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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If performance, especially for gaming or engineering software, is a priority, the Acer Swift X with its dedicated Nvidia graphics card excels over the ASUS Vivobook 17, which uses integrated graphics. The Acer also offers better portability due to its smaller size and lighter weight, along with a higher-quality display. The tradeoff is that you would pay more compared to the budget-friendly ASUS, which has a larger screen for productivity and media consumption, but it does have lower overall performance and battery life. The ASUS is a good option for general use and it comes with a number pad which the Acer lacks. 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)
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Vivobook 17
- The ASUS Vivobook 17 has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift X (2021).
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.0
6.3
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Swift X (2021) is good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook 17 is only fair.
The Acer Swift X boasts a stronger CPU and GPU, making it better at handling the high demands of engineering and design software compared to the ASUS Vivobook 17, which has a basic CPU and integrated graphics. Further, the Acer Swift X has a higher screen quality which is crucial for design precision, while the ASUS Vivobook 17, though offering a larger screen, falls short in display performance and color accuracy.
Screen Quality
6.9
6.2
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
263.0 nits
The Acer Swift X has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Acer Swift X provides a brighter display with higher resolution compared to the ASUS Vivobook 17, making it more suitable for daily tasks like browsing and watching videos. In the context of engineering and design, the Acer Swift X offers a wider color gamut, ensuring more accurate color reproduction which is critical when working on visual projects that require color fidelity. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops lack high refresh rates which are essential for smooth visuals, with the ASUS Vivobook 17 further limited by its lower resolution and less ideal panel type for these fast-paced activities.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The ASUS Vivobook 17 has 6 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
17.3in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift X (2021) has very good portability, while the ASUS Vivobook 17 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
6.5
The Acer Swift X (2021) has good build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook 17 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$580
$430
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the ASUS Vivobook 17 costs $430.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
263.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The Acer Swift X (2021) and ASUS Vivobook 17 are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift X (2021) outperforms the ASUS Vivobook 17 with a better CPU, a dedicated GPU, and a full HD screen that is more vibrant and higher in contrast, making it well-suited for a variety of tasks while remaining relatively light and offering a longer battery life for enhanced portability.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.0
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The Acer Swift X (2021) and ASUS Vivobook 17 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X is better suited for gaming and 3D applications due to its Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, which significantly outperforms the integrated graphics in the ASUS Vivobook 17. Both laptops have screens with a 60Hz refresh rate and IPS panels, but the dedicated GPU in the Acer Swift X offers a more robust option for graphics-intensive tasks despite the ASUS Vivobook's larger screen size.
Content Creation
7.5
7.0
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift X (2021) and ASUS Vivobook 17 are both good for content creation.
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
6.9
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift X (2021) to be good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook 17 is only fair.
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.
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How the Acer Swift X (2021) and the ASUS Vivobook 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2021) | ASUS Vivobook 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $430 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 15.7'' x 9.9'' x 0.78'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 15.72" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 9.89" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | Intel i3-1220P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 50 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 372 nits | 263 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 6/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Acer Swift X (2021)
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Dig into reviews and images
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 Vivobook 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marvin Gollor | May 2022
"The ASUS Vivobook 17 is an affordable 17-inch laptop with passive cooling. On one hand, you get a really quiet and cool work device with a good system performance, many connections, good maintenance options, speakers acceptable for multimedia enjoyment, and a sharp and clear matte FHD IPS display with the Asus VivoBook 17 (F712JA). On the other hand, the USB-C port lacks Power Delivery and DisplayPort, and the display, a higher brightness and better color space coverage."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2021) or the ASUS Vivobook 17
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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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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