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Updated March 22, 2024·
If you're looking for more affordable yet solid performance, particularly for tasks like video editing or gaming, the Acer Swift X could be a good choice with its dedicated graphics capability; however, its battery life and build quality might not match the HP Spectre x360. The Spectre, on the other hand, offers a premium experience with its convertible design, touchscreen, and higher build quality, but at a higher cost. It's well-suited for general use, and with its longer battery life, it can be more convenient for travel or long work sessions away from a power source. 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
Advantages of the HP Spectre x360 14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.4
8.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is good.
The Acer Swift X offers competitive processing power and memory for efficient general use, paired with a high-quality screen and reasonable portability, but its battery life doesn't match that of the HP Spectre x360 14, which provides a well-rounded balance of powerful CPU performance, ample RAM, and a top-notch display, all in a highly portable design with longer-lasting battery life. While storage, keyboard, speaker quality, operating noise, and heat management are also important, they may vary between individuals; the HP Spectre x360 14 tends to edge out with better build quality, contributing to a premium general use experience.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.8
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 and Acer Swift X (2021) are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the HP Spectre x360 14 is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift X, with its dedicated GPU, offers better gaming and 3D graphics capabilities, ensuring smoother gameplay and rendering compared to the HP Spectre x360 14, which typically features integrated graphics less suited for these tasks. However, the HP Spectre has a high-quality screen that, while it doesn’t have a high refresh rate suitable for competitive gaming, will deliver sharp and vibrant visuals for casual gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.0
8.4
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is good.
The HP Spectre x360 14, with a superior CPU and GPU, excels in demanding engineering applications and offers a higher quality screen for intricate design work, whereas the Acer Swift X, while capable, may not handle these tasks as swiftly or display them as crisply. However, the Swift X gains an edge in portability and often operates more quietly, with both laptops offering adequate RAM for most engineering uses and well-designed keyboards for extended typing sessions.
Content Creation
7.5
8.7
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for content creation, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is good.
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
8.4
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for software development, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is good.
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
8.6
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a better screen than the Acer Swift X for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, a laptop with a vivid display, sharp resolution, and ample brightness offers a comfortable viewing experience which the HP Spectre x360 14 provides, while the Acer Swift X also delivers adequately but not as impressively. The HP Spectre x360 14 stands out for engineering and design work due to its superior color accuracy and wider color gamut, ensuring that professionals can see fine detail and true-to-life colors. However, both the Acer Swift X and the HP Spectre x360 14 fall short for gaming and 3D applications as they lack high refresh rate screens, which is crucial for smooth visuals and fast-paced actions in these scenarios.
Build Quality
7.6
8.5
The HP Spectre x360 14 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
$1,630
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the HP Spectre x360 14 costs $1,630.
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Key similarities
Battery
10.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The HP Spectre x360 14 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
3.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Acer Swift X (2021) and HP Spectre x360 14 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 HP Spectre x360 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2021) | HP Spectre x360 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $1,630 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | January 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 12.4'' x 8.7'' x 0.67'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 3.45 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 12.35" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 8.68" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 68 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 372 nits | 384 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 9.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 2160p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
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."
HP Spectre x360 14
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Rami Tabari | February 2024
"The numbers don’t lie — the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a star, and a hell of a one at that. From performance to battery life, this machine is a dream. But why didn’t I give it a perfect score? Well, I wish the display performed better and that there were more ports to go around. If you’re itching for someone a little cheaper that offers a brighter display and significantly more battery life, I can only recommend the MacBook Pro 14 as a suitable substitute. Otherwise, the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is the perfect choice for those who want a reliable premium laptop."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2021) or the HP Spectre x360 14
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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