When I’m looking for a new laptop I usually go over three main categories: purpose, performance, and price. If you’re a professional who is usually on the go and needs something reliable, with solid performance that doesn’t break the bank; great news! The Acer Swift 5 is your missing friend you never knew you needed.
The Body
The Acer Swift 5’s build design is top-notch. The first thing I noticed is how light the laptop is. The sleek casing is made from magnesium-aluminum which is a big reason why it weighs in at 2.31 lbs. I have no problem carrying the Swift 5 from one destination to the next. Every time I pick it up I’m still surprised at how light it is. I usually don’t care about the feel of my laptops, but the Swift 5 has such a nice texture to it. If you’re someone who values cleanliness or is germaphobic the Swift 5 is coated with Antimicrobial solution. To help prevent germs from sticking to the surface there are thousands of microbes that create a barrier. Given the concerns that the pandemic has created, anything that helps prevent sickness is a good option. Moving on to the keyboard, the keys have a decent travel time and a light click for a satisfying typing experience. If there is a small downside, in order to keep the sleek design, there are a lot of dual functions on the keyboard as well as no 10 number keypad. To charge the battery you have two options on the Swift 5 your DC-in port or the jack of all trades Thunderbolt 4 port. There are also two USB 3.2 ports, an HDMI port, and the trusty ole headphone jack. The ports selection is solid, covering everything I want. If I’m being really picky, I wish it had an SD card reader, but that’s what a dongle is for.
The Display
The screen is a pleasure to look at. The Gorilla Glass, yes Gorilla Glass, touchscreen display has a 1080p resolution for all your HD viewing needs. The response for the touchscreen feels quick and natural. The glass does leave fingerprints behind pretty regularly though. My favorite aspect of the display is the 100% sRGB color gamut. It’s nice to have peace of mind when working with any graphics, photographs, and videos knowing colors are accurate. The brightness comes in at 340 nits which should be just fine for anything inside. Another feature to note is the thin bezels; for an impressive 90% screen-to-body ratio. Also quick note, no it does not have a notch. I can’t believe I’m saying that now.
The Performance
Under the hood, the Acer Swift 5 is on Intel’s Evo platform. If you don’t know what that is, it is hardware specifically designed for compact light laptops while maintaining high performance. In short, it’s a good thing. It’s rocking an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 or i5 processor with Intel Iris X graphics. It’s a very quick and snappy laptop. I had no problems launching multiple programs. It is one of the few laptops currently on the market with Windows 11 out of the box. So far I can say my experience with the new version of Windows has been good. The Swift 5 also comes with Wi-Fi 6 to help keep you connected to any local coffee shop, hotel, or business. To make sure that all your programs can run for an extended amount of time the Acer Swift 5 boasts up to 17 hours of battery life with fast charging.
The Acer has a lot to offer for individuals on the go, however, it’s not a perfect laptop. Since Covid-19 began, video conference calls have pretty much become a necessity. The Webcam on the Swift 5 looks old and outdated. You won’t be looking your best on any conference calls using this webcam. I love the thin casing of the Swift 5 but with that sleek form factor comes two tiny speakers. Sure they are stereo speakers but when my smartphone has nicer speakers I can’t help but feel a little slighted. You will definitely want to use a pair of wired or Bluetooth headphones for better audio quality.
The Price
The Price point for this model is $1,300. You might raise your eyebrow a bit because this isn’t the cheapest laptop on the market. Is the swift 5 the best laptop you can buy? Absolutely not. However, this middle-of-the-pack laptop has a lot more good to offer than bad. I honestly believe the price point is right where it needs to be on this laptop. If you are wanting to be around the $1,000 mark, there are options available that will set you right around there.
Final Thoughts
The Acer Swift 5 is a lightweight, sleek powerhouse. You’ll be able to tackle any spreadsheet and document in your way. It will do just fine with light video editing. The Gorilla Glass display with 100% color accuracy is a huge plus. I can’t stress this enough. This is one of the lightest laptops I’ve ever used. If you are someone who is always on the move and you need a laptop that is just as fast as your lifestyle the ACER Swift 5 is an excellent option.
