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Updated January 10, 2024·
If better graphics performance for gaming or 3D tasks is a priority, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 could be the better choice because it has a stronger GPU. However, the Acer Swift X 16 has a higher resolution screen, which may be preferable for sharpness and clarity in general use and engineering applications. The Legion Slim 5 is heavier, making the Swift X 16 more portable but also note that the Swift X tends to be more expensive. The longevity of use without charging is quite similar, although the Swift X has a slightly better battery life. If budget is a crucial factor, the Legion Slim 5 is less expensive, but the Swift X could offer a more premium feel and slightly better build quality. Both have 16GB RAM, but the Swift X comes with a larger storage size. Consider these tradeoffs carefully when making your decision based on your specific needs, whether they be gaming, general use, or professional work. 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 for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good portability
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion Slim 5
- The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift X 16.
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.6
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
402.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is good.
The Acer Swift X 16 is well-suited for general use due to its higher resolution screen, which offers better screen quality, and its lighter weight for enhanced portability while still delivering strong CPU performance and ample storage. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is better equipped for heavier tasks like gaming, reflected in its superior GPU, but this comes at the cost of slightly lower battery life, a heavier build, and reduced portability.
Gaming and AI
7.0
7.7
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Unknown
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 and Acer Swift X 16 are both good for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift X 16 offers a dedicated GPU which enhances gaming and 3D performance, complemented by a high refresh rate screen for smoother visuals, while its screen quality and CPU support these tasks adequately. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5, too, brings a powerful GPU to the table, crucial for demanding gaming and 3D tasks, with a slightly less focus on screen refresh rate but still providing a competent CPU and good screen quality for an overall rich experience.
Content Creation
8.3
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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
7.4
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for software development, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
402.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Acer Swift X 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Acer Swift X 16 offers a higher resolution and better brightness making text and images sharp and vivid, ideal for tasks like web browsing and document editing. Its superior color accuracy and a wider range of colors make it well-suited for engineering and design work where precise color representation is crucial. However, the lower refresh rate makes the Swift X less suitable for gaming and 3D applications, where the Lenovo Legion Slim 5's adequate resolution and panel quality are offset by its limited color range, though still lacking in the higher refresh rates gamers typically seek.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X 16 has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has 7 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
16.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Acer Swift X 16 has good portability, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,250
$1,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift X 16 has a price of $1,250 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Swift X 16 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Swift X 16 stands out for engineering and design because it features a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, combined with ample RAM and high screen quality, which are crucial for running engineering software and detailed design work. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 offers a slightly more potent Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and an equally strong CPU and RAM configuration, making it equally adept for engineering tasks, but its lower screen quality may impact detailed visual work, albeit still delivering a robust performance for most engineering and design applications. Both laptops have good portability and keyboard quality, but the tradeoff comes with the Lenovo's higher operating noise, which might be a factor to consider for a quieter working environment.
Build Quality
7.6
7.4
The Acer Swift X 16 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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 Lenovo Legion Slim 5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X 16 | Lenovo Legion Slim 5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,250 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.7'' | 14.2'' x 10.3'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 5.29 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 14.16" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 10.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 80 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 402 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 6.7/10 | |
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 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
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 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 Legion Slim 5
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | August 2023
"The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 acknowledges that a gaming laptop doesn’t have to be as thick as possible and can still ensure adequate cooling when the muscles need flexing. To this end, in the Slim 5 Gen 8, it finds a neat balance of refined, trimmed-down design that still lets its internals cruise (even above their max power ratings). Lenovo then added in some high-end build quality with an altogether excellent keyboard that’s useful for both work and play."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X 16 or the Lenovo Legion Slim 5
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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Why trust us
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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