Acer Swift 3 review
The Acer Acer Swift 3 ranks as the #751 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 63. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #165-ranked features among 777 laptops. Consider the Panasonic Toughbook FZ-40 or Microsoft Surface Laptop 4, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Acer Swift 3 seems to have lost its value edge with its latest pricing. While the materials and design are suitable for laptops in the £700-£800 region, they start to feel cheap at higher price points. The top-end model's average 1080p screen is a disappointment given its £1100 price tag. Considering alternatives like the Swift 5 or even a MacBook Air might be a better value proposition. If light to moderate gaming is your priority, the Swift 3's Iris Xc graphics still make it a viable option. However, with other ultra-portable laptops offering more powerful specs at similar prices, the Swift 3's worthiness is questionable. Ultimately, its value depends on individual priorities and needs.
Build
The Acer Swift 3's build is a mixed bag. The materials used are decent for laptops in the £500-£800 range, but considering the higher price point, they start to feel cheap. The design is sleek and modern, but it doesn't quite live up to its premium feel. The backlit keyboard is comfortable to type on, but the page up/down keys are awkwardly placed. The precision touchpad works well, but the webcam is disappointing with poor quality and over-saturated colors. Overall, the build feels like a compromise between price and quality, lacking that extra special something to justify the higher cost. You may find Acer TravelMate P4 a better fit, thanks to its superior build.
Display
The Acer Swift 3 boasts a stunning display that sets it apart from its competitors. The 13-inch touchscreen panel offers vibrant colors and crisp text rendering. The 3:2 aspect ratio provides an immersive viewing experience, perfect for watching movies or browsing the web. The screen's brightness is adequate for indoor use, but may not be sufficient for very bright environments. Overall, the display is a highlight of the Swift 3, making it a great choice for those who value visual quality in their laptop. Its only drawback is the lack of OLED or high-brightness options. If you’re after a better display, Acer Spin 3 could be the ideal option.
Performance
The Acer Swift 3's performance is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it delivers smooth gaming experiences with a significant boost in frame rates when using both graphics processors. In Hitman 3 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, I recorded impressive boosts in frame rates. However, not all games benefited from this feature, as seen in 3Dmark Time Spy and Rainbow Six Siege. While Handbrake video export speed was indeed quicker on the Swift 3 with Xe Max graphics, it didn't translate to a significant difference in Premiere Pro. Battery life, however, was surprisingly consistent across both models, lasting around 7.5 hours. Overall, the performance of the Acer Swift 3 is solid but not exceptional, making it a decent option for light gaming on an ultra-portable laptop. Samsung Galaxy Book5 360 might be a smarter choice, offering an upgraded performance.
Battery and Charging
The Acer Swift 3's battery life is average, lasting around 7.5 hours in our standard YouTube test with 50 brightness using the better battery saving mode. This is not the claimed 17.5 hours mixed use time. Charging is a straightforward process, but we did not measure charging times. Overall, the battery performance is decent, but not exceptional, and users may need to recharge during the day if they plan to use their laptop extensively.
Connectivity
The Acer Swift 3 boasts impressive connectivity options. It features dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and a USB-C port that supports charging and data transfer. A USB-A port and an HDMI output are also present, making it easy to connect peripherals and displays. The laptop's ports are conveniently placed on the sides, leaving the back free of clutter for improved airflow. You might want to check out Acer Chromebook Spin 513, featuring an upgraded connectivity for a superior experience.
Features
The Acer Swift 3 boasts impressive features, including a sleek design, multiple color options, and a range of screen sizes (13-14 inches). The laptop offers up to 12 hours of battery life, making it ideal for long trips or extended use. Additionally, it comes with Intel Core processors, up to 16GB of RAM, and a choice of SSD storage. Take a look at Acer TravelMate P4 - its improved features sets a new standard.
Support and Maintenance
Acer's Swift 3 laptops receive average support and maintenance ratings. While customer service is available, some users have reported difficulty resolving issues. Hardware maintenance options are also limited, with few repair centers available worldwide. Overall, a decent but not exceptional support experience that could be improved upon by Acer.
Pros
1. The Swift 3 has a great screen, which actually makes quite a big difference I found.
2. The three by two aspect ratio is preferred over the standard aspect ratio of other laptops.
3. Light gaming is still possible on the regular Iris Xc graphics.
4. The materials and design of the Swift 3 are suitable for laptops in the £700-£800 range.
5. The battery life of both the Swift 3 and Swift 3X lasted the exact same time around 7 and a half hours, which is pretty average.
Cons
1. Considering how much they cost, the materials and design start to feel a little bit cheap.
2. The top-end 3x has the same average 1080p screen as the base Swift 3, which costs about half the price from this £1100 asking price.
3. The webcam quality is not fantastic, it's quite noisy and the colors are a bit too saturated.
4. Sound quality was pretty weak on both machines, with tinny vocals and music and almost non-existent bass.
5. When you consider the top-end 3x has the same screen as the base Swift 3, which costs about half the price, it's hard to swallow the £1100 asking price.
FAQ
Compare with other laptops
See how this item stacks up against any other model
Choose two different items to see a detailed comparison of their specifications, performance, and features