The Acer Swift X boasts better portability due to its lighter weight and can be a solid option if you're looking for something easier to carry around. It is well-suited for general use, and with a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card, it can handle gaming and some engineering tasks. However, keep in mind that the MacBook Pro has a significantly larger and higher-resolution screen which is beneficial for creative work and productivity. Its build quality and trackpad are superior, it comes with double the memory, which helps in multitasking and more demanding applications. Moreover, the MacBook Pro's battery life outmatches the Swift X, making it a better choice for long hours away from a power source. 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 (2021)
Very good portability
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019)
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
7.5/10
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.5/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for engineering and design, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift X (2021) suits engineering and design needs with its AMD Ryzen 5 CPU and Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, delivering capable performance in a lighter and more portable form, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) offers a higher resolution screen, more RAM, and an Intel CPU with AMD Radeon Pro GPU, making it ideal for intensive tasks despite being heavier and less portable.
Content Creation
7.5/10
8.0/10
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is very good for content creation, while the Acer Swift X (2021) 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
7.3/10
7.9/10
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is somewhat better.
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
6.9/10
7.8/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
477.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Acer Swift X for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Swift X, with vibrant resolution and brightness, provides a clear and vivid display that's appreciated for tasks like browsing and video streaming, making it a solid choice for general use. However, while its colors may suffice for engineering and design work, professionals seeking higher color fidelity might find it lacking compared to specialized screens with wider color gamuts. For gaming and 3D, the lack of a high refresh rate can lead to less smooth visuals, which may disappoint gamers used to more fluid motion and responsive gameplay.
Battery
10.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 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
4.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Acer Swift X (2021) has very good portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6/10
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has best in class build quality, while the Acer Swift X (2021) has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$580
$496
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) costs $496.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
6.4/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Acer Swift X (2021) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X, with its dedicated GPU, handles gaming and 3D tasks well and offers a better refresh rate for smoother visual performance, which is very important for these activities. However, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a high-quality screen and capable CPU but is limited by its compatibility with many popular games and doesn't prioritize a high refresh rate, making it less optimal for gaming despite its fair 3D capabilities.
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How the Acer Swift X (2021) and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) compare to other laptops
"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 Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2021) or the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019)
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 Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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