Review Of Acer Swift 3: A Powerful And Affordable Laptop For Budget-conscious Consumers

James Wilkins

Sep 26, 2024 — 6 min read

In today's world, where technology plays an integral role in both personal and professional life, choosing the right laptop is crucial. While high-end devices often grab the headlines, not everyone has the budget for them. That's where the Acer Swift 3 comes into the picture. This laptop strikes a fine balance between performance and price, making it a fantastic option for students, professionals, and general users alike.

In this comprehensive review, we'll break down the features of the Acer Swift 3, exploring its strengths and weaknesses, and providing tips for budget-conscious consumers looking to make a smart purchase.

Overview of the Acer Swift 3
Design and Build Quality
Display: Balancing Color and Brightness
Performance: Power Under the Hood
- 4.1. Processor Options
- 4.2. RAM and Storage Capabilities
- 4.3. Graphics Performance
Battery Life: Long-Lasting or Average?
Keyboard and Trackpad Experience
Port Selection and Connectivity
Audio and Webcam Quality
Software and Pre-Installed Applications
Who Should Buy the Acer Swift 3?
Tips for Budget-Conscious Consumers
Conclusion: Is the Acer Swift 3 Worth It?

1. Overview of the Acer Swift 3

The Acer Swift 3 is a mid-range laptop that offers a remarkable blend of power, portability, and affordability. It's part of Acer's Swift series, known for producing lightweight yet efficient laptops designed for users who need to multitask on the go. Despite its competitive price, the Swift 3 doesn’t compromise much in terms of performance or functionality.

Price Range: Approximately $600–$800, depending on the configuration.
Target Audience: Budget-conscious consumers, students, and professionals seeking a reliable laptop for everyday use.

2. Design and Build Quality

One of the standout features of the Acer Swift 3 is its sleek and minimalistic design. For a budget laptop, the build quality is surprisingly premium. Acer has opted for an aluminum chassis, which gives the device a robust and durable feel without making it too heavy.

Weight: Around 1.2 kg (2.65 pounds), making it easy to carry around.
Thickness: Thin and portable, perfect for students or professionals who travel frequently.
Color Options: The laptop typically comes in subtle colors like silver and gray, giving it a professional appearance.

The hinge mechanism allows for easy opening and closing, and the device can tilt back to a comfortable angle for typing or watching content. The Acer Swift 3’s design is simple yet elegant, making it suitable for both casual and professional environments.

3. Display: Balancing Color and Brightness

The Acer Swift 3 comes with a 14-inch Full HD (1920x1080) IPS display, offering clear and crisp visuals. The IPS technology ensures good viewing angles, which is essential if you're sharing the screen or working from different positions.

However, while the display is sharp, it’s not the brightest in its category. This can be a limitation if you’re working in bright or outdoor environments. The color accuracy is decent for everyday use, but creative professionals who rely on color precision (such as graphic designers or video editors) may find the display lacking compared to more expensive options.

Brightness: Approximately 250-300 nits, which is sufficient for indoor use.
Color Gamut: Covers about 64% of the sRGB color spectrum, making it suitable for regular tasks like browsing, word processing, and watching videos.

4. Performance: Power Under the Hood

Despite its budget-friendly price, the Acer Swift 3 packs a punch in the performance department. It’s powered by the latest Intel or AMD Ryzen processors, depending on the model, making it versatile enough for both everyday use and more intensive tasks like light video editing or casual gaming.

4.1. Processor Options

You can choose between Intel’s Core i5 and Core i7 options or AMD’s Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 processors. Both Intel and AMD models perform exceptionally well, but the AMD versions tend to offer better multi-core performance at a lower price point.

Intel Core i5-1135G7 or Ryzen 5 4500U for mid-range users.
Intel Core i7-1165G7 or Ryzen 7 4700U for those looking for more power.

For budget-conscious consumers, the Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5 models should be more than enough for tasks like web browsing, video streaming, and running office applications.

4.2. RAM and Storage Capabilities

The base model of the Acer Swift 3 comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. However, there are options to upgrade to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD. The SSD storage ensures faster boot times and quicker access to files and applications.

RAM: 8GB is sufficient for most users, but 16GB is recommended for those who multitask heavily or use resource-intensive applications.
Storage: 256GB is enough for basic users, but if you store a lot of files or run heavy applications, upgrading to 512GB may be beneficial.

4.3. Graphics Performance

The Acer Swift 3 isn’t a gaming laptop, but it can handle casual gaming and light graphical tasks. The Intel Iris Xe Graphics or AMD Radeon Graphics that come with the higher-end models offer sufficient power for light gaming and video editing.

Casual Gaming: You can play less-demanding titles like Fortnite or Overwatch at medium settings.
Light Editing: The laptop can manage photo editing in applications like Adobe Lightroom or basic video editing in Adobe Premiere.

5. Battery Life: Long-Lasting or Average?

Battery life is a crucial factor for budget-conscious consumers who need a laptop that can last through a full workday or study session. The Acer Swift 3 excels in this regard, offering up to 12 hours of battery life under moderate usage.

Real-World Usage: Under heavier tasks, such as video streaming or running multiple applications, you can expect about 7–9 hours of battery life.
Fast Charging: The Swift 3 supports fast charging, giving you about 4 hours of use with just a 30-minute charge.

For most users, this means the Swift 3 can easily get through a workday without needing to be plugged in, which is an essential feature for those on the go.

6. Keyboard and Trackpad Experience

Acer has done a great job in the design of the keyboard and trackpad on the Swift 3, making it comfortable for long typing sessions.

Keyboard: The backlit keyboard offers a good typing experience with a decent key travel distance, providing tactile feedback that isn’t too shallow. It’s perfect for writing, coding, or general typing tasks.
Trackpad: The large, responsive trackpad supports Windows Precision Drivers, allowing for smooth gestures and precise tracking. However, some users might prefer using an external mouse for better ergonomics during long sessions.

7. Port Selection and Connectivity

Port selection is often an area where budget laptops fall short, but the Acer Swift 3 offers a variety of connectivity options, making it versatile for different users.

USB-C: One USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4 support (Intel models), enabling fast data transfer, charging, and display output.
USB-A: Two USB-A ports for connecting peripherals like external hard drives, mice, or keyboards.
HDMI: An HDMI port is available for external monitors or projectors.
Headphone Jack: The Swift 3 also includes a standard headphone/microphone jack for audio.

Additionally, the Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 ensure fast and stable wireless connections, ideal for video conferencing or streaming content online.

8. Audio and Webcam Quality

The audio on the Acer Swift 3 is decent but not extraordinary. The stereo speakers provide clear sound at moderate volumes, making it suitable for video calls, movies, and music. However, for a more immersive experience, especially when watching movies or gaming, you might want to use external speakers or headphones.

Webcam: The 720p HD webcam offers clear visuals for video conferencing but doesn’t perform as well in low-light conditions. It’s adequate for Zoom or Microsoft Teams calls, but those who require top-tier webcam quality may want to invest in a dedicated webcam.

9. Software and Pre-Installed Applications

The Acer Swift 3 comes with Windows 11 out of the box, providing a smooth and user-friendly experience. Like many budget laptops, it does come with some pre-installed software or bloatware. While not overly intrusive, it’s always a good idea to uninstall unnecessary applications to free up system resources.

Microsoft Office Suite: Acer typically includes a trial version of Microsoft Office, which is useful for students or professionals.
Norton Security: Some models may come with pre-installed security software like Norton, which offers a trial period.