Watch out, MacBook Neo: Cheap Windows laptops are getting good again

PCWorld reports that budget Windows laptops are becoming competitive again with new Intel Wildcat Lake and Qualcomm Snapdragon C processors targeting $300-$449 price points. These chips promise significant performance improvements and all-day battery life, with major manufacturers like Acer, HP, and Lenovo planning affordable models. The emerging budget laptops offer a strong alternative to expensive options like Apple's MacBook Neo, making powerful computing accessible to more consumers. Two years ago, budget PCs were often passed over in favor of expensive, premium laptops. Now, they're all anyone can talk about.