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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you are looking for a more affordable option with ample storage, the Acer Swift Edge 16 could work well for you, especially with its lightweight design enhancing portability. However, its lower price comes with tradeoffs such as a shorter battery life and modest performance in demanding tasks like 3D rendering or machine learning. On the other hand, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is significantly more expensive but offers superior performance in processing power, which makes it better suited for intensive engineering tasks, 3D and machine learning applications. It also boasts a longer battery life and outstanding build quality but is heavier, which may affect its portability. For creative professionals, the MacBook's mini-LED display with high brightness and color accuracy could provide a better visual experience, albeit at a higher cost. 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 portability
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
- Excellent for general use
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Best in class battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9
9.0
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
383.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
497.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.5 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
8.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Acer Swift Edge 16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) outshines the Acer Swift Edge 16 in several key areas, including a more powerful CPU and double the RAM, enhancing its capability to handle complex tasks efficiently which contributes to its higher rating for general use. Additionally, the MacBook has superior keyboard and speaker quality, along with better heat management, which enhances comfort and user experience over prolonged use, and its significantly longer battery life suits users who need to work on the go without frequent recharging.
Engineering and Design
8.1
8.7
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.5/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Acer Swift Edge 16 are both very good for engineering and design, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is better for engineering and design because it has a more powerful CPU and GPU, more RAM, and a higher-quality Mini LED screen, which offer exceptional color accuracy and brightness for detailed design work. While the Acer Swift Edge 16 is lighter and more portable, with an OLED screen that also delivers high color accuracy, it has less RAM and its CPU and GPU aren't as powerful as the MacBook's, making it less capable for very demanding tasks.
Content Creation
8.1
8.8
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.5/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Acer Swift Edge 16 are both very good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is somewhat better.
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
8.9
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Acer Swift Edge 16 is good.
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
8.8
9.4
16.0in
SIZE
16.2in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
383.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
497.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Acer Swift Edge 16 for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Swift Edge offers an excellent display with vibrant colors and sharpness suitable for everyday tasks and professional design work, with high resolution and brightness enhancing the user experience for these applications. However, it may fall short for gaming and 3D due to a lower refresh rate which is less optimal for fast-paced visuals. On the other hand, the MacBook Pro shines across general use and design-related tasks with its top-tier screen, providing wide color coverage and exceptional clarity, but like the Acer, it isn't ideal for 3D applications that benefit from higher refresh rates.
Battery
7.0 Hours
17.5 Hours
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has 7 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 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
16.0in
SIZE
16.2in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.7 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has very good portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
10.0
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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
$1,949
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has a price of $820 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) costs $1,949.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.7
7.0
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.0/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) to be good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift Edge 16 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Swift Edge 16 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift Edge 16 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$820 | $1,949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.7'' x 0.51'' | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.73 lbs | 4.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.08" | 14.01" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.68" | 9.77" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | Apple M1 Pro (10C) | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 17.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 99.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 16.2" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3200 x 2000 | 3456 x 2234 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 383 nits | 497 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 10/10 | |
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 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Swift Edge 16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | October 2023
"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."
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift Edge 16 or the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
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.
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About the laptop team
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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
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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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