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Updated January 10, 2024·
For better performance in tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, choose the Acer Swift X which has a stronger graphics card. However, it is pricier, heavier, and might have shorter battery life compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14", which is more affordable and still capable for general use and less demanding engineering applications. Both have the same screen size and resolution, but the Acer's brighter display may offer better color accuracy. If portability is key, the Lenovo is slightly lighter with a simpler look, while the Acer's design is more gaming-oriented. The Lenovo's lower price reflects its modest capabilities but it still provides good value for everyday tasks. 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 general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
- The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift X (2021).
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.0
6.1
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Swift X (2021) is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a more powerful GPU in the form of the Nvidia RTX 3050 and higher screen color coverage, making it better suited for tasks demanding graphical power and color accuracy which are essential for engineering and design use. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" features an integrated GPU with lower color coverage, which, while satisfactory for less intensive tasks, may not be as capable in handling heavier design software or detailed color work.
Screen Quality
6.9
6.4
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The Acer Swift X has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Swift X offers a higher resolution and brightness, enhancing the overall visual experience for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work, but its slower refresh rate limits the smoothness required for high-end gaming and 3D applications. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3's screen meets the basic needs for general productivity and non-intensive design work, yet it falls short in providing the wide color gamut professionals need and the fast refresh necessarily for immersive gaming and 3D experiences. Both laptops might not satisfy serious gamers or 3D designers, but the Acer Swift X stands out for tasks that demand more precise color reproduction and clearer details.
Build Quality
7.6
6.5
The Acer Swift X (2021) has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$580
$490
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" costs $490.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
6.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift X (2021) to be good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Acer Swift X stands out for its superior CPU and dedicated Nvidia GPU, which contribute to better performance for a range of tasks, and its high screen quality with greater brightness and wider color coverage, enhancing the viewing experience. In comparison, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 has less powerful integrated graphics, a lower battery capacity, and a screen that is less vibrant, thus offering lesser performance and display quality, but it slightly compensates with a slightly better portability due to its marginally lighter weight and excellent heat management.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.0
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
9.5/10
The Acer Swift X (2021) and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X is fair for gaming and 3D because it is equipped with a more capable Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card, which is superior to integrated graphics, although it has a standard screen refresh rate which limits smoothness in games. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" also provides a fair gaming experience with its integrated AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Vega 7 graphics, but it might struggle more with demanding games, and the same standard screen refresh rate also affects gameplay fluidity.
Content Creation
7.5
7.1
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift X (2021) and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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
7.1
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Acer Swift X (2021) and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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
10.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has 10 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
3.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift X (2021) and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2021) | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $490 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 12.8'' x 8.5'' x 0.78'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 3.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 12.76" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 8.49" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 45 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 | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 372 nits | 313 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 8.3/10 | |
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 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
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 | 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."
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marvin Gollor | February 2023
"The low-priced IdeaPad 3 14 delivers on core functionality. Lenovo's IdeaPad 3 14 meets all the basic requirements for an inexpensive office laptop. The matte IPS display is bright enough, the performance is high for the class, and the input devices are rock solid. In addition, the mostly quiet operation including the useful performance modes, cool surface temperatures, easy maintainability as well as expandable working and mass storage all contribute to the IdeaPad 3 14's value proposition."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2021) or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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