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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
If you're on a budget and need a laptop for everyday tasks like browsing the web, working on documents, and light media consumption, the Acer Swift Edge offers a balance between cost and performance, as well as being lighter and more portable. However, if you require a laptop for more demanding applications like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, investing in the MSI Stealth with its higher performance capabilities could greatly benefit you, despite it being more expensive and heavier, which could affect portability. Remember, better battery life typically comes with less powerful hardware, so the Acer may last longer on a charge. 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 MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.7
8.9
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift Edge 16 is only fair.
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio offers a superior GPU and higher screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth gaming and 3D performance, making it an excellent option for those areas. While the Acer Swift Edge 16 can handle gaming and 3D tasks to a fair extent, it falls short when compared to the MSI due to its less powerful GPU and lower refresh rate, even though it may offer adequate CPU capabilities and screen quality.
Engineering and Design
8.1
9.1
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the Acer Swift Edge 16 is very good.
The Acer Swift Edge 16, while suitable for engineering and design tasks, may have less powerful CPU, RAM, and GPU compared to the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, making the latter a better choice for more demanding applications that require higher computing power and better screen quality. However, the Swift Edge 16 might offer greater portability and potentially quieter operation, which are factors to consider if mobility and a low noise environment are priorities.
Screen Quality
8.8
8.4
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
383.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio for general use, and engineering and design, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen for gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has a high-resolution display with vibrant colors and brightness, making it great for general use and detail-oriented tasks like engineering and design, where color accuracy is crucial. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for 3D gaming where smooth motion is key. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio also offers a sharp display with good color coverage, benefiting general and engineering applications but falls short for gaming due to a refresh rate not optimized for fast-paced visuals.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
8.0
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
$2,900
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has a price of $820 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
8.4
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
383.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio to be very good for general use, while the Acer Swift Edge 16 is good.
The Acer Swift Edge 16 offers a solid balance of performance for everyday tasks with its capable CPU and enough RAM, paired with a high-quality screen for clear visuals, all in a lightweight package that's easy to carry around, though its battery life may not last as long as some users need. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, excels in power with a top-tier CPU and ample RAM, a superior screen for detailed visuals, and is designed for heavy workloads like 3D rendering or AI tasks, but it's less portable and likely to be shorter on battery life due to its more demanding components.
Content Creation
8.1
8.5
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and Acer Swift Edge 16 are both very good for content creation.
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
8.2
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio to be 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.
Battery
7.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has 6 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Swift Edge 16 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift Edge 16 | MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$820 | $2,900 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.7'' x 0.51'' | 15.8'' x 11.4'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.73 lbs | 6.15 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.08" | 15.75" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.68" | 11.4" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3200 x 2000 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 383 nits | 305 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
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."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift Edge 16 or the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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