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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize battery life and portability for general use, the Acer Swift 3 is a lightweight and more affordable option, also notable for its touchscreen. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, slightly heavier and pricier, offers a more powerful processor suitable for engineering and more intensive 3D or machine learning tasks. Both have similar size screens, but the Dell's higher resolution and aspect ratio could be more favorable for productivity and entertainment, although it falls short in battery life compared to the Acer. Neither are ideal for intensive gaming despite having the capability for general use and engineering tasks. 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 battery life
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
- Good overall display quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.8
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Acer Swift 3 are both good for engineering and design, though the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift 3 features a solid CPU and integrated graphics suitable for engineering and design tasks, while also being light with good keyboard quality, making it portable and usable for longer periods; however, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a more powerful processor and superior screen quality with higher resolution and brightness, which may benefit more resource-intensive design work, but it comes at the cost of being heavier and with a shorter battery life. Both have sufficient RAM for complex tasks, though the Acer Swift 3 operates quieter, and the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a slight edge in build and speaker quality.
Screen Quality
6.8
7.0
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
309.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
326.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a better screen than the Acer Swift 3 for general use, engineering and design, and software development.
The Acer Swift 3 and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus feature displays with resolutions and brightness suitable for daily tasks and professional engineering or design work, ensuring crisp text and vibrant images. Their color gamut coverage meets the demands of users working with visual media, delivering accurate color representation crucial for design accuracy. However, for gaming and 3D applications, where smooth motion and rapid refresh rates are key, both laptops' screens fall short, potentially leading to less fluid visuals during fast-paced scenes.
Battery
12.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Acer Swift 3 has 12 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift 3 and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus both have very good portability, though the Acer Swift 3 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$500
$1,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift 3 has a price of $500 and the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
309.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
326.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Acer Swift 3 are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift 3 with its lighter weight, longer battery life, and touch-enabled, bright IPS screen is well-suited for on-the-go users who need longevity and convenience. The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, offering a more powerful CPU, higher resolution without touch, and larger built-in storage, is tailored towards users requiring higher performance and screen real estate for detailed work, at the expense of portability and battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.6
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Acer Swift 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers better performance for gaming and 3D applications primarily because it has a more powerful CPU, which can handle complex tasks more efficiently. While both the Acer Swift 3 and the Dell have integrated graphics and the same screen refresh rate, the higher quality CPU in the Dell Inspiron, along with its higher resolution screen, likely contribute to a smoother and more detailed visual experience in such applications.
Content Creation
7.6
7.9
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Acer Swift 3 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
7.7
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Acer Swift 3 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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.4
The Acer Swift 3 and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 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 Dell Inspiron 14 Plus compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift 3 | Dell Inspiron 14 Plus |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$500 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | July 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.6'' x 8.3'' x 0.63'' | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.76 lbs | 3.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.6" | 12.36" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.3" | 8.96" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1240P | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 12 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | 64 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2240 x 1400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 309 nits | 326 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 8.1/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Swift 3
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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."
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | August 2022
"The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is for power users on a budget. If you're looking to maximize CPU and GPU performance on your next 14-inch laptop, then consider the pricier Razer Blade 14 or Asus Zephyrus G14. If you're looking for a thin-and-light 14-inch Ultrabook, then the Asus Zenbook 14 or LG Gram 14 may be better options. For the best of both worlds, however, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7420 rides a fine line between extreme performance and portability while keeping prices at reasonable levels. Frequent travelers who rely on performance beyond what the Core U-series and integrated graphics series can offer will find the Dell to be a solid solution."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift 3 or the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
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 Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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