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Updated January 10, 2024·
Selecting between the Acer Swift X 16 and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 depends on your priorities. The Swift X is lighter and more portable which makes it suitable for on-the-go use and has a decent all-around performance for general tasks, meanwhile, the ROG Strix offers higher performance for demanding tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming at the expense of greater weight and size, thus affecting portability. The battery life is similar, but you'll pay more for the ASUS's increased capabilities. If your work involves intensive computing and you don't mind less portability and a higher cost, the ASUS ROG Strix G18 is the better option. Otherwise, for daily use with easier handling and a lower price, the Acer Swift X 16 could serve you well. 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 portability
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix G18
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Best in class speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.0
8.7
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Unknown
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift X 16 is good.
The Acer Swift X 16 has a capable Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU and a screen refresh rate of 165 Hz, which is suitable for gaming and 3D applications, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 comes with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and an even higher refresh rate of 240 Hz, making it an excellent choice for more demanding gaming and 3D scenarios.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.9
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and Acer Swift X 16 are both very good for engineering and design, though the ASUS ROG Strix G18 is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift X 16 is equipped with a potent AMD Ryzen CPU and Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, making it suitable for engineering and design tasks; its IPS display delivers good screen quality with high brightness and full sRGB coverage. On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Strix G18 features an even more powerful Intel i9 CPU and Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, paired with a similarly high-quality IPS screen, offering higher GPU performance for the most demanding engineering software and better color accuracy, albeit at the cost of reduced portability due to its larger size and weight.
Screen Quality
8.2
8.7
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
402.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
422.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the Acer Swift X 16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
When choosing a laptop for general use, both the Acer Swift X 16 and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 offer high-resolution, bright displays with panel types that render crisp and clear images, making them suitable for everyday activities such as browsing, video streaming, and document editing. For engineering and design, these laptops provide wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate color reproduction that is critical for professional photo editing, graphic design, and other color-sensitive work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their lower refresh rates may lead to less smooth visuals, which can be a drawback for fast-paced games or creating and interacting with 3D content.
Portability
Good
Poor
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
6.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Acer Swift X 16 has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,250
$2,299
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Acer Swift X 16 has a price of $1,250 and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 costs $2,299.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.2
8.3
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
402.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
422.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.6/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and Acer Swift X 16 are both very good for general use.
The Acer Swift X 16 offers a solid balance for general use with its efficient CPU, ample RAM, quality IPS screen, and relatively light weight, making it easy to carry around, although its battery life is moderate. The ASUS ROG Strix G18 also excels in general use with a more powerful CPU, a high-quality screen, and excellent speaker quality, but it's heavier and less portable, making it better suited for a stationary setup.
Content Creation
8.3
8.6
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 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
8.1
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X 16 has 8 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Strix G18 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.
Build Quality
7.6
7.8
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and Acer Swift X 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 16 and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X 16 | ASUS ROG Strix G18 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,250 | $2,299 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | April 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.7'' | 15.7'' x 11.6'' x 1.06'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 6.61 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 15.71" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 11.57" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | Intel i9-13980HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 402 nits | 422 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 9.6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
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
See more
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 ROG Strix G18
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | March 2023
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X 16 or the ASUS ROG Strix G18
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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