Acer Swift 5 review
The Acer Acer Swift 5 ranks as the #342 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 74. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #7-ranked connectivity among 777 laptops. Consider the Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI or Acer Spin 5, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Acer Swift 5 is a decent but pricey ultraportable laptop. Its thin and light design makes it easy to carry around, but its hollow build quality and lackluster keyboard feel may not justify the cost. While its Intel 11th gen processor provides good performance, the battery life falls short of competitors. The touch screen is a nice touch, but the limited storage space is a drawback. Overall, unless you're specifically looking for a lightweight laptop with a touchscreen, it's hard to say if the Swift 5 is worth the investment.
Build
The Acer Swift 5's build quality is decent, though it feels a bit hollow and lightweight. The plastic exterior doesn't have sharp corners or edges, but it does weigh just over a kilo, making it fairly portable at 14 inches and under 1.5cm thick. The laptop has a glass glossy finish, which can make it prone to fingerprints and smudges. While not particularly noteworthy, the build quality is adequate for an ultraportable machine like this. However, the lack of durability and sturdiness might be a concern for some users, especially considering its premium price tag. Overall, it's a solid foundation but nothing that stands out. It’s worth checking out Acer Chromebook Vero 514, delivering remarkable build.
Display
The Acer Swift 5's display is a highlight of the laptop. The 14-inch touchscreen has a glass glossy finish, which showcases vibrant colors but also picks up fingerprints and reflections. Despite this, it's still above average with over 360 nits brightness and a decent 1110:1 contrast ratio. Color accuracy is good, although not exceptional. In terms of display performance, the Swift 5 holds its own against other laptops in its class. It's not a standout feature, but it gets the job done. Overall, the display is serviceable, if unremarkable, and suitable for general use. Give Acer Predator Triton 14 a try—it’s designed to provide an unparalleled display.
Performance
The Acer Swift 5's performance is satisfactory, but not outstanding. It features Intel's 11th gen Tiger Lake processors, which deliver impressive single-core scores in Cinebench R20, even beating higher-wattage H-series quad-core parts. However, the CPU stress test runs with a power limit of just 17 watts, limiting overall performance. The laptop handles esports titles at 1080p and AAA games at 720p, but falls short in content creator workloads like Adobe Premiere due to its integrated Intel Xe graphics. Overall, it's a decent performer for everyday tasks, but not ideal for demanding users. Get your hands on Acer Spin 5 if you're looking for better performance.
Battery and Charging
The Acer Swift 5's battery life is adequate, lasting over 5.5 hours in YouTube playback testing. However, this falls short of some competitors with similar specs, such as the MSI Prestige 14. The 4-cell 54.5Wh battery is average-sized for a laptop of this class. Charging time was not mentioned. Overall, while the battery life is acceptable, it's not particularly impressive.
Connectivity
The Acer Swift 5 boasts a comprehensive connectivity suite, featuring an HDMI 2.0 output, USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A port, USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port with Thunderbolt 4 support, and DisplayPort output. A 3.5mm audio combo jack and Kensington lock round out the laptop's practical connections. You might prefer Acer Predator Triton 14, designed with an upgraded connectivity for a better experience.
Features
The Acer Swift 5 is a thin and light 14-inch laptop with Intel's 11th gen Tiger Lake processor. It features a 1080p touchscreen with an antimicrobial coating, a fingerprint scanner, and USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4 support. The keyboard has white backlighting, and the battery life lasts for over 5 hours in heavy use. For a superior features, Acer Aspire 5 Spin 14 could be the right choice.
Support and Maintenance
Acer's Swift 5 is a reliable option with a straightforward maintenance process. The laptop's interior can be easily accessed by removing 11 screws, making repairs or upgrades manageable. No software controls performance, but the processor runs cool under stress tests, suggesting minimal heat-related issues.
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