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Updated January 12, 2024·
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option for general use, the Acer Swift X offers solid performance with enough power for everyday tasks and light gaming. However, if you need a laptop for more demanding applications like 3D rendering, machine learning, or advanced gaming, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio with its superior graphics and processing power would be a better fit. Consider, though, that the MSI is more expensive and heavier, which impacts portability. Additionally, the MSI has a higher-resolution display and a better screen aspect ratio for productivity tasks. On the other hand, the Acer should offer longer battery life due to its less power-hungry components, making it better suited for longer use on the go. 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 keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good overall display quality
- Best in class speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3
7.8
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is only fair.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio offers superior gaming and 3D performance primarily due to its more advanced Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 165 Hz, compared to the Acer Swift X's Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU and a 60 Hz screen refresh rate. Although both laptops have quality IPS displays and capable CPUs, the MSI's better GPU and refresh rate are significantly more important for gaming and rendering 3D graphics.
Engineering and Design
7.0
8.5
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Swift X (2021) is good.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is notably better for engineering and design because it has a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a superior GPU compared to the Acer Swift X (2021), both crucial for demanding tasks such as 3D modeling and data analysis. Additionally, the MSI boasts a higher resolution and refresh rate screen, enhancing visual clarity and smoothness for detailed design work; however, this comes with a slight tradeoff in increased weight and reduced battery life compared to the Acer Swift X.
Screen Quality
6.9
7.6
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a better screen than the Acer Swift X for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The Acer Swift X has a display with a resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, but its slower refresh rate is a drawback for action-packed gaming or 3D applications. For engineers and designers, its color accuracy across various spectrums makes it suitable for tasks such as photo editing or CAD work. Meanwhile, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio also caters to general users and professionals with its high-resolution, bright screen and color fidelity, but like the Swift X, gaming enthusiasts may find the refresh rate less than ideal for a smooth visual experience.
Battery
10.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has 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
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift X (2021) has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$580
$1,520
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,520.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift X (2021) is appreciated for general use due to its lighter weight, longer battery life, and its solid performance from the AMD Ryzen CPU and RTX 3050 GPU; the screen quality and portability are also commended. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio offers superior performance with a higher-resolution and higher refresh-rate screen, more RAM, and a more powerful CPU and GPU combination, but it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, which may affect its portability for some users.
Content Creation
7.5
7.9
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
7.4
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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 MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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 Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2021) | MSI Stealth 14 Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $1,520 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 12.4'' x 9.7'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 12.4" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 9.69" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 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 | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 72 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 | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 372 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
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 | 3 | |
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 Stealth 14 Studio
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | June 2023
"You'll find a versatility in the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that isn’t matched by many content-creator laptops we've tested of late. The small frame allows you to (potentially) work from anywhere with an outlet and, if noise isn’t a concern, run your most demanding of programs, thanks to some powerful hardware inside. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive and powerful option if you want a portable laptop to be the center of your content work setup."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X (2021) or the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
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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