(Image credit: Future / Qualcomm)
The MacBook Neo has shaken up the budget Windows laptop space, and Qualcomm is responding with Snapdragon C at Computex 2026. Aimed squarely at the $300-$400 range, you can expect new cheap notebooks from the likes of Acer, HP and Lenovo rocking it.Specs are unclear at the moment, but we expect this to be similar to the Neo's A18 Pro — the same sort of construction as the Snapdragon X2 Elite (a CPU, GPU and NPU for AI), but with a lower core count across the board.No specifics have been announced, but if these machines offer a comparable experience, Apple could have legitimate competition.So, of course, the biggest question is: can Snapdragon C help Windows laptops compete with the MacBook Neo? We don’t have enough information to determine that right now, but the possibility is certainly intriguing.Snapdragon C: The basics
(Image credit: Qualcomm)As Qualcomm describes it, Snapdragon C is designed for entry-level laptops used by students, families, and small businesses. In other words, the same crowd Apple is targeting with the MacBook Neo.Price plays a major factor here, with Qualcomm claiming Snapdragon C laptops will land in the $300-$400 range. If that turns out to be the case, that would be lower than the Neo’s $599 starting price. It would also be the opposite of the inflated prices we’ve been seeing all year, thanks to the RAM crisis.“As costs rise and customer expectations evolve, Snapdragon C brings together value oriented computing, all-day battery life, AI capabilities and responsive performance in cool-quiet devices for expanded platform choice,” said Kedar Kondap, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Compute and Gaming, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.“We’re delivering modern computing experiences that help our ecosystem reach new audiences and expanding access to reliable, efficient technology for students, families, customer-facing small businesses, and beyond.”
