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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
If portability and performance in intensive tasks are crucial for you, the Acer Swift 14 is superior with its higher-end processor and lighter weight, making it better for power users on the go. However, the Gateway 15.6" will cost you less but comes with an older processor, heavier build, and might not be as well-suited for demanding tasks. The Acer also features a higher resolution and brighter display with touch capability, offering a better viewing experience and productivity boost. Consider the Gateway if you're looking for basic functions, saving money, and can manage a heavier laptop with less processing power. 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
- Excellent portability
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 15.6"
- The Gateway 15.6" has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift 14.
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.0
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
458.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
9.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Acer Swift 14 is very good for general use, while the Gateway 15.6" is good.
The Acer Swift 14 offers a high-performance CPU, more RAM, and superior screen quality with higher resolution and brightness, making it excellent for general use, while the Gateway 15.6" provides sufficient performance and screen quality for everyday tasks but at a lesser degree due to its lower CPU power and screen brightness, aligning it as just good for general use. Regarding portability and battery life, the Acer has an advantage with its lighter weight and excellent battery life, compared to the heavier Gateway which has decent battery endurance; both aspects are very important for general use laptops.
Gaming and AI
6.7
6.0
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
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 and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Acer Swift 14 is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift 14 is considered better for gaming and 3D because it features a more advanced Intel i7 processor and a higher-resolution screen, which offers better visual detail and can contribute to a more immersive gaming experience. In contrast, the Gateway 15.6" has an older Intel i5 processor and a standard full HD screen, which may result in less impressive gaming and 3D performance compared to the Acer.
Engineering and Design
7.9
6.2
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Swift 14 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Acer Swift 14 boasts a more powerful CPU and higher-quality display, which improves performance in demanding engineering applications and offers better screen clarity and color accuracy; this makes a significant difference when working on intricate designs or engineering simulations. Meanwhile, the Gateway 15.6" provides an adequate experience with an older CPU and lower screen resolution, potentially affecting multitasking and detail work, but at possibly a lower price point and with greater screen size for spacious viewing, albeit at the cost of clarity and color fidelity.
Content Creation
8.2
7.0
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift 14 is very good for content creation, while the Gateway 15.6" 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.
Software Development
8.2
6.7
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Acer Swift 14 is very good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
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
6.1
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
458.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Acer Swift 14 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Swift 14 offers a higher resolution and better brightness, making it suitable for daily tasks and detail-oriented work in engineering and design by providing clearer and sharper images. Its screen, however, lacks the high refresh rates desired for smooth 3D rendering and fast-paced gaming, leading to less optimal visual performance in those areas. The Gateway 15.6" has adequate resolution and brightness for everyday use and some design work, but it falls short in providing the expansive color range for precision tasks in engineering and doesn't meet the refresh rate requirements for high-end gaming or 3D applications.
Portability
Excellent
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift 14 has excellent portability, while the Gateway 15.6" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
5.1
The Acer Swift 14 has good build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$600
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Swift 14 has a price of $1,400 and the Gateway 15.6" costs $600.
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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 15.6" 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.
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How the Acer Swift 14 and the Gateway 15.6" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift 14 | Gateway 15.6" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,400 | $600 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.2'' x 8.4'' x 0.59'' | 14.8'' x 9.5'' x 0.77'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.65 lbs | 4.8 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.22" | 14.75" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 9.5" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | Unknown | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 458 nits | 250 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.1/10 | 7.3/10 | |
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 | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Acer Swift 14
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Dig into reviews and images
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."
Gateway 15.6"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | July 2022
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift 14 or the Gateway 15.6"
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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