Considering your budget, the Acer Swift 14 provides good value and is more affordable, offering decent performance for everyday tasks and portability due to its smaller size and weight. However, if you're seeking high performance for demanding activities like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, and are willing to invest more, the Framework Laptop 16 is more powerful and has better upgradeability options, allowing you to replace components over time. The larger Framework model may reduce portability due to its size and weight, but could offer longer battery life and a more robust build. Choose the Acer for cost-efficiency and easier carrying; opt for the Framework for future-proofing and intensive use. 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
Excellent portability
Advantages of the Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
Very good for engineering and design
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.6/10
8.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
458.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
490.0 nits
The Acer Swift 14 has a better screen than the Framework Laptop 16 for software development, while the Framework Laptop 16 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Acer Swift 14 offers a display with adequate resolution and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks and viewing documents, while its color accuracy supports engineering and design work. The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) likely provides a similar level of resolution and brightness for general use, but stands out with its broader color gamut, enhancing the precision needed for professional design and color work. However, for gaming and 3D, neither laptop excels, as their screens lack the high refresh rates required for fluid motion and immersive experiences, making them less ideal for fast-paced interactive content.
Portability
Excellent
Good
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift 14 has excellent portability, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.0/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) 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
$1,699
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Acer Swift 14 has a price of $1,400 and the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) costs $1,699.
The Acer Swift 14 and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) are both very good for general use.
The Acer Swift 14 offers a balance of performance with its capable CPU and ample RAM, ensuring smooth operation for everyday tasks, along with a high-quality screen, long battery life, and easy portability, making it a versatile choice for general users. In contrast, the Framework Laptop 16 provides a similar level of CPU performance and memory, also with a high-resolution screen that enhances user experience, but with its emphasis on modularity and repairability, it may appeal to those who prioritize customization and future upgrades, albeit possibly at the expense of greater weight and reduced battery life compared to the Swift.
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
6.8/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and Acer Swift 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift 14, with a modest GPU and standard screen refresh rate, provides a satisfactory experience for gaming and 3D applications, enough to handle mainstream games at moderate settings. The Framework Laptop 16, while also offering a fair GPU and similar screen refresh rate, may have a slight edge in screen quality and CPU performance, enhancing the overall experience for games and 3D tasks that don't require top-tier graphics horsepower.
Engineering and Design
7.9/10
8.1/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Swift 14 is good.
The Acer Swift 14 offers robust performance for engineering tasks with a high-quality CPU and GPU, as well as ample RAM for multitasking, complemented by a clear screen that benefits design work. Meanwhile, the Framework Laptop 16 also provides powerful computing capabilities with similar hardware tailored for demanding software, and its emphasis on repairability and upgradeability can be a long-term advantage for a tech-savvy user, though it may be slightly less portable due to its larger size.
Content Creation
8.2/10
8.1/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift 14 and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) are both very good for content creation.
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.
Software Development
8.2/10
8.0/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Acer Swift 14 and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) are both very good for software development.
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.
Battery
9.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Acer Swift 14 has 9 hours of battery life. The Framework Laptop 16 has 9 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.
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How the Acer Swift 14 and the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) compare to other laptops
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."
"The trend towards thinner and lighter laptops is made possible by fusing more and more components onto the mainboard. The main drawback to this approach is that it limits repairability as even a small fault may require replacing entire boards. Framework is one of the only manufacturers looking the other way in an attempt to improve end-user customization and servicing. There's no question that the Laptop 16 is more user-friendly to service than any alternative, but this lucrative feature comes at the cost of size and weight as individual components must be easily replaceable."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift 14 or the Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
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 Framework
Framework is a new American laptop manufacturer, specializing in modular and repairable laptops with the goals of promoting longevity and reducing electronic waste. They are a strong proponent of the right to repair movement. Framework laptops have replaceable RAM, storage, ports, keyboards, display bezels, mainboards, and more, making them a great choice for repairability-oriented individuals.
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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