Acer Swift 3 SF314 in review: Laptop tackles test with flying colors
14-inchers are popular laptops for those who regularly use their devices while traveling. In this case, stability, display properties, input devices, and last but not least, battery runtimes have to be spot on. The Swift 3 meets these requirements effortlessly, and it even goes a step further by adding Thunderbolt support. Does the 14-incher have what it takes to be a universal mobile all-rounder?
We can say this much in advance: There's a good chance that this laptop will be very well received. Not for nothing does it achieve a strong rating - and that in all individual disciplines. Although the competition isn't in a much worse position in terms of the overall rating, they cost considerably more money in some cases. Read on to find out what you can expect from the Acer Swift 3 SF314-511 - and what not.
Predecessors and sibling models:
Acer Swift 3 SF314-42 (AMD) – 2020
Acer Swift 3X SF314-510G (Performance Version) – 2021
Acer Swift 3 SF314-43 (AMD) – 2022 – Review in process
Possible contenders in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
88.2 % | 02/2022 | Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs | 1.2 kg | 16.55 mm | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | |
88.5 % | 05/2021 | Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S R7 5800U, Vega 8 | 1.2 kg | 13.9 mm | 13.30" | 1920x1080 | |
87.7 % | 05/2021 | Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs | 1.2 kg | 16 mm | 13.30" | 1920x1080 | |
87.8 % | 01/2022 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE R7 5800U, Vega 8 | 1.3 kg | 14.9 mm | 13.30" | 1920x1200 | |
10/2021 | Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E i7-1165G7, GeForce MX450 | 1.4 kg | 16.9 mm | 14.00" | 2880x1800 |
Case - High-quality Swift 3
Like before, Acer still builds the SF314 out of metal - just like the predecessor. The sleek, slim aluminum case isn't overly flashy, but it features high-quality accents, especially when you take the solid feel of the corners and edges into account. The top cover and the lid are made of aluminum, only the bottom cover is made of plastic.
The chassis comes in a matte silver color, which is contrasted by the black plastic display bezel. Acer opts for smooth surfaces at all points. The laptop does not have a maintenance hatch, but the bottom panel can easily be removed after loosening the screws.
The gap dimensions are accurate, and there are no material protrusions. The device doesn't reveal any stability problems, and the base unit is unusually resistant to torsion. The lid can be twisted, but this doesn't lead to any color shifts on the display.
The hinge has been modified from a mono hinge back to a double hinge.
The tight hinges are pleasing; they hardly allow for wobbling when the device is carried around. The maximum opening angle is 130 degrees. Opening the lid with one hand isn't possible, and the base unit has to be held in place.
The dimensions of the devices in our comparison field only differ in terms of their 13- or 14-inch form factor. However, those who pay close attention to the number of millimeters will find a laptop in the Swift 3 that is just as thin as the Dell XPS 13, namely 16 mm, not including the base feet. It's remarkable that as a 14-incher, our Swift 3 weighs 1.2 kilograms less than the 13-inch Lenovo ThinkBook 13s (1.3 kg). The AMD Swift 3 SF314-42 predecessor also weighed 1.2 kg.
Connectivity - Acer laptop with Thunderbolt
While this price range only offered a USB Type-C with Power Delivery before, it now offers Thunderbolt 4. It's not blocked by a power adapter; Acer continues to use a small hollow female connector for the 65-watt power adapter. The Thunderbolt connection also supports DisplayPort via USB-C. Together with the HDMI port, the Swift features two video outputs. The laptop doesn't have a memory card reader.
Communication
The WLAN chip (Wi-Fi 6 AX201) from Intel supports the ax standard in addition to the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WLAN standards. Furthermore, it offers Bluetooth 5 functionality. The transfer speeds determined under optimal conditions (no other WLAN nearby, 1 meter distance between laptop and server PC) range from good to very good and are in some cases at the top of the comparison field. The decline over the course of time seems to be situational.
Networking | |
iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Average Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (49.8 - 1775, n=324) | |
Average of class Subnotebook (606 - 1339, n=3, last 2 years) | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
iperf3 receive AX12 | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (136 - 1743, n=324) | |
Average of class Subnotebook (623 - 1690, n=3, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E |
Webcam
The 720p camera is the lowest common denominator; all competitors show high DeltaE values and a lot of noise.
Security
The Acer laptop comes with a fingerprint sensor and a Kensington lock. The webcam doesn't feature an IR camera, so logging in via face recognition isn't possible. We prefer the fingerprint reader under the arrow keys to the solutions found in the touchpad.
Accessories
Besides the usual documents (warranty information, quick-start guide), the only thing included with the laptop is the 65-watt power adapter.
Maintenance
The Swift 3 doesn't have a maintenance hatch. Nevertheless, it's relatively easy to access its interior. After removing all the screws on the underside of the device, the bottom cover can be taken off with the help of a joint smoother or a flat spatula. Unfortunately, the RAM is completely onboard, and there's no slot available for expansions.
Warranty
Acer grants the slim 14-incher a two-year warranty in Germany - including a pick-up service. A three-year warranty costs about 50 Euros (~$57).
Input devices - Fast typing with the Acer laptop
Keyboard
Acer equips the 14-incher with a single-level backlit chiclet keyboard. The flat, smooth keys offer a short travel and a clear pressure point. The resistance provided by the keys is okay. The keyboard doesn't yield at any position during typing. All in all, Acer delivers a keyboard that is suitable for everyday use, with which it's possible to type quickly; however, it seems a bit stiff. The travel and pressure point should be more pronounced for a better feedback.
Touchpad
The multitouch-capable ClickPad takes up an area of about 10.5 x 6.5 cm. This provides a lot of space for using gesture controls. The smooth surface makes it easy for fingers to glide on it. The pad also responds to inputs in the corners. It has a short travel, and a clear pressure point; moreover, the noise it makes is audible, but moderate.
Display - Full HD with vivid colors
The matte 14-inch display of the Acer Swift 3 has a native resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. It offers a good contrast (1,280:1), and the maximum brightness (347 cd/m²) is good, but lower than that of all competitors. Compared to the predecessor, Acer has made improvements here, especially because the brightness remains unchanged on battery power. Positive: The display doesn't exhibit PWM flickering.
|
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 324 cd/m²
Contrast: 1280:1 (Black: 0.25 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.57 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 0.76
ΔE Greyscale 2.46 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
69% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
98% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
67% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.23
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK AUO B140HAN06, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00 | Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S Samsung (SDC4158), OLED, 1920x1080, 13.30 | Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD Sharp SHP14AE, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE M133NW4JR0, IPS, 1920x1200, 13.30 | Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E Samsung SDC4154, OLED, 2880x1800, 14.00 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Display | 32% | -2% | 0% | 30% | |
Display P3 Coverage | 67 | 99.9 49% | 66.3 -1% | 67.5 1% | 100 49% |
sRGB Coverage | 98 | 100 2% | 97.1 -1% | 97.1 -1% | 100 2% |
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 69 | 99.7 44% | 67.1 -3% | 68.8 0% | 96 39% |
Response Times | 89% | 1% | -8% | 95% | |
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 52 ? | 4 ? 92% | 55 ? -6% | 53.2 ? -2% | 2 ? 96% |
Response Time Black / White * | 29 ? | 4 ? 86% | 27 ? 7% | 32.8 ? -13% | 2 ? 93% |
PWM Frequency | 60 ? | 996 ? | |||
Screen | 7% | -4% | 14% | 11% | |
Brightness middle | 320 | 370 16% | 486 52% | 379 18% | 379 18% |
Brightness | 309 | 378 22% | 446 44% | 356 15% | 381 23% |
Brightness Distribution | 84 | 96 14% | 77 -8% | 88 5% | 93 11% |
Black Level * | 0.25 | 0.05 80% | 0.4 -60% | 0.23 8% | 0.1 60% |
Contrast | 1280 | 7400 478% | 1215 -5% | 1648 29% | 3790 196% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.57 | 4.33 -68% | 2.54 1% | 1.6 38% | 2.3 11% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 3.5 | 7.04 -101% | 4.34 -24% | 2.7 23% | 4.16 -19% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 0.76 | 4.14 -445% | 1.04 -37% | 1 -32% | 2.42 -218% |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.46 | 0.92 63% | 2.34 5% | 2 19% | 2.12 14% |
Gamma | 2.23 99% | 2.38 92% | 2.28 96% | 2.25 98% | 2.42 91% |
CCT | 6311 103% | 6394 102% | 6864 95% | 6835 95% | |
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 89.4 | 62 | |||
Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 100 | 97 | |||
Total Average (Program / Settings) | 43% /
24% | -2% /
-3% | 2% /
8% | 45% /
27% |
* ... smaller is better
Out of the box, the display shows decent color reproduction and good accuracy. With a DeltaE 2000 color deviation of 2.5, the target (DeltaE less than 3) is met. The display doesn't suffer from a blue tint; on the contrary, the sRGB color space is covered by 98%. The competition with IPS isn't worse off in this respect; the XPS 13 and the ThinkBook 13s showed very similar measurements. The OLED displays of the Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S and the ZenBook 14X UX5400E do a better job with a 100% coverage of the P3 color space, and they also score better in terms of DeltaE.
The Swift's performance improves even more after calibration. The DeltaE for grayscales drops to 0.6, and the one for colors to 0.7. These top rates speak for an excellent, calibratable IPS panel, which is made by AUO in this case.
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
29 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 13 ms rise | |
↘ 16 ms fall | ||
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 73 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms). | ||
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
52 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 23 ms rise | |
↘ 29 ms fall | ||
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 87 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms). |
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
Screen flickering / PWM not detected | |||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18071 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. |
Outdoors, the non-reflective surface as well as the moderate brightness ensure a decent visibility in the sun. The brightness isn't reduced on battery power.
The Acer laptop is equipped with a viewing-angle stable IPS panel. Consequently, the screen is legible from every position.
Performance - The Swift 3 delivers what it promises
With the Swift 3, Acer targets office users, and it equips the laptop with the corresponding hardware. While various Tiger Lake and Ryzen 5000 CPUs are currently available as processors, only internal GPUs from the respective processor are an option in terms of graphics cards. The slightly higher-priced Acer Swift 3X SF314-510G ventures out with an Iris Xe Graphics MAX, which also showed a moderate increase in gaming performance in the test.
Test conditions
We ran all benchmarks using the Windows Best Performance profile. For the battery runtimes in the Wi-Fi test, we selected Best Energy Saving as well as the power-saving mode (fewer background processes). There are no settings in the InsydeH30 BIOS regarding performance (TDP limits).
Processor
Our test model of the Acer Swift 3 is equipped with an Intel Core i5-1135G7. This processor belongs to Intel's Tiger Lake generation and offers four cores that can process up to eight tasks simultaneously at clock rates between 2.4 and 4.2 GHz. Performance here depends on the TDP set and the cooling. We see a maximum of 35 watts as the CPU package power during the Cinebench measurements, which should correspond to the PL2/Short Burst value. This means that the Acer is far away from the 64 watts that are theoretically possible for PL2.
The PL1/Sustained value is 28 watts, and the Cinebench loop shows that this level can be maintained over time. The first loop ends with 904 points, and the sixth with 848 points, so the performance loss is low (7%). The Dell XPS 13 9305 with the same SoC gets significantly less performance out of the chip, and even the Core i7-1165G7 in the ZenBook 14X doesn't do better than the Swift 3. The performance rating across all benchmarks shows slightly above-average scores for the Swift 3.
In short: Despite the seemingly low PL2 of only 35 watts, Acer gets above-average performance out of the Swift 3's SoC.
As we've often seen, the Ryzen 5000 alternatives come out on top by a wide margin, which is why it's advisable to look at the AMD Swift 3 SF314-43 version when focusing on performance.
Cinebench R15 Multi endurance test
Cinebench R23: Multi Core | Single Core
Cinebench R20: CPU (Multi Core) | CPU (Single Core)
Cinebench R15: CPU Multi 64Bit | CPU Single 64Bit
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 | 7z b 4 -mmt1
Geekbench 5.5: Multi-Core | Single-Core
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean
Cinebench R23 / Multi Core | |
Average of class Subnotebook (2485 - 16201, n=71, last 2 years) | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (2786 - 6136, n=55) |
Cinebench R23 / Single Core | |
Average of class Subnotebook (598 - 1934, n=71, last 2 years) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (1062 - 1373, n=53) | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK |
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Multi Core) | |
Average of class Subnotebook (810 - 6314, n=67, last 2 years) | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (979 - 2382, n=62) |
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Single Core) | |
Average of class Subnotebook (216 - 738, n=67, last 2 years) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (375 - 527, n=62) | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD |
Cinebench R15 / CPU Multi 64Bit | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Average of class Subnotebook (514 - 2581, n=73, last 2 years) | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (431 - 941, n=65) | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD |
Cinebench R15 / CPU Single 64Bit | |
Average of class Subnotebook (91.8 - 280, n=65, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (141.4 - 205, n=61) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E |
Blender / v2.79 BMW27 CPU | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (499 - 1044, n=60) | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Average of class Subnotebook (201 - 1600, n=69, last 2 years) | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S |
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 | |
Average of class Subnotebook (16223 - 67444, n=60, last 2 years) | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (14745 - 24873, n=62) |
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 -mmt1 | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Average of class Subnotebook (2197 - 6403, n=61, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (3924 - 4921, n=62) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK |
Geekbench 5.5 / Multi-Core | |
Average of class Subnotebook (4213 - 12580, n=69, last 2 years) | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (3475 - 5472, n=58) |
Geekbench 5.5 / Single-Core | |
Average of class Subnotebook (672 - 2350, n=69, last 2 years) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (1147 - 1428, n=58) | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD |
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 / 4k Preset | |
Average of class Subnotebook (1.5 - 19.4, n=59, last 2 years) | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (3.57 - 7.6, n=57) |
LibreOffice / 20 Documents To PDF | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average of class Subnotebook (40.1 - 120.5, n=60, last 2 years) | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (44.2 - 62.9, n=60) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE |
R Benchmark 2.5 / Overall mean | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (0.619 - 0.727, n=59) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Average of class Subnotebook (0.4397 - 1.236, n=60, last 2 years) |
* ... smaller is better
AIDA64: FP32 Ray-Trace | FPU Julia | CPU SHA3 | CPU Queen | FPU SinJulia | FPU Mandel | CPU AES | CPU ZLib | FP64 Ray-Trace | CPU PhotoWorxx
Performance Rating | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Average of class Subnotebook | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 |
AIDA64 / FP32 Ray-Trace | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Average of class Subnotebook (343 - 25961, n=60, last 2 years) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (4313 - 7952, n=45) |
AIDA64 / FPU Julia | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Average of class Subnotebook (11867 - 111109, n=60, last 2 years) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (19402 - 32283, n=45) |
AIDA64 / CPU SHA3 | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Average of class Subnotebook (453 - 4646, n=60, last 2 years) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (1316 - 2172, n=45) |
AIDA64 / CPU Queen | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Average of class Subnotebook (15447 - 115300, n=60, last 2 years) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (39000 - 46951, n=45) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK |
AIDA64 / FPU SinJulia | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Average of class Subnotebook (1223 - 14944, n=60, last 2 years) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (3497 - 4445, n=45) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK |
AIDA64 / FPU Mandel | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Average of class Subnotebook (6379 - 59053, n=60, last 2 years) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (12569 - 19635, n=45) |
AIDA64 / CPU AES | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (28988 - 67977, n=45) | |
Average of class Subnotebook (638 - 161430, n=60, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK |
AIDA64 / CPU ZLib | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Average of class Subnotebook (270 - 1123, n=60, last 2 years) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (265 - 373, n=51) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK |
AIDA64 / FP64 Ray-Trace | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Average of class Subnotebook (204 - 14018, n=60, last 2 years) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (2226 - 4291, n=45) |
AIDA64 / CPU PhotoWorxx | |
Average of class Subnotebook (7622 - 53954, n=60, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (9004 - 45366, n=45) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE |
System performance
The system runs well and smoothly. The laptop offers enough performance for applications beyond office and Internet. The iGPU allows playing computer games to a limited extent. The PCMark benchmark results are slightly above average, which is also reasonable due to the quad-channel RAM (16 GB) and the fast Samsung SSD.
The performance that other laptops were able to achieve in comparison can be found in our CPU Benchmarks article.
CrossMark: Overall | Productivity | Creativity | Responsiveness
PCMark 10 / Score | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Average of class Subnotebook (4384 - 7428, n=58, last 2 years) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Acer Swift 3X SF314-510G-70DW | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (4026 - 4952, n=53) |
PCMark 10 / Essentials | |
Average of class Subnotebook (8890 - 11168, n=58, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Acer Swift 3X SF314-510G-70DW | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (8149 - 9917, n=53) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E |
PCMark 10 / Productivity | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Average of class Subnotebook (6213 - 10279, n=58, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3X SF314-510G-70DW | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (5040 - 6619, n=53) |
PCMark 10 / Digital Content Creation | |
Average of class Subnotebook (4093 - 9749, n=58, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Acer Swift 3X SF314-510G-70DW | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (3548 - 5255, n=53) |
CrossMark / Overall | |
Average of class Subnotebook (718 - 1876, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (1058 - 1293, n=11) |
CrossMark / Productivity | |
Average of class Subnotebook (685 - 1829, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (1148 - 1332, n=11) |
CrossMark / Creativity | |
Average of class Subnotebook (776 - 2210, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (895 - 1263, n=11) |
CrossMark / Responsiveness | |
Average of class Subnotebook (652 - 1899, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (923 - 1320, n=11) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE |
PCMark 10 Score | 4904 points | |
Help |
AIDA64 / Memory Copy | |
Average of class Subnotebook (22781 - 95353, n=60, last 2 years) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (17443 - 63889, n=45) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE |
AIDA64 / Memory Read | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Average of class Subnotebook (23831 - 86433, n=60, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (19716 - 63705, n=45) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE |
AIDA64 / Memory Write | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Average of class Subnotebook (23474 - 93382, n=60, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (18722 - 66778, n=45) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE |
AIDA64 / Memory Latency | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average of class Subnotebook (18.8 - 172, n=55, last 2 years) | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (68.3 - 107, n=51) |
* ... smaller is better
DPC latencies
In the test with LatencyMon, the Acer laptop shows elevated latency times. It's therefore only suitable for real-time applications and the like to a limited extent. The measurement is based on the present driver configuration and can fluctuate with other drivers.
DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95 | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD |
* ... smaller is better
Storage
Acer has equipped our test configuration with a 512 GB Samsung SSD (PM9A1 MZVL2512HCJQ) that achieves very good read and write rates in the storage benchmarks. 245 GB is available; this is quite low and also due to the larger Windows 11.
The performance that other mass storage devices were able to achieve in the tests is listed in our HDD/SSD Benchmarks article.
* ... smaller is better
Continuous load read: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8
Graphics card
The internal Iris Xe graphics unit is responsible for displaying image content in the Swift 3. This iGPU comes in two versions, and the weaker one with 80 EUs is used in this case. Its 3DMark results are slightly above average and lie above an internal Radeon RX Vega 8.
Our GPU Benchmarks article shows the comparison with other graphics units.
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU | |
Acer Swift 3X SF314-510G-70DW | |
Average of class Subnotebook (2979 - 16904, n=57, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (2246 - 6477, n=105) |
3DMark | |
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics | |
Acer Swift 3X SF314-510G-70DW | |
Average of class Subnotebook (2837 - 12349, n=62, last 2 years) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (1560 - 5305, n=107) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics | |
Average of class Subnotebook (811 - 4773, n=61, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3X SF314-510G-70DW | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (561 - 1511, n=104) | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE |
3DMark 11 Performance | 6176 points | |
3DMark Fire Strike Score | 4193 points | |
3DMark Time Spy Score | 1412 points | |
Help |
Gaming performance
The internal graphics unit doesn't perform that bad at all in view of its construction, but it's only suitable for older games or titles with low graphics performance requirements. Reduced graphics settings and a lower resolution will also be required for a smooth gaming experience.
Our GPU Games article shows the performance that can be expected in other titles.
The Witcher 3 | |
1366x768 Medium Graphics & Postprocessing | |
Acer Swift 3X SF314-510G-70DW | |
Average of class Subnotebook (29 - 264, n=47, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (21.8 - 56.9, n=100) | |
1920x1080 High Graphics & Postprocessing (Nvidia HairWorks Off) | |
Acer Swift 3X SF314-510G-70DW | |
Average of class Subnotebook (11.2 - 92, n=59, last 2 years) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (9.3 - 33.5, n=98) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD |
Dota 2 Reborn - 1920x1080 ultra (3/3) best looking | |
Average of class Subnotebook (29.4 - 109.1, n=61, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Acer Swift 3X SF314-510G-70DW | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (7.8 - 66.1, n=106) | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E |
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark | |
1280x720 Lite Quality | |
Average of class Subnotebook (18.9 - 130.6, n=57, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (8.32 - 45.6, n=100) | |
1920x1080 Standard Quality | |
Average of class Subnotebook (10.8 - 71, n=57, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3X SF314-510G-70DW | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (4.47 - 25.1, n=93) |
Far Cry 5 | |
1280x720 Low Preset AA:T | |
Average of class Subnotebook (22 - 132, n=39, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (14 - 63, n=48) | |
1920x1080 Medium Preset AA:T | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Average of class Subnotebook (12 - 87, n=39, last 2 years) | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (9 - 31, n=45) |
Strange Brigade | |
1920x1080 medium AA:medium AF:4 | |
Average of class Subnotebook (29.4 - 126.9, n=58, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3X SF314-510G-70DW | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (6 - 48.8, n=80) | |
1920x1080 high AA:high AF:8 | |
Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E | |
Average of class Subnotebook (19.4 - 100.8, n=58, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3X SF314-510G-70DW | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (11.4 - 32.3, n=77) |
Farming Simulator 22 | |
1920x1080 Medium Preset | |
Average of class Subnotebook (42 - 79, n=5, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (18 - 38, n=4) | |
1920x1080 High Preset | |
Average of class Subnotebook (29 - 55, n=5, last 2 years) | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK | |
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S | |
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (20.8 - 27, n=3) |
Our The Witcher frame rate analysis using the Ultra setting is too much for our test device; only 11-14 fps is achieved here. However, the comparison with other devices illustrates well the expected performance drop in such a maximum gaming scenario. The Iris Xe Max reaches 18 fps, while the MX 450 averages 19.5 fps. At least the performance in this stress test remains almost completely constant, something that the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 equipped with AMD can't do.
The Witcher 3 FPS diagram
low | med. | high | ultra | |
The Witcher 3 (2015) | 80 | 51 | 19.7 | 12.3 |
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 101 | 92 | 58.7 | 51.7 |
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) | 40 | 21.9 | 15.6 | |
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 41.5 | 31.6 | 28.9 | |
Far Cry 5 (2018) | 49 | 24 | 22 | |
Strange Brigade (2018) | 82 | 35.6 | 28.3 | 23.2 |
Farming Simulator 22 (2021) | 89 | 38 | 27 |
Emissions - The Acer laptop can be quiet, but also loud
Noise emissions
The fan of the Acer laptop is rarely audible in daily use. This makes the device well-suited for quiet environments. Under load, it emits a uniform noise, which doesn't involve any high-frequency sounds or the like. The maximum of 42 dB(A) is only reached under continuous high load. This doesn't happen in office or entertainment use. Important: The fan returns to a whispering noise within 10-15 seconds after load.
Noise Level
Idle |
| 25 / 25 / 27.5 dB(A) |
Load |
| 32.9 / 42 dB(A) |
| ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min: , med: , max: Earthworks M23R, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 25 dB(A) |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, Samsung PM9A1 MZVL2512HCJQ | Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S Vega 8, R7 5800U, SK Hynix HFM001TD3JX013N | Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, Samsung PM9A1 MZVL2512HCJQ | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE Vega 8, R7 5800U, WDC PC SN530 SDBPNPZ-512G | Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E GeForce MX450, i7-1165G7, SK Hynix HFM001TD3JX013N | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Noise | -12% | 2% | -7% | -2% | |
off / environment * | 25 | 29.6 -18% | 26 -4% | 24.7 1% | 26 -4% |
Idle Minimum * | 25 | 30.5 -22% | 26 -4% | 24.7 1% | 26 -4% |
Idle Average * | 25 | 30.5 -22% | 26 -4% | 27 -8% | 26 -4% |
Idle Maximum * | 27.5 | 30.5 -11% | 26 5% | 29.8 -8% | 26.3 4% |
Load Average * | 32.9 | 35.7 -9% | 33.5 -2% | 42.4 -29% | 37.1 -13% |
Load Maximum * | 42 | 37.2 11% | 33.5 20% | 42.4 -1% | 38 10% |
Witcher 3 ultra * | 33.5 | 42.4 |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
According to our measurements, the surface of the Acer laptop heats up to 39 °C (~102 °F) under load. As a result, the case only feels a bit warm, but it never gets too hot to place on the lap, for example. The average temperature in idle usage is just 24 °C (~76 °F), and the metal case feels cool to the touch.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 39.6 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 43.2 °C / 110 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.9 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (33 °C / 91.4 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-4.7 °C / -8.5 F).
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs | Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S AMD Ryzen 7 5800U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 4000/5000) | Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE AMD Ryzen 7 5800U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 4000/5000) | Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E Intel Core i7-1165G7, NVIDIA GeForce MX450 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heat | -20% | -5% | 6% | -17% | |
Maximum Upper Side * | 39.6 | 42.6 -8% | 43.5 -10% | 36.5 8% | 42.4 -7% |
Maximum Bottom * | 43.2 | 43.6 -1% | 44.8 -4% | 39.6 8% | 47.7 -10% |
Idle Upper Side * | 25 | 36 -44% | 26.2 -5% | 24.5 2% | 32.3 -29% |
Idle Bottom * | 26.2 | 32.8 -25% | 26.4 -1% | 25 5% | 31.9 -22% |
* ... smaller is better
Stress test
During our stress test, the internal temperatures rise up to 77 °C (~171 °F). The clock rates are at 1.8 GHz at the end of the test, which is below the base clock speed. Since a degree of load like the one in our stress test scenario is almost impossible to occur in everyday use, you won't encounter problems due to excessive temperatures. Running Prime95 alone also shows this: A clock rate of 3.0 GHz can be continuously maintained with an SoC temperature of 77 °C (~171 °F).
Speakers
The speakers of the Acer laptop are quiet, but they offer a comparatively balanced sound spectrum. This makes them suitable for playing media content in very quiet environments. However, external speakers or headphones should be preferred in the long run.
Acer runs a software DTS audio processor that is supposed to improve sound for music, games, and movies. You can clearly hear the effect over the built-in speakers, but it isn't always an improvement.
The dual-array microphones next to the webcam capture sound cleanly and without noise, but they have difficulties with the level when the distance to the speaker is greater than 1.5 meters. However, they're definitely good enough for conferences held in front of the device.
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (74.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 31.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.9% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (29.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 90% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 8% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 85% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 12% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2021 M1 Pro audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(+) | good bass - only 3.8% away from median
(+) | bass is linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (2.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (4.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 0% of all tested devices in this class were better, 0% similar, 100% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 0% of all tested devices were better, 0% similar, 100% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Energy management
Energy consumption
Our measurements show that the Swift 3 has a very low power consumption. However, the value of 33 watts under average load isn't the lowest in the test field. The Dell XPS 13 with an identical chip is more frugal, but it also scores fewer points in the CPU benchmarks. The included power adapter has an output of 65 watts, which is a sufficiently high capacity to ensure a reliable power supply.
Power consumption in the stress test shows an abrupt drop after just under a minute (it starts with a total system power consumption of 65 watts). This is the point where the PL1 Sustained value turns on with 28 watts. The other Intel models also show similar effects; AMD, on the other hand, operates at the same level all the time (Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3).
Off / Standby | 0.2 / 0.5 Watt |
Idle | 4.3 / 6.8 / 9 Watt |
Load |
33.3 / 65 Watt |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, Samsung PM9A1 MZVL2512HCJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00 | Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S R7 5800U, Vega 8, SK Hynix HFM001TD3JX013N, OLED, 1920x1080, 13.30 | Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, Samsung PM9A1 MZVL2512HCJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE R7 5800U, Vega 8, WDC PC SN530 SDBPNPZ-512G, IPS, 1920x1200, 13.30 | Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E i7-1165G7, GeForce MX450, SK Hynix HFM001TD3JX013N, OLED, 2880x1800, 14.00 | Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs | Average of class Subnotebook | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Consumption | -22% | 7% | -14% | -56% | -3% | -19% | |
Idle Minimum * | 4.3 | 7.4 -72% | 3.2 26% | 5 -16% | 7.2 -67% | 4.46 ? -4% | 4.91 ? -14% |
Idle Average * | 6.8 | 10.4 -53% | 6.7 1% | 8.2 -21% | 10.4 -53% | 7.33 ? -8% | 8.38 ? -23% |
Idle Maximum * | 9 | 11.1 -23% | 10.5 -17% | 9 -0% | 11 -22% | 9.25 ? -3% | 10.4 ? -16% |
Load Average * | 33.3 | 35.7 -7% | 28.5 14% | 45 -35% | 61.7 -85% | 36.1 ? -8% | 46.1 ? -38% |
Witcher 3 ultra * | 33.3 | 28.5 14% | 45.1 -35% | 53.6 -61% | |||
Load Maximum * | 65 | 37.2 43% | 64 2% | 51.2 21% | 96 -48% | 61.2 ? 6% | 66.6 ? -2% |
* ... smaller is better
Energy consumption during The Witcher 3 / stress test
Energy consumption with an external monitor
Battery life
The Acer laptop achieves a runtime of 12 hours in our real-world Wi-Fi test. We use a script to emulate the load caused when accessing websites. The display brightness is set to about 150 cd/m² (-5 levels). This is a very impressive result for a 56 Wh battery. The new Windows 11 power-saving mode might play a small role in this: When active, it blocks certain background activities and notifications.
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, 56 Wh | Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S R7 5800U, Vega 8, 67 Wh | Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, 52 Wh | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s G3 20YA0005GE R7 5800U, Vega 8, 56 Wh | Asus Zenbook 14X UX5400E i7-1165G7, GeForce MX450, 63 Wh | Average of class Subnotebook | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battery Runtime | 17% | 2% | -9% | -30% | -17% | |
Reader / Idle | 2015 | 1394 -31% | 1526 -24% | 2040 1% | 1268 ? -37% | |
WiFi v1.3 | 724 | 551 -24% | 554 -23% | 657 -9% | 321 -56% | 626 ? -14% |
Load | 114 | 234 105% | 175 54% | 74 -35% | 114.5 ? 0% | |
H.264 | 592 | 786 ? |
Pros
Cons
Verdict
With the Swift 3 SF314-511, Acer delivers a 14-inch laptop with a sleek, slim metal chassis. The latter is of high quality and sturdy enough for everyday use, which is a real plus point among the 700-Euro (~$798) models. A new feature is Thunderbolt 4 in the Type-C format for peripherals or even displays (DisplayPort via Type-C). Unfortunately, a card reader is still missing, and the RAM is completely onboard, so there are no upgrade options here.
The IPS Full HD display pleases with stable viewing angles, a matte surface, strong color reproduction, and good contrast. The maximum brightness is moderate. The input devices are suitable for everyday use, but the keys have little travel.
Despite its compact dimensions, there's no need to worry about performance limitations. The 14-incher gets more performance out of the Core i5 than other laptops.
The Acer Swift 3 SF314-511 doesn't go all out with its processor, but it gets above-average performance out of the chip in the benchmarks as well as under continuous load. Gaming performance is low, but it tends to be above what you'll get with an Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs in other devices. The gap to an Iris Xe MAX Graphics is still large (20-70%) in games, though.
The big highlight is the real-world battery life of 12 hours, which suits the 1.2 kilogram light 14-incher very well.
Acer's 14-incher is affordable, yet it does everything most would want from a truly mobile laptop: Long battery life, a great display, quality, sufficient ports, light weight, and low noise and heat emissions.
Price and availability
The exact configuration of the Acer Swift 3 SF314-511 that we reviewed is a bit hard to come by at the time of writing in the United States. Nonetheless, you can find an almost identical one in Walmart's online store at a discounted price of $599 ($100 off); the only difference is the amount of RAM and storage, with the Walmart version being equipped with 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of NVMe SSD storage.
Acer Swift 3 SF314-511-54ZK
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02/09/2022 v7
Sebastian Jentsch