A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize battery life and portability, the ASUS Zenbook S 13 might be the better choice with its longer battery life and lighter design, alongside a high-resolution OLED display, which is excellent for vibrant colors and contrasts, but it doesn't offer dedicated graphics like the Acer Swift X 16. The Acer, on the other hand, has a larger screen and a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU that's better suited for graphic-intensive tasks such as 3D rendering or light gaming, although it's heavier and won't last as long on a single battery charge. Both laptops have ample storage and are similarly priced, but the ASUS doubles the RAM, which can help with multitasking efficiency. If your work involves engineering software or you enjoy gaming, the Acer might serve you well, while the ASUS is ideal for general use, offering superior portability and screen quality. 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 16
- Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook S 13
- Best in class portability
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.0
6.5
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Unknown
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is only fair.
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.
Screen Quality
8.2
8.1
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
402.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
365.0 nits
The Acer Swift X 16 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook S 13 for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Acer Swift X 16 and the ASUS Zenbook S 13 offer vibrant displays with high resolution and brightness, making them suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. Their high color accuracy and broad color gamuts appeal to engineers and designers who need precise color representation for their work. However, their screens fall short for gaming and 3D applications, as they lack the high refresh rates required for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals.
Battery
8.0 Hours
11.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X 16 has 8 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 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
Good
Best in Class
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.4in
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has best in class portability, while the Acer Swift X 16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,250
$1,400
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Swift X 16 has a price of $1,250 and the ASUS Zenbook S 13 costs $1,400.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.2
8.6
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
402.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
365.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and Acer Swift X 16 are both very good for general use.
The Acer Swift X 16 with its powerful AMD processor and dedicated Nvidia graphics is well-suited for demanding applications and multitasking, while its larger screen and impressive color coverage make it a solid option for general use despite its heavier form and average battery life.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and Acer Swift X 16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Swift X 16, with a powerful AMD Ryzen processor, Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card, and a high-resolution IPS screen is well-suited for engineering and design because these components ensure smooth performance and clear visuals for such tasks. On the other hand, the ASUS Zenbook S 13 stands out for similar uses with its high-performance Intel processor, ample RAM, and superior OLED screen quality, which delivers precise color representation and contrast, although it may not handle graphics-intensive tasks as well due to its integrated graphics.
Content Creation
8.3
8.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and Acer Swift X 16 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
8.0
8.3
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and Acer Swift X 16 are both very 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.
Build Quality
7.6
7.6
The Acer Swift X 16 and ASUS Zenbook S 13 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 16 and the ASUS Zenbook S 13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X 16 | ASUS Zenbook S 13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,250 | $1,400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | April 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.7'' | 11.7'' x 8.5'' x 0.46'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 2.2 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 11.66" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 8.52" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | Intel i7-1355U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 11 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 63 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 402 nits | 365 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Swift X 16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | September 2023
"Acer’s Swift X 16 is an excellent choice for shoppers who want a 16-inch laptop and care more for performance than attractive design or long battery life. The Swift X 16’s gorgeous OLED display, spacious keyboard, and big touchpad make it pleasant to use in basic day-to-day tasks. It also has an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics, which combine to deliver good performance in a wide variety of productivity applications and games. A few minor mistakes, like poorly-placed USB-C ports that lack DisplayPort, will turn off some shoppers, but those who can accept its shortcomings will find the Swift X 16 a versatile daily driver."
ASUS Zenbook S 13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | May 2023
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 is the slimmest OLED ultrabook worldwide struggles with annoying fans. The new Zenbook S 13 leaves us with mixed feelings, particularly since last year's model was so good. Asus has completely reworked the device, making the laptop noticeably slimmer. The result also looks good and the case makes a great impression, particularly also in terms of the stability. The new plasma ceramic surface feels great, and there are no problems with fingerprints. In addition, it now includes some of the known connections such as an HDMI port and a regular USB-A connection, which is a good achievement in such a slim device."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X 16 or the ASUS Zenbook S 13
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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