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Updated January 12, 2024·
Given that the Acer Swift X 16 is typically more expensive than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3, the decision should be based on your needs and budget. The Acer Swift X is likely to offer better performance, making it suitable for more demanding tasks such as video editing, 3D modeling, or gaming. It would also generally have a stronger build and possibly better display quality. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 will be more budget-friendly and could be entirely adequate for everyday tasks such as browsing the internet, working with office applications, and media consumption. It's also likely to be lighter, adding to its portability. However, its performance may not be suitable for intensive tasks, and the build quality or screen might not be as premium as the Acer Swift X. If you don't need the higher performance of the Acer and want to save money, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a reasonable choice. If you do require the additional performance and features, and can justify the expense, the Acer Swift X would be the way to go. 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
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
- The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift X 16.
Key differences
General Use
8.2
6.2
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
402.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
The Acer Swift X 16 outperforms the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" for general use due to a significantly better CPU, more RAM, and a higher-quality display, which contribute to smoother performance and better visual experience. It also offers a larger storage capacity and more advanced graphics, making it more suitable for a wider range of tasks beyond general use, albeit at a higher price and with slightly less portability due to its weight.
Gaming and AI
7.0
5.8
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Unknown
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is poor.
The Acer Swift X 16 provides a superior gaming and 3D experience with its powerful Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics processor and a high screen refresh rate of 165 Hz; these factors not only enhance performance but also improve the visuals and fluidity of motion. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is outfitted with a less capable Intel UHD Xe G4 graphics unit and has a lower screen refresh rate of 60 Hz, limiting its ability to render demanding graphics smoothly and resulting in a less immersive experience.
Engineering and Design
8.2
5.8
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is poor.
The Acer Swift X 16 outshines the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" for engineering and design purposes due to its more powerful AMD Ryzen CPU, substantial RAM, advanced Nvidia RTX GPU, and superior screen quality, which are crucial for demanding tasks and detailed visuals. In contrast, the Lenovo's more modest specs, including a basic Intel i3 CPU, less RAM, integrated graphics, and a lower-quality TN display, render it insufficient for intensive engineering software and less vibrant in displaying detailed designs.
Content Creation
8.3
6.3
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
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
6.3
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
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
5.2
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
402.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Acer Swift X 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Acer Swift X 16 offers a superior experience with its higher resolution and brightness, making for a clearer and more vibrant display, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 has a lower resolution and brightness, which can result in a less sharp and dimmer screen. In engineering and design, the Acer's wider color gamuts ensure more accurate color representation which is crucial for professional work, while the Lenovo's limited color range can lead to less precise color accuracy, making it less suitable for these tasks. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 falls short due to its lower refresh rate, which means it can't display fast-moving images as smoothly as might be desired, while the Acer Swift X, despite having better screen quality overall, still falls behind dedicated gaming laptops specifically crafted for high-speed visuals.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X 16 has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has 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.
Build Quality
7.6
6.5
The Acer Swift X 16 has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,250
$360
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift X 16 has a price of $1,250 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" costs $360.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift X 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Swift X 16 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X 16 | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,250 | $360 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.7'' | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.78'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 14.26" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 9.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | Intel i3-1115G4 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 35 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 402 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
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."
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | February 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is an enduring office notebook with a powerful Ryzen APU. Lenovo's office all-rounder easily handles office and internet applications as well as modest games - the Ryzen 5 5625U APU and 16 GB of RAM make this possible. The CPU and GPU can work at consistently high clock rates. The emission values are okay, but the noise emissions should be lower under medium to full load. The relatively light notebook (approx. 1.6 kg) achieves practical battery runtimes of about 10 to 11 hours."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X 16 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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