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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Acer Swift X (2023) and the MSI Prestige 16 depends on your priorities. The Acer Swift X offers a balance between performance and portability at a lower price, with good battery life suitable for general use and some 3D or engineering tasks, thanks to its dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU. The MSI Prestige 16, while more expensive and less portable, has a better processor, more storage, and twice the RAM, making it better suited for intensive engineering work and 3D or machine learning projects; however, it relies on integrated graphics, which isn't ideal for gaming or GPU-intensive 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 portability
- Very good battery life
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 16
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.0
8.3
14.5in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
390.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 16 has a better screen than the Acer Swift X for general use, gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
When considering general use, both the Acer Swift X and the MSI Prestige 16 have displays with solid resolution and brightness, making text clear and videos vibrant, which is essential for daily tasks. For engineering and design, they offer wide color gamuts, ensuring that professionals who work with visual content can see accurate colors and subtle gradients. However, for 3D and gaming, their screens might not refresh as quickly as desired, which can make fast-moving images less smooth and responsive compared to laptops with higher refresh rate displays.
Battery
10.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 16 has 7.5 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
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Acer Swift X (2023) has very good portability, while the MSI Prestige 16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,100
$1,611
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Swift X (2023) has a price of $1,100 and the MSI Prestige 16 costs $1,611.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
8.4
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
390.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 16 to be very good for general use, while the Acer Swift X (2023) is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.9
6.7
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift X (2023) and MSI Prestige 16 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X (2023) is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU and a screen refresh rate of 120 Hz, which are conducive to smooth gaming and 3D performance. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 16, while it has a higher screen refresh rate of 165 Hz that benefits fast-paced gaming, uses an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU which may not perform as well in graphic-intensive tasks compared to the dedicated Nvidia GPU in the Acer.
Engineering and Design
8.0
8.2
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 16 and Acer Swift X (2023) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Swift X (2023) is equipped with mid-range components suitable for engineering and design, like an Intel i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics; the display is sharp and high-quality, offering a balance between performance and portability at a lighter weight. However, for those who require top-tier performance, the MSI Prestige 16 outperforms with a more powerful Intel i7 processor, double the RAM at 32GB, and integrated Iris Xe graphics, alongside a larger screen, though it is slightly heavier, which may affect portability.
Content Creation
8.0
8.3
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 16 and Acer Swift X (2023) are both very good for content creation.
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
8.1
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 16 to be very good for software development, while the Acer Swift X (2023) is good.
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.
Build Quality
7.6
7.4
The Acer Swift X (2023) and MSI Prestige 16 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 MSI Prestige 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2023) | MSI Prestige 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $1,611 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | January 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.31 lbs | 4.2 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-13500H | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 82 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.5" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 390 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
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 | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Swift X (2023)
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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."
MSI Prestige 16
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Make Use Of
Paul Antill | June 2023
"The MSI Prestige 16 Evo: 2023's best value 16” thin & light laptop with i7-13700H. One of the top choices for professionals and students seeking a high-performance, portable computing solution in 2023. While the MSI Prestige 16 Evo A13M may not boast the most striking design compared to some other 16" options, its relatively "safe" styling lends itself well to professional and educational environments. Significantly, it doesn't compromise on essential features like port selection or cooling performance, ensuring seamless connectivity and efficient thermal management. The 16 Evo A13M offers an excellent combination of performance, portability, and functionality, making it a compelling choice for professionals and students alike."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2023) or the MSI Prestige 16
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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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Why trust us
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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