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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Swift X (2023) is a more portable option with a lighter build and generally offers better battery life, suitable if you are frequently on the move. Its higher-resolution screen and higher color coverage make it ideal for creative work like photo editing. On the other hand, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16, with a sturdier gaming laptop design, more powerful graphics, and a higher screen refresh rate, is better for gaming and tasks like 3D modeling. However, it's heavier and might not be as convenient to carry around, but it compensates with longer battery life, which can be useful if you're away from power outlets for extended periods. 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
- Very good portability
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS TUF Gaming A16
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.9
7.4
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift X (2023) is only fair.
The Acer Swift X (2023) is equipped with the Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU and a screen that supports refresh rates up to 120Hz, which are favorable for gaming and 3D applications. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 features an AMD RX 7600S GPU and a higher refresh rate of up to 165Hz, offering smoother visuals which can be particularly beneficial for fast-paced games.
Software Development
7.9
7.3
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift X (2023) and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 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
7.5
14.5in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
390.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
The Acer Swift X has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Swift X offers a display with clear resolution and vibrant colors, essential for general use, and it also covers a broad range of colors that professionals in engineering and design need for accuracy. The ASUS TUF Gaming A16, while also providing sufficient resolution and color for everyday tasks and design work, lacks the higher refresh rates that gaming and 3D applications benefit from. Both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D because they don't offer the smooth visual experience that comes with a high refresh rate screen.
Battery
10.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has 12 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
Good
14.5in
SIZE
16.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Acer Swift X (2023) has very good portability, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,100
$838
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Acer Swift X (2023) has a price of $1,100 and the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 costs $838.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.6
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
390.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift X (2023) and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift X (2023) with its Intel CPU, Nvidia graphics, high-resolution screen, and lighter build offers a balance of power and portability suitable for daily tasks, alongside a good-quality keyboard and speakers, and excellent heat management, all with a very good portability score. The ASUS TUF Gaming A16, featuring an AMD CPU and graphics, a larger screen size with a faster refresh rate ideal for smoother visuals, has superior battery life, also comes with a good-quality keyboard and decent speakers but trades off higher weight for enhanced gaming suitability, reflected in its good portability score.
Engineering and Design
8.0
7.7
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift X (2023) to be very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
The Acer Swift X, with an Intel i5-13500H processor and Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics, offers solid performance and good screen quality for engineering and design, but the ASUS TUF Gaming A16, powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU and AMD RX 7600S GPU, has a larger screen, higher refresh rate, and better contrast, which might benefit intensive graphical tasks despite being heavier, making it less portable.
Content Creation
8.0
7.6
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 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 ASUS TUF Gaming A16 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.
Build Quality
7.6
7.2
The Acer Swift X (2023) and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 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 X (2023) and the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2023) | ASUS TUF Gaming A16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $838 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | April 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.97'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.31 lbs | 4.85 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 13.98" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9" | 9.92" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-13500H | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 12 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.5" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 390 nits | 294 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 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 | 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 | 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."
ASUS TUF Gaming A16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Dominic Bayley | May 2023
"The A16 makes an excellent case against more expensive laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 and the MSI Katana GF76, especially if you’re into 1080p gaming. However, although its affordable, it doesn’t skimp on performance or a robust chassis. But for me, the biggest factor that sets it apart from these options is its incredible battery life. In my time reviewing laptops, I can’t remember when I last saw a gaming laptop lasted 11 and a half hours on a single charge, which makes the A16, in my book, truly outstanding."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2023) or the ASUS TUF Gaming A16
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 ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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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About the laptop team
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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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