Acer Swift 3 (2020): Everything To Know

Acer Swift 3 (2020) is a Windows laptop with a 14-inch screen that is thin and light. It comes with Intel 11th Generation processors, built-in graphics, up to 16GB of memory, and 512GB of storage. It has an FHD 16:9 IPS display, a fingerprint sensor, and a Wi-Fi 6 wireless adapter. It has an HDMI 2.0 port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, two USB-A ports, and one USB-C port that works with Thunderbolt 4.

Acer Swift 3 (2020) Specifications

Acer Swift 3 (2020): The price and availability

The 14-inch Acer Swift 3 (2020) model we looked at has a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, built-in Intel UHD graphics, and a 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD. It costs $699 (about £565 or AU$1070). For $499 (about £405, AU$765), you can get a Swift 3 with an AMD Ryzen 5 3500 processor, 4GB of DDR4 RAM, and AMD Radeon Vega 8 graphics. The Acer Swift 3 comes with a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G4 CPU, 8GB of DDR4 SDRAM, an M.2 PCIe 512GB SSD, and Intel Iris Plus graphics for $799 (about £645, AU$1220).

Acer Swift 3 (2020): Design

The Acer Swift 3 (2020) from this year is another example of the company’s minimalist style. The Apple MacBook Air inspires the thin, light aluminum chassis. Anyone who used an earlier Acer Swift 3 model should feel at home with it. The laptop’s matte-silver finish and polished Acer logo on the back are about as flashy as they get, which is what some people want. You will, of course, have to give the character yourself.

Acer Swift 3 (2020) is 12.6 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches and weighs 2.7 pounds, making it a very portable device that doesn’t feel weak. When our cat got tired of playing with the box and decided to check out the power cord, she brought the open, running laptop down from a 3.5-foot-high desk onto a hardwood floor and ran away, leaving no damage to the outside or inside of the laptop that we could see.

The trackpad is a good size and works well for everyday use. It also worked well for a few games of Stellaris and Civilization VI on a PC, but you’ll need a separate mouse or gamepad.

As for ports, Acer gave the 2020 Swift 3 an HDMI port, a USB-C Thunderbolt 3 port, and a USB 2.0 port. It also has a USB 3.0 port and a USB-C Thunderbolt 3 port. No SD card reader or optical drive is typical for an Ultrabook nowadays.

Acer Swift 3 (2020): The performance

We can’t say it’s better than last year’s model after putting the Acer Swift 3 (2020)’s CPU, GPU, and battery through benchmark tests. The Acer Swift 3 has few problems with watching videos and general use. The Swift 3 was able to run Google Chrome, which is known to use many resources, with 24 tabs open, even when one tab was playing an Udemy course and another had an active Slack channel.

When trying to run several tabs with many ads, the system struggled a bit, but that’s true of most systems, and that’s more of a problem with society than with a single Acer laptop. The Acer Swift 3 (2020) also handled light gaming through Steam without any problems and kept a solid frame rate through the middle of a game of Stellaris.

Acer Swift 3 (2020): The keyboard and touchpad

Regarding the keyboard deck, the Acer Swift 3 (2020) model is more attractive than its Intel twin, which has plain black keys. On the other hand, the Ryzen 7 version has silver keys with a white keyboard backlight, which gives the keyboard a cool, icy look.

PROS

• Thin and easy to carry.
• Long battery life for light work and listening to media.
• The aluminum chassis is well-made.
• USB-C that works with Thunderbolt 4.
• In general productivity tasks, the CPU works very well.

CONS

• It doesn’t get bright enough to overcome intense glare.
• The keyboard layout could be more precise, and it’s hard to type for long periods.

Should You Buy It?

The Acer Swift 3 (2020) suits users seeking a portable and reliable laptop for everyday use. Its lightweight design and long battery life make it ideal for students or professionals who prioritize mobility.

However, if you require a laptop with a brighter display for outdoor use or gaming capabilities, you may want to explore other options. Additionally, users needing extensive multitasking power or graphics-intensive applications may find the Swift 3 lacking performance compared to higher-end models.

Overall, if you value portability, solid performance for everyday tasks, and a sleek design, the Acer Swift 3 (2020) could be a worthwhile investment at its price point.

Verdict:

The Acer Swift 3 (2020) is a sleek, lightweight laptop that offers solid performance for everyday tasks. Its minimalist design, coupled with a durable aluminum chassis, makes it a stylish choice for users on the go. This includes Intel 11th Generation processors, up to 16GB of memory, and ample storage options to ensure smooth multitasking and responsiveness.

The FHD IPS display provides decent visuals, although its limited brightness may make it struggle in brightly lit environments. Additionally, the absence of a high refresh rate and VRR support makes it less suitable for gaming or watching fast-paced content.

The keyboard and touchpad offer a comfortable typing experience, although the layout could be improved for extended typing sessions. Connectivity, including Thunderbolt 4 support and Wi-Fi 6, ensures future-proofing and faster data transfer speeds.

Regarding performance, the Swift 3 easily handles everyday tasks and light gaming. However, intensive multitasking or demanding applications may push its limits.

FAQs

The brightness of Acer Swift 3 (2020)

The maximum brightness of the Acer Swift 3 (2020) screen is acceptable. It’s OK to use in most situations but not bright enough to eliminate glare in bright or sunny places. It gets very dark at the lowest brightness setting, which is excellent for reading in the dark because it makes your eyes less tired. Check out the Dell XPS 13 if you need a laptop with a brighter screen (2021).

Acer Swift 3 (2020) refresh rate

Acer Swift 3 (2020) has a refresh rate of 60Hz and doesn’t support VRR, which is typical for laptops meant for work. The response time is slow, which makes ghosting behind moving objects visible. This makes it not great for watching fast-moving content or playing games.

Build quality of Acer Swift 3 (2020)

The Acer Swift 3 (2020) has a refresh rate of 60Hz and doesn’t support VRR, which is typical for laptops meant for work. The response time is slow, which makes ghosting behind moving objects visible. This makes it not great for watching fast-moving content or playing games.