The Acer Swift X offers a budget-friendly option with stronger graphics performance which is beneficial for 3D rendering or heavy engineering tasks, though it is heavier and bulkier compared to the MacBook Pro, which affects its portability. The MacBook Pro stands out due to its longer battery life and high build quality, making it ideal for those who prioritize longevity and a premium feel. It also offers a higher-quality keyboard and operates quietly without a fan. However, if storage is a concern, the Swift X comes with more storage out of the box. For intense engineering requirements and gaming, the Acer might be preferable, but for users who value portability, battery life, and system build, the MacBook Pro is more suitable. 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 Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
Best in class overall build quality
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.0/10
7.6/10
14.5in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
390.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
497.0 nits
The Acer Swift X has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 13 for gaming and AI, and content creation.
For general use, both the Acer Swift X and MacBook Pro 13 boast high-resolution displays with excellent brightness and color reproduction, offering crisp and vibrant visuals for everyday tasks. When it comes to engineering and design, both laptops provide wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate colors for professional creative work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens lack the high refresh rates preferred for smooth motion, making them less ideal for these demanding visual tasks.
Battery
10.0 Hours
20.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 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
13.3in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Acer Swift X (2023) both have very good portability, though the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6/10
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Acer Swift X (2023) has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,100
$1,219
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift X (2023) has a price of $1,100 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) costs $1,219.
The Acer Swift X (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift X offers respectable performance with a capable CPU and ample RAM for multitasking, along with a high-quality screen and a dedicated GPU for better visuals, making it ideal for general use; it's also portable and has a solid battery life but to a lesser extent compared to its Apple counterpart. The Apple MacBook Pro 13 boasts an efficient M2 processor that ensures smooth operation, a vibrant, high-resolution display, exceptional battery life that far exceeds the Acer's, and top-notch build quality, which justifies its portability, though its fewer ports may limit connectivity options.
Gaming and AI
6.9/10
6.5/10
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Acer Swift X (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.0/10
7.5/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift X (2023) to be very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
The Acer Swift X (2023) is geared towards engineering and design use thanks to its powerful Intel i5 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU which excel at demanding tasks, complemented by a high-resolution, high-brightness IPS screen. Conversely, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) with its efficient M2 chip and integrated GPU performs well in similar tasks, and though it has less RAM, its superior build quality, battery life, and optimized MacOS contribute to a smooth engineering and design experience.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift X (2023) to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) 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
7.9/10
7.8/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Acer Swift X (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) are both good for software development.
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.
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How the Acer Swift X (2023) and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) compare to other laptops
"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."
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2023) or the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
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 Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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