CES 2023 Hands-On: Productivity Gets an OLED Boost in New Acer Swift Go

LAS VEGAS—Acer's Swift ultraportable laptop line is getting a huge upgrade in 2023, from new chips to improved displays. The Swift line has always offered impressive quality for ultraportable designs, but its newest models look to be more premium than ever, thanks to flourishes like OLED displays, diamond-cut metal chassis designs, stylish finishes, and the latest Intel and Nvidia hardware. We checked them out in person at CES 2023.

Redefining the Meaning of ‘Go': Acer Swift Go

Likely the biggest news is the introduction of the Acer Swift Go 14- and 16-inch laptops. With 13th Generation Intel Core processors and high-resolution, high-refresh-rate OLED displays, these new slim laptops promise effective performance to match their stunning displays. Whereas “Go” might mean “budget” for many laptop makers today, not so for Acer.

Acer's Swift Go 16 (SFG16-71) and Swift Go 14 (SFG14-71) both benefit from premium OLED panels with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification, indicating 500-nit peak brightness. Acer also boasts that the displays have 100% DCI-P3 color range, so they should look pleasing whether you're using them for work or play. The 16-inch model comes with several resolution options, up to 3.2K (3,200 by 2,000) with a 120Hz refresh rate, while the smaller 14-incher scales up to 2,880-by-1,800 resolution and 90Hz refresh rate.

Acer Swift Go
(Credit: Brian Westover)

Both models will be outfitted with Intel 13th Generation processors, featuring H-Series and U-Series CPUs from Core i3 up to Core i7, with Intel Iris Xe Graphics and as much as 16GB of memory. Storage options range between 256GB and 1TB PCIe Gen4 solid-state drives, and the laptops include Killer Networking Wi-Fi 6E, and plenty of ports, including Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, and microSD card slots.

A super-sharp 1440p webcam is found in both models, which gets a software boost with Acer PurifiedView, a suite of automatic enhancements that can improve video conferencing by adding background blur, automatic framing, noise reduction, and eye contact, among other optimizations. AI-powered PurifiedVoice does the same with audio, making it a smart choice for anyone who does a lot of video conferencing.

The Acer Swift Go 14 (SFG14-71) will sell for $849.99 starting in May. The larger Acer Swift Go 16 (SFG16-71) will begin selling in the US this June, starting at $799.99.

Going ‘Xtreme' With Acer Swift X 14

Acer's Swift X 14 (SFX14-71) is built to deliver the performance needed by professional creators with an ultraportable form factor that lets you work wherever you need to be, complete with an all-day battery. If visual work is your top concern, the Swift X 14 will be offered with both OLED and IPS display options, with 2,880-by-1,800 and 2,560-by-1,600 resolutions available, respectively.

Swift Go 16, Swift 14, and Swift X 14
(Credit: Brian Westover)

Combining the powers of 13th Generation Intel H-Series Core i7 and Core i5 processors and new Nvidia GeForce RTX laptop graphics, this premium ultraportable is also Nvidia Studio validated and has drivers for top-of-the-line professional creative support. Memory comes in 8GB or 16GB LPDDR5 flavors, and storage is available in 512GB or 1TB SSD options.

With beefier-than-average hardware, the Swift X 14 weighs in at just 3.4 pounds and measures a mere 0.7 inches thick. Despite the slim design, the Swift X 14 has an advanced thermal design that draws in more cool air with a larger fan, and a dual heat pipe design to keep things cool during demanding tasks.

The Acer Swift X 14 (SFX14-71G) launches in North America in April, starting at $1,099.99.

Last But Not Least: The Acer Swift 14

The Acer Swift 14—no “Go” or “X” on this model—is also getting a revamped design, with a unibody chassis made of CNC-machined, aerospace-grade aluminum that should make Apple's best MacBooks nervous.

Acer Swift 14
(Credit: Brian Westover)

Made for on-the-go use, the ultraportable Swift 14 is just 2.65 pounds, but features an Intel 13th Generation Core i7 or Core i5 H-Series processors and Intel Iris Xe graphics. That comes paired with a full complement of between 8GB and 32GB of DDR5 memory, up to 1TB of SSD storage, Wi-Fi 6E networking, and a touch screen with Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass.

The Acer Swift 14 (SF14-71T) will start at $1,399.99 when it launches in March.