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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
When considering the Acer Swift X and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, your decision may revolve around the balance between cost and specific needs. The Acer Swift X, being more affordable, presents a solid option for everyday use and light creative tasks, providing good performance for the price. In contrast, the ThinkPad T14 often comes at a higher cost but offers robust build quality, better security features, and a more comfortable keyboard, making it a preferred choice for business professionals and those who need a machine that can withstand more rigorous use. If your priority is portability and casual use without strain on the wallet, the Swift X could suit you well. However, if you need a laptop that can handle demanding workloads and provides enterprise-level reliability, investing in the ThinkPad T14 may be justified. 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
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4
8.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for general use, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is good.
The Acer Swift X offers a balance for everyday tasks with its decent CPU and RAM, making it a solid choice for general users who also appreciate its portability and screen quality; however, its battery life may fall short for all-day use. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, with its superior CPU and RAM, excels in handling more demanding applications smoothly, boasts a higher quality screen, and longer battery life, making it a reliable option for intensive use, although it is typically heavier and less portable than the Swift X.
Engineering and Design
7.0
8.0
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is good.
The Acer Swift X stands out with its powerful GPU and high-quality display, which are essential for demanding engineering software and design tasks, while its CPU and RAM ensure smooth multi-tasking. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, with its robust build and excellent keyboard, offers a comfortable typing experience and durability which are beneficial for engineering work, though it may have a less powerful GPU compared to the Swift X.
Content Creation
7.5
8.3
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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
8.3
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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
6.9
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has a better screen than the Acer Swift X for content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Acer Swift X and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 offer screens with suitable resolution, panel type, and brightness, ensuring clear and comfortable viewing for everyday tasks such as browsing and document editing. Engineers and designers will appreciate the strong color accuracy and wide color gamuts of these laptops, enabling precise work in applications that demand color fidelity. However, gamers and 3D professionals may find the screen refresh rates on these models lower than ideal, potentially leading to less smooth visuals in high-motion scenarios where higher refresh rates are beneficial.
Cost
$580
$1,241
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 costs $1,241.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.7
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Acer Swift X (2021) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X is equipped with a dedicated GPU that can handle gaming and 3D tasks adequately, but it is limited by its screen refresh rate, which isn't optimal for high frame rates found in intensive games. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, while boasting a strong CPU and solid screen quality for everyday tasks, also falls short in gaming and 3D performance because it has a less capable GPU compared to the Acer Swift X.
Battery
10.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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
2.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift X (2021) and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
8.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad T14 to have 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.
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How the Acer Swift X (2021) and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2021) | Lenovo ThinkPad T14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $1,241 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | September 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 12.5'' x 8.9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 2.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 12.51" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 8.93" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 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 | 39.3 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 372 nits | 321 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1440p | |
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 | 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 ThinkPad T14
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | December 2023
"We like a lot about this laptop. It has many ports, with the inclusion of RJ45-Ethernet as a defining feature. WWAN is upgradable for maximum flexibility and the ThinkPad has many security functions. Working with the ThinkPad input devices is a lot of fun, and Lenovo puts in a serviceable Low Power panel. The AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U delivers a great performance and does not drain the battery fast. Fan noise and temperatures are nothing special, but also far away from bad. With the user replaceable keyboard, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 has a special feature rarely present on most modern laptops."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2021) or the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
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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About the laptop team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
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