Updated January 12, 2024·Prices updated 24 hours ago
Considering the Acer Swift X (2022) and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, if superior graphics, a higher resolution OLED screen, and a larger battery are priorities, along with a more professional aesthetic, the ThinkPad Z16 is the better choice. It also offers double the storage and memory, which could be beneficial for intensive tasks and multitasking. However, this device is heavier and could be less convenient to carry around. On the other hand, the Swift X has a respectable performance for its price range with a dedicated Nvidia graphics card, a quality IPS screen, and is lighter, making it more portable. It has lower storage and memory compared to the ThinkPad Z16, which may impact performance during demanding processes but should suffice for general use and moderate computing tasks. Give Feedback
At the time of writing the Acer Swift X (2022) cost $1,313 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 cost $1,223.
Advantages of the Acer Swift X (2022)
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
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 overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.8/10
8.6/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
330.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for general use, while the Acer Swift X (2022) is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 surpasses the Acer Swift X (2022) in overall performance due to its more robust CPU, double the RAM, and higher screen quality, making it very good for general use, while the Swift X, though still capable, has lower specs but offers better portability and significantly longer battery life which is important for users who prioritize mobility and all-day use without frequent charging. Additionally, the ThinkPad Z16 offers a much larger storage capacity, a more comfortable keyboard, and better speaker quality, although both are similarly rated for operating noise and heat management, rounding out its suitability for a wider range of tasks in general use scenarios.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.4/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Swift X (2022) is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 excels for engineering and design use primarily due to its superior processing capability with a robust CPU and double the RAM of the Acer Swift X, along with a significantly more powerful GPU that better supports complex visual tasks. Additionally, the ThinkPad Z16 boasts a higher resolution OLED screen, which provides excellent color accuracy and contrast, factors crucial for design precision, compared to the Swift X's lower resolution IPS screen.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.5/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for content creation, while the Acer Swift X (2022) 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
7.7/10
8.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for software development, while the Acer Swift X (2022) 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
7.0/10
8.5/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
330.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a better screen than the Acer Swift X for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you're prioritizing screen clarity and visibility for everyday tasks, the Acer Swift X offers sufficient resolution and brightness, making it suitable for general use. For tasks that demand precise color accuracy like engineering and design work, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16's superior color gamuts provide an edge. However, neither is optimal for 3D applications or gaming, as their refresh rates are lower than what's ideal for those high-motion environments.
Battery
10.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 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
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Acer Swift X (2022) has very good portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,313
$1,120
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift X (2022) has a price of $1,313 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 costs $1,120.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and Acer Swift X (2022) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X (2022) is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU which falls short compared to the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16's AMD RX 6500M, especially in terms of handling gaming and 3D graphics more effectively. Although both laptops have similar screen refresh rates, the ThinkPad Z16 offers a higher screen quality with its OLED display which provides deeper blacks and more vivid colors, enhancing the visual experience for gaming and 3D applications.
Build Quality
7.6/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 to have very good build quality, while the Acer Swift X (2022) has 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 (2022) and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 compare to other laptops
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Acer Swift X (2022) (Intel i7-1260P, RTX 3050, 16 GB | 512 GB)
"The Swift X is an Acer for entry-level gaming. With the entry-level graphics chip, our Acer not only beats every single current AMD and Intel iGPU, but also Intel's dGPU Iris Xe Max. However, despite being a GDDR6 version, the GTX does not match the expectations set by its own counterparts from our database. This may be a result of the single fan, which only produces moderate noise levels under load. The performance level of the thin and light 1.4 kg (~3.09 lbs) 14-inch laptop is impressive nonetheless."
"Lenovo’s ThinkPad Z16 tries has some success in its effort to tweak the ThinkPad formula. The laptop is attractive, yet still tame, and material quality is on par with the best Windows competition. I also like the smooth, responsive haptic touchpad and the wide range of modern connectivity. Yet the Z16 doesn’t fix ThinkPad’s typical weakness: value. Starting around $1,550, and more typically near $1,700, the Z16 finds itself facing alternatives that have better performance or an improved display for the same price, or less."
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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.
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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