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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Swift X offers superior graphics with the Nvidia RTX 3050, which is more suitable for 3D work, machine learning tasks, and gaming. The MSI Prestige 14, however, has twice the RAM, which could be better for multitasking and some engineering applications. Both laptops are similar in price, have the same screen size, and are comparably portable, but the Acer Swift X is slightly heavier. The MSI Prestige 14 offers Thunderbolt support, which can be crucial for high-speed external connections. Battery life is longer on the Acer, making it a better choice for users who need to work without frequent charging. Choose the Acer for better graphics performance and battery life, or the MSI for more RAM and Thunderbolt connectivity. 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
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 14
- The MSI Prestige 14 has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift X (2021).
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.9
6.9
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 and the MSI Prestige 14 have similar screen quality.
If you prioritize a clear, bright display for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, both the Acer Swift X and the MSI Prestige 14 offer high resolution and brightness, ensuring crisp and vibrant visuals. For engineering and design work where precise colors matter, these laptops provide wide color gamuts, delivering accurate color representation that's crucial for professional creative work. However, for gaming and running 3D applications, the lower refresh rates on both models mean they won't be as smooth or responsive as specialized gaming laptops, possibly detracting from fast-paced, immersive experiences.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 14 has 8.5 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.
Cost
$580
$1,040
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the MSI Prestige 14 costs $1,040.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.8/10
The MSI Prestige 14 and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift X (2021) with its AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics, and ample screen brightness is a solid choice for general use, offering good portability and a battery life sufficient for a full day's work without needing frequent charging. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 14 boasts an Intel i5 CPU with integrated graphics that are less powerful than dedicated GPUs but offers double the RAM for multitasking and a better color range on its screen, wrapped up in a lighter package, albeit with a slightly shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.2
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
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 MSI Prestige 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X is suitable for gaming and 3D work with its Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, providing higher graphics performance than the MSI Prestige 14, which is equipped with an Intel Iris Xe GPU; however, both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, limiting their gaming performance to more casual use. The MSI Prestige 14 compensates with a better CPU for general productivity, but both laptops feature similar screen quality, and neither are designed for high-end gaming or advanced 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.0
7.1
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 14 and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for engineering and design.
The Acer Swift X (2021) is equipped with a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU which is better suited for graphical tasks in engineering and design work compared to the integrated Iris Xe graphics in the MSI Prestige 14; however, the MSI Prestige 14 boasts a higher RAM capacity, which can be crucial for multitasking and handling large projects. While both laptops have IPS screens with similar resolution and quality, the MSI has a slight advantage in screen color accuracy, and both are quite portable, but the Swift X has higher fan noise, which could be distracting in quieter environments.
Content Creation
7.5
7.5
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 14 and Acer Swift X (2021) 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
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 14 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Prestige 14 and Acer Swift X (2021) both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
7.4
The Acer Swift X (2021) and MSI Prestige 14 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 MSI Prestige 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2021) | MSI Prestige 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $1,040 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | April 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 12.6'' x 8.6'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 2.84 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 12.56" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 8.62" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | Intel i5-1240P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 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 | 8.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 53.8 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 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 8.8/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
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 | 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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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."
MSI Prestige 14
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Dig into reviews and images
Tech Radar
Collin Probst | September 2022
"The MSI Prestige 14” is excellent for productivity and business use cases, but it is not ideal for creators or visual content editors. The Prestige was able to power through days of email, spreadsheets, and text documents without breaking a sweat and was a joy to use. The additional ports were a breath of fresh air, as most laptops seem to be moving towards just Thunderbolt ports. The security options made signing in effortless, with two quick, more secure, and faster options than even the most complex alphanumeric passcode."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2021) or the MSI Prestige 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 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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