This Acer laptop is unexpectedly one of the best work machines I've tested – and it's relatively affordable

I think about the new Acer Swift 14 AI a little more than I probably should. For a laptop that hovers around what is a very competitive price range — about $1,200, it doesn’t have the flashiest hardware and software features. That is unless you consider the dedicated AI symbol on the touchpad, which glows whenever you use the PC’s NPU. Flashy. 

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Otherwise, the Swift 14 AI could pass as another modern-day Windows laptop — possibly even a Chromebook — that you’ve either been desperately searching for or never heard of. While I went into this review being on the latter camp, I’m wrapping it up with appreciation for all the little things that went into this machine. In several ways, the Acer even beats out my M4 MacBook Pro. Read on.

To be clear, the display isn’t one of those areas, though you can’t complain about a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS touchscreen panel. In most lighting conditions, including a window-side seat at my local cafe, I pushed through various tasks on the Swift 14 AI without needing to instinctively smash the “increase brightness” key. In other situations, like when I tried to write the introduction to this review on the rooftop of our new office building, I barely made out where my mouse cursor was.

On the bright side, I’m a fan of the matte-textured coating plus touchscreen combo here, even if it comes at the expense of less saturated colors. Swiftly tapping and swiping around articles, pinching out to zoom, and just interacting with what’s on-screen without needing to stress about fingerprint smudges is quite the treat. On the M4 MacBook Pro, you’d have to pay an additional $150 for such a privilege — and that doesn’t include touchscreen support.

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The Swift 14 AI’s port selection is also quite a toss-up, leaning mostly positive. It has two USB-C 4, one HDMI, and one USB-A port on the left side and one USB-A and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the right side. I’d love to have seen at least one of those USB-C ports moved to the opposite side for more seamless charging and data transferring, and an SD card slot may just be enough to satisfy any creative.

Lifting the lid reveals a backlit keyboard with just enough travel distance to scratch anyone’s typing itch. There’s also a diving-board-style touchpad with the aforementioned AI symbol. Tasks like AI image generation, Copilot queries, and Windows Studio Effects will prompt the symbol to pulse, but it’s purely an aesthetic play.

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Speaking of things that look good, the 1440p QHD webcam on the Swift 14 AI is one of the best I’ve tested, beating out my MacBook Pro in clarity and color reproduction. The synergy between the high-resolution sensor and Windows Studio Effects, which gives you access to background blurring and auto-framing, makes the Swift 14 AI a reliable machine for work meetings, interviews, and other virtual conversations. The cherry on top is the physical privacy cover for those who want a more secure browsing experience when not on camera.

As far as performance goes, I’ve been quite impressed with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 that powers the Swift 14 AI. It handled most applications that I threw at it, including video edits on Adobe Premiere Pro, gaming on Steam, and browsing with dozens of tabs open on Chrome. This most definitely isn’t a gaming-first computer, by the way, with its 60Hz display and near bass-less sound system. But for just about every other consumer use case, the Swift 14 AI is very capable.

Here are some benchmark numbers for a more objective look at things.

I did notice the laptop’s internal fans kicking in occasionally, but not to the extent of distraction. It certainly helps that lifting the lid also elevates the base of the laptop, promoting better air ventilation. The several layers of heat dissipation, along with the Swift 14 AI’s 63-watt-hour battery, provided me a good 10+ hours of normal usage on every charge. That’s fantastic news if you’re often lugging your laptop around for work and/or don’t always have an outlet nearby.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Acer Swift 14 AI is a good laptop, aside from some slightly confusing design choices. Its biggest strengths are the matte-textured touchscreen display, the reliable battery life, and the reliably crisp webcam. I have no problem recommending this Acer model to working professionals, students, and consumers who just want a no-frills laptop that is reasonably priced.

Just be mindful of the bloatware, which I’m continuing to get pop-ups of as I type this review, the whirring fan noise with heavy use, and the smaller touches that might not be your cup of tea.