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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a lightweight and easily portable laptop for everyday use and work that doesn't require intense graphics processing, the Acer Swift X would suit you well, and it also offers a balance between performance and battery life. On the other hand, if you need a laptop primarily for gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning tasks, the ASUS ROG Strix G18, with its more powerful hardware, would be the better choice, but be prepared for it to be heavier and likely have a shorter battery life due to its performance-oriented components. 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
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix G18
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Best in class speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.4
8.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
422.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.6/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for general use, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is good.
The Acer Swift X is commended for general use due to its balance of performance with an AMD processor and Nvidia graphics, Full HD screen quality, and good portability, accompanied by a solid battery life. On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Strix G18 stands out for its extremely powerful Intel i9 processor and superior Nvidia graphics, larger and sharper screen, and greater RAM and storage; however, these features come at the cost of lesser portability and battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.3
8.7
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is only fair.
The Acer Swift X offers modest gaming and 3D capabilities due to its decent but not top-tier graphics processing unit and average screen refresh rate, which may not deliver the smoothest visuals for high-speed gaming. In contrast, the ASUS ROG Strix G18 boasts a superior GPU and a higher refresh rate screen, providing a more immersive and fluid experience for gaming and 3D applications, while its CPU and screen quality further enhance performance, although they are less critical factors than the GPU and refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
7.0
8.9
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is good.
The Acer Swift X provides respectable performance for engineering and design tasks with its AMD processor and Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, fitting for users who prioritize a balance between power and portability with its lighter weight. In contrast, the ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers superior processing and graphics capabilities with its Intel i9 chip and Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, paired with a larger, higher-resolution screen, targeting users who require top-tier performance and display quality, albeit at the cost of reduced portability due to its heavier build.
Content Creation
7.5
8.6
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 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
8.1
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for software development, while the Acer Swift X (2021) 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
6.9
8.7
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
422.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the Acer Swift X for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Swift X offers a balance of resolution and brightness that suits everyday tasks well, although its color gamut may not be as wide as required for precise engineering and design work. The ASUS ROG Strix G18, with its wider color gamut and high resolution, excels in providing vivid and accurate colors for professional applications, making it ideal for engineering and design. However, both laptops have lower refresh rates, which means they won't provide the smooth visuals critical for the best gaming and 3D modeling experiences, where higher refresh rates are crucial.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Strix G18 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
Poor
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
6.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Acer Swift X (2021) has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$580
$1,900
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 costs $1,900.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
7.6
7.8
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and Acer Swift X (2021) 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Swift X (2021) and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2021) | ASUS ROG Strix G18 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $1,900 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | April 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 15.7'' x 11.6'' x 1.06'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 6.61 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 15.71" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 11.57" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | Intel i9-13980HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 372 nits | 422 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 9.6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Swift X (2021)
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NotebookCheck
Sebastian Jentsch | March 2022
"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."
ASUS ROG Strix G18
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | March 2023
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2021) or the ASUS ROG Strix G18
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 ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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