It might seem impossible to purchase a high-end laptop for under $2,000 due to chip shortages, supply chain issues, and continuous inflation. It is still possible to get an ultrabook-class laptop for less than $1,500 as demonstrated by Acer’s 16-inch Swift Edge model.
Its ultra-thin, light body, Ryzen 7 processor, DDR5 memory, and 4K display all scream “luxury,” but it costs more than $500 less than a MacBook Pro cases of a same size and configuration. Naturally, there are certain limitations to this shockingly low sticker price that you should be aware of. In favour of raw power, high-concept design and ultra-rigid construction are forgone here. In addition, the battery life is less than on more expensive models. You receive performance in return that is swift and able to handle anything you throw at it.
A better name is required for the Acer Swift Edge. Edge isn’t really the right word to describe how svelte and light this 16-inch laptop is. This notebook is light enough for me to carry around every day without becoming fatigued. Its sizable OLED screen is also excellent for viewing. Additionally, the battery life exceeds my expectations. Even though it costs a little bit more than the typical Acer laptop, I believe it is worthwhile.
The Swift Edge resembles the LG Gram 16 in terms of its huge 16:10 display and slim construction Due to their thin magnesium alloy chassis, both of these 16-inch laptops weigh only 1.2 kg. However, Acer outdoes its rival by giving the Swift Edge a plush, gorgeous 4K OLED screen. For HDR video game, this display’s peak brightness rating is 500 nits, which is more than enough brightness. The Swift Edge is excellent for videos and casual games, it goes without saying. However, its 16:10 aspect ratio and clear 4K resolution make it suitable for routine computing chores like emailing, web browsing, and content creation.
Acer Swift Edge review: Design and keyboard
The Acer Swift Edge has a minimalist design and matte black surfaces that evoke ThinkPads. It appears to be an especially thin X1 Carbon. Simple Acer logos may be found on the top edge of the lid and in the middle of the bottom bezel below the display.
The lid is basic black, and the inside keyboard and keyboard deck are similarly black. Below the keyboard, on the right side of the wrist rest, is a tiny, understated Swift logo. The Swift Edge is a remarkably thin laptop that has the appearance of a business workhorse.
The gaming laptop weighs barely more than 2.5 pounds and is barely half an inch thick. That weight is simply not even close to what we have observed on a 16-inch laptop. The Acer Swift 3 weighs 3.86 pounds, which is more than a pound heavier. Equal the smaller and more amazingly thin 14-inch Lenovo Slim 9i weighs more, coming in at an even 3.0 pounds.
Because it’s built of a magnesium alloy, which Acer claims is 20% lighter and twice as robust as aluminium, rather than aluminium, like other laptops, the Swift Edge is able to achieve such a tiny shape and low weight.The Swift Edge’s magnesium alloy chassis doesn’t feel very robust and sturdy, despite the claimed twofold strength.
The keyboard deck has some flex, and the lid allows the display to flex to an almost alarming degree. Even though it would make the Swift Edge somewhat heavier and thicker, I wouldn’t mind a thicker aluminium lid for increased protection. The Swift Edge would probably weigh less than three pounds and remain extremely portable even with a more solid cover.
Acer Swift Edge review: Features
Wow, the screen is really gorgeous. There aren’t many laptops that can compete with the Acer Swift Edge’s visual prowess in this area: this OLED panel has a 4K resolution (technically just above 4K thanks to the 16:10 productivity-focused aspect ratio), 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, full HDR support, a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and the TÜV Rheinland Eyesafe Display Certification, which means it has been carefully calibrated to reduce eye strain while still maintaining its gorgeous colour.
If you didn’t understand a word we said, just know that this display is among the best we’ve ever seen in a laptop and may be the best we’ve ever seen in a laptop this light. Blacks are deep and sharp, and overall brightness is good for use in any context. Colors burst with extraordinary vividness.
Beyond the screen, the Swift Edge has a respectable number of connectors for such a tiny laptop. It has two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and an HDMI video out port that makes it simple to connect the Swift Edge to an additional display. Although the lack of Thunderbolt 4 support is disappointing, most customers won’t be aware of it. It’s excellent to see that Acer hasn’t cut corners in this area because the fast 6GHz WiFi 6E and the most recent Bluetooth 5.2 are essentials for today’s high-end ultrabooks. A fingerprint sensor is also included for increased security while logging in.
This laptop has an FHD webcam that offers clear video recording and an inbuilt IR scanner for Windows Hello facial recognition logins, making it ideal for Zoom calls. The microphone also makes use of Acer’s “PurifiedVoice” technology, which uses AI deep learning to remove background noise from your audio input. Unfortunately, the speakers here fall short of the rest of the package; while they’re not bad, we weren’t very impressed by the audio clarity at maximum volume. You can use them to view TV or YouTube videos, but don’t anticipate receiving a high-quality musical experience.
Acer Swift Edge review: Performance
By the time December rolls around, I will have reviewed a number of laptops with the newest Intel and AMD chip generations. I already have a good idea of what to expect when a laptop comes across my desk, at least in terms of performance, as we stand on the verge of whatever the next refresh may be. If you keep AMD’s Ryzen 6000 mobile processors plugged in, they work wonderfully. In many benchmarks, they actually outperformed Intel. When the power is cut off, they simply throttle dramatically.
I had a same experience with the Acer Swift Edge. When plugged in, you can utilise the Swift Edge for powerful Lightroom Classic photo editing. On the other hand, anything more than minimal productivity will be difficult when you’re using battery power.
The Swift Edge should be considered a productivity laptop, and with a Ryzen 7 6800U and 16GB RAM as standard, it excels in that role. Chrome, Slack, OneNote, and any other productivity tools you use can easily support a dozen tabs. I also used it for photo editing, which is a terrific application for the OLED display. But as I mentioned, if you’re going with a creative workflow, I’d make sure it’s powered.
Acer Swift Edge review: Battery Life
With the display brightness set to 50%, the Swift Edge’s battery life on our streaming video test was 9 hours, 22 minutes. OLED displays in general, as well as 4K panels, consume more power, even though others in its class might operate longer. In light of this, a 4K OLED laptop should have a battery life of at least 9 hours. Look for a model with a lower-resolution LCD, like the LG Gram 16 two-in-one, if you need a device with a longer battery life.
Nevertheless, the 16-inch (16:10) 4K (3,480×2,400 pixel) OLED display is stunning. With HDR enabled, it has a peak brightness of 616 nits and is VESA True Black HDR500 certified. Otherwise, the maximum brightness is 400 nits, which is adequate for the majority of indoor uses. The display’s 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut and bright colours are exactly what you need to create content for both offline and online platforms.
Acer Swift Edge review: Pricing and availability
The Acer Swift Edge is available now, starting at $1,499.99 Considering the rising prices across the industry, it’s pretty impressive that the Acer Swift Edge comes in at $1,499.99. This price comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 6800U, 16GB LPDDR5 memory, and a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD. you can buy this product from acer’s website.
In other words, it’s pretty specced out, and there’s no option for you to make bad decisions, such as cheaping out on a unit with 8GB RAM. It’s been available since October 2022, and it comes in one color, called Olivine Black. It weighs in at 2.58 pounds, and of course, this laptop stands comes with a 16-inch 4K OLED display.
Final words
There are two definite advantages to the Acer Swift Edge. One is how light it is. Second, it has a stunning 16-inch 4K screen. If those two features excite you, then this might be the ideal laptop for you. Everything else about the Swift Edge is generally good but not particularly noteworthy, from the outside style to the processing speed.
The average battery life and average audio (which are both excellent; they’re just not amazing) are its main flaws. In contrast, compared to other laptops in this class, its greatest strength is its comparatively wide choice of ports. And it helps put the cost of a USB-C docking station into perspective if it prevents you from purchasing one. In summary, you’ll find a lot to enjoy here if you’re searching for a huge laptop with a 4K screen that is incredibly light and that you can connect a lot of things to.
