Acer Swift 3 SF314-59, analysis with opinion and price

The new Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 is a thin and light notebook that offers a good balance between mobility and workability, thanks to its 14-inch screen and 11th generation 4-core Intel Core processor. In this review we are going to get to know a team with an interesting value for money that is perfect for the average user.

We are looking at a conventional format laptop, without a touch screen or rotating bezel, a type of PC that maintains many followers, especially if we are going to use it for work or studies, although a good percentage of users also prefer it for leisure.

The manufacturer has alternatives for every segment, from the Acer Spin 3 in convertibles to the ConceptD 3 Ezel for creators and designers, but the Acer Swift 3 in question has the potential to attract many buyers looking for a balanced PC suitable for many different tasks

Acer Swift 3 SF314-59, analysis with opinion and price

Lightweight and elegant design

The Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 is a lightweight (less than 1.2kg) and slim (15.9mm) notebookIt is easy to transport, always thinking that 14 inches is a considerable diagonal. For many users, it's an optimal balance between space to work and the lightness of the laptop.

The Aluminum and magnesium-aluminum finishes are solid, feel premium in the hand, and feel well built. Some elements such as the keys or the screen bezel are made of plastic, something that does not seem bad to us, because in this way the Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 is much lighter than other competitors14-inch aluminum and glass based.

Aesthetically, the finishes combining silver and black are elegant and quite neutral, so the equipment adapts well to any circumstance of use.

The front of the Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 is occupied by a display with thin bezels, with the webcam at the top:

The back cover opts for a minimalist finish with the Acer logo in the center, without other elements:

On the left side we see the connector for the charger, a port USB C, the video output HDMI and a USB A port that can provide power when the PC is off, as long as it is connected to the charger:

The right edge houses the 3.5mm jack for headphones, another USB Aand security Kensington slot:

Acer Swift 3 SF314-59, Specifications

Reviewing the data sheet of the Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 we found a mid-range laptop, capable of offering a good performance to the vast majority of users There are several versions of the equipment, in this case we have specifically tested the model N9. A0NWW.002.

These are your details:

Screen: 14-inch IPS FHD (1,920 × 1,080 px).
Processor: 2.4GHz 4-core Intel Core i5-1135G7.
Graphic: Intel Iris Xe.
Memory: 16 GB LPDDR4x RAM.
Storage: 512 GB PCIe SSD.
Webcam: HD 720p.
Connectivity: WiFi 6 (ax) and Bluetooth 5.0.
Ports: USB A 3.2 Gen 1, USB C 3.2 Gen 1, USB A 2.0, HDMI output and 3.5mm jack.
Extras: fingerprint sensor, backlit keyboard and double speaker.
Battery: 3-cell 56 Wh with fast charge.
Operating system: Windows 10 Home.
Dimensions and weight: 32.3 × 21.8 × 1.59 cm and 1.2 kg.
Price: from 649 euros depending on the configuration.

Traditional Format FHD Display

The Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 mounts a 14-inch screen with FHD (1,920 x 1,080 px) resolution, in a traditional 16:9 ratio that works especially well in multimedia, be it movies, series or games.

There are other versions of the Swift 3 with a 13.5-inch screen in a 3:2 ratio, more designed for productivity and web browsing. In fact, we have also reviewed the Acer Swift 3 SF313-53, one of the devices with a 3:2 ratio.

The IPS panel offers good quality, with rich colours, wide viewing angles and adequate contrast Acer offers a few extras, such as the Bluelight Shield, a mode that limits the emission of blue light to reduce eye fatigue, at the cost of giving the image a more yellowish tone.

The screen is not tactile, we are dealing with a classic-style laptop, nor the rotating hinge. However, the screen can be unfolded up to 180º, leaving the equipment flat, so we won't have problems placing it in the optimal position for each moment.

The Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 features dual stereo speakers, which are pointed towards the bottom, reinforcing the bass somewhat measure, at the risk of losing part of the power if we place it on a soft surface, such as a sofa or a duvet.

The volume is high and in general it sounds good, perhaps the bass is a little tight, although it is logical on a light and portable laptop thin.

Good performance with 11th generation Intel chip

The Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 offers good performance thanks to Intel Core i5-1135G7, a 4-core, 8-thread chipof the 11th generation of the manufacturer. It uses a 10 nm process and its consumption (TDP) is up to 28 W, so the processor balances sufficient power with contained power consumption.

This is the internal hardware of the Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 we received:

Intel Core i5-1135G7 as processor (4 cores).
Intel Iris Xe as graphics card.
16 GB LPDDR4x RAM.
512 GB PCIe SSD storage (not expandable).

There are other configurations on the market, for example, with 8 GB of RAM or with 256 GB of SSD disk.

We have carried out the test PCMark 8 to measure the performance of the processor, which gives 4,963 pointsin the Home accelerated 3.0 test, as shown in the image:

We have also passed 3DMark, a graphic performance test, which obtains 1,548 pointsin the Time Spy test:

The Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 is not a computer oriented to video games, the manufacturer has the range of Acer Predator gaming laptops of 2021 for that segment, but the greater power of the integrated Intel Iris graphics Xe allows us to play punctually if we are not very demanding.

For example, the popular Fortnite is playable with low settings, GTA V runs very smoothly (a game with years behind it) and Genshin Impact also works properly.

The Acer Swift 3 mounts a 512 GB PCIE SSD which is largely responsible for its smooth operation. The differences between current HDDs and SSDs are abysmal, with the latter speeding up the start of the system, the opening of programs and almost any task we perform.

We have passed CrystalDiskMark, an SSD performance test, which gets about 1,989 MB/s read and about984 MB/s write on the Acer Swift 3:

Regarding wireless connectivity, we have Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi 6 (ac) The new WiFi 6 achieves greater speed, stability and performance than previous versions, so it is a very useful function, since routers with WiFi 6 to take advantage of it are becoming more common, even at operator rates.

Well resolved keyboard and integrated fingerprint reader

The Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 integrates a chiclet-style keyboard finished in good quality plastic, which has acceptable travel for such a thin laptop, and it will help us to write comfortably.

An ultralight is not the perfect equipment for those who spend most of their time typing long texts, but this keyboard is generally responsive for emails, chats, documents, and other common tasks.

The touchpad is wide and comfortable, it has no visual division for left and right touch, but it does have asuccessful physical click , and also supports multi-touch gestures to control Windows 10.

Not to forget that the laptop comes with a integrated fingerprint reader, which works quickly and accurately. It is used to start a session and the rest of the security functions of Windows Hello, and little by little programs also incorporate it into their operation.

We also have a webcam of a correct quality, it will be useful for video calls, although it is best to make them in a room with adequate lighting. high:

Battery for a day of use

The Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 integrates a 3-cell battery with 56 Wh capacity According to the manufacturer, this can provide up to 17 hours of autonomy, something that depends to a large extent on the demands of the tasks carried out and the brightness of the screen.

In our standard test it achieved 10 hours and 35 minutes of continuous playback on Netflix, with FHD video over WiFi and both brightness as volume at 50%.

On the other hand, the fast charging offers up to 4 hours of autonomy in 30 minutes with the laptop connected, something that is always aid. The charger is small, but its design isn't too modern: it doesn't use USB C, and the power brick sits between the cables, instead of going directly into the socket.

In general, the battery issue has been resolved well on the Acer Swift 3 SF314-59, and will usually give us a whole working day without depending on the charger.

Windows 10 with a lot of added software

In command of the Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 we have Windows 10 Home and, according to the official Microsoft tool, it meets the requirements of Windows 11. So throughout 2022 it should receive the update to the new version, although the exact dates are still unknown.

Windows 10 runs smoothly on the Acer Swift 3 SF314-59, largely thanks to the integrated SSD, and the same It happens with apps, which open quickly.

Unfortunately, the amount of pre-installed software is too high It is true that some of the programs are useful, and those of an advertising nature they help keep the price of the Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 down, but they make the first impression with the device not as good as it could be.

On the one hand we have the Acer apps, some of which are quite useful, such as a direct access bar to the manufacturer's own functions or the Care Center, which is in charge of maintaining updated drivers, review performance, or manage technical support.

There are also programs associated with the hardware (from Intel or Re altek), pre-installed utilities (PowerDirector, PhotoDirector, Norton antivirus, etc.), and advertising such as the Booking accommodation service. Not to mention that Microsoft already includes a lot of dubious utility software in Windows 10.

Luckily, very few programs open at startup, so they don't slow down performance, and after spending a while checking the software we can choose which one we want to keep and uninstall everything else.

Swift 3: a package that convinces

The Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 is a lightweight laptop that has convinced us, and that represents a good alternative in its price range price. Depending on the specific configuration we have options between 650 euros and 800 euros, where RAM memory (8 GB or 16 GB) and storage (256 GB or 512 GB) varies.

We have enough power, a good screen and ample autonomy, with a quality finish and a fingerprint reader for secure login. In addition, the PC meets the requirements of Windows 11, so we will be able to update as Microsoft rolls it out in 2022.

The Acer Swift 3 SF314-59 is a laptop handy, lightweight and capable of performing well in many tasks, so it represents a An alternative to take into account if we want to renew our equipment with complete hardware, but without shooting up the budget.