Microsoft fires shots at MacBook Neo, but that battle looks to be an uphill struggle and rumored ditching of more affordable Surface laptops won't help

Date:
Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:58:34 +0000

Description:
'But it's Windows. You run the risk that any or every monthly update will break something': Microsoft fires shots at MacBook Neo, but the internet
fires back.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter A video showing the Neo's apparent strengths versus Windows laptops went viral on X It wasn't a fair comparison, as pointed out in Microsoft's response but the reaction of the computing public is even more telling A rumor is also circulating that Microsoft has ditched a couple of more affordable Surface devices It's a tricky old time for laptops , what with the RAM crisis pushing up prices ,
and Microsoft has taken the opportunity to launch a counterattack on the MacBook Neo, following Apple 's recent price hikes not that the Surface lineup isn't suffering itself, with rumors of more misery inbound in the form of cancelled models.

Windows Latest spotted the controversy around Windows laptops and the
MacBook Neo, which wasn't started by Microsoft, but rather by a video that went viral on X. The clip, which was aired by @Ahmadansari2233 and has racked up 5.4 million views, shows how the MacBook Neo is superior to an 'others brand laptop' (meaning a Windows 11 model). As Windows Latest notes, the
video actually uses an HP Victus gaming laptop, and this is hardly a fair comparison. Why would you compare a budget gaming notebook to the Neo? Furthermore, some of the points made like the level of flex in the lid of
the HP model are obviously cherry-picked to show the worst of Windows 11 devices versus Apple's budget creation (with flex being a known issue for the HP notebook). Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

Clearly, we'd have a very different video if we looked at the MacBook Neo's gaming prowess versus the HP Victus. (No, it wouldn't make any sense to do that either, but this just underlines the ridiculous idea of comparing a Windows 11 gaming notebook to Apple's portable.)

At any rate, the success of the video prompted Microsoft to respond, with the official Windows account on X showing the Dell XPS 13 being put through its paces (including a laptop lid and base showing little flex, unlike the HP notebook). You may like Apple's going all-in with the MacBook Neo but Microsoft is fighting back New 8GB Windows 11 laptops from Dell, Acer and Microsoft have me worried Microsoft's next-gen Surface devices don't sound exciting going by rumors

The post from Microsoft goes over some of the XPS 13's benefits including that it packs a touchscreen and highlights the price of $699 in the US, just after Apple has bumped the MacBook Neo price up to that level (increasing it by $100, and the regional equivalent elsewhere). Dell weighs in to back up Microsoft here.

And it's fair enough that Microsoft should defend itself, given that the original video is skewed against the Windows 11 side of the laptop world.
(Not that Microsoft is above employing these sorts of tactics itself , mind.) Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our
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But there are problems raised nonetheless, firstly by the recent happenings with the Surface lineup, and secondly, in the painful reaction to Microsoft jabbing back at this bit of MacBook Neo promotion. Surface issues and a bigger problem of entrenched perceptions (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) If we're going to talk about pricing, an obvious stumble from Microsoft of late is that it has applied eye-watering cost hikes for the Surface range . These were truly hefty increases, even if Apple has just actioned its own hikes for the Neo and other MacBooks. (And yes, it's true enough that while the Neo
cost bump was relatively mild, it has certainly diminished its appeal versus budget Windows 11 laptops ).

What's more worrying, though, is the rumor that Microsoft is ditching models at the more affordable end of its laptop range. Windows Central reports that the Surface Go 4 and Surface Laptop Go 3 have gone out of stock with most retailers, and seemingly Microsoft doesn't plan to make any more of these devices. Neither are next-gen replacements for these cheaper Surface laptops coming, either, if Zac Bowden's sources are correct. What to read next I cant believe Im saying this, but the MacBook Neos $100 price bump means budget Windows 11 laptops are now the better buy New Windows 11 laptop looks like a true MacBook Neo rival to worry Apple Microsoft insists CPU trick to boost Windows 11 performance isn't a fudge

In fairness, the Surface Laptop Go 3 has effectively been replaced by the Surface Laptop, although the latter still starts from a higher price point, about 20% pricier in fact (and that's with the new cheaper 8GB model of the latter ). And the Surface Go 4 will certainly be missed as a budget option, even if it was a business-targeted device. As Bowden notes, it appears that the Go 4 was a popular device in the enterprise sphere with a palatable price tag, even if our review didn't agree with that sentiment .

However, pricing and Surface rumors aside, the most notable concern for Microsoft here must be the reaction to its riposte against the MacBook Neo on X. As noted, I think it's a fair enough response, but the majority of Reddit doesn't seem to agree or at least, many Redditors do agree that there's a
key problem with any Windows 11 laptop.

As one poster puts it succinctly : "The problem with Windows machines is that they have Windows on them."

Others in that Reddit thread echo the same sentiment, if not a more barbed
and pronounced take on it and it's the same story in the replies to Microsoft's response on X. One poster says : "But it's Windows. You run the risk that any or every monthly update will break something. Sticking with my iMac and Mac Neo."

What's this illustrates is that despite the obvious improvements in modern Windows 11 laptops of which the Dell XPS 13 is a good example and Microsoft's big campaign to fix Windows 11, there are a lot of hardcore doubters still out there. Okay, so those detractors may be noisier than those in the happier-with-Windows camp, but there's still a good deal of negative feeling to overcome for Microsoft which is made quite clear when the company tries to blow its own trumpet in this way.

In truth, I think Microsoft has done very well with the improvements made to Windows 11 thus far this year, and I hope that progress will continue throughout the rest of 2026. Frankly, that'll be necessary to really start to turn around some of the more entrenched perceptions about Microsoft's desktop OS, and all that's still going to be an uphill struggle as this episode aptly illustrates. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. The best laptops for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best laptops 1. Best overall: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 2. Best budget: Apple MacBook Neo 3. Best Windows 11 laptop Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch 4. Best thin and light: Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 5. Best Ultrabook Asus Zenbook S 16



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows-laptops/microsoft-fires-shots-at-m acbook-neo-but-that-battle-looks-to-be-an-uphill-struggle-and-rumored-ditching -of-more-affordable-surface-laptops-wont-help


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