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Updated January 10, 2024·
For general use and portability, the Acer Swift Go 14 offers a better battery life and a higher portability score, making it convenient for on-the-go tasks with a screen that has a higher resolution and aspect ratio, suitable for productivity. However, if you need better performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, or intend to do engineering work, the MSI Katana 15, with its dedicated Nvidia graphics card, provides stronger performance that outshines the Acer in these specific areas. While the MSI has a larger screen and high refresh rate which is great for gaming and fast-paced visuals, it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less portable. The Acer is less expensive and can handle everyday tasks efficiently, but the MSI aligns better with more demanding graphics-related work and gaming, despite being somewhat more expensive. 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
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4
7.6
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift Go 14 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 15 has a more powerful GPU and higher screen refresh rate, providing smoother graphics for gaming and better handling of 3D applications, whereas the Acer Swift Go 14, with less emphasis on these features, may not offer the same level of performance but could benefit from better battery life and portability. While both laptops have capable CPUs and decent screen quality, the differences in GPU and refresh rates make the MSI more suitable for gaming enthusiasts and those working with 3D modeling or animation.
Software Development
7.6
7.0
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Swift Go 14 and MSI Katana 15 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
6.8
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The Acer Swift Go 14 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, engineering and design, and software development, while the MSI Katana 15 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
If you prioritize a clear and vibrant display for everyday tasks and professional design work, the Acer Swift Go 14 offers better resolution and higher brightness, which enhances text clarity and image detail. It also covers a wider range of colors that professionals require for accurate design and engineering visualizations. On the other hand, for gamers and creators working with 3D applications, both laptops may fall short, as they don't have high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and rendering fast-paced scenes.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Acer Swift Go 14 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Katana 15 has 4 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
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Acer Swift Go 14 has excellent portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$793
$949
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Acer Swift Go 14 has a price of $793 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.5
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Acer Swift Go 14 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift Go 14 is known for its efficient CPU, ample RAM, high-quality touchscreen display, and great portability due to its lightweight design and extended battery life, making it a reliable choice for everyday computing. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15 offers more storage, a powerful CPU with dedicated graphics for performance-intensive tasks like gaming, but compromises on portability and battery life due to its larger screen and heavier build.
Engineering and Design
7.2
7.7
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Katana 15 and Acer Swift Go 14 are both good for engineering and design.
The Acer Swift Go 14 is tailored for engineering and design thanks to its capable Intel i7 processor, ample RAM, and premium integrated graphics that provide high screen quality for detailed work; it is also more portable and quiet, which is great for collaborative environments. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15 offers a more powerful dedicated GPU suitable for demanding design software, a larger and faster-refreshing display for precise engineering tasks, although it is less portable and could run louder under heavy usage.
Content Creation
7.6
7.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift Go 14 and MSI Katana 15 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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.2
The Acer Swift Go 14 and MSI Katana 15 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 MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift Go 14 | MSI Katana 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$793 | $949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.6'' x 0.59'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.76 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.32" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.58" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1355U | Intel i5-12450H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 65 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 300 nits | 258 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1440p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
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."
MSI Katana 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | March 2023
"The MSI Katana 15 B12 combines a Gen12 CPU with an RTX 4050, which is actually not a bad idea for a budget gamer. The CPU is anything but bad and the GPU in the Katana 15 proves to be significantly more efficient than last year's models. However, our main point of criticism for budget gamers is the price: while you can get budget laptops with RTX 3060 from around US$800, you pay a whole US$1,499.99 here! The efficiency advantages of the RTX 4050 do not justify this price premium."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift Go 14 or the MSI Katana 15
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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