Review: Acer Swift X 14 Notebook

The Acer Swift X 14, a newer entrant in Acer’s Swift X lineup, is an ultraportable notebook that balances high performance with a sleek design. Catering to professionals and students in creative fields, this model promises to deliver on several fronts – from processing power to display quality.

Form

Physically, the Swift X 14 impresses with its minimalist and sleek design. It measures a mere 17.9 mm in thickness and weighs around 3.42 pounds, making it both slim and light for easy portability. The aluminum chassis, complemented by an OceanGlass™ touchpad (made from recycled ocean-bound plastic), adds to its premium feel.

Under the hood, the model I reviewed is powered by a 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-13700H processor, combined with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU. This powerful combo is suited for demanding tasks like video editing or 3D rendering. It features a 14.5-inch 2.8K OLED display with a 2880×1800 resolution and a high 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring crisp, vibrant visuals. The color accuracy is enhanced by the 100% DCI-P3 color range.

Port-wise, it’s well-equipped with two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, an HDMI port, and a MicroSD card reader. This array offers significant flexibility for various peripherals and external displays.

Acer Swift X 14 review — The OceanGlass touchpad is made from recycled plastic.

Function

Performance-wise, the Swift X 14 shines, especially for creative tasks. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU, along with NVIDIA Studio Drivers, provides robust support for creative applications. The laptop’s ability to handle 3D rendering, video production, and live streaming is a significant boon for professionals.

Battery life is commendable, thanks to the reconfigured chassis allowing for a larger battery. This, combined with advanced thermals – dual copper heat pipes and a powerful fan – ensures sustained performance without overheating.

Experience

Using the Swift X 14 is a pleasure, particularly for visually intensive tasks. The OLED screen is a standout feature, offering deep blacks and vibrant colors that make photo and video editing a delight. The keyboard is comfortable for extended typing sessions, and the backlit keys are a nice touch. The fingerprint reader adds a layer of convenience for secure, quick access.

Verdict

Pros:

Stellar Display: The 2.8K OLED screen with a high refresh rate and excellent color accuracy is perfect for creative work.
Powerful Performance: The combination of the 13th Gen Intel Core processor and NVIDIA RTX 4050 GPU handles demanding applications smoothly.
Sleek Design: The ultraportable, stylish design makes it a great choice for professionals on the go.

Cons:

Price: At an MSRP of $1,499.99, it’s on the higher end, which might be a consideration for budget-conscious users (You can buy the Swift X 14 with the less powerful GeForce RTX 3050 GPU and 512GB of storage for $1,099.99).
Max Memory Limitation: With a maximum onboard memory of 16GB that isn’t user-upgradable, power users might find it limiting.

The Acer Swift X 14 is an excellent choice for professionals and students in creative fields. Its combination of powerful performance, stunning display, and sleek design makes it a compelling option, provided the price and memory limitations align with your needs and expectations.

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Tony Bradley

Editor-in-Chief at TechSpective

I have a passion for technology and gadgets--with a focus on Microsoft and security--and a desire to help others understand how technology can affect or improve their lives. I also love spending time with my wife, 7 kids, 4 dogs, 7 cats, a pot-bellied pig, and sulcata tortoise, and I like to think I enjoy reading and golf even though I never find time for either. You can contact me directly at tony@xpective.net. For more from me, you can follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.