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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Swift X (2023) generally costs slightly more but comes with improvements such as a newer Intel processor, more RAM, and a higher capacity battery compared to the Acer Swift X (2021). Its display is larger with higher resolution and refresh rate, which means sharper and smoother visuals. If these upgrades align with your needs for more demanding tasks like engineering applications, and you appreciate a better screen and longer battery life, the 2023 model is a more suitable choice. However, if you're looking for a more cost-effective option and don't require the latest specifications, the 2021 model still offers a capable processor, good graphics performance, and portability. 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 X (2023)
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the Acer Swift X (2021)
- The Acer Swift X (2021) has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift X (2023).
Key differences
General Use
7.9
7.4
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
390.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
372.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Acer Swift X (2023) and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for general use, though the Acer Swift X (2023) is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift X (2023) excels in general use due to its higher RAM and more recent CPU, providing better multitasking and general performance, alongside a superior screen quality with a higher resolution display for sharper images. In contrast, the Acer Swift X (2021) has a balance between portability, thanks to its slightly lower weight, and competent performance with enough RAM for daily tasks, making it also suitable for general use, but with a lesser screen resolution and older CPU. Both models offer ample storage and satisfactory battery life, making them practical choices for everyday computing tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.9
6.3
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Acer Swift X (2023) and Acer Swift X (2021) are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Acer Swift X (2023) is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift X (2023) is better for gaming and 3D because it has a higher screen refresh rate and improved color coverage, which results in smoother visuals and more vibrant images, essential for immersive gaming experiences. In contrast, while the Acer Swift X (2021) shares the same GPU, its lower screen refresh rate and lesser color accuracy make it less suitable for the demands of modern gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.0
7.0
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Swift X (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is good.
The Acer Swift X (2023) is better suited for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i5 CPU and increased RAM, which facilitate the handling of complex tasks and multitasking, alongside an RTX 3050 GPU that supports detailed graphics work, with the screen offering greater resolution and color accuracy than its counterpart. While the Acer Swift X (2021) also presents a capable Ryzen 5 CPU and RTX 3050 GPU for engineering and design, it has less RAM and a lower screen resolution and color coverage, thus, it might not handle intensive tasks as smoothly, but compensates with a slightly lighter build enhancing its portability.
Content Creation
8.0
7.5
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift X (2023) is very good for content creation, while the Acer Swift X (2021) 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
7.3
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Acer Swift X (2023) and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for software development, though the Acer Swift X (2023) 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
8.0
6.9
14.5in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
390.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
372.0 nits
The Acer Swift X has a better screen than the Acer Swift X for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Swift X (2023) offers a vibrant and clear display with higher resolution and brightness, making it superior for activities like web browsing and video streaming, which are typical in general use. For engineering and design, its screen boasts wider color coverage, essential for accurately rendering designs and models. However, it lacks a high refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth rendering in gaming and 3D applications, leading to a less optimal experience in those areas.
Cost
$1,100
$580
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift X (2023) has a price of $1,100 and the Acer Swift X (2021) costs $580.
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Key similarities
Battery
10.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The Acer Swift X has 10 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
14.5in
SIZE
14.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift X (2021) and Acer Swift X (2023) both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
7.6
The Acer Swift X (2023) and Acer Swift X (2021) 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Swift X (2023) and the Acer Swift X (2021) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2023) | Acer Swift X (2021) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $580 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | June 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.31 lbs | 3.06 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 12.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9" | 8.4" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-13500H | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 59 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.5" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 390 nits | 372 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 8.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Acer Swift X (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Jentsch | March 2022
"The Swift X is an Acer for entry-level gaming. With the entry-level graphics chip, our Acer not only beats every single current AMD and Intel iGPU, but also Intel's dGPU Iris Xe Max. However, despite being a GDDR6 version, the GTX does not match the expectations set by its own counterparts from our database. This may be a result of the single fan, which only produces moderate noise levels under load. The performance level of the thin and light 1.4 kg (~3.09 lbs) 14-inch laptop is impressive nonetheless."
Acer Swift X (2021)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Jentsch | March 2022
"The Swift X is an Acer for entry-level gaming. With the entry-level graphics chip, our Acer not only beats every single current AMD and Intel iGPU, but also Intel's dGPU Iris Xe Max. However, despite being a GDDR6 version, the GTX does not match the expectations set by its own counterparts from our database. This may be a result of the single fan, which only produces moderate noise levels under load. The performance level of the thin and light 1.4 kg (~3.09 lbs) 14-inch laptop is impressive nonetheless."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2023) or the Acer Swift X (2021)
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.
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