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 10, 2024·
The Acer Swift 3 offers a balance of performance with a mid-range processor and graphics, ample storage, and a larger screen with higher resolution, suitable for intensive tasks and multitasking. Conversely, the Gateway 11.6" is more economical with basic performance suitable for simple tasks, lighter weight, and a smaller screen, but it has limited storage and lower screen quality. For work involving engineering, 3D rendering or machine learning, the Acer Swift 3 will be more capable, while the Gateway is more suited for general use and better portability due to its smaller size and weight. 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
- Very good battery life
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 11.6"
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
7.7
5.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
309.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.1/10
The Acer Swift 3 is good for general use, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Acer Swift 3 offers better performance for general use due to its superior CPU, more RAM, and higher quality screen, while the Gateway 11.6" falls short with a basic CPU, less RAM, and a lower resolution screen. Additionally, the Swift 3's longer battery life and larger storage capacity make it more suitable for varied tasks and extended use compared to the Gateway, which may offer better portability due to its smaller size but is limited by its poorer performance and inferior screen.
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 Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Acer Swift 3 provides a fair experience for gaming and 3D due to its more capable Intel Iris Xe GPU and a higher resolution screen, which offers better graphics and clarity. In contrast, the Gateway 11.6" falls short with its less powerful Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU and a lower resolution display, resulting in poorer performance and visual quality in gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.1
5.4
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 Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Acer Swift 3 is well-equipped for engineering and design tasks with a robust CPU, ample RAM, and integrated graphics that offer better performance and screen quality, versus the Gateway 11.6", which has a basic CPU, less RAM, and lower-tier integrated graphics, resulting in poorer performance and less suitable screen quality for such demanding tasks. Despite the Gateway being slightly more portable due to its smaller size, the significant tradeoffs in power and display capabilities make the Acer Swift 3 a more appropriate choice for engineering and design needs.
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
IPS
The Acer Swift 3 is good for content creation, while the Gateway 11.6" 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 Gateway 11.6" 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
5.7
14.0in
SIZE
11.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
309.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Acer Swift 3 has a better screen than the Gateway 11.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize a clear, vivid display when browsing the web or using office applications, the Acer Swift 3 serves well with its resolution and brightness making everything crisp and easy to see, which is not the case with the Gateway's less impressive display. For engineering and design tasks where precise colors matter, the Acer Swift 3's better color coverage will ensure more accurate and vibrant visuals than the Gateway can provide. However, for immersive gaming and working with 3D applications, the Acer's lower refresh rate means less fluid motion compared to high-refresh-rate panels, although the Gateway also falls short here with its overall poor display quality.
Battery
12.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Swift 3 has 12 hours of battery life. The Gateway 11.6" has 8 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 Gateway 11.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$500
$89
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
The Acer Swift 3 has a price of $500 and the Gateway 11.6" costs $89.
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
2.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gateway 11.6" 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 Gateway 11.6" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift 3 | Gateway 11.6" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$500 | $89 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.6'' x 8.3'' x 0.63'' | 11'' x 7.5'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.76 lbs | 2.6 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.6" | 11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.3" | 7.5" | |
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 | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | Unknown | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 11.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
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 | 9.2/10 | |
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 | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 0 | |
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 Gateway 11.6"
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 Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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
104,595
Recommendations made
22,663
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
