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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Swift 3 is significantly less expensive, offers longer battery life, and is more portable due to its lighter weight. Its performance is suitable for general use with decent quality in keyboard, webcam, and speakers. For intensive engineering tasks, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is a better pick with its more powerful main processor and dedicated graphics card, despite being significantly more expensive and heavier. The Surface Laptop Studio also offers better screen quality with higher resolution and refresh rate, making it preferable for tasks where color accuracy and details are important. Both run Windows 11 Home and have similar storage and RAM. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.8
8.0
14.0in
SIZE
14.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
309.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The Acer Swift 3 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Acer Swift 3 offers a satisfactory display with ample resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and engineering applications but lacks the high refresh rate and color accuracy desired for optimal gaming and 3D experiences. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, with its higher resolution and brightness, excels in providing a sharp and vibrant display for both general and engineering use, including superior color gamut coverage. However, much like the Swift 3, the Surface Laptop Studio's screen falls short in refresh rate, which is crucial for the smooth visuals demanded by gaming and 3D rendering.
Battery
12.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Swift 3 has 12 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
14.4in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift 3 has very good portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
8.5
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has very good build quality, while the Acer Swift 3 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$500
$1,127
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift 3 has a price of $500 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio costs $1,127.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
309.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Acer Swift 3 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift 3 offers a portable and efficient design with its lighter weight and longer battery life, suited for everyday tasks and mobility, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio provides a higher-resolution display and more powerful CPU and GPU, making it better for more demanding applications but with a decrease in portability and battery life. Both have high-quality screens and are equipped with 16 GB RAM and ample storage, ensuring smooth operation for typical use cases, though the Surface Laptop Studio has a more robust build and better speakers, which might appeal to those prioritizing multimedia experiences.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.6
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Acer Swift 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift 3 is equipped with an integrated GPU and a standard screen refresh rate, which provide basic capability for gaming and 3D applications but may not offer the smoothest experience. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio features a dedicated gaming-grade GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, enabling more fluid visuals and better gaming and 3D performance, though possibly at a higher cost.
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.3
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Acer Swift 3 are both good for engineering and design.
The Acer Swift 3 integrates an Intel i5 processor with integrated graphics suitable for engineering and design tasks with moderate demands on graphic capabilities, alongside a high-definition IPS screen that supports touchscreen interaction, balancing performance and portability for mobile professionals. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio steps up with a more powerful Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU, delivering robust performance for engineering and intensive graphics work, complemented by a higher resolution display with a more versatile 3:2 aspect ratio and a flexible hinge for tablet-like interaction, though at the expense of increased weight and decreased portability.
Content Creation
7.6
7.4
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift 3 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
7.3
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Acer Swift 3 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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.
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How the Acer Swift 3 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift 3 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$500 | $1,127 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | September 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.6'' x 8.3'' x 0.63'' | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.76 lbs | 4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.6" | 12.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.3" | 8.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1240P | Intel i7-11370H | |
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 | 58 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2400 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 309 nits | 491 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 7.9/10 | |
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 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 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 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
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."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Tom Brant | October 2021
"There’s no doubt that the Surface Laptop Studio is groundbreaking. We’ve come to expect such things from the Surface lineup, so it’s always nice to see a product that exceeds our expectations. The pull-forward laptop-screen concept has been tried before, but never in a device that’s so stylish and packed with innovative features like a haptic touchpad and robust digital stylus support."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift 3 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
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 Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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