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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Swift X 16 is priced higher but offers more storage, double the RAM, a slightly stronger main processor, and a marginally less powerful GPU compared to the MSI Cyborg 15. The Acer has a larger screen size, higher resolution, and longer battery life, which may make it a better choice for general use and multitasking, as well as tasks like photo editing, thanks to its high-resolution display with better color accuracy. However, the MSI Cyborg 15, although it comes with half the storage and lesser RAM, has a stronger GPU which could provide better performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming, despite its lower screen resolution and color accuracy. The Acer is lighter and thinner, making it more portable, while both laptops have decent build quality and similar input/output options. If battery life and portability are important, the Acer might suit you better; if you prioritize gaming or intensive graphic tasks, consider the MSI, especially if budget is a 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 engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
- The MSI Cyborg 15 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
234.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for general use, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The Acer Swift X 16 excels in general use due to its superior screen quality with high brightness and color coverage, a robust CPU, and ample RAM, which ensure smooth multitasking and media consumption, balanced with decent portability and battery life. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15, while still suitable for general use, trades some screen quality and battery capacity for a stronger GPU, making it more inclined towards gaming but less ideal for tasks where screen fidelity and longer unplugged use are crucial.
Engineering and Design
8.2
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The Acer Swift X 16 excels in engineering and design due to its higher RAM and superior GPU, which are very important for intensive tasks, along with a better-quality screen suitable for detailed work. The MSI Cyborg 15, while also good for these tasks due to its capable processor and GPU, falls short in comparison because of lower RAM and a lesser screen but offers slightly better portability and superior operating noise management.
Content Creation
8.3
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Cyborg 15 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
7.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for software development, while the MSI Cyborg 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
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
402.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The Acer Swift X 16 has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Swift X 16 offers a high-resolution display with vibrant colors and brightness suitable for everyday tasks and detail-oriented work like engineering and design, but its lower refresh rate isn't ideal for the fast-paced visuals needed in gaming and 3D work. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15 provides acceptable visual clarity and color reproduction for both general use and technical applications but falls short for gaming due to a similarly poor refresh rate. Both devices are not optimal for 3D use where fluid motion and quick screen updates are crucial, but they cater well to professionals who prioritize color accuracy and image detail over gaming performance.
Build Quality
7.6
6.7
The Acer Swift X 16 has good build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 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
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift X 16 has a price of $1,250 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.0
7.2
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
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 MSI Cyborg 15 and Acer Swift X 16 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X 16 offers a higher screen refresh rate which is great for smooth visuals in gaming and 3D applications, complemented by a capable Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, while the MSI Cyborg 15 comes with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU that provides superior performance for demanding games and 3D tasks despite its slightly lower refresh rate. Screen quality, while important for clarity and color accuracy, is secondary to these factors but both models feature IPS displays which are known for good color reproduction and viewing angles.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Acer Swift X 16 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 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
4.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Acer Swift X 16 and MSI Cyborg 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Swift X 16 and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X 16 | MSI Cyborg 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,250 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.7'' | 14.2'' x 9.9'' x 0.9'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 4.37 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 9.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | Intel i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 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 | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 53.5 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 | 234 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 7.3/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
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."
MSI Cyborg 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | April 2023
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X 16 or the MSI Cyborg 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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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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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