A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
The Acer Swift 3 offers better performance and higher quality due to a more powerful processor, more memory, and a higher resolution display, making it suitable for more intensive tasks like engineering or content creation but at a higher price. On the other hand, the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is more budget-friendly, with a simpler processor and lower memory, good for basic tasks like web browsing and word processing, while also being lighter and thus more portable. The decision depends on whether performance or cost and portability is your priority. 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
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall build quality
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Vivobook Go 12
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
7.7
5.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
309.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Acer Swift 3 is good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The Acer Swift 3 is equipped with a more powerful CPU, more RAM, and a higher quality IPS screen, which makes it suitable for a wide range of tasks and better for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12, with a less powerful processor, less RAM, and a lower resolution TN screen, is less capable and offers a reduced experience for everyday activities. Additionally, the Acer boasts a larger battery life and a touch-enabled display, contributing to its versatility, whereas the ASUS, though more portable due to its lighter weight and smaller size, compromises on performance and battery life, which are critical for general use.
Gaming and AI
6.3
5.4
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1080
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 3 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The Acer Swift 3 provides a better gaming and 3D experience compared to the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 mainly because it has a more powerful GPU, the Intel i5-1240P Iris Xe, which outperforms the less capable Intel UHD Graphics 600 in the ASUS. Additionally, the Acer Swift 3 offers superior screen quality with an IPS display and higher resolution, contributing to a more immersive experience, whereas the ASUS has a lower-quality TN panel and a lower resolution display.
Engineering and Design
7.1
5.3
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Acer Swift 3 is good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The Acer Swift 3 excels in engineering and design use due to its more capable Intel i5 processor, higher RAM, and better integrated Iris Xe graphics, along with a sharper IPS display offering better color reproduction and viewing angles. In contrast, the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is less suited with its basic Intel Celeron processor, lower RAM, and less powerful UHD Graphics 600, paired with a lower-resolution TN screen which doesn't provide the same visual clarity or color accuracy.
Content Creation
7.6
5.7
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Acer Swift 3 is good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 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
7.6
5.7
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Acer Swift 3 is good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 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
6.8
5.1
14.0in
SIZE
11.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
309.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Acer Swift 3 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Swift 3's higher resolution and brightness, along with its better panel type, make it suitable for general tasks, and its wider color gamut supports the precision needed for engineering and design work. However, its lower refresh rate can detract from the smooth visuals required for immersive gaming and 3D applications. Conversely, the ASUS Vivobook Go 12's lower screen quality across all these aspects means it falls short for general use, precision work in engineering and design, as well as for the demanding graphics in gaming and 3D content.
Battery
12.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Acer Swift 3 has 12 hours of battery life. The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has 10 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
5.1
The Acer Swift 3 has good build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$500
$267
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The Acer Swift 3 has a price of $500 and the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 costs $267.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
11.6in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Vivobook Go 12 to have excellent portability, while the Acer Swift 3 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Swift 3 and the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift 3 | ASUS Vivobook Go 12 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$500 | $267 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.6'' x 8.3'' x 0.63'' | 11'' x 7.5'' x 0.67'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.76 lbs | 2.31 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.6" | 10.98" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.3" | 7.52" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1240P | Intel Celeron N4020 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 4 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 64 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 12 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | 38 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 11.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 309 nits | 200 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 9.3/10 | |
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 | 1080p | 480p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
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 3
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Jentsch | February 2022
"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."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift 3 or the ASUS Vivobook Go 12
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
130,995
Recommendations made
28,383
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
