The Acer Swift X (2023) is typically much more expensive than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14", but it comes with a stronger processor, better graphics capabilities, more RAM, and a higher resolution display with a faster refresh rate, which means smoother visuals, especially for gaming or video editing. It is also a bit heavier than the Lenovo. The Lenovo offers a lower price point and decent performance for everyday tasks and light productivity work but has lower graphics performance and a less sharp, slower display. If budget is a concern and your tasks are more general, the Lenovo could be a solid choice. If you need better performance for intensive tasks or appreciate higher-quality displays and can stretch your budget, the Acer might be the better option. 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)
Good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift X (2023).
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
6.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
390.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
The Acer Swift X (2023) is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Acer Swift X (2023) leads in general use due to its higher-end CPU and graphics card, more RAM, and superior screen quality, which enhances multitasking, performance, and visual experience but comes at a higher price and slightly less portability. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has more modest specs, with a mid-tier CPU, less RAM, and a less vibrant screen, which still supports general tasks effectively and is lighter on the wallet, while offering slightly better portability due to its lower weight.
Gaming and AI
6.9/10
6.0/10
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The Acer Swift X (2023) and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Acer Swift X (2023) is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift X (2023) provides a superior gaming and 3D experience with its dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 120 Hz, which are very important for smooth and visually demanding tasks. In comparison, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" relies on an integrated AMD Vega 7 GPU and has a standard refresh rate of 60 Hz which, while capable of handling some gaming and 3D applications, offers a less optimal experience.
Engineering and Design
8.0/10
6.1/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Swift X (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Acer Swift X offers a more powerful CPU, higher RAM capacity, and a superior GPU, which are crucial for demanding engineering software and tasks, plus it has a higher quality display for detailed design work. While the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is more portable and may have a quieter operating noise, it sacrifices some performance and screen quality, making it less ideal for intensive engineering applications.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.1/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
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 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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
7.1/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Acer Swift X (2023) and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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
8.0/10
6.4/10
14.5in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
390.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The Acer Swift X has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you need a laptop with a vibrant display for everyday tasks, the Acer Swift X's superior resolution and brightness provide a clearer and more pleasant visual experience than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3. For engineering and design work where accurate colors are crucial, the Acer Swift X's wider color gamut ensures more precise color representation, which might not be as vibrant on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Acer Swift X falls short due to a lower refresh rate, making fast-paced visuals less smooth compared to laptops designed specifically for these tasks, despite the IdeaPad 3 also having limitations in this area due to similar shortcomings.
Build Quality
7.6/10
6.5/10
The Acer Swift X (2023) has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,100
$390
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift X (2023) has a price of $1,100 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" costs $390.
"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 low-priced IdeaPad 3 14 delivers on core functionality. Lenovo's IdeaPad 3 14 meets all the basic requirements for an inexpensive office laptop. The matte IPS display is bright enough, the performance is high for the class, and the input devices are rock solid. In addition, the mostly quiet operation including the useful performance modes, cool surface temperatures, easy maintainability as well as expandable working and mass storage all contribute to the IdeaPad 3 14's value proposition."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2023) or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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