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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Swift 14 offers higher performance with a more powerful processor and graphics, significantly more storage, and a larger, higher-resolution touchscreen display, which makes it suitable for more intensive tasks such as engineering work, 3D rendering or machine learning. However, it comes at a higher price. On the other hand, the Gateway 11.6" is a budget option with a smaller screen and lower resolution, less storage, and a less powerful processor, which could limit its use to general activities like web browsing and document editing, but it is more affordable and slightly more portable due to its smaller size. 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
- Good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 11.6"
- The Gateway 11.6" has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift 14.
Key differences
General Use
8.2
5.6
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
458.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
9.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.1/10
The Acer Swift 14 is very good for general use, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Acer Swift 14 offers powerful performance with a robust CPU and ample RAM, a high-resolution screen, and good portability with long battery life, making it ideal for general use. In contrast, the Gateway 11.6" has a considerably weaker CPU, less RAM, a lower resolution screen, and scores lower in keyboard and speaker quality, which makes it less suited for the demands of general use.
Gaming and AI
6.7
5.4
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift 14 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.9
5.4
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Acer Swift 14 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Acer Swift 14 offers a powerful Intel i7 processor, ample 16GB of RAM, and a high-quality IPS display which is crucial for engineering and design tasks, whereas the Gateway 11.6" has a less capable Intel Celeron processor, limited 4GB of RAM, and a lower resolution screen, making it less suitable for such demanding work. Additionally, the Acer's superior GPU and screen quality offer better performance and visual precision, but it comes with less portability compared to the lightweight Gateway, which may appeal for its excellent portability and good keyboard quality but falls short in performance for engineering use.
Content Creation
8.2
5.7
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift 14 is very good for content creation, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
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
5.7
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Acer Swift 14 is very good for software development, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
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
5.7
14.0in
SIZE
11.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
458.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Acer Swift 14 has a better screen than the Gateway 11.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize a clear and vivid display for tasks like browsing and watching videos, the Acer Swift 14's higher resolution and brightness make it a suitable choice for general use. For engineering and design, where accurate color representation is crucial, the Acer's wider color gamut ensures that the colors you see on screen are precise and vibrant. However, for gaming or handling 3D applications where the smoothness of motion is key, neither laptop is ideal, but the Acer's better panel type and resolution offer a somewhat improved experience despite not having a high refresh rate.
Build Quality
7.4
5.1
The Acer Swift 14 has good build quality, while the Gateway 11.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$89
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Swift 14 has a price of $1,400 and the Gateway 11.6" costs $89.
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Key similarities
Battery
9.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Swift 14 has 9 hours of battery life. The Gateway 11.6" has 8 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
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
11.6in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Gateway 11.6" and Acer Swift 14 both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Swift 14 and the Gateway 11.6" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift 14 | Gateway 11.6" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,400 | $89 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.2'' x 8.4'' x 0.59'' | 11'' x 7.5'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.65 lbs | 2.6 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.22" | 11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 7.5" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel Celeron N4020 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 4 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 64 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | Unknown | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 11.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 458 nits | 200 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.1/10 | 9.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
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 | 5.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1440p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
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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."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift 14 or the Gateway 11.6"
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 Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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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