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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 21, 2024·
If you're budget-conscious, the Acer Swift X offers solid performance for everyday tasks and light creativity at a lower cost, though the MSI Creator M14 is better suited for demanding creative work like video editing or graphic design due to its higher-end specs. Keep in mind, the MSI is likely to be heavier, making the Acer more portable, but this could mean shorter battery life, which could be a drawback if you need to use it on the go. Choose the MSI if your work requires more power and you're okay with a higher price and less portability; otherwise, the Acer Swift X offers good value and easier carrying. 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 portability
- Very good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.4
8.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is good.
The Acer Swift X offers a balance of performance and portability with a capable CPU and RAM, good screen quality, and extended battery life, making it suitable for everyday tasks on the go. Meanwhile, the MSI Creator M14, with its higher-performing CPU and superior screen, caters more toward intensive tasks and content creation, though with this increase in power, you may experience a trade-off in battery life and portability.
Gaming and AI
6.3
7.3
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is only fair.
The Acer Swift X has a GPU that provides a satisfactory level of performance for gaming and 3D applications, but the MSI Creator M14 comes with a more advanced GPU that delivers better graphics and smoother experiences, particularly important for those tasks. While the Acer's screen refresh rate is adequate for casual gaming, the MSI's higher refresh rate makes for a more fluid visual experience which, along with a potentially superior CPU and better screen quality, enhances overall gaming and 3D performance.
Engineering and Design
7.0
8.4
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is good.
The MSI Creator M14 outshines the Acer Swift X with a more powerful CPU and GPU, essential for demanding engineering software and tasks, while also boasting superior screen quality that's beneficial for design work. While the Acer Swift X offers decent specifications that can handle engineering applications, it falls short in comparison, yet it may appeal more to those prioritizing portability and a quieter operating experience.
Content Creation
7.5
8.0
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator M14 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
7.8
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for software development, though the MSI Creator M14 is somewhat better.
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
7.5
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 has a better screen than the Acer Swift X for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering screen quality for general use, both the Acer Swift X and MSI Creator M14 provide clear, sharp images due to their high resolution and brightness, making everyday activities like browsing the web and watching videos pleasing to the eye. For engineering and design, these laptops offer wide color gamuts ensuring that professionals in these fields see accurate colors and gradients, essential for detailed design work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates on these laptops may lead to less smooth visuals, which can detract from fast-paced gaming or intricate 3D modeling.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 has 4.5 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
14.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Acer Swift X (2021) has very good portability, while the MSI Creator M14 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$580
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
7.6
7.8
The MSI Creator M14 and Acer Swift X (2021) 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Swift X (2021) and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2021) | MSI Creator M14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 12.4'' x 9.2'' x 0.88'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 3.53 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 12.39" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 9.19" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 372 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 | |
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 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
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 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
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."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2021) or the MSI Creator M14
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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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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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