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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Swift 3 typically costs a bit more than the MSI Modern 14 but offers a better balance for general use and engineering tasks. With a longer battery life, it enables extended use without charging. It also includes touchscreen functionality, adding to its versatility. If portability is a priority and budget constraints are tighter, the MSI Modern 14 weighs slightly more but tends to be less expensive and still performs well for general use. Neither is optimal for intensive gaming or heavy 3D/machine learning applications, but both can handle moderate workloads in those areas. Consider your primary activities and budget to make the right choice. 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
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
- Good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.1
6.6
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Swift 3 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The Acer Swift 3 provides better performance for engineering and design due to its more powerful CPU and GPU, which are crucial for such tasks, as well as having a higher quality screen with better color coverage and contrast ratio. In contrast, the MSI Modern 14 has similar RAM and disk space but falls behind in CPU and GPU performance and screen quality, which are very important for engineering applications, though it remains a good alternative for general use and somewhat lighter design tasks.
Software Development
7.6
7.1
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
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 MSI Modern 14 are both good for software development, though the Acer Swift 3 is somewhat better.
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
6.4
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
309.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The Acer Swift 3 has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Acer Swift 3 offers a better screen with higher resolution and brightness, aiding in more comfortable viewing, while the MSI Modern 14 provides a decent display but might not be as vibrant or clear. In engineering and design, the Acer's display reproduces colors more accurately, covering a wider color gamut, which is crucial for detailed and color-sensitive work, whereas the MSI's screen, while serviceable, may not be as true to life. As for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops lack high refresh rates, meaning they won't provide as smooth visuals or as responsive an experience as specialized gaming laptops.
Battery
12.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Acer Swift 3 has 12 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 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.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
309.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Acer Swift 3 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift 3 stands out for general use thanks to its longer battery life and superior screen quality, with higher color space coverage which enhances visual experience, while its portability is bolstered by a lighter design and very good keyboard quality for comfortable typing.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.0
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
8.7/10
The Acer Swift 3 and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift 3, with its Intel Iris Xe graphics, and the MSI Modern 14, with AMD Vega 7 graphics, both provide fairly competent integrated GPUs for light gaming and 3D applications, but they may struggle with demanding games due to their modest performance and standard 60Hz screen refresh rates.
Content Creation
7.6
7.2
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift 3 and MSI Modern 14 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Acer Swift 3 and MSI Modern 14 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
7.0
The Acer Swift 3 and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$500
$525
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The Acer Swift 3 has a price of $500 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
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How the Acer Swift 3 and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift 3 | MSI Modern 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$500 | $525 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.6'' x 8.3'' x 0.63'' | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.76 lbs | 3.08 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.6" | 12.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.3" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1240P | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 12 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | 39 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
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 | 311 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 8.7/10 | |
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 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
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 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
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."
MSI Modern 14
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Dig into reviews and images
Rtings
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift 3 or the MSI Modern 14
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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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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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