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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 14, 2024·
The Acer Swift 3 provides good value for general use with reasonable performance, making it a solid budget-friendly option; however, if you prioritize a lighter, more premium build with potentially better display and performance that's suited for more demanding tasks like 3D work or intensive multitasking, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, despite its higher price, might be the better option for you. Keep in mind that better performance often leads to shorter battery life, so if long-lasting battery is crucial for you, your choice might sway towards the more energy-efficient option. 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 battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.9
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Acer Swift 3 are both good for engineering and design, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift 3 offers robust processing power, substantial memory, and a capable graphics card, which support demanding engineering applications, alongside a high-quality display that's crucial for design work, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x provides similar performance features in a more portable package, with a well-regarded keyboard and quieter operating noise, which may be preferred for prolonged use in shared spaces. Both are solid choices for engineering and design tasks, but the ThinkBook's portability and quieter operation could be decisive for those often on the move or in quieter environments.
Screen Quality
6.8
8.2
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
309.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has a better screen than the Acer Swift 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Swift 3 offers a balance of resolution and brightness that makes it suitable for general use and engineering tasks, with an emphasis on clarity and detail, but it lacks the high refresh rates that gamers seek for smooth visuals in fast-paced games. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, with its higher resolution and better color accuracy, provides an enhanced visual experience for both general users and professionals in engineering and design, who require precise color representation for their work. However, like the Swift 3, it falls short for gaming or 3D applications due to its limited refresh rate, which is crucial for those fields.
Battery
12.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Swift 3 has 12 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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.
Cost
$500
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Swift 3 has a price of $500 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
309.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Acer Swift 3 are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift 3 offers a balance of performance and battery life with a decent screen and is lightweight for portability, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x provides a similar level of CPU power and RAM for smooth multitasking, with an emphasis on a higher-quality screen and a sturdy yet portable build. Both laptops have adequate storage, comfortable keyboards, and manage heat and noise well, though the ThinkBook may have a slight edge in speaker quality for multimedia use.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.6
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Acer Swift 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift 3 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13x have integrated graphics units that handle casual gaming and basic 3D tasks but might struggle with demanding games or complex 3D applications due to the limitations of their GPU and screen refresh rates. While they both have capable processors and decent screen quality that are sufficient for everyday tasks, they won't provide the smooth high-end performance or visual clarity demanded by hardcore gamers or professional 3D designers.
Content Creation
7.6
8.0
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkBook 13x to be very good for content creation, while the Acer Swift 3 is good.
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
7.9
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Acer Swift 3 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.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkBook 13x to have excellent portability, while the Acer Swift 3 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
7.6
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Acer Swift 3 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 Lenovo ThinkBook 13x compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift 3 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13x |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$500 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | January 30, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.6'' x 8.3'' x 0.63'' | 11.6'' x 8.1'' x 0.5'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.76 lbs | 2.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.6" | 11.6" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.3" | 8.1" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1240P | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
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 | 74 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1920 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 309 nits | 500 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 9.4/10 | |
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 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
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 | 3 | |
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."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift 3 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
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.
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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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