Acer Swift Go 16 (SFG16-72, 2024) vs Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 Pro
The Verdict
Acer's Swift Go 16 delivers excellent value for creative professionals needing a large OLED workspace, featuring a vibrant 3200x2000 display, solid Intel Core Ultra 7 performance, and 12.5-hour battery life at a compelling $899 price point. Apple's MacBook Pro 14 M3 Pro commands double the cost but justifies it with superior brightness (1600 nits vs 400), exceptional 17-hour battery endurance, faster GPU performance via the M3 Pro chip, and the macOS ecosystem advantage. The Acer excels in screen real estate and portability, while Apple prioritizes display quality and professional-grade performance. For budget-conscious creators, the Acer is outstanding. For video editors and designers demanding peak performance and color accuracy, the MacBook Pro's XDR display and M3 Pro chip prove worthwhile. Recommendation: choose Acer for best value, MacBook Pro for professional demands.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Acer Swift Go 16 (SFG16-72, 2024) if…
- →Sharp 3.2K 120Hz OLED display
- →Affordable for a Core Ultra OLED laptop
- →Generous port selection including SD card reader
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 Pro if…
- →M3 Pro with 3nm process delivers 20% faster CPU than M2 Pro
- →Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display with 1600-nit HDR peak brightness
- →18 GB unified memory is a welcome base RAM increase over M2 Pro
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Acer Swift Go 16 (SFG16-72, 2024)
Pros
- Sharp 3.2K 120Hz OLED display
- Affordable for a Core Ultra OLED laptop
- Generous port selection including SD card reader
- Lightweight for a 16-inch laptop
- Solid 1080p IR webcam
Cons
- Speakers are merely average
- Display brightness lower than competitors
- Soldered RAM limits upgradability
- Plastic deck flex on the keyboard
Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 Pro
Pros
- M3 Pro with 3nm process delivers 20% faster CPU than M2 Pro
- Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display with 1600-nit HDR peak brightness
- 18 GB unified memory is a welcome base RAM increase over M2 Pro
- 17-hour battery life is outstanding for a pro laptop
- Excellent port selection with HDMI, SD card reader, and MagSafe
Cons
- $1999 starting price is steep for the base configuration
- 512 GB base SSD may fill quickly for creative professionals
- 1.61 kg is noticeably heavier than the MacBook Air
- Notch on display can interfere with certain menu bar apps
- macOS limits gaming compared to Windows laptops
Full Specifications
| Spec | Acer Swift Go 16 (SFG16-72, 2024) | Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Home | macOS Sonoma |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.5 kg | 1.61 kg |
| Material | Aluminum | Aluminum unibody |
| Dimensions | 358 x 248.5 x 15.9 mm | 312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | 1 |
| USB-A ports | 2 | — |
| USB-C ports | 0 | — |
| SD card | ||
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 3 |
| MagSafe | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 12.5 hours | Up to 17 hours wireless web |
| Capacity | 65 Wh | 72.4 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16 inches | 14.2 inches |
| Type | OLED, 16:10 | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED |
| Resolution | 3200 x 2000 | 3024 x 1964 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz ProMotion |
| Brightness (nits) | 400 | 1600 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe | 512 GB NVMe (configurable to 4 TB) |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5X | 18 GB unified |
| Cores | 16 cores (6P+8E+2LPE) | 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU |
| Chipset | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Apple M3 Pro |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in laptops, see all Acer products or all Apple products. View full details for the Acer Swift Go 16 (SFG16-72, 2024) or the Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 Pro.