If you prioritize a higher-performance laptop for tasks like engineering, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is the better option, though it comes at a higher price and with more weight, which may affect portability. The Acer Swift X (2022) is more affordable and lighter, making it more portable, but it has less storage, memory, and a less powerful processor and graphics card. Both have similar battery life for typical use, but only the Microsoft device supports touch input, and it also has a higher screen refresh rate, which is beneficial for fast-motion visuals. 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 (2022)
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
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 build quality
Key differences
General Use
7.8/10
8.3/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
330.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for general use, while the Acer Swift X (2022) is good.
The Acer Swift X offers a balanced general use experience with less cost, solid CPU and GPU for everyday tasks, ample RAM, and good screen quality, making it lightweight and more portable with longer battery life. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 stands out with its powerful CPU and GPU that handle more intensive tasks, substantial RAM and storage, a high-quality touchscreen display with better brightness and higher resolution, and flexible form factor, albeit at a higher price and with reduced battery life and portability due to increased weight.
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
7.7/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift X (2022) is only fair.
The Acer Swift X (2022) is less optimal for gaming and 3D tasks due to its Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU which is less powerful than the Nvidia RTX 4060 in the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, and falls behind further due to its standard screen refresh rate of 60Hz compared to the higher 120Hz offered by the Surface Laptop Studio 2, which can deliver smoother visuals crucial for fast-paced gaming.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.7/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Swift X (2022) is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is superior for engineering and design due to its more robust CPU, greater RAM capacity, and more powerful GPU, in addition to a higher-resolution, brighter touch-enabled screen, which enhances design work. While the Acer Swift X is also capable with a solid CPU, competent GPU, and quality screen, it falls behind the Studio 2 in power and display capability, although it is more portable and quieter, possibly making it a more comfortable choice for on-the-go users.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.4/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 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
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 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
7.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.4in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2400 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
330.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
503.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a better screen than the Acer Swift X for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Acer Swift X and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 offer clear, sharp images and good visibility in various lighting due to their high-resolution panels and brightness, with the Surface having a slight edge in display quality. When it comes to engineering and design, color accuracy is crucial, and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 excels with better coverage of professional color gamuts, providing more precise hues for detailed work. However, neither laptop is ideal for gaming or 3D applications, as they lack high refresh rates which are key for smooth motion and responsiveness in fast-paced visuals.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has 8 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
14.4in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Acer Swift X (2022) has very good portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6/10
8.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has 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.
Cost
$1,313
$3,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Acer Swift X (2022) has a price of $1,313 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 costs $3,300.
"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."
"The new Surface Laptop Studio with its foldable display is supposed to replace the old Surface Book and the overall impression is good after our review. The build quality and the materials are top-notch, the performance utilization of the two components is solid and the device does not show any major flaws in terms of display or speakers, either. The folding mechanism leaves a sold impression as well, but it remains to be seen how it will hold up over the years. The so-called presentation mode is also not ideal since it covers the whole keyboard."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2022) or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
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 Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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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