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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
The Acer Swift 14 offers superior processing power which makes it better for demanding tasks such as engineering or creative software. It also has a larger screen which might be better for multitasking and watching media, though the Surface Laptop 5's taller 3:2 aspect ratio can display more vertical content, which may benefit reading and document editing. The Acer has more ports that provide greater connectivity options. On the other hand, the Surface Laptop 5 is slightly more portable due to its smaller screen and lighter weight, and it also boasts a longer battery life, making it a better option for users who are frequently on the move. Both laptops run on Windows 11 Home with similar storage and memory, making them equally equipped for general use. Choose the Acer Swift 14 for performance-intensive tasks and connectivity, or the Surface Laptop 5 for better portability and battery life. 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
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.4
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
458.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Acer Swift 14 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Acer Swift 14 offers a more powerful processor, larger and higher resolution screen, and longer battery life, all of which enhance its performance and usability for general tasks, while still maintaining a high level of portability. Conversely, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is similarly portable and has a touchscreen with a taller aspect ratio, its processor is not as powerful, and it has less battery life, making it slightly less suited for demanding applications but still very capable for everyday use.
Gaming and AI
6.7
6.1
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Swift 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Acer Swift 14 is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift 14 offers better gaming and 3D performance over the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" primarily due to its more powerful main processor, while both feature similar integrated GPUs and screen refresh rates. Despite both models having high-quality IPS screens, the Acer has a slightly higher screen resolution and brightness, contributing to better overall screen quality, which is also crucial for an immersive gaming and 3D experience.
Engineering and Design
7.9
7.1
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Swift 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for engineering and design, though the Acer Swift 14 is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift 14 is equipped with a high-performance CPU and superior GPU, which along with its high-quality, bright screen with wide color coverage make it well-suited for demanding engineering and design tasks. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has similar RAM and a capable CPU but falls short on GPU performance and screen brightness; however, it compensates with a higher portability score and better overall build quality, making it a good choice for on-the-go professionals who prioritize a balance between performance and ease of carrying.
Content Creation
8.2
7.4
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift 14 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
7.2
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift 14 is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
7.2
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
458.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Acer Swift 14 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Acer Swift 14 provides a vivid and sharp display, making it comfortable for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 offers a similarly pleasant experience with good brightness and resolution. The Acer excels in engineering and design due to its wider color gamut, allowing it to display a broader range of colors which is crucial for professional color work, whereas the Surface Laptop has a good, but less extensive color range. However, for gaming and 3D, both laptops fall short with their lower refresh rates, not providing the smooth visuals preferred for fast-paced games and fluid 3D rendering, despite having decent resolution and panel quality.
Battery
9.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Acer Swift 14 has 9 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 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.
Cost
$1,400
$1,200
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Swift 14 has a price of $1,400 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
Portability
Excellent
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Acer Swift 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Acer Swift 14 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Swift 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift 14 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,400 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.2'' x 8.4'' x 0.59'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.65 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.22" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel i7-1255U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | 47.4 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 458 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.1/10 | 9/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1440p | 720p | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
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."
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Lori Grunin | October 2022
"The Surface Laptop 5 remains afloat as a solid machine. It's just not one that stands out in any particular way. Just like the last one. The biggest upgrade were some new components, but they perform in the same range as other laptops with them, and frequently at the bottom of that range. I suspect Microsoft's settings are very conservative to help keep cooling and battery life within reason in the older chassis design."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift 14 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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 Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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