By Given its unassuming appearance, the Acer Swift 14 AI might be mistaken for any of the company’s laptops. But there is a mystery within it. Acer’s first Arm-based notebook, the Swift 14 AI, is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processor. Since Arm-based CPUs have finally become strong enough to run Windows, laptops have seen a significant transformation in recent years. However, the Acer Swift 14 AI may not be the best example of that shift.
Slim and effective, the Acer Swift 14 AI lasts for a very long time before needing to be recharged. For a small, light laptop, it also features a quite wide variety of ports. Nevertheless, there is far too much bloatware and a subpar trackpad. Additionally, some devices will not operate well with Arm PCs, and some emulators do not always function well. These problems are not Acer’s fault. The Acer Swift 14 AI can be a great entry-level computer for those who can afford it, but it is not the MSRP.
Specs and features
There are not any tough decisions to make while buying the Acer Swift 14 AI. The machine comes in just two versions: one with and one without a touchscreen. The two display options are identical and are 2560 x 1600 IPS. The non-touch version costs $1,049.99, while the touch version, which I have been testing, costs $1,099.99. Since the specs are the same, there is no reason not to spend the additional $50 on the touch version.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (X1E-78-100), a 12-core Arm processor used in laptops like the Dell XPS 13 (9345), powers the Acer Swift 14 AI. An integrated Adreno GPU, which is comparably capable but not the best for Windows gaming, supports the powerful Oryon CPU cores. The computer has 1TB of SSD storage and 16GB of RAM, which is enough for 2024 but not industry-leading.
- CPU: X1E-78-100 Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite
- Memory: LPDDR5X, 16GB
- Qualcomm Adreno graphics
- 14.5-inch, 2560 x 1600 IPS, 120 Hz, 300 nits display
- 1TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD for storage
- Webcam: 2560 x 1440 QHD IR Webcam
- Connectivity features include a 3.5mm audio connector, two USB-C (USB4, 40Gbps), and two USB-A (USB 3.2).
- Networking: Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 7.
- 75 Wh battery with 65 W USB-C charging capability
- Measurements: 12.7 by 9 by 0.66 to 0.72 inches
- 3.2 pounds in weight
- Tested MSRP: $1,099.99
Design and build quality
The Acer Arm laptop is a good-looking device with a sleek aluminum chassis that is only 0.72 inches thick at its thickest point. The metal frame feels sturdy in all the right places, including around the keyboard and trackpad, but I did notice some noticeable flexing around the vents. The trackpad itself has flaws, which I will discuss below. The body should withstand normal wear and tear okay, but if you are careless when throwing it in your bag, it would not take much to leave a dent. At 3.2 pounds, it is not heavy, but I would prefer to see a laptop this size weighing three pounds or less.
Despite having a touchscreen, the Acer Swift 14 AI is not a convertible device. It has a 14.5-inch display that is of a respectable size and a typical laptop form factor. Although the bezels surrounding the screen are thin, they are not as small as those of some devices of the same price. Although the top bezel is a little heavy, it makes space for the superb webcam. With a 1440p resolution, the webcam above the screen is superior than most others and can effectively showcase the AI-enhanced Studio Effects, one of the limited Copilot+ capabilities available at the moment. Additionally, the camera features infrared for Windows Hello biometric unlocking.
With a single hand, the hinge opens effortlessly. Even though it is more difficult to open, the laptop may use some stiffening because the display is prone to sagging if you move it around when it is open. The group of dots in the trackpad’s corner may be visible to you. This is the latest AI indication from Acer. It is supposed to illuminate whenever your computer utilizes AI functions. You will not often see Microsoft Copilot+ lighted because the majority of its functions are still being developed. When AI characteristics are available, it could be an intriguing peculiarity, but it could also be a pain. Fortunately, the LED lighting can be turned off in the settings.
The left side of the device has both USB-C connectors. Either one will work to charge the laptop, and you will not run out of ports. Next to the C ports is a USB-A port, and on the other side is another USB-A port. On that side is a 3.5mm jack as well. For 2024, that is a disgrace to ports. I also like that the PC came with a USB-C to HDMI converter from Acer.
Performance
Applications have long been a problem for Windows on Arm; if they are not designed for the Arm64 architecture, Windows must simulate them. Older versions of Windows had awful emulation, but Windows 11 performs a respectable job. Basic applications function flawlessly, but I have had trouble installing a few x86 products specifically. Additionally, you may encounter issues with peripherals. Older or obscure hardware is unlikely to function since drivers must be made specifically for the Arm platform.
The Acer Swift 14 AI is capable of managing all of your daily computer duties. The computer is identical to a typical notebook with an AMD or Intel processor while utilizing Arm programs. In most cases, the slight slowness of emulated apps is hardly noticeable. However, games will not function properly on the Swift 14. If nothing else, the Snapdragon CPU guarantees a speedy laptop wake-up. This Arm-based PC is ready to go practically instantly, unlike some Windows laptops that can linger in the liminal space between sleep and wakefulness for an oddly long period.
Acer Swift 14 AI Copilot+ PC | 14.5″ 2.5K 120Hz Display
The Swift 14 AI’s 10 CPU cores put it well ahead of the Snapdragon X Plus-powered Dell Inspiron 14, which is just a few points behind the Dell XPS 13, which runs the slightly more powerful X1E-80-100 version of the chip. Cinebench is a CPU-focused test that assesses how well a PC handles heavy but brief multi-core workloads; more CPU cores grant higher scores in Cinebench, and cooling does not really matter.
3DMark Time Spy, a graphics benchmark that concentrates on GPU performance, is our go-to ARM gaming test. The issue with gaming on Snapdragon PCs is demonstrated by this outcome. While the integrated graphics in AMD and Intel chips are several times quicker, these chips can stutter through emulated games. Simple 2D games run smoothly on the Snapdragon X Elite, however native Arm games are required before the Adreno GPU can be fully utilized.
Battery life
These days, laptops place a greater emphasis on battery life than ever before; some models can operate for a whole day without needing to be charged. Though the newest Intel and AMD chips are catching up, Arm computers are known for having the longest battery lives. x86 computers can even outperform Arm ones in certain low-power setups.
We run a 4K film at 250 nits continuously until the laptop dies as part of our battery rundown test. The Acer Swift 14 AI achieves one of the highest test results to yet at 1,050 minutes, or around 17 and a half hours. This computer charges consistently with any USB-PD charger and USB-C cable up to 65W, so you should not experience any range anxiety when using it. The Intel version of this machine really lasts a little longer, which is fascinating, even if the battery life is good. Even though the difference is only an hour or so, Intel still had a strong performance.
Conclusion
The Acer Swift 14 AI does not quite sell, despite making a nice first impression with its sturdy aluminum construction and lots of networking possibilities. The trackpad from Acer is flimsy and even has an odd appearance. Despite being extremely quick and sharp, the display is nevertheless a little dull, and the highly reflective glass will make it even more difficult to use in bright light. Since practically none of the functions are available, it is difficult to assess the usefulness of Copilot+ certification. The glowing trackpad heralds the limited AI present at launch. This is a needless trick that you can disable. Acer generally overdoes it when it comes to bundled software.
It is easy to forget that the Acer Swift 14 AI is an Arm PC, which is perhaps the finest thing I can say about it. The majority of x86 applications function flawlessly in emulation, and more Arm-optimized applications are gradually becoming accessible. While playing games is not an option, the laptop boots up and maintains its speed over time. The Acer Swift 14 AI might be worth purchasing as your initial entry into the Copilot+ universe, despite its shortcomings. But you ought to hold off till there is a sale. For what you receive, the $1,099 MSRP seems a little high. It might be a terrific deal if you can locate it for more than $900 this Christmas season.
