PHILADELPHIA — PC makers including Asus, HP, Lenovo, and Chuwi have begun issuing more targeted responses to Apple’s new MacBook Neo, which is priced at $600 and $700 for its two models. In recent weeks, several manufacturers have announced laptops powered by Intel’s new budget-oriented Core Series 3 processors, codenamed Wildcat Lake, designed to help them compete with the MacBook Neo’s performance and pricing.

Intel’s Wildcat Lake chips are purpose-built budget processors that incorporate the company’s latest CPU and GPU architectures along with its 18A manufacturing process. They are intended specifically to rival the Apple A18 Pro chip found in the MacBook Neo. Many early Wildcat Lake systems have already been announced, though not all include confirmed pricing or U.S. availability details.

Lenovo plans to launch new IdeaPad Slim models featuring Wildcat Lake processors, with optional upgrades such as 16GB of RAM and a 120 Hz high-refresh-rate display. The company is also preparing to release the Lecoo Air 14, the first laptop developed under Intel’s new “Project Firefly” initiative. That program, led by Intel’s Chinese arm, aims to reduce manufacturing complexity and development costs by providing standardized reference designs for motherboards and thermal systems.

Asus and HP have also announced early Wildcat Lake–based products, though neither has disclosed final pricing or release dates. Most manufacturers introducing these systems are withholding price and availability information, partly due to ongoing component shortages and pricing volatility in the supply chain.

Chuwi, a Chinese electronics brand, has unveiled a Wildcat Lake laptop called the UniBook, featuring a Core 3 304 processor, a 14-inch 1200p IPS display, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a backlit keyboard, and more ports than the MacBook Neo. It carries an advertised price of $449. While the company has contacted media outlets about the device and sells some products through Amazon and its own online store, the UniBook’s spec sheet offers no details about user experience, long-term durability, or U.S. availability.

Historically, sub-$500 Windows laptops have often involved compromises in performance or build quality, or only reached that price during temporary sales. Intel has previously used incentive programs—such as its early-2010s Ultrabook initiative and Centrino branding for Wi-Fi—to shape PC design and pricing. More details about Wildcat Lake systems and manufacturer strategies may emerge during Computex in early June.