ASUS has introduced a new series that will directly compete with Apple MacBook Neo in the affordable laptop market with the new Vivobook 14SE 2026 and Vivobook 16SE 2026 models introduced in China. Models that come with Wildcat Lake processors in the Intel Core Series 3 family raise the price/performance balance in the entry-mid segment again with features such as 144 Hz screen, 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD. ASUS Vivobook 14SE and 16SE went on sale in China.
ASUS’s new Vivobook 14SE 2026 and Vivobook 16SE 2026 models were first listed in the Chinese market. Both laptops are powered by the Intel Core 5 320 processor. This processor, which is in the Wildcat Lake family, is based on a 6-core structure consisting of 2 performance cores and 4 low power cores. The models include 16 GB RAM and 512 GB PCIe 4.0 SSD. Vivobook 16SE comes with two different options on the screen side.
Both panels have a 16-inch IPS structure and a 144 Hz refresh rate. While the entry-level panel offers a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, the top option goes up to 2560 x 1600 pixels. There is also variable refresh rate support and 400 nits brightness value on the top panel. ASUS uses the same body structure in both models. The laptops have bodies that are thinner up to 15.9 mm and weigh 1.29 kg. On the connection side, there are two USB-C 3.2 ports, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, HDMI 2.1 output and 3.5 mm headphone jack.
USB-C ports include Power Delivery support. This port arrangement shows that ASUS has adopted a more practical hardware approach in a period when the number of physical connections is decreasing, especially in affordable thin laptops. On the battery side, a 52.5 Wh capacity battery is used in both models. The capacity on paper exceeds the battery value of the MacBook Neo. However, the actual usage time; It varies depending on screen brightness, processor efficiency, power profile and software optimization.
Intel’s Wildcat Lake platform is positioned under the Core Series 3 umbrella, especially for affordable laptops and daily use-oriented systems. Pricing is also one of the most critical aspects of the new Vivobook models. The starting price for Vivobook 14SE and Vivobook 16SE is 4,599 yuan in China. This price corresponds to approximately $675. The Vivobook 16SE option with a higher resolution screen is listed at 4,999 yuan, that is, approximately $ 734.
The first Wildcat Lake-based Windows laptops are not limited to ASUS only. The first wave appearing on JD.com in China also included models signed by HP, Honor and Chuwi. Chuwi UniBook stands out as the lowest-end option with a pre-tax price of $449. This model comes with an Intel Core 3 304 processor, 8 GB LPDDR5X RAM, 256 GB PCIe 3.0 SSD, 14 inch 1920 x 1200 screen and 53.38 Wh battery. The Core 5 320 processor, 16 GB memory and 512 GB SSD constitute the common hardware line in the HP OmniBook 3, Honor Notebook While MacBook Neo creates a lower-cost entry point into the Apple ecosystem with its price of $ 599, ASUS and other manufacturers respond with more RAM, wider port options, high refresh rate displays and Windows 11-based usage experience in the same class.
On the Intel side, these new models are also linked to the Project Firefly approach. This enables the creation of a more standard hardware and design infrastructure in Wildcat Lake-based affordable laptops. Thus, manufacturers can achieve higher volume production, lower development costs and faster model diversity.
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