Acer Swift X 14 (2024) vs Apple MacBook Air 13" M3
Acer's Swift X 14 targets creative professionals with its larger 2.8K OLED display (2880x1800, 90Hz), superior port selection including dual Thunderbolt and SD card reader, and more powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 processor with 16GB RAM. MacBook Air M3 prioritizes portability at just 1.24kg versus 1.60kg, delivers exceptional battery efficiency (18 hours claimed), and offers seamless macOS integration—though it's hampered by only 8GB RAM, 256GB storage without expansion, and limited ports. Performance-wise, the M3 excels at everyday tasks and battery longevity, while the Swift X dominates for video editing, design work, and multitasking. At $999 versus $1099, the Swift X provides dramatically better value and capability for professional work. Choose the Acer for versatility and performance; pick the MacBook only if you're invested in the Apple ecosystem.
Full Specifications
| Spec | Acer Swift X 14 (2024) | Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Home | macOS Sequoia |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.60 kg | 1.24 kg |
| Material | Aluminum | Aluminum unibody |
| Dimensions | 323.4 x 225.7 x 16.9 mm | 304.1 x 215.0 x 11.3 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | — |
| USB-A ports | 2 | — |
| USB-C ports | 1 | — |
| SD card | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 1 | 2 |
| MagSafe | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 12 hours mixed use | Up to 18 hours wireless web |
| Capacity | 73 Wh | 52.6 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 14.5 inches | 13.6 inches |
| Type | 2.8K OLED anti-glare | Liquid Retina IPS LED |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 2560 x 1664 |
| Refresh rate | 90Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe | 256 GB |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5x | 8 GB unified |
| Cores | 16-core (6P+8E+2LPE) | 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU |
| Chipset | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Apple M3 |
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Acer Swift X 14 (2024)
Pros
- 2.8K OLED display at $999 is exceptional value
- Discrete RTX 3050 GPU option for light creative work
- Good port selection including SD card and USB-A
- Solid build quality from aluminum chassis
- Upgradeable SSD
Cons
- Only one Thunderbolt port
- Fan noise becomes noticeable under sustained load
- Battery life trails fanless ultrabooks
- 90Hz OLED refresh rate behind 120Hz peers
- RAM is soldered — no upgrade path
Apple MacBook Air 13" M3
Pros
- Light and portable at 1.24 kg
- Excellent fanless M3 efficiency
- Bright 500-nit Liquid Retina display
- Up to 18 hours of battery life
- Supports two external displays with lid closed
Cons
- 8 GB base RAM increasingly limiting
- Only two Thunderbolt ports
- 256 GB SSD uses single NAND chip with slower speeds
- No high-refresh display
- Limited port selection
Related Comparisons
- Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro
- Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 vs Dell XPS 16 (9640)
- Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 vs Dell XPS 14 (9440)
- Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 vs Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 16 (2024)
- Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 vs HP Spectre x360 16 (2024)
- Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 vs HP Envy 16 (2024)
Explore more in laptops, see all Acer products or all Apple products. View full details for the Acer Swift X 14 (2024) or the Apple MacBook Air 13" M3.