The Acer Swift 14 costs more but offers better performance, with a faster processor, more storage, and double the RAM, which is ideal for intensive engineering tasks, 3D rendering, or machine learning. It also has a higher resolution touchscreen that could benefit creative professionals. However, despite being lightweight, it's less portable compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 due to its shorter battery life. The IdeaPad Slim 3, on the other hand, is more budget-friendly, weighs a bit more, and, with its AMD processor and integrated graphics, is well-suited for general use or light productivity tasks, and offers a longer battery life, enhancing its portability. 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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
458.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
9.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The Acer Swift 14 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is good.
The Acer Swift 14, with a more powerful CPU and double the RAM, is better for multitasking and demanding applications, while its higher-resolution screen offers superior image quality for a crisper display. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 provides more modest performance due to a less robust CPU and half the RAM, which still suffices for everyday tasks but trails in screen resolution, leading to a less sharp visual experience.
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
5.9/10
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
9.5/10
The Acer Swift 14 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is poor.
The Acer Swift 14 is equipped with an Intel i7 processor and its integrated Iris Xe graphics, which is superior for gaming and 3D applications compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3's AMD Ryzen 3 processor with Vega 6 graphics. Additionally, the Swift 14 boasts a higher screen resolution, contributing to better screen quality, complementing its GPU for visually intensive tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.9/10
6.1/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Swift 14 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is only fair.
The Acer Swift 14 is more suited for engineering and design, offering a higher-performing CPU and GPU, substantial memory, and high-resolution display, which are crucial for demanding tasks and detailed visuals. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, while still capable, has a less powerful CPU and GPU, less memory, and a lower resolution screen, making it less optimal for intensive engineering applications and design work.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.2/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift 14 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 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
8.2/10
7.1/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Acer Swift 14 is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 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
7.6/10
6.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
458.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Acer Swift 14 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Swift 14 boasts a high-resolution display and ample brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming, but its color range is limited for professional design work and its refresh rate is too low for smooth gaming experiences. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has a decent resolution and adequate brightness for daily activities, but its color accuracy falls short for specialized work in engineering and design, and like the Swift 14, it can't keep up with the fast-paced visuals required by gamers due to its modest refresh rate. Both laptops are capable for general use and basic design tasks, but neither is ideal for high-end gaming or color-critical engineering projects.
Portability
Excellent
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift 14 has excellent portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
6.5/10
The Acer Swift 14 has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$390
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Swift 14 has a price of $1,400 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 costs $390.
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."
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | May 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is decent for use as a workstation. Its Intel CPU and integrated graphics can only handle light productivity tasks, not demanding workloads like video editing or 3D graphics. You also can't do any color-critical work because the available displays have a narrow color gamut. It has a good port selection, but its USB-C lacks Thunderbolt 4 support. On the upside, it has a comfortable keyboard and doesn't get hot or loud under load."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift 14 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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