Intel’s new laptop platform is entering a very sensitive phase before its widespread market debut, and price trends in China have just sent a signal that cannot be ignored. According to listings compiled by WCCFtech on April 4, many models using the Core Ultra X Series platform have seen price hikes right from their initial launch. The increases are significant, ranging from 1,000 yuan (approximately 3.5 million VND) to 6,000 yuan (approximately 21.1 million VND). Meanwhile, the MacBook Air M5 13-inch and 15-inch models remain virtually unchanged at 8,499 yuan and 9,999 yuan, respectively. When weighing these two options, Panther Lake no longer holds the price advantage many had anticipated.
How fast are Panther Lake laptop prices rising in China?
The first models are showing quite a wide margin of increase. The HP Book Pro 16 2026 with Core Ultra X7 358H, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD has risen from 7,999 yuan (approximately 28.1 million VND) to 8,999 yuan (approximately 31.6 million VND). For a high-performance model that still aims to compete in the premium thin-and-light segment, a 1,000 yuan markup is enough to make buyers reconsider. For those following the developments of the new generation of Intel chips, you can read the article Dell XPS roadmap reveals Panther Lake and Snapdragon X through 2027 to see how quickly the Panther Lake ecosystem is expanding.
On the ASUS side, the Zenbook Duo 14 with Core Ultra X7 358H has jumped from 14,999 yuan (approximately 52.7 million VND) to 18,999 yuan (approximately 66.7 million VND). The higher-end variant with Core Ultra X9 388H even reaches 22,999 yuan (approximately 80.7 million VND), which is 6,000 yuan higher than its previous listing. This figure is equivalent to the price of a mid-range office laptop in Vietnam, indicating that this platform is facing clear cost pressures from CPUs, DRAM, and SSDs. If this price hike is not just a short-term phenomenon, it will be very difficult for manufacturers to maintain attractive pricing for the thin-and-light and high-performance AI PC segments.
MacBook Air M5 prices remain steady; what should buyers look for next?
Notably, Apple is currently maintaining the same price for the MacBook Air M5 in China. The 13-inch version with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD remains at 8,499 yuan (approximately 29.8 million VND), while the 15-inch version continues to hold at 9,999 yuan (approximately 35.1 million VND). When compared to the HP Book Pro 16 2026 using Panther Lake, which has risen to 8,999 yuan, the gap between a new Windows model and the MacBook Air M5 has almost been leveled. If buyers prioritize battery life, stability, and ecosystem, they now have more reason to look toward Apple, especially since the article Apple launches new MacBook Pro M5 Pro/Max and MacBook Air M5 showed that Apple still maintains powerful configurations within familiar price ranges.
For general consumers, the dilemma is not just about choosing between Panther Lake or the MacBook Air M5, but about choosing the right time to buy. This new architecture is still highly anticipated in terms of AI and performance, but the launch prices in China are raising concerns that the new generation of laptops may enter the market at a higher cost than expected. Meanwhile, the stable pricing of the MacBook Air M5 serves as a very clear benchmark. The original information was compiled by WCCFtech from retail listings in China, while the Panther Lake platform specifications continue to be updated by Intel on the official Intel Core Ultra page. If Panther Lake continues this upward price trend, competition in the premium laptop segment in the second half of this year will certainly be more intense than anticipated.
