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Updated March 13, 2024·
If you prioritize saving money and need a laptop for more demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, the Acer Swift X is a better choice, offering strong performance for its price. However, if you prefer a laptop with a sleeker design, higher build quality, and potentially better portability at the expense of higher cost and slightly less power, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x should be your pick. Consider the weight if you'll be carrying the laptop frequently, and battery life for longer use without charging. The choice also hinges on whether a sturdier, more premium feel is worth the extra investment for you. 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 keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
7.4
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for general use, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift X offers a solid CPU and ample RAM, which ensures smooth multitasking for everyday tasks, paired with a high-quality screen and long battery life, it suits users prioritizing performance during longer off-the-grid periods. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, while still delivering capable CPU performance and enough RAM for general use, shines in its portability and premium build, appealing to those who value a sleek design and ease of transport, with respectable battery life and screen quality supporting regular mobile use.
Engineering and Design
7.0
7.9
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for engineering and design, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift X offers robust CPU, GPU, and sufficient RAM, which benefit demanding engineering software and design tasks, while its high-quality screen displays precise details needed for intricate work. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x combines a strong CPU and ample RAM with a premium screen, and its advantage lies in being more portable and possessing a superior keyboard, which is beneficial for long hours of typing and on-the-go productivity.
Content Creation
7.5
8.0
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
7.9
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Acer Swift X (2021) are both good for software development, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
8.2
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has a better screen than the Acer Swift X for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Acer Swift X and Lenovo ThinkBook 13x offer displays with sufficient resolution and brightness to ensure a clear and comfortable viewing experience, but the ThinkBook 13x tends to have a bit higher resolution and brightness, making it stand out. In engineering and design, accurate color representation is crucial, and both laptops provide wide color gamuts; however, the Lenovo's screen typically exhibits better color accuracy, which is essential for professional design work. While both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D tasks due to their lack of high refresh rates, which are key for smooth motion and gameplay, they still provide the basic resolution and panel quality required for moderate use.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has 8 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
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has excellent portability, while the Acer Swift X (2021) has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$580
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Swift X (2021) has a price of $580 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.6
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Acer Swift X (2021) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X is equipped with a dedicated GPU, which provides better graphics performance ideal for gaming and 3D applications, whereas the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, with a less powerful integrated GPU, offers moderate performance suitable for less demanding tasks. Both laptops have standard screen refresh rates that are adequate for everyday use and casual gaming, but the Acer's superior GPU and the Lenovo's commendable screen quality ensure fair capabilities in their respective price brackets for users interested in gaming and 3D activities.
Build Quality
7.6
7.6
The Acer Swift X (2021) and Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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 ThinkBook 13x compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X (2021) | Lenovo ThinkBook 13x |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$580 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | January 30, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.7'' | 11.6'' x 8.1'' x 0.5'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.06 lbs | 2.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.7" | 11.6" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.4" | 8.1" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 74 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1920 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 372 nits | 500 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 9.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
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 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
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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 Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
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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