A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Acer Swift X (2021) and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15, you have some clear trade-offs to consider. If a more budget-friendly option is preferred and you need a laptop that is more portable with long battery life, the Acer Swift X is quite appealing. However, it has less RAM and a less powerful processor compared to the Zenbook Pro 15. If you seek better performance for demanding tasks such as engineering, 3D work, or possibly even some gaming, and prefer a laptop with a higher-quality display, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15, with its OLED screen, might be the better option despite being more expensive and a bit heavier, which reduces its portability. The Zenbook also has a touchscreen and a larger screen size, which might be beneficial for creative work or presentations. 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 speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15
- Good overall display quality
- Excellent battery life
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.0
7.5
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for engineering and design, though the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift X (2021) stands out for engineering and design due to its powerful CPU and GPU which are critical for demanding engineering software and graphics work; it also offers high-quality RAM and a solid screen for detailed visual tasks. Conversely, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15, while similar in its strong CPU and RAM capabilities, adds to this with exceptional screen quality ideal for design precision and has a build that, despite being less portable, incorporates a more comfortable keyboard and quieter operation which may be preferable for long hours of work.
Screen Quality
6.9
7.6
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
346.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has a better screen than the Acer Swift X for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
If you're prioritizing clarity and detail for everyday tasks, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15's superior resolution and brightness enhance its screen quality over the Acer Swift X, making viewing documents and browsing the web more pleasant. For engineering and design purposes, the ASUS's wider color gamut coverage ensures more accurate color representation, which is crucial for detail-oriented work that demands color precision. However, neither is ideal for high-end gaming or intensive 3D work, as they lack high refresh rates that smooth out motion, making them less suited for fast-paced visual content.
Battery
10.0 Hours
12.5 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has 12.5 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
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift X (2021) has very good portability, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$580
$1,109
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 costs $1,109.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
346.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift X with a Ryzen 5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and an IPS screen is lighter and more portable, suitable for users who need to move around and value longer battery life, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 offers more power with a Ryzen 7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and an OLED touchscreen, better for those who prioritize performance and screen quality over portability. Both have solid build quality and sufficient storage, but the Zenbook's better speakers and larger screen might be more appealing for multimedia use, despite its higher weight and generally higher operating noise.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.7
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and Acer Swift X (2021) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X, with an Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, offers decent gaming and 3D performance for its category, but its standard IPS screen limits refresh rates to the typical 60Hz, affecting gaming fluidity. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 steps up with a higher-tier Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU and an OLED screen for vivid colors, yet it also is bound to a 60Hz refresh rate, making neither ideal for the most demanding gaming experiences.
Content Creation
7.5
7.7
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and Acer Swift X (2021) 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
7.5
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for software development.
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.
Build Quality
7.6
7.6
The Acer Swift X (2021) and ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Swift X (2021) and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2021) | ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $1,109 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 13.9'' x 9.4'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 4.41 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 13.94" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 9.37" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 12.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 96 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 372 nits | 346 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
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 | 1 | |
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)
See more
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 Zenbook Pro 15
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2022
"The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 offers a strong CPU, chassis, and display. One of the most popular 15.6-inch prosumer or multimedia laptops out there is the Dell XPS 15. Thus, comparisons between it and the Asus Zenbook Pro 15 are inevitable. Asus has a couple of tricks up its sleeve that XPS users are still missing out on including 1080p OLED and an AMD Ryzen CPU which help separate the Zenbook Pro 15 from the XPS 15. It also integrates a numpad and a few more port options albeit at the cost of a larger chassis size."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2021) or the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
132,495
Recommendations made
28,708
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
