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Updated January 12, 2024·
When choosing between the Acer Swift Go 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, consider the following: If powerful performance for tasks like 3D rendering or intensive multitasking is important, the Acer with its higher-end processor and more memory will be better suited. On the other hand, if you prioritize a longer battery life, lighter weight, and a more compact design for easier portability, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is favorable. However, the Swift Go 14 offers a larger and higher resolution display which can be beneficial for productivity and entertainment. The Surface is generally less expensive, if budget is a key consideration. Keep in mind that while the Acer has a better performance, the Surface with its smaller size and weight may be more convenient for frequent travel. 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 Go 14
- Good for engineering and design
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
- Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.7
7.0
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Acer Swift Go 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use, though the Acer Swift Go 14 is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift Go 14 is better for general use than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor, double the RAM, and a screen with higher pixel density and brightness, which translates to smoother multitasking and clearer, more vibrant display. Although both have good portability and similar battery life, the Acer also boasts a larger screen which may contribute to a better user experience, albeit at a slightly heavier weight.
Engineering and Design
7.2
6.5
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Swift Go 14 is good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The Acer Swift Go 14 is considered better for engineering and design use because it has a more powerful processor, double the RAM, and a higher screen resolution which supports better screen quality, enhancing design tasks; it also sports a dedicated GPU which is crucial for intensive engineering applications. While the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is lighter and highly portable, it has a less powerful CPU, less RAM, and no dedicated GPU, which may limit its performance for demanding engineering software and intricate design work, despite its good screen and build quality.
Software Development
7.6
7.0
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift Go 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for software development, though the Acer Swift Go 14 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
6.8
6.9
14.0in
SIZE
12.4in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The Acer Swift Go 14 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Acer Swift Go 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 both offer displays with sufficient resolution, brightness, and panel types that make text clear and easy on the eyes for daily tasks. Their screens also cover a range of colors that are valuable for engineering and design work, ensuring that professionals in these fields see accurate hues and shades. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to lower refresh rates, which can result in less smooth visuals and responsiveness that is crucial for fast-paced interactive experiences.
Cost
$794
$565
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Acer Swift Go 14 has a price of $794 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $565.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.0
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Swift Go 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
Both the Acer Swift Go 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are equipped with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, which offer fair performance for light gaming and 3D applications but lack the power of dedicated GPUs necessary for more intensive gaming and 3D tasks. Additionally, they both have standard 60Hz refresh rate screens, which are adequate for casual use but do not provide the smoother visuals preferred by gamers and professionals working with 3D graphics.
Content Creation
7.6
7.1
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift Go 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both 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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Swift Go 14 has 8 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has 8 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
Excellent
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
12.4in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Acer Swift Go 14 both have excellent portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Acer Swift Go 14 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Swift Go 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift Go 14 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$794 | $565 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.6'' x 0.59'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.76 lbs | 2.48 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.32" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.58" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1355U | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 128 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 65 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 300 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1440p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
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 | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Acer Swift Go 14
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | May 2023
"The Acer Swift Go 14 is a surprising machine. Its performance, display, and battery life leave little to be desired from a device at this price. You might think it’d be cheaper given the “Go” in the name, or thinner given its close competition with thin-and-light laptops, but it manages to strike a decent enough balance between its capabilities and hardware to really stand out as an exceptional value."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | August 2022
"The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review is a compact companion with old hardware. The Surface Laptop Go 2 shows some weaknesses. Microsoft didn't really develop the second generation of the Surface Laptop Go 2 any further but has only equipped it with a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor. However, the performance still remains at a fairly low level overall, but for many users, it definitely should still be sufficient for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift Go 14 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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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