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Updated January 12, 2024·
Since the Acer Swift X (2021) is typically more expensive than the HP Pavilion 15, the decision will largely depend on your specific needs and budget. If you require higher performance for tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, or gaming, the extra investment in the Acer Swift X may be justified as it likely offers better graphics and processing capabilities. Conversely, if your primary concern is everyday tasks such as browsing, office work, and media consumption, the HP Pavilion 15 may be more cost-effective while still delivering adequate performance. Keep in mind that with the higher price, the Acer Swift X may also offer better build quality and a longer battery life, whereas the HP Pavilion 15 may be more affordable but with potential compromises in those areas. The Acer might also be less portable than the HP due to its probably more robust hardware. Assess what’s most important for your use—performance, battery life, portability—and consider if the Acer’s benefits are worth the extra cost for you, or if the HP Pavilion 15’s balance of price and functionality better aligns with your needs. 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 HP Pavilion 15
- The HP Pavilion 15 has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift X (2021).
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.0
6.2
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Swift X (2021) is good for engineering and design, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The Acer Swift X (2021) is equipped with a stronger CPU in the AMD Ryzen 5 series and a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, as well as a higher-quality IPS screen, making it more adept for tasks in engineering and design that require significant computational and graphics power. In contrast, the HP Pavilion 15, while having more RAM, uses an Intel i3 processor with integrated graphics and a lower-quality TN screen, which is less optimal for demanding engineering software and producing precise visuals.
Software Development
7.3
6.6
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
The Acer Swift X (2021) is good for software development, while the HP Pavilion 15 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.
Screen Quality
6.9
5.3
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Acer Swift X has a better screen than the HP Pavilion 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Swift X offers higher resolution and brightness, making it suitable for general use, while its color gamut coverage benefits engineering and design tasks with more accurate color reproduction. However, its standard refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D applications, where smoother on-screen motion is crucial. The HP Pavilion 15's lower resolution and brightness affect the display's sharpness and visibility, hence it's less ideal for both day-to-day tasks and specialized work like engineering, design, or gaming, where screen quality significantly impacts the experience.
Battery
10.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The HP Pavilion 15 has 3 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
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift X (2021) has very good portability, while the HP Pavilion 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
6.2
The Acer Swift X (2021) has good build quality, while the HP Pavilion 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Acer Swift X (2021) and HP Pavilion 15 are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift X stands out for general use with its powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and NVidia RTX GPU, which offer strong performance for various applications, along with a high-quality IPS screen and substantial battery life, all in a portable design. On the other hand, the HP Pavilion 15, despite its less potent Intel i3 processor and integrated graphics, provides ample RAM and a large storage capacity, with a slightly larger screen, though it's less impressive in terms of screen resolution and portability, but offers a long battery life for everyday tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.0
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Acer Swift X (2021) and HP Pavilion 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X offers a dedicated GPU and decent screen refresh rate that make for a satisfactory gaming and 3D experience without breaking the bank; however, the HP Pavilion 15, while also featuring a dedicated GPU, would likely provide less smooth visuals due to a lower refresh rate. Both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, but the Swift X's superior refresh rate gives it an edge for fast-paced games and smoother graphic rendering.
Content Creation
7.5
7.1
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Acer Swift X (2021) and HP Pavilion 15 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.
Cost
$580
$570
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the HP Pavilion 15 costs $570.
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How the Acer Swift X (2021) and the HP Pavilion 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2021) | HP Pavilion 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $570 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | August 1, 2020 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 9.5'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 14.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 9.53" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | Intel i3-1115G4 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 372 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.3/10 | |
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 | 2 | |
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."
HP Pavilion 15
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Alex Cox | August 2022
"The HP Pavilion 15 carries a fair amount of power and a sharp display in its handsome slimline shell. It's not perfect, but it's a hard worker. This is wonderfully designed and totes a heck of a lot of desktop power, with the added benefit of a decent webcam and a full-sized keyboard. If you're getting down to business on a budget, it's a great fit."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2021) or the HP Pavilion 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 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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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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