A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Swift X is better for those seeking higher battery life and slightly better portability due to its lighter weight and smaller form factor, making it suitable for on-the-go users. It also has dedicated graphics, which are preferable for tasks like gaming or intensive graphics work. On the other hand, the HP Envy 17 offers a larger screen, which may be appealing if you prioritize a more spacious display for multitasking or media consumption, and it comes with a touchscreen. The HP also has a more powerful processor and double the RAM, which is beneficial for demanding engineering applications, but it's heavier, making it less convenient for travel. Both have similar storage, build quality, and are within the same price range, so your decision would largely be influenced by whether you need portability and gaming performance, over raw computing power and a larger touchscreen display for productivity. 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
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the HP Envy 17
- The HP Envy 17 has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift X (2021).
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.9
6.8
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The Acer Swift X and the HP Envy 17 have similar screen quality.
For general use, the Acer Swift X and the HP Envy 17 both boast screens with suitable resolution and brightness, ensuring clear and vivid display for everyday tasks. They excel in engineering and design due to their capacity to cover a wider color range, which is critical for accuracy in visual work. However, their lower refresh rates make them less ideal for gaming and 3D applications, which require smoother motion and faster screen updates to enhance the visual experience.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The HP Envy 17 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
Good
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift X (2021) has very good portability, while the HP Envy 17 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$580
$1,000
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the HP Envy 17 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift X (2021) suits general use well with its respectable screen quality, moderate weight for portability, and a battery that supports typical use for a good duration, but it has less RAM than the HP Envy 17 which may be better for multitasking. The HP Envy 17 also boasts a larger screen for an enhanced viewing experience and ample RAM for smooth operation, yet it is heavier and not as easy to carry, making it less portable than the Acer Swift X.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.4
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
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
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 and Acer Swift X (2021) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X is fitted with a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU which is better suited for gaming and 3D tasks than the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics in the HP Envy 17, however, both laptops are limited by their screen's standard refresh rate of 60Hz. Additionally, while the larger screen of the HP Envy 17 may be preferable for visual clarity, the integrated GPU and the overall size may reduce its desirability for high-performance gaming and demanding 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.0
7.4
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Envy 17 and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for engineering and design.
The Acer Swift X, with a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU and an AMD Ryzen processor, delivers stronger performance for demanding engineering and design software, while the HP Envy 17, though it has a larger screen and more RAM, relies on integrated graphics which are less suitable for intensive graphics tasks. The Swift X is more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight, but the Envy 17 provides a larger display, which may be preferable for users who prioritize screen real estate for their design work.
Content Creation
7.5
7.5
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Envy 17 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
9.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 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
7.2
The Acer Swift X (2021) and HP Envy 17 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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How the Acer Swift X (2021) and the HP Envy 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2021) | HP Envy 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 15.7'' x 10.2'' x 0.77'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 5.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 15.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | Intel i7-13700H | |
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 | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 55 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 | 329 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
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 | 3 | |
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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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."
HP Envy 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marcus Schwarten | April 2023
"In our test, the HP Envy 17-cr0079ng presents itself as a balanced multimedia laptop. Thanks to its solid CPU performance and dedicated entry-level GeForce, it can also be used for playing video games, as long as the demands aren't too high. Those looking for more can find it in the Dell XPS 17 for example."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2021) or the HP Envy 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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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