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Updated January 10, 2024·
If budget is a major concern for you, the Gigabyte A5 is significantly less expensive and still offers good performance for general use and gaming, thanks to its RTX 3060 graphics card. However, the Acer Swift X 16 has a higher resolution screen, which may provide a better viewing experience for media and finer details in tasks such as photo editing. It also carries a more recent processor that could offer better performance for intensive engineering tasks. The Swift X 16 is lighter and thinner, making it more portable, but the A5 has a larger battery which could mean longer unplugged usage. For high-performance needs and a preference for a higher resolution display in a more portable design, the Acer Swift X 16 may be worth the extra cost. If you prioritize affordability and are looking for a capable gaming machine, the Gigabyte A5 could suit your needs 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
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte A5
- The Gigabyte A5 has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift X 16.
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.3
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
402.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for general use, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Acer Swift X 16 offers superior CPU performance, a higher-resolution screen, and longer battery life, which contributes to it being very good for general use, whereas the Gigabyte A5, with a modest CPU and lesser screen quality, holds up well in general use, but its shorter battery life and bulkier design slightly impact its overall suitability. Additionally, the Acer has a better portability score, making it more convenient for those who need to move around frequently.
Engineering and Design
8.2
7.3
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Acer Swift X 16 is preferred for engineering and design due to its superior CPU, higher RAM support, and a more color-accurate and higher resolution screen, enhancing detailed work. The Gigabyte A5, while also good for engineering tasks, has a more powerful GPU which is better suited for tasks requiring intense graphics processing but falls short on screen quality and resolution compared to the Acer Swift X 16.
Content Creation
8.3
7.3
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for content creation, while the Gigabyte A5 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
8.0
7.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for software development, while the Gigabyte A5 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
7.2
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
402.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Acer Swift X 16 has a better screen than the Gigabyte A5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize vivid colors and clarity for tasks like browsing or document editing, the Acer Swift X 16's higher resolution and brighter panel will outshine the Gigabyte A5's display. For engineering and design work where color accuracy is key, the Swift X 16's wider color gamut provides an edge, ensuring that designs and visual projects appear more true to life. However, for gamers and those working with 3D content, neither the Swift X 16 nor the A5 is ideal, as both lack the high refresh rates required for smooth motion rendering, though you will get by with their basic capabilities in less demanding scenarios.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Acer Swift X 16 has 8 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 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
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Acer Swift X 16 and Gigabyte A5 both have good portability, though the Acer Swift X 16 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,250
$830
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift X 16 has a price of $1,250 and the Gigabyte A5 costs $830.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.0
7.1
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Unknown
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte A5 and Acer Swift X 16 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X 16 boasts a powerful Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 165Hz, making for smooth gaming and 3D experiences; in contrast, the Gigabyte A5 comes with a more robust Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU suited for intensive gaming along with a capable 144Hz screen, however, at a slightly lower resolution and screen refresh rate.
Build Quality
7.6
7.2
The Acer Swift X 16 and Gigabyte A5 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 Gigabyte A5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X 16 | Gigabyte A5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,250 | $830 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | February 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.7'' | 14.2'' x 10.2'' x 1'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 4.68 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 14.21" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 10.15" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | AMD Ryzen 5 5600H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 49 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 | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 402 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 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 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
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 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
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."
Gigabyte A5
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | September 2022
"Ignoring price, the Gigabyte A5 has a hard time against the similarly fast competition. Besides the loud noise in 3D mode (performance mode), the high temperature development of the components should be mentioned on the downside. Despite the relatively thick case, the laptop gets very warm and loud under load, which does not exactly speak for the cooling system. The plastic surfaces look rather cheap and also tend to rattle. In most other disciplines - be it the input devices, the screen, the connectivity or the battery runtime - the Gigabyte laptop does not stand out from the crowd, neither positively nor negatively. However, those who primarily pay attention to the price-performance ratio will get a pretty good offer with the Gigabyte A5."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X 16 or the Gigabyte A5
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 Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
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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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