The Acer Swift 3 offers portability and a touch screen ideal for general use while being less expensive. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16, while costing more, provides stronger performance for 3D, machine learning, and engineering tasks with a higher refresh rate and hardware ray tracing, therefore better suited for gaming and intensive software applications. Both have similar battery life, but the ASUS is heavier and bulkier, making it less convenient to carry around. If budget and portability are key concerns, go with the Acer Swift 3; otherwise, for gaming or demanding tasks, consider the ASUS TUF Gaming A16. 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 3
Very good portability
Advantages of the ASUS TUF Gaming A16
Good for gaming and AI
Good overall display quality
Good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.4/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift 3 is only fair.
The Acer Swift 3's fair gaming and 3D capabilities are due to its integrated graphics, known as Intel Iris Xe, and a standard refresh rate screen, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 offers stronger performance for these tasks with its dedicated AMD RX 7600S graphics card and a high-refresh-rate screen, conducive to smoother visuals in fast-paced games. The Acer's combination might suffice for casual gaming, but the ASUS is tailored for a more immersive and responsive gaming experience, which is something to consider if gaming and 3D work are a priority.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
7.7/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and Acer Swift 3 are both good for engineering and design, though the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift 3 offers a balance of portability and performance for engineering and design, featuring a lighter weight and touch-enabled IPS screen which benefits hands-on interaction with design software, but it has less graphical horsepower compared to the ASUS TUF Gaming A16, which boasts a stronger GPU and a larger screen with high refresh rate, making it more suitable for graphics-intensive engineering tasks and rendering work, but with a tradeoff in added weight and size.
Screen Quality
6.8/10
7.5/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
309.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
The Acer Swift 3 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Acer Swift 3 offers a balance of resolution and brightness, providing a clear and vivid display suitable for various tasks, but its standard refresh rate and panel type do not fully cater to the fast-paced visuals necessary for high-end gaming and 3D applications. For engineering and design professionals, while it reproduces colors decently, it may fall short in terms of extensive color gamut coverage, which is crucial for precise color work. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16, designed with gaming in mind, may offer a better panel and higher resolution, but its moderate color gamut might not satisfy the most color-critical engineering and design tasks, and its refresh rate, while good for gaming, may not be enough for the cutting-edge requirements of professional 3D work.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Acer Swift 3 has very good portability, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$500
$930
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Acer Swift 3 has a price of $500 and the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 costs $930.
The Acer Swift 3 and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.6/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift 3 and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 are both 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
7.6/10
7.3/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift 3 and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 are both 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
12.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Acer Swift 3 has 12 hours of battery life. The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has 12 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.2/10
The Acer Swift 3 and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 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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How the Acer Swift 3 and the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 compare to other laptops
"With the Swift 3, Acer delivers a 14-inch laptop with a sleek, slim metal chassis. The latter is of high quality and sturdy enough for everyday use, which is a real plus point among the 700-Euro (~$798) models. A new feature is Thunderbolt 4 in the Type-C format for peripherals or even displays (DisplayPort via Type-C). Unfortunately, a card reader is still missing, and the RAM is completely onboard, so there are no upgrade options here. Acer's 14-incher is affordable, yet it does everything most would want from a truly mobile laptop: Long battery life, a great display, quality, sufficient ports, light weight, and low noise and heat emissions."
"The A16 makes an excellent case against more expensive laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 and the MSI Katana GF76, especially if you’re into 1080p gaming. However, although its affordable, it doesn’t skimp on performance or a robust chassis. But for me, the biggest factor that sets it apart from these options is its incredible battery life. In my time reviewing laptops, I can’t remember when I last saw a gaming laptop lasted 11 and a half hours on a single charge, which makes the A16, in my book, truly outstanding."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift 3 or the ASUS TUF Gaming A16
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 ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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