Cameroon timber Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Computex, the world’s biggest computing trade show, takes place in Taipei every year, but 2026 was especially big. For starters, Nvidia announced its new RTX Spark processor for high-end consumer laptops, rallying each of the major consumer laptop brands to show off their new models to much fanfare and impressive stats (but not a whole lot of backup). On the flip side, many of those same brands also announced new “cheap premium” laptops in the $599-$699 range as a response to the MacBook Neo — Apple’s incredible-value laptop that thoroughly disrupted the PC market earlier this year.
Also: Dell’s new XPS 13 is a MacBook Neo rival that costs $599 and retains premium features
Computing was front and center, but there was some awesome gaming gear as well, like Asus ROG’s X1 Real AR glasses that transform gaming on your handheld or PC into a 3D experience with an incredibly crisp micro-OLED display and immersive 171-inch virtual screen. Here are the top five products I saw at Computex 2026 in Taipei. 1.
Nvidia RTX Spark Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET Without a doubt, the biggest announcement at Computex this year was Nvidia’s RTX Spark, its Arm-based processor capable of up to 1 petaflop of AI performance and next-gen graphics for Windows devices. The chip marks Nvidia’s entrance to the consumer laptop market, joining the likes of Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm. Each of the major laptop manufacturers announced new models with the RTX Spark in turn: Asus, HP, Dell, Microsoft, Lenovo, and MSI, with Acer and Gigabyte coming later this year. Together, they formed a unified front with new high-end devices made for gamers and creators. Also: I saw the first Nvidia RTX Spark laptops – these 4 models will lead the new ultrabook boom
All the new RTX Spark laptops have impressive specs: up to 128GB of unified memory, tandem OLED displays, haptic touchpads, and ultra-premium builds.
I went hands-on with all of them at Computex (powered down, of course — only the Surface Ultra was on) and can affirm that they all feel like exceptional devices. When it comes to details, however, things are still a little vague. No prices have been announced, but estimates place them in the $2,000 to $4,000 range. Specific release dates are also unclear, but most are saying fall 2026. 2. Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET Microsoft is leading by example with the flagship RTX Spark laptop: the Surface Ultra, a device it’s calling “the most powerful Surface laptop ever built.” One thing is clear: This is no ordinary Surface.
Microsoft is trying something different with aggressive branding that’s a far cry from its typical corporate messaging. The Ultra is dark, sleek, and exudes power, speaking directly to the developer/power user — a demographic it has previously neglected. Also: I tested the Surface Pro with 5G, and it’s Microsoft’s most complete business 2-in-1 yet
Microsoft says this device has been in the works for three years now, completely redesigned for the new CPU. “Everything is custom. Everything is built from the ground up to realize the true potential of RTX Spark,” said Robyn McLaughlin, senior director of product management for Surface, during my demo. Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET From the new thermal design (more airflow, thinner fans) to the incredibly vivid mini-LED touchscreen (2,000 nits, 262 pixels per inch) to the Nvidia Blackwell RTX GPU with up to 128GB of unified memory, this laptop is a beast.
I played a handful of games on it, including “Pragmata” and “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle,” and they were incredibly smooth. Surprisingly smooth. Microsoft knows it’s turning over a new leaf with the convergence of the RTX Spark and this new product, and everything about it suggests Microsoft is finally, confidently challenging the MacBook Pro. It’ll be available later this year.
3. ROG XReal R1 AR glasses ROG’s XReal R1 glasses transform the handheld experience — in a way you can actually play for long periods. This might be the best gaming AR glasses I’ve ever used, and it’s partly because of how awesome the game looks and partly because of the glasses’ flexibility.
Also: Why this 16-inch gaming laptop is a smarter buy than a desktop in 2026
The glasses are lightweight, or rather, lightweight enough, and comfortable — easily a pair you could wear for a few hours at a time. They allow you to anchor the display, move with you as you move your head, and toggle between a 57-degree expanded field of view that occupies 95% of the viewing area with a 240Hz refresh rate and 3D mode. The ROG control dock is also compatible with HDMI and DisplayPort, so you can use the glasses with your PC as well as your handheld gaming device. 4. Dell XPS 13 Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET Dell understood the assignment with its new 13-inch XPS: Make it affordable, but keep the premium build. The 2026 XPS 13 appears to succeed in that endeavor, starting at $599 for students and $699 for everyone else — an aggressive price point for a laptop typically synonymous with the premium tier. The XPS 13 features Intel’s new “Wildcat Lake” Core Series 3 processor, trading raw power for a much more affordable package.
It uses the same 18A process as Intel’s “Panther Lake” Core Ultra Series 3 CPUs, with similar battery longevity — up to 17 hours of battery life, according to Dell. Dell XPS 13 (2026) (left) vs. MacBook Neo (right)
Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET And it still feels like an XPS. Especially the display — a 2.5K LCD touch display with a 120Hz variable refresh rate, 500 nits of brightness, and support for 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. It’s an overt MacBook Neo competitor, and a worthy one, at that. There are still things the Neo does better (its trackpad beats the XPS 13 hands down), but Windows users actually have options now.
This was a device category that simply did not exist a year ago. The XPS 13 will be available in the “Sky” colorway later this month, with the “Storm” colorway launching in the Fall.
5. Acer Swift Air 14 Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET Acer’s new Swift Air 14 is a $599 ultraportable with Intel’s Core Series 3 chips and a colorful palette (pink, purple, green, and blue) geared toward students and hybrid workers. Of all the new budget PCs announced at Computex — and there were a lot — I appreciate the combination of color and build on this one, which didn’t feel cheap or flimsy in any way. Also: Windows rivals to MacBook Neo are here – but I’m more excited for Google’s response
Hardware is light, with 16GB of RAM, up to 512GB of storage, and a WUXGA IPS display at 300 nits of brightness and a 120Hz refresh rate. Acer cites 19 hours of battery life, but also some extremely fast charging: 50% in just 30 minutes.
The Swift Air 14 will be available in August 2026. 6. Hyte Y50 RGB essential aesthetic case Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET Building your own PC with custom cases used to be an expensive, highly-specialized hobby.
But in 2026, that is far from the case (pun intended). Hyte’s new Y50 looks and feels like a premium case, but it’s only $99 — an incredible value on a very good-looking case I wish was around when I went broke building my first PC. For starters, it’s made of steel and tempered glass, and comes in five colors, with support for up to nine fans (and four included). It’s universally compatible, with a dual-chamber design that has enough space here for up to nine fans (and includes four ARGB units in the box). Also: This Lenovo Yoga rivaled my MacBook Air in ways I didn’t expect it to
With the cost of memory and storage skyrocketing, it’s clear there’s a market for affordable tech across all sectors, not just mainstream laptops and PCs — but for hobbyists, as well. The Y50 will be available for pre-order in June 2026, with the first orders shipping early this fall.
7. Acer PM131QT auxiliary monitor Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET Want to use Android Auto but don’t have a working display?
Acer has something right up your alley. The PM131QT is an “auxiliary monitor” that is long and thin — 12.3 inches, actually — and can be used for a variety of different purposes, including in a car.
It comes with a kickstand and can be connected to a keyboard via pogo pins, but also has a USB-C and HDMI connector for a good amount of versatility. At its demo at Computex, Acer had it positioned under a larger monitor, which made me think how useful it would be for Slack or Google Chat at work. For video creators, if you wanted a separate display solely for your timeline, this would work well.
Also: I tested an $80 monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate, and it’s a ‘Pro’ option in several ways
It taps out at 300 nits of brightness, and isn’t going to match the color accuracy of a proper monitor, but Acer mentions it’s also ideal for auto use, which might require some clever engineering. The PM131QT will be available in Fall of 2026 starting at $179.
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