Discover how performance and portability meet in a sleek design in our Acer Swift X14 review!
In a world saturated with gaming laptops that double as portable RGB light shows (not that it’s a bad thing), the Acer Swift X 14 instead opts for a different approach. Sleek, subtle, and tailored more for professionals than gamers, this new device aims to blend impressive power with portability and elegance.
With prices starting from $2,199 AUD at the time of this review and rising depending on your configuration, the Swift X 14 positions itself as a reasonable mid-tier choice for business and productivity-focused users who want a little extra power under the hood. Particularly if you’re willing to go all-out and invest in the top model, which sports powerful internals and an Nvidia RTX 4070.
But is this laptop the ideal productivity powerhouse, or does its appeal get overshadowed by its AI quirks? Let’s dive into the details to find out.
Acer Swift X14 Review – Design
The Acer Swift X 14 is a masterclass in minimalism, sporting a slim, clean aesthetic devoid of gaudy flourishes. Encased in an aluminum chassis with a cool-to-the-touch finish, the laptop strikes a balance between professional and modern. Available in muted colors like Iron and Steel Gray, it’s clear that this is a device designed for the boardroom, not the eSports arena.
Thin, light, and monochrome. Clearly designed for the office!
At just 17.9mm thin and weighing a mere 1.55kg, the Swift X 14 is light enough to slip into a messenger bag without weighing you down. The matte display, surrounded by narrow bezels, offers a premium viewing experience, though the 16:10 aspect ratio does take some getting used to.
While the build quality is excellent for the most part, the keyboard is slightly shallow compared to other productivity laptops, which may take heavy typists some time to adjust. However, the wide trackpad feels smooth and responsive and is easy to use (if you accidentally left your wireless mouse at home).
Acer Swift X14 Review – Practicality
Portability is one of the Swift X 14’s strongest assets, but its practicality extends beyond its lightweight design. The laptop features a commendable array of ports, including USB-C, HDMI 2.1, and dual USB-A, making it versatile enough for most office setups. However, the absence of an SD or MicroSD card slot is a small annoyance for content creators or those who frequently transfer media.
More ports than you can plug a stick into.
Unfortunately, the device’s fans run counter to its otherwise subtle and professional vibe. Even when idle or handling light workloads, the fans can be distractingly noisy—a surprising drawback for a device aimed at productivity. This persistent hum might make it less ideal for use in quiet environments like libraries or meetings. Perhaps it was the muggy Queensland weather that set it off, but even while browsing the web or word processing, the fan was far louder than I’d expected.
Battery life, however, makes up for this somewhat, offering up to 10 hours on moderate usage. This makes it a reliable companion for a full workday away from a charger.
Acer Swift X14 Review – Performance
Under the hood, the Acer Swift X 14 is certainly no low-budget office laptop. Powered by up to a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor paired with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics, this laptop is capable of handling demanding productivity software like Adobe Creative Suite or even light gaming on the side. However, it’s clear that this is not a gaming laptop, and those looking for top-tier performance in games might be better served elsewhere. That being said, the top-of-the-line model can handle most games, but you’re likely to find a more suitable gaming laptop at a cheaper price from brands like MSI or ASUS.
Even though I have a personal vendetta against touchpads, this one is surprisingly nice.
During testing, multitasking was seamless, with the device handling 10+ browser tabs, video editing, and streaming simultaneously without breaking a sweat. The OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate ensures crisp visuals, making it an ideal companion for designers or media professionals.
While the performance is more than adequate for its target audience, the cooling system does struggle under load. The laptop tends to heat up during intensive tasks, which is compounded by the already noisy fans. This is something to keep in mind if you plan on pushing the device to its limits regularly.
Acer Swift X14 Review – What Else?
The Swift X 14 is packed with features designed to elevate productivity. The fingerprint reader embedded in the power button ensures quick and secure logins, while the inclusion of Wi-Fi 6E allows for fast and stable connectivity, even in crowded networks.
And as most tech companies seem to be doing at the moment, there’s AI crammed in at every opportunity. One useful feature is the AI-powered noise suppression, which effectively filters out background noise during video calls, making it an excellent choice for professionals who spend a lot of time in virtual meetings.
Conclusion
The Acer Swift X 14 is an ideal choice for professionals who need a powerful, portable laptop that doesn’t compromise on design or features. Its sleek build and bright OLED display make it ideal for productivity and light creative work, while its array of ports and excellent battery life ensure it’s ready for long days on the go.
That said, the Swift X 14 is not without its flaws. The noisy fans detract from an otherwise polished and otherwise sleek experience, and its cooling system leaves room for improvement during heavy use. For those seeking a quiet, high-performance machine for serious workloads, the Swift X14 might not fulfil your every need.
So, why should you buy the Acer Swift X14?
- Sleek, lightweight design ideal for professionals
- Impressive OLED display
- Solid performance for productivity
- Great battery life for a full workday
But why shouldn’t you buy the Acer Swift X14?
- Surprisingly noisy fans, even during idle use
- Gets warm under heavy workloads
- Better specced devices out there for similar prices
A loaned review unit was kindly provided by Acer Australia for the purpose of this review. For more laptop reviews, be sure to check out our range of hardware coverage and join us on the Qualbert Discord to chat with us about the latest tech!
