For better performance in tasks like engineering or intensive 3D and machine learning, the Acer Swift Edge 16 with its higher RAM and large storage would serve you better. However, if you prioritize long battery life and silent operation in a more compact design, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 would be the choice, albeit with less storage and RAM. The MacBook also boasts better build quality, while the Acer has an OLED display which can be superior for color-critical work but may be pricier. Your preferred operating system, Windows on the Acer or macOS on the MacBook, and whether you want a touchscreen will also influence your decision, with the MacBook not offering this feature. 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 Edge 16
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
Best in class overall build quality
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
7.5/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Swift Edge 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
The Acer Swift Edge 16 is equipped with a high-performance AMD Ryzen CPU and Radeon GPU, an OLED screen with excellent color accuracy, and higher screen resolution suited for detailed design work, but it has less versatile portability as compared to the Apple MacBook Pro 13, which offers an efficient M2 chip and renowned build quality, with a highly portable design and long battery life, but has less RAM and storage capacity which may limit performance in intensive engineering software.
Screen Quality
8.8/10
7.6/10
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
383.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
497.0 nits
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Acer Swift Edge 16's impressive resolution and bright display enhance visibility and clarity for general tasks and detail work in engineering, with extensive color coverage that benefits professional design workflows. The MacBook Pro 13, while slightly less bright, still provides a vibrant display with wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate color representation for both everyday use and precision-required engineering tasks. However, for 3D work and gaming, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which can make high-speed graphics appear less smooth compared to devices with screens designed for these purposes.
Battery
7.0 Hours
20.0 Hours
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has 7 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 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.
Build Quality
7.2/10
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Acer Swift Edge 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$820
$1,219
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has a price of $820 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) costs $1,219.
The Acer Swift Edge 16 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift Edge 16 offers a high-resolution OLED screen, ample storage, and more RAM which ensures smooth multitasking, making it suitable for a wide range of tasks, while its lightweight design and decent battery life add to its portability. The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) provides exceptional build and keyboard quality, better battery life, and runs on the efficient M2 chip which lends it to prolonged general use, although it has less storage and RAM compared to the Acer.
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
6.5/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Acer Swift Edge 16 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift Edge 16, with its AMD Radeon 780M GPU and a high 120Hz screen refresh rate, outperforms the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) for gaming and 3D applications, which has an integrated Apple M2 GPU and a standard 60Hz refresh rate. Additionally, the MacBook's compatibility with games is more limited since many popular titles do not support macOS, while the Swift Edge runs Windows 11 Home, offering broader game availability.
Content Creation
8.1/10
7.9/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift Edge 16 to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) 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
7.9/10
7.8/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Acer Swift Edge 16 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) 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
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Acer Swift Edge 16 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Swift Edge 16 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) compare to other laptops
"The Acer Swift Edge 16 is a solid super thin-and-light that pairs a large, gorgeous 16-inch display with portable design that rivals the weight of LG’s superlight Gram 16. Remarkably, Acer achieves this at a lower price point without sacrificing performance. Boring design and disappointing battery life hold the laptop back from stardom, but its rivals frequently suffer in these areas, too. That makes the Swift Edge 16 an alluring value pick."
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift Edge 16 or the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
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 Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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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Laptops Expert
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