“The Acer Swift 3X debuts Intel's impressive Iris Xe Max in a ho-hum package.”
- Strong performance
- Excellent battery life
- Aesthetic is attractive
- Well-rounded port selection
- Display is underwhelming
- Build quality doesn't meet premium standards
- Poor gaming performance
Intel has released its first discrete GPU in 20 years, the Iris Xe Max. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s trying to compete with Nvidia for gaming laptops, though. It’s not designed specifically to accelerate games, but rather to work with the CPU to speed up a variety of other tasks. An interesting idea for thin-and-light laptops, right?
So far, the Iris Xe Max is in three
The Acer Swift 3X isn’t a cheap laptop in its Iris Xe Max configuration — at least not for a typical Swift laptop. It comes in at $1,240 at Amazon with a Core i7-1165G7, 16GB of LPDDR4X
Do the Iris Xe Max graphics make this a must-buy midrange laptop?
Performance
We’ll start with performance because it’s where the rubber meets the road in this review. Either the Iris Xe Max makes a difference in real-world tasks, or it doesn’t. That’s the make-or-break test for the Acer Swift 3X. Reading Intel’s description of the GPU exposes you to a host of buzzwords and technical jargon, but we’ll skip most of it here. If you want to dig into the details about the new GPU, then check out our guide to Intel’s discrete GPUs and our deep dive into the Iris Xe Max itself.
One term you’ll want to keep in mind, though, is Deep Link, which is Intel’s term for technology that intricately connects the CPU and GPU (both Iris Xe and Iris Xe Max) to enable some sophisticated capabilities. Not all of them are enabled yet or supported by today’s software, and so we’ll focus on just one: Deep Link Dynamic Power Share. This feature allows the system to “turn off” the GPU and give all the system’s power to the CPU. With the Swift 3X and its 11th-gen Core i7, that means that more than 28 watts of power and thermal performance can be delivered to the CPU on demand, which theoretically should speed up CPU-intensive tasks.
The Acer Swift 3X even challenges the performance of H-series machines on occasion.
Does it work? Yes, it does indeed. The Swift 3X was competitive in all our performance benchmarks, occasionally taking the crown for the fastest Tiger Lake laptop we’ve tested. That makes it among the fastest U-series
It can’t quite keep up with AMD’s Ryzen 4000 (or the upcoming Ryzen 5000
We’ll start with Cinebench R23, where the Swift 3X scored 5,944 in multi-core mode and 1,496 in single-core mode. I tried out the utility to switch from optimized to performance mode and didn’t note much of a difference, unlike some others (e.g., HP’s Command Center utility in the Spectre x360 14) that have a greater impact. That multi-core score is the fastest we’ve seen in an Intel U-series CPU, beating out faster Core i7-1185G7
Note that the Razer Blade with a 45-watt Core i7-10750H scored 6,166, meaning the Swift 3X was within spitting distance of what should be a much faster CPU.
In Geekbench 5, the Swift 3X wasn’t quite as strong — likely because Dynamic Power Share has the most impact on longer, sustained processes. The Swift 3X scored 1,551 in the single-core test and 5,847 in the multi-core test. The Prestige 14 Evo was slightly faster (1,593 and 5,904) as was Intel’s Tiger Lake reference laptop based on the same MSI machine (1,563 and 5,995). The Acer Swift 5 with the same CPU as the Swift 3X scored higher in the single-core test at 1,580 and almost as high in the multi-core test at 5,836. Interestingly, the Swift 3X managed to best the Lenovo Yoga 9i 15 with a Core i7-10750H (1,285 and 5,551).
In our Handbrake test, which encodes a 420MB video as H.265, the Swift 3X finished the process in 2 minutes and 36 seconds, which is again (technically) the fastest among Intel U-series
Finally, I ran the PCMark 10 Complete benchmark, where the Swift 3X scored 5,117. That’s the second-highest score in our laptop database, behind only the Lenovo Yoga 9i 15. The Swift 3X’s individual Essentials, Productivity, and Creation scores weren’t all the highest individually, but they were in the upper range. To zero in on the Creation portion of the test, which focuses on photo editing, video rendering and playback, and video editing, the Swift 3X did have the highest score (5,334) of all U-series
The next closest was the Prestige Evo 14 that scored 5,036. That bodes well for performance in Adobe apps and other creative tools, which will only get better as more Deep Link capabilities are rolled out. Simply put, the Swift 3X did extremely well in this benchmark.
Intel did not design the Iris Xe Max specifically to accelerate modern games.
Clearly, Intel’s Iris Xe Max makes a real impact on a laptop’s performance, even at this early stage. The Swift 3X screams through productivity tasks and does well in creative tasks for a U-series CPU. If you’re looking for the fastest CPU performance in an Intel-based ultrabook, then — counter-intuitively — you’ll want to choose a model that includes Intel’s discrete GPU.
If you’re looking for a gaming laptop, then as noted in the introduction, Intel did not design the Iris Xe Max specifically to accelerate modern games. It works well with some titles, but on others, Intel pushes the job to the Iris Xe that’s also on board. The Iris Xe Max did well in the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark at 1,889, which is a couple of hundred points above the typical Iris Xe GPU.
However, in Fortnite, the Max managed 34 fps (frames per second) at 1080p and high graphics and 22 fps at Epic graphics. That compares to the Yoga 9i 14 that hit 40 fps and 27 fps in performance mode, and the MSI Prestige 14 Evo that managed 42 fps and 28 fps. Clearly, Fortnite is one title where the Iris Xe Max doesn’t shine.
Design
Acer didn’t simply copy the design of the non-Max
The hinge was also redesigned and emblazoned in an “electric blue” that certainly draws attention to the laptop’s lid. And there’s a nice angularity to the rear corners that adds to the aesthetic. It’s not an attention-seeker like the HP Spectre x360 14, though. The bezels do disappoint a bit. First, they’re not as small as on some other modern
The Swift 3X also isn’t quite as svelte as some of its 14-inch competition.
The construction isn’t quite up to the same standard as many other premium
The Swift 3X also isn’t quite as svelte as some of its 14-inch competition. It comes in at 0.71 inches thick and weighs 3.02 pounds. That compares to the Prestige 14 Evo at 0.63 inches at 2.85 pounds, the Asus ZenBook 14 UX425 at 0.54 inches and 2.58 pounds, and the Acer Swift 5 at 0.59 inches and 2.31 pounds. It’s not that the Swift 3X is a humungous ultrabook — it simply doesn’t feel as thin and light as some other options.
Finally, the Swift 3X enjoys a solid range of connectivity options. On the left-hand side of the chassis, you’ll find a proprietary power connector (likely to provide enough juice for the Iris Xe Max), a full-size HDMI 2.0 port, a USB-A 3.2 port, and a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4. On the right-hand side, you’ll find another USB-A 3.2 port and a 3.5mm audio jack. What you won’t find is an SD card reader, which is a bummer given that this machine is aimed at least in part at creative types.
Wireless connectivity is provided by Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.
Display
The Swift 3X sports a 14-inch Full HD 16:9 IPS display that, according to my colorimeter, is generally a bit below average for premium
At the same time, brightness is 284 nits, below our 300-nit threshold that ensures a display will be visible with the typical bright office ambient lighting. And most damning, contrast comes in at 740:1, where many premium
Overall, the display is certainly usable for productivity work and watching Netflix, but it’s not going to blow you away. Toss in the 16:9 aspect ratio when many competitors are moving to taller ratios like 16:10 and 3:2, and the Swift 3X’s display is underwhelming.
Audio is closer to average, with two downward-firing speakers that provide enough volume for YouTube videos but not enough for watching a Netflix movie with friends. Mids and highs are okay, but the bass is lacking. You’ll want to use a pair of
Keyboard and touchpad
It seems that Acer pulled the keyboard from the previous
The touchpad is small but functional. The surface is comfortable for swiping and the buttons are responsive but a little loud. Thanks to Microsoft Precision touchpad drivers, multitouch gestures are responsive and precise. There’s no touch display, which is a bummer for me personally — I miss touch when it’s not there, especially for scrolling long web pages and tapping the occasional on-screen button.
Windows 10 Hello password-less login support is provided by a fingerprint reader located in the upper-right corner of the keyboard deck. It was fast and accurate in my testing.
Battery life
You’d think that 59 watt-hours of battery life in a 14-inch laptop plus very fast CPU performance might result in poor battery life. You’d be wrong, as the Swift 3X managed to last well past the Evo specification’s nine hours of typical use.
In our web benchmark, which loops through a series of popular web sites until the laptop hibernates, the Swift 3X lasted for 11.5 hours. That beat out the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 by over an hour and the MSI Prestige 14 Evo by almost four hours. Next, I ran through our video test that loops a Full HD Avengers trailer and the Swift 3X lasted for roughly 15.75 hours, a strong score that was nevertheless almost three hours less than the Yoga 9i 14 and thirty minutes less than the MSI Prestige 14 Evo.
In the PCMark 10 Applications battery test, the Swift 3X lasted for 14 hours, second only to the Yoga 9i 14 in our database and almost four hours longer than the Prestige 14 Evo. In the PCMark 10 Gaming test, which stresses both the CPU and the GPU, the Swift 3X managed just 1.5 hours, which was worst with the Prestige 14 Evo and Dell XPS 13 coming in second and third. Most other
Overall, the Swift 3X exhibited solid battery life that will get it through a full day’s work with no issues, at least as long as you’re not pushing the CPU and GPU. And again, the Swift 3X exceeds the Intel Evo certification requirement of nine hours of typical use, which not every Evo-certified laptop we’ve tested has achieved.
Our take
Taken by itself, that is, without considering the inclusion of the Iris Xe Max, the Acer Swift 3X is a rather mundane high-budget to low-midrange ultrabook. Its components are fine for $1,200, but its build quality and keyboard aren’t up to snuff.
Toss in the excellent CPU performance afforded by the Iris Xe Max and Deep Link, though, along with some strong battery life, and the Swift 3X becomes a more attractive option. It’s a solid choice for anyone who wants to encode the occasional video but doesn’t want to spend the money on a laptop with a 45-watt CPU and faster discrete GPU.
Are there any alternatives?
The MSI Prestige 14 Evo is almost as fast as the Swift 3X without Iris Xe Max on board, and it costs the same. It’s also thinner, lighter, better-built, and better-looking. The Swift 3X does offer better battery life, however.
Next, if the ultimate in CPU performance is what you’re looking for, then you’ll want to take a look at an AMD Ryzen 4000 (soon to be Ryzen 5000) laptop. One option today is the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 with its Ryzen 7 4800U. It’s less expensive than the Swift 3X, but offers much faster CPU performance and adds in great battery life to boot.
Finally, the Dell XPS 13 9310 remains a solid competitor as it does with every laptop we review in the 13- or 14-inch class. It has a smaller display, but it’s in the productivity-friendly 16:10 aspect ratio. The XPS 13 is also significantly better built, also offers up a superior display, and can be configured with more
How long will it last?
The Acer Swift 3X isn’t the most robust-feeling laptop we’ve reviewed, but it should still last a few years of reliable service. The components are up to date, which is a plus, but the 1-year (industry standard) warranty is too short, as usual.
Should you buy it?
No. The Iris Xe Max graphics provide the best CPU performance you can get in an Intel-based ultrabook, but if CPU performance is most important to you, there are other, better options. And other than equipping the Iris Xe Max, there’s not much that makes the Swift 3X stand out.
Editors' Recommendations
- Acer Swift X 16 hands-on review: A tantalizing preview
- Acer Swift X debuts Arc graphics, Intel’s most powerful discrete GPU yet
- Intel Xe-HPG DG2 leak reveals specs of five graphics cards launching later this year
- Intel’s Iris Xe Max is a new discrete GPU for midrange laptops
- Dell XPS 13 with Intel Xe graphics leaked
