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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
The Acer Swift X 16 is a more budget-friendly option, offering good performance with less powerful graphics suited for general use and moderate tasks. The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 features a superior graphics card, making it ideal for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning. The ASUS also has a more robust build and a higher refresh rate screen beneficial for fast-paced games, but at the cost of greater weight, making it less portable. For tasks like engineering software, the Acer provides a balance of performance and mobility, while the ASUS excels in high-demand scenarios where portability is not the primary concern. 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
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good overall display quality
- Good portability
- Good battery life
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15
- Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.0
8.3
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
300Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Unknown
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift X 16 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 boasts a higher-end Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and a screen with a rapid 300 Hz refresh rate, making it very good for gaming and 3D tasks, while the Acer Swift X 16 has a less powerful Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU and a 165 Hz screen, demoting it to just good for similar tasks.
Software Development
8.0
7.4
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 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.
Screen Quality
8.2
7.9
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
300Hz
402.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
283.0 nits
The Acer Swift X 16 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, the Acer Swift X 16 offers a vibrant display with high resolution and brightness, providing clear visuals and comfort for everyday tasks, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 also provides a quality display but may not match the brightness or sharpness of the Acer. In engineering and design, the Acer Swift X 16 excels with wider color coverage, essential for precision in color-critical work, whereas the ASUS may have a good range but not quite the same level of color accuracy. For gaming and 3D applications, the ASUS's display is less suitable due to a lower refresh rate, which can affect smoothness and responsiveness in fast-paced visual environments, unlike laptops specifically designed for these purposes that typically feature higher refresh rates.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Acer Swift X 16 has 8 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has 5.5 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
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
5.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Acer Swift X 16 has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,250
$2,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Acer Swift X 16 has a price of $1,250 and the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 costs $2,000.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.2
7.8
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
402.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
283.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift X 16 to be very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is good.
The Acer Swift X 16, with its latest AMD Ryzen CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality, bright IPS screen, provides an excellent balance for general use, and its lighter weight along with longer battery life enhances portability. On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 offers a top-tier Intel CPU and superior GPU, providing high performance suitable for more demanding tasks but sacrifices battery life and is heavier, making it less ideal for carrying around.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and Acer Swift X 16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Swift X 16 boasts an AMD Ryzen CPU and an Nvidia RTX GPU, which are solid for engineering and design, paired with a high-resolution 16-inch screen, ensuring detailed and sizeable workspace; whereas the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 offers a more powerful Intel i9 CPU and superior Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU, with a focus on high refresh rates, which is advantageous for design software, but has a lower-resolution screen. Both are equipped with ample RAM and storage, but the Acer Swift X is lighter and thus more portable, while the ASUS has a better portability compromise by offering more raw power and gaming capabilities at the expense of heavier weight.
Content Creation
8.3
8.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift X 16 and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 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.
Build Quality
7.6
7.8
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 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 Scar 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X 16 | ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,250 | $2,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | February 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.7'' | 13.9'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 5.07 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 13.94" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | Intel i9-12900H | |
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 | 5.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 300Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 402 nits | 283 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | No Webcam | |
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 | 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
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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 Scar 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam | May 2022
"Asus continues to refine the ROG Strix Scar lineup with new upgrades. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 offers almost everything you would expect from a gaming laptop at this price. The build quality is great, connectivity options are decent, and there is enough scope for internal upgrades as well. Asus reverts to membrane switches for the keyboard — though not as "clickety" as the opto-mechanical ones we saw with last year's model, they still make for a decent typing and gaming experience. The lack of biometrics in any form is a downer."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X 16 or the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15
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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