What To Know
- The world of ultraportable laptops is a competitive one, with Acer and Asus leading the charge with their respective Swift 5 and ZenBook 13 models.
- The Swift 5 is equipped with a 56Wh battery that provides up to 15 hours of battery life on a single charge.
- The ZenBook 13 has a slightly smaller 67Wh battery, but it still manages to offer up to 13 hours of battery life on a single charge.
The world of ultraportable laptops is a competitive one, with Acer and Asus leading the charge with their respective Swift 5 and ZenBook 13 models. Both devices offer a premium experience in a compact and lightweight form factor, but which one is the right choice for you? In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll delve into the key differences between the Acer Swift 5 and Asus ZenBook 13 to help you make an informed decision.
Design and Build Quality
Acer Swift 5:
The Swift 5 boasts an ultra-slim profile, measuring just 0.59 inches thick. Its sleek aluminum chassis is available in a range of colors, including silver, gold, and blue. The device feels solid and well-built, with a sturdy hinge that allows the screen to be opened to 180 degrees.
Asus ZenBook 13:
The ZenBook 13 is equally impressive in terms of design. It features a premium metal construction with a diamond-cut finish. The laptop is slightly thicker than the Swift 5 at 0.67 inches, but it still manages to maintain a sleek and compact profile. The ErgoLift hinge automatically tilts the keyboard up when the laptop is opened, providing a more comfortable typing experience.
Display
Acer Swift 5:
The Swift 5 comes with a 14-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The display offers good color accuracy and brightness, making it suitable for both work and entertainment. However, the bezels around the screen are slightly thicker than those on the ZenBook 13.
Asus ZenBook 13:
The ZenBook 13 boasts a 13.3-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. OLED displays are known for their exceptional color accuracy, deep blacks, and high contrast ratios, providing a more immersive viewing experience. The ZenBook 13 also features a NanoEdge design with ultra-slim bezels, resulting in a screen-to-body ratio of over 95%.
Performance
Acer Swift 5:
The Swift 5 is powered by the latest Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. The device offers solid performance for everyday tasks, such as web browsing, office productivity, and media playback. However, it may struggle with demanding applications or intensive multitasking.
Asus ZenBook 13:
The ZenBook 13 is powered by the latest Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. The ZenBook 13 offers slightly better performance than the Swift 5, thanks to its faster SSD and more powerful processor. It can handle demanding applications, such as photo editing, video editing, and light gaming.
Keyboard and Touchpad
Acer Swift 5:
The Swift 5 features a backlit keyboard with well-spaced keys that provide a comfortable typing experience. The touchpad is responsive and supports multi-touch gestures. However, some users may find the keyboard layout slightly cramped due to the slim design.
Asus ZenBook 13:
The ZenBook 13 also features a backlit keyboard, but it has a more spacious layout with larger keys. The touchpad is equally responsive and supports a wider range of multi-touch gestures. Additionally, the ZenBook 13 includes a NumberPad 2.0, which is a virtual numeric keypad integrated into the touchpad.
Battery Life
Acer Swift 5:
The Swift 5 is equipped with a 56Wh battery that provides up to 15 hours of battery life on a single charge. This makes it a great choice for users who need a laptop that can last all day on the go.
Asus ZenBook 13:
The ZenBook 13 has a slightly smaller 67Wh battery, but it still manages to offer up to 13 hours of battery life on a single charge. This is still sufficient for most users, but it falls short of the Swift 5’s impressive battery life.
Connectivity
Acer Swift 5:
The Swift 5 offers a decent range of connectivity options, including two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, an HDMI port, and a microSD card slot.
Asus ZenBook 13:
The ZenBook 13 has a slightly more comprehensive selection of ports, including two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, an HDMI port, and a microSD card slot. Additionally, the ZenBook 13 supports Thunderbolt 4, which allows for faster data transfer speeds and external display connectivity.
Price
Acer Swift 5:
The Acer Swift 5 starts at around $899 for the base model with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage.
Asus ZenBook 13:
The Asus ZenBook 13 starts at around $999 for the base model with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage.
Which Laptop is Right for You?
Both the Acer Swift 5 and Asus ZenBook 13 are excellent ultraportable laptops with their own unique strengths and weaknesses.
Choose the Acer Swift 5 if:
- You prioritize battery life and portability.
- You’re on a tighter budget.
- You prefer a more compact design.
Choose the Asus ZenBook 13 if:
- You demand the best possible display quality.
- You need a more powerful processor for demanding tasks.
- You prefer a more spacious keyboard layout and a virtual numeric keypad.
The Verdict: The Ultimate Ultraportable
In the end, the choice between the Acer Swift 5 and Asus ZenBook 13 depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you’re looking for a highly portable laptop with exceptional battery life, the Acer Swift 5 is an excellent choice. However, if you prioritize display quality, performance, and a more comprehensive set of features, the Asus ZenBook 13 is the better option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which laptop has a better display?
A: The Asus ZenBook 13 has a superior OLED display with exceptional color accuracy, deep blacks, and high contrast ratios.
Q: Which laptop is more powerful?
A: The Asus ZenBook 13 offers slightly better performance than the Acer Swift 5, thanks to its faster SSD and more powerful processor.
Q: Which laptop is more portable?
A: The Acer Swift 5 is slightly more portable than the Asus ZenBook 13, thanks to its thinner profile and lighter weight.
Q: Which laptop has a longer battery life?
A: The Acer Swift 5 has a longer battery life than the Asus ZenBook 13, providing up to 15 hours of usage on a single charge.
Q: Which laptop is better for students?
A: Both laptops are suitable for students, but the Acer Swift 5 is a more budget-friendly option with solid performance for everyday tasks.
