Acer Swift 3 Review: Sleek Design, Solid Performance and Good Value

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Home Hardware Acer Swift 3 Review: Sleek Design, Solid Performance and Good Value

Acer Swift 3 Review: Sleek Design, Solid Performance and Good Value

Introduction

The Acer Swift 3 is a high-end laptop model that was launched in 2016, targeted towards home, office, and student use. In this review, we will explore the various aspects of this device, including its design, performance, and overall value for money.

Design and Build Quality

The Acer Swift 3 features a sleek and modern design that is reminiscent of the Samsung ultrabooks from a few years ago. The device is made of high-quality materials, with a combination of metallic-feeling plastic and solid build quality. With a weight of 1.5 kilograms, it strikes a good balance between portability and durability.

The keyboard on the Swift 3 is comfortable to use, with a nice key travel and a backlit feature. The large trackpad is also responsive and works well. However, it is worth noting that the device does have a couple of fans inside, which can be slightly audible in silent environments.

Port Selection

In terms of connectivity options, the Acer Swift 3 offers a decent selection of ports. On one side, there is a full-size USB port, an audio input/output port, and a full-size SD card reader. Flipping it around to the other side, you will find an HDMI output, a USB 3 port, and a USB C port. While the port selection is not extensive, it covers the essential needs for most users.

Display Quality

The Swift 3 comes with a non-IPS screen, limiting the viewing angles and overall brightness. The brightness levels are quite poor, reaching only 215 nits. The color space coverage is also not impressive, with only 55% of sRGB. However, the colors that are displayed are fairly accurate, with Delta values around 5 and 4.2 for the gray scales.

Performance Figures

The Acer Swift 3 is powered by a dual-core Intel Core i7 processor, which delivers decent performance for day-to-day tasks and light multitasking. In our benchmark tests, the performance figures were not outstanding but within the expected range for a device with this generation of Core i7. It is suitable for office work and light gaming, but not recommended for intensive PC gaming.

Gaming Capabilities

When it comes to gaming, the Swift 3 is not designed to handle demanding titles. In our tests, it achieved frame rates of around 11-14 frames per Second on low settings for a resolution of 1366x768. While it may be able to run older games, it falls short for modern PC gaming. Prospective buyers looking for a gaming laptop should consider other options.

SSD Performance

The Swift 3 comes equipped with a 512GB SSD, which offers good sequential read and write speeds of around 400MB/s. The 4k read and write speeds are also respectable at 24MB/s and 65MB/s, respectively. Overall, the SSD performance is decent and contributes to a smooth user experience.

Temperature and Noise Levels

In terms of temperature, the Swift 3 remains relatively cool under normal use, with temperatures reaching up to 44 degrees Celsius on the front and even cooler on the back. The device has been designed well to handle heat efficiently. However, as Mentioned earlier, the fans can be slightly audible in silent environments, which may be bothersome for some users.

Battery Life

The Swift 3 is equipped with a 50 watt-hour battery, which provides a satisfactory battery life. In our tests, it achieved around 11 hours and 47 minutes of idle time, and approximately 5 hours and 54 minutes of Wi-Fi surfing. The battery life could have been slightly better, but it still offers a reasonable duration for typical daily use.

Upgradeability

While the Swift 3 offers some upgradeability options, there are also limitations to consider. The RAM is soldered onto the motherboard, meaning that the entry-level version with 4GB of RAM is not upgradeable. However, the SSD can be upgraded as it is accessible. Prospective buyers should take these factors into consideration based on their future upgrade needs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Acer Swift 3 is a solid laptop option for home, office, and student use. With its sleek design, good build quality, and comfortable input devices, it offers a pleasant user experience. The performance figures are respectable for everyday tasks, but it may struggle with intensive applications and gaming. The display quality and limited upgradeability are some of the drawbacks to consider. Overall, the Swift 3 represents a decent value for money, especially considering its specifications and the current market prices.

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