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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 21, 2024·
When considering laptops like the Acer Swift 14 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2, it's important to weigh what you prioritize. The Acer Swift is typically more budget-friendly and offers good portability with decent performance for everyday tasks, which makes it suitable for general use and light productivity. On the other hand, the Alienware is designed for high-performance activities such as gaming, 3D rendering, and intensive engineering software, but this comes with a higher price point and less portability due to its size and weight. Battery life also often reflects usage; work-oriented laptops like the Swift usually last longer unplugged than power-hungry gaming machines like the Alienware. Consider what you'll use your laptop for most and choose accordingly. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Acer Swift 14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent portability
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m16 R2
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.7
7.9
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift 14 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2, with its superior GPU and higher screen refresh rate, delivers a smoother and more immersive gaming and 3D experience compared to the Acer Swift 14. While the Acer Swift 14 offers decent performance for casual gaming thanks to its capable CPU and screen quality, it falls short for more demanding gaming and 3D tasks where the GPU and refresh rate are critical.
Software Development
8.2
7.6
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Acer Swift 14 is very good for software development, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
7.6
8.2
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
458.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
The Acer Swift 14 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m16 R2 for software development, and content creation, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a better screen for general use, and gaming and AI.
For general use, the Acer Swift 14 offers an adequate balance of resolution and brightness, making it pleasant for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2's focus on higher resolution and brightness enhances visibility and clarity which is especially beneficial for detailed work. In engineering and design, the Acer Swift 14 may fall short due to limited color accuracy, whereas the Alienware's superior color gamut coverage ensures more precise color representation for professional photo editing and CAD work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, neither laptop excels, as their screens don't support high refresh rates, which limits smooth visuals and responsiveness crucial in these areas.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Acer Swift 14 has 9 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Excellent
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Acer Swift 14 has excellent portability, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
8.5
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has very good build quality, while the Acer Swift 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$1,650
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Swift 14 has a price of $1,400 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 costs $1,650.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.2
7.9
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
458.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
302.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
9.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift 14 to be very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The Acer Swift 14 offers a balance of solid processing power, ample memory, and high-quality screen, all in a lightweight design that's easy to carry, complemented by a long battery life suitable for everyday tasks; whereas the Dell Alienware m16 R2, while also performing well in daily activities, is bulkier and has a shorter battery life due to its gaming-oriented hardware, but compensates with superior screen quality, storage, and better heat management for more demanding applications.
Engineering and Design
7.9
8.4
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m16 R2 to be very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Swift 14 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 stands out for engineering and design due to its powerful GPU and CPU, combined with ample RAM that smoothly handles complex tasks and provides a high-quality screen for detailed visuals. In contrast, while the Acer Swift 14 offers decent performance and screen quality, its lighter weight and quieter operation make it a more balanced choice for portability and everyday comfort, though it may not handle intensive tasks as effectively as the Alienware.
Content Creation
8.2
7.9
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift 14 to be very good for content creation, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
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How the Acer Swift 14 and the Dell Alienware m16 R2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift 14 | Dell Alienware m16 R2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,400 | $1,650 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | January 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.2'' x 8.4'' x 0.59'' | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.65 lbs | 5.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.22" | 14.33" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 9.81" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 458 nits | 302 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.1/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1440p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Swift 14
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Rtings
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, John Peroramas | April 2023
"The Acer Swift 14 is good for school use. Its compact design makes it easy to carry around, and its battery lasts easily through a typical school day. You can configure the laptop with an FHD+ or QHD+ display; both look sharp and get bright enough to combat glare. The keyboard feels tactile but can be a little tiring to type on over an extended period, and while the touchpad is small, it's responsive to all movements and gestures. Its Intel 13th Gen. CPU can handle nearly every type of workload; however, its integrated graphics perform poorly, so it isn't ideal for students in technical fields like 3D graphics."
Dell Alienware m16 R2
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Momo Tabari | January 2024
"Alienware’s m16 R2 is a solid gaming laptop that leaves much to be desired, particularly in its quest to fulfill your needs as a product for productivity. Battery life under eight hours and a dim display are both vital issues for something that will accompany you through school projects or a workday. However, the Alienware m16 R2 is an exceedingly powerful gaming laptop, consistently being one of the best in our performance tests when compared against similar products. Even then, its display is lacking color, its fans get pretty darn loud, and its speakers aren’t punchy enough to rise above that noise."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift 14 or the Dell Alienware m16 R2
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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