Acer Swift 7 (2018) review

For costing as much as it does, the Acer Swift 7 specs and performance aren’t quite what we’d expect. The Intel processor inside this laptop has two major factors working against it in terms of performance – its 7th-generation chip that’s been easily outclassed by the 8th generation, and its Y-series chip designed for low-power, fanless devices. 

Although there’s nothing wrong with such a processor, the problem is that this laptop’s key competitors in this price range aren’t that much thicker and heavier for using full-blown Intel U-series processors … and are so much better off for it.

As you can see from the benchmarks, the Swift 7 is outmatched by the Spectre 13 in every performance-based benchmark – and that laptop is merely six-tenths of an inch thicker (and actually a hair lighter). This is largely because the HP laptop uses an 8th-generation, U-series full-fat Intel processor, as opposed to the Swift 7’s older, lower-power chip.

You can see the same story play out across comparisons, where the Huawei option especially outpaces the Swift 7 with its dedicated graphics. Even the 12-inch MacBook produced similar performance numbers with a weaker Intel m3 processor from the same generation, likely on account of Apple’s aptitude for tuning its computer hardware to the software.

By all accounts, the Swift 7 simply does not produce performance that is comparable to rivaling laptops that come with similar price tags or even less. We even see a bit of sluggishness from this laptop when opening ad-filled web pages and when loading large media files.

For being just tenths of an inch thinner than all the rest, the Swift 7 sure does compromises on a lot.

Battery life

That said, the Swift 7 does bring forth some fantastic battery life figures, even if they’re unsurprisingly behind Acer’s own claims. While Acer promises up to 10 hours of use from the laptop, we’ve seen it last a little more than an hour less than that.

You’re likely able to get an entire work day’s worth of use out of this laptop; of course, assuming the tasks involved are all relatively lightweight. Meanwhile, we’ve found the more powerful MateBook X Pro and more popular MacBook lasting just as long in our benchmarks – both of which can be had for less than the price of this laptop.

Windows Hello and onboard LTE

Two of the most compelling features the Swift 7 boasts are its biometric login and cellular connectivity. The biometric login comes via a fingerprint sensor embedded into the keyboard deck left of the Tab key.

The setup for this fingerprint sensor is just as simple as on other Windows laptops, and it works perfectly. The placement is also easy to appreciate at a time when some brands are still embedding fingerprint sensors in other bizarre places.

The onboard LTE connection is handled via an Intel modem using an electronic SIM card, or eSIM, which is connected to a global cellular network by Transatel known as Ubigi. Every Swift 7 comes with a 1GB, one-month free trial of the service. After that, you’ll have to sign up for a data plan, with nearly every region – but most of Africa, some of central south Asia, chunks of South America and all of Australia – within its coverage area.

The service works great outdoors, but it gets pretty bogged down within thickly-walled structures, as is the case with most of New York City. However, the convenience of onboard LTE isn’t lost on us, though it would have been more convenient to just sign up with one of the major US carriers with which we already have a phone plan.

Final verdict

The Acer Swift 7 is the result of Acer’s hellbent mission to produce the next “world’s thinnest” laptop. There’s no denying that it got there and can put that string of words on the box, but what kind of product did it result in? Frankly, one that’s far to easily outpaced and outpriced.

You may have the world’s thinnest laptop if you’re to pick up an Acer Swift 7, but you also have a laptop without a properly working trackpad. You also have a laptop that isn’t as powerful as others that are cheaper, and not that much thicker or heavier, while still looking just as luxurious.

While we admire Acer’s excellent product design chops brought to life in the Swift 7, we can’t truly recommend that you buy this laptop, unless you just have to fulfill your desire to own the thinnest laptop.

Images Credit: TechRadar