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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Acer Swift X and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 comes down to your needs and preferences. If you want a more compact and lightweight laptop with higher build quality and better portability, the Acer Swift X is a strong choice. It offers a vibrant display and is suitable for productivity tasks with a dedicated graphics card for moderate creative work. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 offers better gaming performance due to its dedicated gaming hardware. However, it's heavier and larger, which affects portability. Despite the higher price, the Acer Swift X is more versatile, but if gaming is a priority and budget is a concern, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 may serve you well. Each laptop has a similar storage capacity and a decent battery life, although the Swift X's battery life tends to outperform the IdeaPad Gaming 3's. Both run on Windows 11 Home and feature recent processors suitable for various tasks. 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 battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
- The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 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
329.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift X (2023) and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for general use, though the Acer Swift X (2023) is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift X (2023) is considered good for general use because it offers a balance of solid performance with its Intel i5 processor and 16 GB RAM, a high-quality display, and weighs only 3.31 pounds making it highly portable with a decent battery life. Meanwhile, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is also good for general use as it pairs a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor with 8 GB RAM, has a larger screen size but at the expense of greater weight and slightly shorter battery life, making it less portable than the Swift X.
Engineering and Design
8.0
7.2
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Swift X (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good.
The Acer Swift X (2023), with its Intel i5 processor, RTX 3050 GPU, and high-resolution IPS display, offers a balance between performance for engineering software and quality screen for design work, while being lighter for better portability. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 includes a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor and RTX 2050 GPU which also makes it suitable for demanding applications, but it has a lower resolution display, and its heavier build is less portable, though it might appeal to those preferring a laptop with a gaming aesthetic.
Content Creation
8.0
7.4
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
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 Gaming 3 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
7.9/10
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 Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 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
7.2
14.5in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
390.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The Acer Swift X has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Acer Swift X's display offers crisp visuals and bright colors due to its higher resolution and panel technology, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, although good, might not be as sharp or vibrant. In engineering and design, the Acer Swift X takes the lead with a broader color gamut, providing more precise and varied color representation than the Lenovo, which is crucial for detailed-oriented tasks. However, for Gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as they lack high refresh rates, which are essential for smooth and responsive visuals in fast-paced environments.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has 8 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
15.6in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
5.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Acer Swift X (2023) has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,100
$549
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift X (2023) has a price of $1,100 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 costs $549.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.9
6.5
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift X (2023) and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X (2023) is better for gaming and 3D applications because it has a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3's RTX 2050, and it also offers a higher screen pixel density for crisper visuals, although both have the same screen refresh rate.
Build Quality
7.6
7.2
The Acer Swift X (2023) and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 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 Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2023) | Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $549 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 14.2'' x 10.5'' x 0.86'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.31 lbs | 5.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 14.16" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9" | 10.49" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-13500H | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 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 | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 60 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.5" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 390 nits | 329 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | 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."
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | October 2022
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is one of the most powerful RTX 3050 Ti laptops. If you disregard the mediocre quality of the case in terms of the material and workmanship, Lenovo has created a successful budget gaming laptop with the IdeaPad Gaming. Thanks to high TDPs and constant performance development, the Core i5-12500H and GeForce RTX 3050 Ti are able to show their full power, while in contrast, the (mostly slower) competitors deliver a better battery life. However, hardly any of the alternative laptops are able to reach the image quality of the Gaming 3. Most of the competitors are left behind in terms of the color space and brightness."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2023) or the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
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.
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