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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Swift X is often less expensive and has a higher battery life which can be more suitable if you prefer longer usage without needing to recharge. It is also slightly lighter and thus more portable compared to the Dell Alienware x14 R1. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware x14 R1 offers more RAM and a more powerful processor and graphics card, providing better performance for 3D applications, machine learning, and intensive gaming. It also has a higher screen refresh rate, which is good for fast-motion activities like gaming, but this results in slightly shorter battery life and a higher price. Both have similar screen sizes and resolutions, but the Dell Alienware x14 R1 has better color coverage, making it slightly more suitable for engineering and creative tasks that require color accuracy. 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 battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the Dell Alienware x14 R1
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3
7.6
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is only fair.
The Acer Swift X (2021) is equipped with a respectable Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, which are fine for casual gaming and some 3D applications, but the Dell Alienware x14 R1 comes with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a higher 144Hz screen refresh rate, providing smoother gameplay and better performance for gaming and 3D applications. Additionally, the Alienware’s superior CPU and screen quality, with a brighter screen and higher color space coverage, add to its edge in delivering a more immersive and responsive gaming experience.
Engineering and Design
7.0
8.2
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is good.
The Acer Swift X (2021) offers good performance in engineering and design with a moderate-tier CPU and GPU, but its 8GB of RAM could be limiting for highly demanding tasks, whereas the Dell Alienware x14 R1, with an advanced CPU, more powerful GPU, and double the RAM, caters to more intensive engineering and design workflows. Although the Alienware model boasts superior screen quality and better overall performance, it is heavier and less portable than the slimmer Acer Swift X, which may also be quieter and cooler during operation due to its lower-spec components.
Screen Quality
6.9
7.9
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
411.0 nits
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a better screen than the Acer Swift X for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering screen quality for general use, both the Acer Swift X and the Dell Alienware x14 R1 offer panels with good resolution and brightness, providing clear and vivid images for everyday tasks like web browsing or document editing. For engineering and design, the screen quality of both laptops is suitable because they cover a wide range of color gamuts, ensuring that colors are represented accurately which is essential for design precision and color-sensitive work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens fall short due to lower refresh rates, which can lead to less smooth visuals, a critical aspect for fast-paced games and fluid 3D rendering.
Build Quality
7.6
8.5
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good 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
$1,201
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the Dell Alienware x14 R1 costs $1,201.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
411.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift X (2021) is a solid choice for general use due to its adequate processing power, sufficient RAM for everyday tasks, high-quality IPS screen, and a balance between portability and battery life. The Dell Alienware x14 R1, while slightly less portable and having a shorter battery life, offers more robust performance with a higher-end CPU and double the RAM, making it better suited for more demanding applications in addition to general use.
Content Creation
7.5
7.9
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 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
7.7
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 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.
Battery
10.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has 9 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
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Acer Swift X (2021) and Dell Alienware x14 R1 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Swift X (2021) and the Dell Alienware x14 R1 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2021) | Dell Alienware x14 R1 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $1,201 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | August 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 12.7'' x 10.3'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 4.06 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 12.66" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 10.34" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 80 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 372 nits | 411 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 8.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 4 | |
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."
Dell Alienware x14 R1
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NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | March 2022
"The Alienware X14 series is thinner, but also slower than the competition. With the X series, you get plenty of modern technology: Intel Alder Lake CPUs, GeForce RTX 3000 GPUs, Thunderbolt 4, PCIe 4.0, Wi-Fi 6E, G-Sync, and Advanced Optimus. However, the slim design has some drawbacks, just like its larger siblings. The shifted hinge position results in a very deep device with a large footprint compared to the competition."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2021) or the Dell Alienware x14 R1
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 Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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