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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If portability and a vibrant display are your priorities, the Acer Swift Edge 16, being lighter and featuring an OLED screen with high color accuracy and a larger 16-inch size, might serve you well, especially if your work involves color-critical tasks. However, its battery life is shorter, and it has less graphical power than the Dell. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware x14 R1, although heavier and possessing a more gaming-centric look, offers better battery life, a higher-performance GPU suitable for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering simulations, and a more robust build quality. It also costs more, has a higher refresh rate display, but comes with a smaller and lower resolution screen. Choose the Acer for day-to-day tasks and visual clarity or the Dell for performance-intensive applications and longevity on a single charge, recognizing the cost and weight increase. 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 content creation
- Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the Dell Alienware x14 R1
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall build quality
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.7
7.6
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift Edge 16 is only fair.
The Acer Swift Edge 16's AMD Radeon 780M GPU and 120Hz screen refresh rate make it a viable option for gaming and 3D applications, while the Dell Alienware x14 R1's more potent Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and even higher 144Hz refresh rate establish it as a formidable gaming and 3D contender, with the tradeoff of the Acer possibly offering better screen quality but the Dell providing smoother frame rates.
Screen Quality
8.8
7.9
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
383.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
411.0 nits
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware x14 R1 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
If you highly value crisp, clear images and vibrant colors for everyday tasks like browsing or document editing, the Acer Swift Edge 16 shines with its high-resolution and bright display. For engineering and design work, this laptop's coverage of professional color gamuts ensures accurate color representation which is crucial for visual professionals, but its lower refresh rate makes it less ideal for 3D applications or gaming, where fluid motion is key. Conversely, the Dell Alienware x14 R1, while offering respectable screen resolution and brightness for daily activities, falls a bit short in color precision for design tasks and also isn't optimized for the high refresh rates gamers seek.
Battery
7.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has 7 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has 9 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
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Acer Swift Edge 16 and Dell Alienware x14 R1 both have very good portability, though the Acer Swift Edge 16 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
8.5
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good 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
$1,201
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has a price of $820 and the Dell Alienware x14 R1 costs $1,201.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.8
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
383.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
411.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Acer Swift Edge 16 and Dell Alienware x14 R1 are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift Edge 16, with its high-resolution OLED screen, lightweight design, and ample storage, offers an excellent balance for general use, providing clear visuals and easy portability, although its lower battery life may limit unplugged use. In contrast, the Dell Alienware x14 R1, while heavier and offering less storage, shines with a higher battery capacity, a quality keyboard, and superior heat management, making it a robust option for not only general use but also more intensive applications.
Engineering and Design
8.1
8.2
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and Acer Swift Edge 16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is rated very good for engineering and design use because it combines a powerful Intel i7 processor with an Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and efficient heat management, allowing it to handle demanding engineering software and 3D modeling. In contrast, the Acer Swift Edge 16, while offering an OLED screen for superior screen quality and a lighter build for better portability, incorporates an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Radeon 780M GPU which provide good but not top-tier performance for intensive engineering tasks.
Content Creation
8.1
7.9
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 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 Dell Alienware x14 R1 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
7.7
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Acer Swift Edge 16 and Dell Alienware x14 R1 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 Edge 16 and the Dell Alienware x14 R1 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift Edge 16 | Dell Alienware x14 R1 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$820 | $1,201 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | August 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.7'' x 0.51'' | 12.7'' x 10.3'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.73 lbs | 4.06 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.08" | 12.66" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.68" | 10.34" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 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 | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 80 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3200 x 2000 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 383 nits | 411 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 4 | |
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."
Dell Alienware x14 R1
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | March 2022
"The Alienware X14 series is thinner, but also slower than the competition. With the X series, you get plenty of modern technology: Intel Alder Lake CPUs, GeForce RTX 3000 GPUs, Thunderbolt 4, PCIe 4.0, Wi-Fi 6E, G-Sync, and Advanced Optimus. However, the slim design has some drawbacks, just like its larger siblings. The shifted hinge position results in a very deep device with a large footprint compared to the competition."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift Edge 16 or the Dell Alienware x14 R1
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 Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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