The Acer Swift 3 is a refreshingly reserved laptop in a world where every laptop wants to be the best. The Acer Swift 3 isn't trying to impress you with its ultra-thin bezels and a single piece made of machined metal by artisanal robots using AI. It's a laptop. It is a well-designed and well-built laptop that will not break the bank. The Acer Swift 3 was our top-rated budget laptop last year.
Based on my experience with the year's minor update, there is no reason to make any changes. The Swift 3 is a reliable, basic, and reasonably priced machine. Although it is not designed to run graphics-intensive games, the battery life is amazing. You can get through a full day of work or late night studying without getting too hot.
Tailored Swift
Photograph by Acer
Before I get started, let me clarify some things. The Swift 3 is Acer's name for two laptops that are quite different. Both models use the 11th-generation Intel Core processors. Both versions have the same keyboard trackpad and fingerprint readers. However, one of them, which I am reviewing, has a 14-inch 16:9 1080p IPS LCD display.
I haven't tested the other Swift 3. It uses a 13.5 inch (2256 x 1504) 3:2 IPS screen. Although the internal components are identical, the resolution and shape display is different. The screen aside, most of what I have to say will be applicable to any model.
The Swift 3 is a slim, sleek, and simple-looking laptop. The all-metal design feels sturdy and can be carried around in a backpack. This makes it an excellent choice for college students. The laptop is also lightweight at 2.6 pounds. This is a rare feature for a laptop under $800. As I mentioned, this laptop isn't designed to win design awards. Although it looks great, the main purpose of this laptop is to help you get your work done.
It is not the best or worst keyboard I have used. Thicker, ThinkPad-style keyboards and keys are my preference, but I prefer thicker, more ThinkPad-style keys and keyboards. However, for Chiclet-style keys these keys have great travel and are very fast to type on. This trackpad is markedly better than other Acers that I have used. It is responsive and has a smoother feel than other Acer trackpads.
The Swift 3's slightly more chunky design means that it has many ports. Two USB-A ports are available, as well as a USB Thunderbolt port that can be charged from an adapter or battery. There is also a headphone jack and an HDMI output. You will need an SD card port to transfer photos and videos to your digital camera. However, you don't need to buy a lot of adapters to use accessories that you already have.
I tested a model with 16 gigabytes RAM and a 512GB SSD. It was paired with an Intel i7 processor of the 11th generation with Intel's EVO rating. This means that it is optimized for quick-charging, battery life, and instant wake. You will notice that this list does not include performance. The Swift 3 performed admirably. It was able to handle all the tasks I put it through, including browsing the internet, video conferencing, rendering 5.3K videos, and even rendering some short videos on the GoPro Hero 10 Black.
