windows wares, the company started out with a series of Windows 8 tablets before incorporating laptops into its lineup in 2017. Today, the company sells both form factors, as well as mini PCs, and has pushed through every online retail avenue it can, including a stint on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo. The company proudly claims to be a top-three name in China for PCs, but would otherwise seem underrated compared to the likes of Dell, HP, and Asus.

Chuwi is entering the Wildcat Lake arena with the UniBook, positioning the device as a budget champion with an expected starting price of around $449. That pricing significantly undercuts the MacBook Neo, which launched at $599 before climbing to $699 as AI companies bought up manufacturing inventory for RAM, storage, and other parts. The UniBook relies on the Intel Core 3 304, an entry-level chip in the Wildcat Lake family featuring a 5-core CPU and a single-core Xe3 integrated GPU. The base configuration includes 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 256GB PCIe 3.0 SSD, alongside a 14-inch display with a 1920×1200 resolution and 100% sRGB color coverage. While Notebookcheck reports that the refresh rate is likely a standard 60Hz, Chuwi compensates with a robust port selection, including two USB-C ports, three USB-A ports, an SD card slot, one HDMI port, an RJ45 Ethernet jack, WiFi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity.

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Chuwi’s track record in marketing its devices has been in doubt, especially with a major incident earlier in 2026. While it has been promoting its CoreBook X and CoreBook Plus models as featuring the AMD Ryzen 5 7430U processor, Notebookcheck reported it found units sporting older Ryzen 5 5500U chips instead — a practice AMD said in a Chinese-language statement it did not condone. The manufacturer later confirmed the mistake, blamed it on a production error, apologized, and offered refunds. Today, you’ll find both the CoreBook X and CoreBook Plus still being sold, but with only a vague mention of a Ryzen 5 processor. Over the years, Chuwi has also released machines like the LapBook Air, a notebook that apparently feels just like touching the real MacBook, featuring a 14.1-inch display, a full metal design, and weighing 1.3kg (2.9lb). Chuwi previously also created Surface clones such as the Surbook, a 12.3-inch 2-in-1 that cost $349 and used an Intel Celeron Apollo Lake processor with 6GB of RAM.

Asus Vivobook 16SE Counters Apple With 144Hz Display Options

Asus introduced its 2026 Vivobook 14SE and 16SE models in China, with the larger 16SE emerging as a standout competitor. While both machines share a foundation built around the Intel Core 5 320 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of PCIe 4.0 storage, the 16SE offers a premium display option that surpasses Apple’s Liquid Retina screen. Specifically, Asus equips the Vivobook 16SE with a 16-inch IPS panel featuring a 2560×1600 resolution, a 144Hz variable refresh rate, and a brightness rating of 400 nits. Even the base configuration uses a 1920×1200 panel retaining the 144Hz refresh rate, providing smoother motion than standard 60Hz screens in this price tier.

The upper-end screen option stands as a better option than the Liquid Retina display that's on the MacBook Neo, noted a report by 《Notebookcheck》, though the publication added that Apple’s display remains competent for its price range. Both Asus models share an identical chassis design, measuring as thin as 15.9mm and weighing 1.29kg. The port configuration is consistent across the 14SE and 16SE, offering two USB-C 3.2 ports with Power Delivery, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an HDMI 2.1 output.

Pricing, Availability, and Market Context

The new Windows machines arrive as PC makers respond to Apple’s footprint in consumer laptops. The Asus Vivobook 14SE and base 16SE start at CNY 4,599 (approximately $675), while the premium Vivobook 16SE with the 2560×1600 display is priced at CNY 4,999 (around $734). Chuwi’s UniBook aims for an aggressive $449 MSRP, though the company has faced past marketing scrutiny over processor specifications in models like its CoreBook X and CoreBook Plus lines. Asus has listed its new laptops on JD.com, while Chuwi has confirmed that more details on the UniBook’s launch and global availability will be shared soon. Asus is also expected to reveal its international rollout plans in the near future.