If you prioritize better performance and a lighter device, the Acer Swift 3 may suit you well. It has a higher RAM capacity which is advantageous for multitasking and demanding applications. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" offers a slightly larger screen which can be better for media consumption, but it has less RAM and is heavier, which may affect portability and multitasking efficiency. Both have the same storage capacity and touchscreens, but the Acer Swift 3 generally costs less. Battery life is better on the Acer Swift 3, so it's more suitable if you need to work on the go without frequent charges. 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 engineering and design
Good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15"
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift 3.
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
6.6/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
12.0 GB
The Acer Swift 3 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Screen Quality
6.8/10
6.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
309.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Acer Swift 3 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Swift 3 offers better screen resolution and brightness, which enhances the viewing experience for both general use and detailed engineering work, but its lower refresh rate is less suitable for fast-paced gaming or 3D applications. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" provides an adequate display that can handle everyday tasks and some engineering applications, but it has limitations in both color accuracy and refresh rate which affect its performance in professional design and gaming scenarios. For customers valuing crisp visuals and color detail for engineering or design work, the Acer Swift 3 is preferable, while those engaging in high-speed gaming or 3D rendering might find both options lacking.
Battery
12.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Acer Swift 3 has 12 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift 3 has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
6.0/10
The Acer Swift 3 has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$500
$741
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Acer Swift 3 has a price of $500 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" costs $741.
The Acer Swift 3 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift 3, with its higher RAM, CPU geared for efficiency, and lighter weight makes it a good choice for those prioritizing portability and multitasking in general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15", with a larger screen and powerful CPU, caters to those who prefer a larger display and considerable processing power, albeit with a slight compromise on portability and battery life. Both laptops have similar screen quality, ample storage, and manage heat and noise well, making them suitable for everyday tasks and entertainment.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
6.1/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
9.5/10
The Acer Swift 3 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift 3 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" are fair for gaming and 3D because both have integrated graphics — an Intel i5 with Iris Xe for the Swift 3 and an AMD Ryzen 7 with Vega 8 for the IdeaPad — which are decent but not as powerful as dedicated gaming GPUs. Furthermore, both have screens with a standard refresh rate of 60Hz which is adequate for casual gaming but may not deliver the smoothest experience for fast-paced games compared to higher refresh rates.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.4/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
12.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift 3 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" 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
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
12.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Acer Swift 3 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" 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.
Give feedback
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How the Acer Swift 3 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is affordable and pretty efficient. At the end of the day, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (15″, 2023) is one of the better affordable laptops money can buy right now. It has a decent performance, albeit coming from a CPU that is based on old architecture. Playing low-intensity games is possible but at low to medium settings. We are really happy with the cooling setup, but the main event here is the battery life. We got 9 hours of either Web browsing or video playback, which is a great result. Especially if you compare this device with the ASUS E410."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift 3 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15"
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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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.
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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.
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