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Updated January 12, 2024·
Choosing between the Acer Swift X 16 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio comes down to your priorities. The Acer Swift X 16 has a larger screen with higher resolution, better for multitasking and media consumption, and it comes with an AMD Ryzen processor paired with RTX 3050 graphics. This makes it a solid choice for general use and light gaming or creative work. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio, on the other hand, has a more powerful RTX 4060 graphics card and an Intel processor, making it more suitable for intensive 3D work, machine learning, and gaming. However, it has a smaller display. Both have similar battery life and portability, but the MSI may have an edge in performance for demanding tasks while the Acer offers a larger, crisper display for everyday productivity. 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 battery life
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
- Best in class speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.0
7.8
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Unknown
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Swift X 16 are both good for gaming and AI, though the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift X 16, with its dedicated GPU, offers the graphical horsepower necessary for smooth gaming and 3D rendering while also providing a high screen refresh rate for a more fluid visual experience. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio, while also boasting a powerful GPU for demanding tasks, has a high-quality screen that enhances the visual fidelity, though the compact size might compromise the CPU performance compared to larger laptops.
Software Development
8.0
7.4
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for software development, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
7.6
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
402.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Acer Swift X 16 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When choosing between the Acer Swift X 16 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio for general use, the Acer offers a superior experience due to its higher resolution and brightness, providing crisp, vivid visuals. For engineering and design tasks, the Acer again stands out with a wider color range, offering better color accuracy and reproduction vital for detailed work. However, for intense gaming or 3D applications, neither laptop is ideal as their lower refresh rates can lead to less smooth visuals, which are crucial for fast-paced and immersive experiences.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X 16 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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.
Cost
$1,250
$1,520
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Swift X 16 has a price of $1,250 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,520.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.2
7.8
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
402.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift X 16 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good.
The Acer Swift X 16 stands out for general use due to its longer battery life and larger, high-resolution screen which makes for comfortable viewing, while its reasonable portability is balanced by a slightly heavier build than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio. The MSI, in contrast, excels with its better speaker quality and heat management, but offers less battery life, making it less ideal for prolonged use away from a power source despite its lighter weight and compact size.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Swift X 16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Swift X 16, with its Ryzen CPU and Nvidia RTX 3050, coupled with a larger, brighter, high-resolution display, is well-suited for tasks that benefit from a robust visual workspace and graphics, making it good for engineering and design work; while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio's greater portability, paired with a high-performance Intel CPU and more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, offers better handling of graphics-intensive applications, despite a smaller display, aligning with the needs of engineering and design professionals who prioritize performance and portability.
Content Creation
8.3
7.9
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift X 16 to be very good for content creation, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Swift X 16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
7.6
The Acer Swift X 16 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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 MSI Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X 16 | MSI Stealth 14 Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,250 | $1,520 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.7'' | 12.4'' x 9.7'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 12.4" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 9.69" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | Intel i7-13620H | |
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 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 402 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
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 | 1 | |
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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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 Stealth 14 Studio
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | June 2023
"You'll find a versatility in the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that isn’t matched by many content-creator laptops we've tested of late. The small frame allows you to (potentially) work from anywhere with an outlet and, if noise isn’t a concern, run your most demanding of programs, thanks to some powerful hardware inside. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive and powerful option if you want a portable laptop to be the center of your content work setup."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X 16 or the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
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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