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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Swift 3 is less expensive and more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight, suitable for carrying around and general use. Its battery life is sufficient for daily tasks. On the other hand, the HP Envy 17 has a larger screen and a more powerful processor, better suited for intensive tasks like engineering and demanding software, but it's less portable and has a slightly shorter battery life. Both have touchscreens and the same storage and memory capacity. 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
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the HP Envy 17
- The HP Envy 17 has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift 3.
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.8
6.8
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
309.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The Acer Swift 3 and the HP Envy 17 have similar screen quality.
For general use, both the Acer Swift 3 and the HP Envy 17 provide pleasing visuals with ample resolution and brightness levels, catering well to everyday tasks like web browsing and video streaming. When it comes to engineering and design, their good color accuracy covering wider color gamuts helps in tasks that demand color precision, making them suitable options for professionals. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates on these laptops may lead to less smooth visuals, which can detract from the immersive and responsive experience desired in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
12.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Swift 3 has 12 hours of battery life. The HP Envy 17 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift 3 has very good portability, while the HP Envy 17 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$500
$1,000
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Acer Swift 3 has a price of $500 and the HP Envy 17 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
309.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift 3 and HP Envy 17 are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift 3 offers solid processing power and memory for smooth multitasking, a high-quality screen, and the advantage of being lightweight and having long battery life for users on the go, while the HP Envy 17, with its larger display and ample storage, provides a more comfortable viewing experience and is well-suited for those who work from a fixed location and prioritize screen real estate but can accommodate a larger device with shorter battery life. Both have good keyboards and speakers, with the Swift generally running cooler and quieter.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.4
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 and Acer Swift 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift 3 with an Intel i5-1240P Iris Xe and a 60Hz refresh rate is fair for gaming and 3D tasks due to its moderate GPU capability and standard screen refresh rate, suitable for casual gaming but not for high-end games that require more advanced graphics performance.
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.4
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Envy 17 and Acer Swift 3 are both good for engineering and design.
The Acer Swift 3 and HP Envy 17 are both well-suited for engineering and design due to their robust processors, adequate memory, and integrated graphics that can handle various design software; the Swift 3's i5 and Envy 17's i7 CPUs, 16 GB of RAM, and decent screen quality support demanding workloads. Differences include the Envy's larger screen, which benefits design tasks but impacts portability, and the Swift 3's slightly better portability and lower operating noise, making it a more travel-friendly option without significantly compromising on performance.
Content Creation
7.6
7.5
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift 3 and HP Envy 17 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
7.5
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift 3 and HP Envy 17 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
7.2
The Acer Swift 3 and HP Envy 17 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 HP Envy 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift 3 | HP Envy 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$500 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.6'' x 8.3'' x 0.63'' | 15.7'' x 10.2'' x 0.77'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.76 lbs | 5.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.6" | 15.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.3" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1240P | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 12 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | 55 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 309 nits | 329 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 7/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
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."
HP Envy 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marcus Schwarten | April 2023
"In our test, the HP Envy 17-cr0079ng presents itself as a balanced multimedia laptop. Thanks to its solid CPU performance and dedicated entry-level GeForce, it can also be used for playing video games, as long as the demands aren't too high. Those looking for more can find it in the Dell XPS 17 for example."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift 3 or the HP Envy 17
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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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