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Acer Swift 3 SF314-59-75QC Review:The Ultimate Mid-Range PC

Pros
  • Good Build Quality
  • Quad-core i7 CPU
  • Full HD IPS display
  • WiFi 6 connectivity
Cons
  • Non-upgradeable RAM
  • No SD card reader

The struggle to find the perfect mid-range laptop that covers all our needs can be difficult. There are many options out there, but most fall into one of two categories: too expensive or not enough features for what you're looking for. But don't worry! The Acer Swift 3 SF314-59-75QC is here to save the day.

Acer has always been at the forefront of innovation in their laptop design, and they have done it again with the latest iteration of the Acer Swift 3. This sleek, thin, light 14-inch laptop features a stunning Full HD screen that is perfect for picture and video editors alike.

With an assortment of high-end specs such as a quad-core i7 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and Intel Iris XE graphics, Acer's latest ultrabook is poised to take over the market as the best-selling mid-range laptop.

But will it suit your needs? That's what we're going to find out!

Who's it for?

=> Students: You'll love the thin and light design that allows you to carry it around in your backpack.

=> Business Professionals: The ultra-portable laptop can fit into any standard briefcase or bag, allowing you to work on the go.

=> Power users: You will appreciate the fact that it packs an 11th generation quad-core i7 processor that can clock up to 4.7 GHz as well as the advanced LPDDR4X RAM for intensive multitaskers.

Who should skip it?

=> Gamers: If you are looking for a laptop primarily to play video games, this is not the perfect fit. The Acer Swift comes with an Intel Iris XE graphics card that could be great if you're just browsing social media or working on presentations-- but it will struggle playing high-end games at maximum settings because of its limited dedicated graphics memory.

=> Graphic designers: Much to the point of what we said about gamers apply. The lack of a dedicated graphics card means that any hardcore graphic work should be avoided. Sure, you can do some stuff here and there but if you're going to be regularly working on graphic design then you'd be better off with another model that packed a dedicated graphics chip.

Acer Swift 3 SF314-59-75QC Laptop Review

Design, Display, and Keyboard


As always, Acer's design team did not disappoint with the latest release of their line. They've managed to make an already sleek 14-inch laptop even more lightweight and thin than before (weighing only 2.65 pounds). The aluminum chassis feels sturdy yet light in your hands while staying pleasingly cool during long hours of use.

The SF314-59-75QC is also impressively thin at only 0.63 inches, making it one of the thinnest 14-inch laptops on the market today. On top of that, they've managed to add a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader in such a small footprint.

Speaking of the keyboard, the keys are nicely spaced out, making it easy to type for long periods of time without feeling cramped. The backlight is also a nice touch if you're doing any work in dim lighting.

The trackpad feels precise and smooth with little pre-travel on each click -.

As far as the display is concerned, we're looking at a gorgeous 14-inch Full HD IPS screen with great color accuracy and vibrant colors. It also offers wide viewing angles - 178 degrees -, so you don't have to worry about the quality of your picture disappearing as soon as you start looking at it from an angle as it happens with TN panels.

Performance: Processor, RAM, and Graphics

Moving away from the design, it's time to talk about the performance we can expect with this set of specs. Specifically, it's worth recapping that the SF314-59-75QC features a quad-core Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor with a frequency of up to 4.7GHz and an integrated Iris XE graphics card that offers great performance for mid-range PCs.

In terms of RAM, the SF314 comes equipped with 8 GB and CAN NOT be upgraded. That is correct. The RAM is soldered onto the motherboard and can not be upgraded so 8 GB is all you're going to get on the SF314-59-75QC,

What performance can I expect in day-to-day usage with this set of specs?

Well, the Iris XE graphics card offers enough horsepower for both home and office use. It's not going to run any modern computer games with high settings but it's more than capable of streaming video and doing other graphically intensive tasks.

The quad-core i7 is also perfectly capable of handling anything you throw at it. From video editing and photo processing to web browsing and word-processing, it's more than enough power for the average user.

On top of that, having 8 GB of the latest generation LPDDRX RAM means that you'll be able to comfortably work with numerous tabs open at any given time without the laptop breaking a sweat.

Overall, it's a laptop that features a solid performance which is what you really want from a mid-range laptop.

Battery Life and Storage

As for battery life, the Acer Swift 3 SF314-59-75QC is equipped with a battery that - while claiming up to 16 hours of energy- will easily deliver on eight to nine hours of normal usage. It's not great but it's well above the average battery life you see within the mid-range.

Storage-wise we've got 256 GB of NVMe SSD storage. Again, like the RAM, you can't really upgrade the storage on this lineup but honestly, unless you're looking to use your laptop as your media library 256 GB is a perfectly acceptable amount of storage for everyday users.

What Are Customers Saying?

Customers have generally provided positive feedback about the Acer Swift 3 SF314-59-75QC, praising its speed and overall performance. The laptop is seen as a reliable option for everyday tasks such as web browsing, streaming videos, and working with documents. Its lightweight design is appreciated by users who find it convenient for portability and carrying it around.

While there have been a few minor drawbacks mentioned, they do not overshadow the positive aspects. Some users reported occasional freezes and issues with the mouse pointer, but it's important to note that these instances seem to be isolated incidents rather than widespread problems. The placement of the power button and the quality of the built-in microphone and touchpad were also mentioned as minor drawbacks. However, these issues did not significantly impact the overall positive experience users had with the laptop.

In terms of battery life, the Acer Swift 3 SF314-59-75QC offers decent performance, providing several hours of use on a single charge. While some users noted that the battery drains relatively quickly depending on usage, the laptop is still regarded as reliable for daily tasks.

Overall, customers find the Acer Swift 3 SF314-59-75QC to be a good value for its performance, features, and portability. It offers a satisfactory user experience for everyday use and is considered a dependable option in its price range.

Connectivity Options

The SF314-59 has a solid set of connectivity options starting with the USB Type-C port. It is a Thunderbolt-compatible port and it features power-off charging, meaning that you can use this laptop to charge other devices even when it's turned completely off - something very useful if you're in a pinch for time or want to charge your phone quickly.

It also features two standard USB ports, an audio jack, and an HDMI port to round off the connectivity options of this laptop which means that you're not going to be missing any modern connection types while using it.

It goes without saying that it also features a pretty solid WiFi 6 connectivity - the latest standard to hit the market - and Bluetooth support in case you wanted to connect some peripherals like headphones or a mouse.

Bottom line: Is it worth it?

For the price, there's little that can compete with this laptop. It offers a solid set of performance specs and it has the looks to go along with them which makes for an excellent value package overall.

Surely enough we would've appreciated the possibility to upgrade the memory down the line. However, as it stands, this laptop offers a great mix of performance and portability at an affordable price which is why we recommend it.