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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Acer Swift Edge 16, with its larger screen and higher resolution, offers a superior visual experience for media consumption and productivity, making it a strong choice for users prioritizing display quality and screen real estate. Its AMD Ryzen processor combined with Radeon graphics would be more suitable for heavier tasks such as light gaming or creative work. However, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a smaller, touch-enabled display which could benefit those who prefer a tactile experience and a more compact design for greater portability. It also runs on an Intel processor with Iris Xe graphics which generally delivers reliable performance for everyday tasks and light creative work. Choose the Acer for its display and multitasking prowess or the Surface Laptop for a more portable and touch-centric experience. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- Excellent portability
- Very good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.7
6.1
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Swift Edge 16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Acer Swift Edge 16 is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift Edge 16 is likely better for gaming and 3D applications due to its AMD Radeon 780M GPU, which is typically more powerful than the Intel Iris Xe GPU found in the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13". Moreover, the Acer's higher screen refresh rate of 120Hz provides a smoother visual experience compared to the Surface Laptop's 60Hz, which is very important for gaming and 3D performance.
Engineering and Design
8.1
7.1
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Swift Edge 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Acer Swift Edge 16 is equipped with a high-performing CPU and GPU, alongside ample RAM, making it well-suited for demanding engineering and design tasks, and its OLED screen offers exceptional quality for vivid and accurate color representation. Conversely, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a capable CPU for engineering work, includes high-quality RAM, and its 13.5" touch-enabled IPS display provides good screen quality, while also being slightly more portable and having a higher keyboard quality, which may benefit users who prioritize mobility and typing experience along with performance.
Content Creation
8.1
7.4
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift Edge 16 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
7.2
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift Edge 16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for software development, though the Acer Swift Edge 16 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
8.8
7.2
16.0in
SIZE
13.5in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
383.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Swift Edge 16 likely boasts higher resolution and brightness along with a superior panel type, making crisp and vivid displays ideal for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work where color accuracy is crucial. For engineering and design, its wide color gamut coverage ensures that professionals who require precise color representation, such as in Adobe RGB or DCI-P3 spaces, are well-served. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rate of both laptops can be a drawback, as they may not provide the smooth visual experience that high-paced gaming or intensive 3D rendering demand.
Build Quality
7.2
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Acer Swift Edge 16 both have good build quality, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$820
$1,200
$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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.4
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
383.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Acer Swift Edge 16 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift Edge 16 offers a powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and ample RAM, coupled with a larger, high-quality OLED display, making it ideal for tasks that benefit from a large screen and vivid colors, although it is slightly less portable than some competitors. Meanwhile, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" includes a capable Intel CPU and sufficient RAM, and shines with a high-quality smaller touchscreen, excellent portability, and a well-rounded set of features for general use, though it has less storage and a less impressive screen size compared to the Acer.
Battery
7.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has 7 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 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
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
13.5in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.5in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" to have excellent portability, while the Acer Swift Edge 16 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Swift Edge 16 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift Edge 16 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$820 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.7'' x 0.51'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.73 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.08" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.68" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | Intel i7-1255U | |
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 | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 47.4 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3200 x 2000 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 383 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
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."
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Lori Grunin | October 2022
"The Surface Laptop 5 remains afloat as a solid machine. It's just not one that stands out in any particular way. Just like the last one. The biggest upgrade were some new components, but they perform in the same range as other laptops with them, and frequently at the bottom of that range. I suspect Microsoft's settings are very conservative to help keep cooling and battery life within reason in the older chassis design."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift Edge 16 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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 Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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