Acer releases affordable MacBook Neo rival with new Snapdragon CPU and lightweight design

Acer has quietly opened preorders for its highly anticipated Aspire Go 15 AG15-Q31P. Announced at Computex 2026, the new 15-inch model was the first laptop unveiled with Qualcomm’s entry-level Snapdragon C processor, and it arrives as an affordable alternative to the MacBook Neo (curr: $699 at Amazon).

Specifically, the Aspire Go 15 can be preordered in the UK through Amazon for £499.99. That makes it £200 cheaper than the Neo, which starts at £699 before discounts. Part of that lower price comes down to storage, with the Acer model offering only 128GB compared to 256GB on the Neo. However, buyers still get the same 8GB of memory.

The Snapdragon C is a budget CPU platform featuring eight cores and an integrated Qualcomm Adreno GPU. It’s not going to win any performance benchmarks but should have no trouble running everyday tasks such as web browsing and multimedia. In addition, the lower-power cores could also mean longer battery life from the included 53Wh battery, although Acer has not revealed how long the laptop lasts before recharging.

Upfront, the laptop includes a larger 15.6-inch display with a standard 1920 x 1080 resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio. It should be well suited to media consumption and everyday tasks, but the Neo comes with a much better and brighter Liquid Retina display. That said, there is a full-size keyboard with a number pad and more ports, including two full-function USB-C ports, USB-A, and HDMI 1.4. Other highlights include Wi-Fi 6E, a 1080p webcam, and dual speakers.

So far, we’ve only spotted the Acer Aspire Go 15 AG15-Q31P in the UK, and it’s still unclear when the budget laptop will launch in North America and other markets.