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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Swift X offers a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card, making it more suitable for intensive graphics tasks like 3D rendering and modern gaming; however, it is priced higher than the Lenovo IdeaPad 5. On the other hand, the IdeaPad 5, while more budget-friendly and with a slightly larger screen, relies on integrated graphics, which are less powerful for demanding applications but can handle general use and lighter multimedia tasks efficiently. The Swift X is also slightly lighter, which could be a consideration if portability is a priority. Both laptops have the same resolution and storage capacity, but only the IdeaPad features a touchscreen. 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
- Very good portability
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15"
- The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift X (2021).
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.9
6.5
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
341.0 nits
The Acer Swift X has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" for general use, and engineering and design.
The Acer Swift X boasts a higher resolution and brightness, providing clearer and more vibrant images for general tasks and detailed work in engineering and design, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" offers adequate clarity and visibility for everyday activities but falls short on the sharpness required for precision work. While the Acer Swift X covers a wider color gamut, appealing to engineering and design professionals who require accurate color representation, it may not satisfy gamers or 3D designers due to its standard refresh rate. Conversely, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15", despite its satisfactory performance for daily use, does not cater well to high-end engineering, design, gaming, or 3D applications, as it compromises on color range, refresh rate, and image crispness.
Battery
10.0 Hours
11.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has 11 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
4.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Acer Swift X (2021) has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$580
$690
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" costs $690.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
341.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift X (2021) and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" both offer ample CPU power and RAM, which is very important for general use tasks, and they come with screens that deliver sharp images aiding in comfortable viewing. They balance performance with portability and decent battery life, which are essential for users who need to work on the go, while also possessing adequate storage, keyboard, speaker quality, and managing operating noise and heat well, factors that contribute positively to the user experience.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.2
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
7.5/10
The Acer Swift X (2021) and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X (2021) with its Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU surpasses the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15"'s integrated AMD Vega 8 graphics in performance, making it more suitable for gaming and 3D tasks, yet both are limited by their 60Hz refresh rate displays which might not be as smooth for fast-paced games compared to higher refresh rate screens. While the IdeaPad might offer a slightly larger screen for better immersion, its lower-powered GPU won't handle demanding games and 3D applications as effectively as the Swift X.
Engineering and Design
7.0
6.7
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift X (2021) to be good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is only fair.
The Acer Swift X stands out with a dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU and a more vibrant screen, crucial for engineering and design software that demands better visual representation and computation power. Meanwhile, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 has an integrated AMD Vega GPU and a less impressive screen, making it less suitable for intensive tasks but could be preferable for its touch screen feature for those prioritizing interactivity over raw performance.
Content Creation
7.5
7.3
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
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 5 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.
Software Development
7.3
7.3
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" 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
7.6
The Acer Swift X (2021) and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2021) | Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $690 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | August 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 14'' x 9.2'' x 0.67'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 4.08 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 14.01" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 9.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | AMD Ryzen 7 5825U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 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 | 11 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 57 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
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 | 341 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
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 5 15"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marcus Schwarten | August 2021
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is convincing due to its long battery life. The device scores points especially with its large battery and long battery runtimes combined with its low consumption. The CPU and GPU perform in the test as one would expect, and in line with what was familiar from the somewhat smaller 14-inch sister model, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2021) or the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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 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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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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