Acer Swift X14 Review: Ultrabook

Introducing the Acer Swift X14: Features a stunning display, sleek Ultrabook design, and impressive performance courtesy of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU. While it comes with a higher price tag and minor drawbacks like trackpad and webcam issues, it remains a top choice for users seeking power in a compact device.

Acer Swift X14 Quick Overview

I like the Acer Swift X14. Acer packed a powerful CPU and GPU, along with a stunning OLED screen, into a slim Ultrabook.

It may not feel as premium as a MacBook Pro 14, but it stands among the best Ultrabooks. However, it’s not as cheap as some laptops, and the battery life suffers due to the Nvidia graphics card. The trackpad is also frustrating to use. Surprisingly, it lacks a Windows Hello-capable webcam.

Despite the drawbacks, the benefits are significant, especially for those who want the power of a gaming computer in an Ultrabook form. Whether you’re gaming or editing photos/videos, the Acer Swift X14 delivers. In competition with Dell XPS, it’s surprisingly impressive.

Acer Swift X14 Review: Price And Availability

Price: Starting at $1,099 (about £870 / AU$1,670)
Availability: Now available
Where to Buy: US, UK, and Australia

The Acer Swift X14 isn’t the cheapest laptop around. The base model starts at $1,099 / AU$2,699 (about £870), equipped with a 13th-Gen Intel Core i5, last-gen Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, 512GB SSD, and 1600p resolution. However, it’s currently only available in the US and Australia.

For those seeking the latest GPU, the price bumps up to $1,499 / £1,429 (about AU$2,277). This configuration includes a faster 13th-Gen Intel Core i7, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and a 2880 x 1800p screen. UK buyers have an option to add £170 for 32GB RAM.

Comparatively, the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra offers similar specs but at a higher price. The base model matches the Swift X14’s specs but costs $1799.99 / £2,649 / around AU$4,875. Higher configurations go up to $2399.99 / £3,049 / around AU$ 5,610.

While many Ultrabooks carry premium price tags, they often lack gaming laptop-level hardware. For example, the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8, priced at $1,399.99 / £1,440, features Intel Iris Xe graphics but doesn’t match the Swift X14’s performance. At least it shares the same OLED screen with HDR.

Acer Swift X14 Review: Specs

There are two configurations of the Acer Swift X14:

Base Configuration:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-13500H
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Price: $1,099 / AU$2,699 (about £870)

Review Configuration:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-13700H
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• RAM: 16GB LPDDR5
• Price: $1,499 / £1,429 (about AU$2,277)

Max Configuration (UK):

• CPU: Intel Core i7-13700H
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050
• RAM: 32GB LPDDR5
• Price: £1,599 (about $2,019 / $3,070)

Specifications Comparison:

• Screen: 14.5″ 2.8K OLED, 120Hz non-touch display
• Ports: 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, HDMI, 3.5mm Combo-Jack, MicroSD card reader
• Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E 1675i, Bluetooth 5.1
• Camera: 1080p @ 30Hz webcam
• Weight: 1.5kg (3.31lbs)
• Dimensions: 17.8 x 322.5 x 228.6mm (0.70 x 12.7 x 9 inches)

There are no color variations except for the screen. The cheaper model has a slightly lower resolution (2560 x 1600p).

Acer Swift X14 Review: Design

The display is stunning, featuring HDR and accurate colors that pop.
However, the trackpad has issues with dragging and dropping.
The webcam lacks Windows Hello support, but there’s a fingerprint reader.

The Acer Swift X14 boasts an elegant ‘Steel Gray’ shade, typical of Ultrabooks. It blends in well visually and offers portability for on-the-go computing.

The standout feature is the 14.5-inch OLED screen with a sharp 2.8K resolution running at 120Hz. Its Vesa Certified Display HDR True Black 500 enhances color vibrancy.

The colors are not only accurate but also boast impressive coverage, suitable for video and photo editing, with 195% sRGB and 138.1% DCI-P3.

While the keyboard is decent, the trackpad presents some usability issues, requiring precise finger positioning for dragging and dropping.

The port selection is comprehensive for an Ultrabook, featuring two USB-C (Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4), two USB-A, HDMI, microSD reader, and a headphone jack, along with a Kensington lock for security.

The 1080p webcam lacks Windows Hello Facial Recognition support, but a fingerprint reader on the power button serves the purpose.

In terms of AI tech, the Acer Swift X14 supports Windows Copilot and enhancements for the webcam and mic, leveraging AI to boost app performance.

Acer Swift X14 Review: Performance

Benchmarks:

• 3DMark Scores: Night Raid: 27,076; Fire Strike: 13,642; Time Spy: 5,730
• GeekBench 6: Single-core: 2,500; Multi-core: 12,118
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm: 92.030fps @1080p
• 25GB File Copy: 13.7 seconds
• Handbrake 1.6: 7 minutes 46 seconds
• CrossMark: Overall: 1,924; Productivity: 1,847; Creativity: 2,022; Responsiveness: 1,872
• Web Surfing (Battery Informant): 7 hours 26 minutes 37 seconds @ 60Hz

High Performance Highlights:

The Acer Swift X14 excels in performance benchmarks:

• Fast render scores showcase its capabilities.
• Gaming performance is robust, handling titles like Starfield and Gotham Knights on high settings.
• Utilizes 13th-Gen Intel Core i7, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, and 16GB RAM for seamless multitasking and intensive workloads.

Features:

• OLED panel with HDR delivers vibrant visuals.
• Thermal performance remains solid, with minimal heating under heavy use.
• The webcam offers clear, sharp imagery with auto framing and eye contact simulation.
• Audio quality is satisfactory, typical for laptops in this range.

In summary, the Acer Swift X14 delivers exceptional performance across various tasks, making it a top choice for both work and entertainment.

Acer Swift X14: Battery

Decent battery life given its hardware specifications.
Quick charging capability available.
The Acer Swift X14, boasting powerful components, understandably falls short in battery longevity compared to many other Ultrabooks.

While achieving a commendable benchmark score of 7:26:37 on the Battery Informant test (albeit at 60Hz), it’s noteworthy that this figure is favorable when juxtaposed with gaming laptops featuring similar internals. However, it falls short of the impressive 15-hour mark characteristic of MacBooks. Under heavy usage, expect the battery to drain swiftly.

Charging is notably swift when the laptop is plugged in. However, it appears to struggle to retain its charge efficiently when the lid is closed, a common issue among many Windows laptops.

Should I Buy The Acer Swift X14?

Buy it if:

• You require excellent performance: Equipped with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, the Acer Swift X14 excels in tasks ranging from gaming to video editing, surpassing many Ultrabooks in its league.
• You desire a stunning display: The OLED screen, boasting remarkable HDR and accurate colors, is ideal for intensive photo and video editing tasks.

Don’t buy it if:

• You don’t require extensive computing power: For individuals with modest computing needs, there are plenty of more affordable alternatives that suffice.
• You’re on a tight budget: While the pricing is justifiable given the features, the Acer Swift X14 leans towards premium pricing, which might not be suitable for those with budget constraints.