Notebookcheck Logo

Acer Swift 3 SF314-54 Laptop Review: An all-rounder at a great price

Long-lasting. Acer's 14-inch model boasts a sleek, slim body, a Kaby Lake processor and good battery life. The rest of the equipment does not disappoint either: NVMe-SSD, matte IPS screen, key illumination. The RAM is a bit meager with 4 GB. The operating system is Windows 10 Home in S mode. The total package costs almost 400 Euros (~$444).

The Swift 3 SF314-54 is a slim and stylish 14-inch laptop from Acer. The device is powered by a Pentium Gold 4417U processor. Thus, high performance should not be expected. The Swift 3 model in our test is currently available for about 400 Euros (~$444). The laptop's competitors are to be found in the low price segment. To be mentioned here are the Lenovo IdeaPad 320s-14IKB, the Medion Akoya E4253 and the Chuwi Lapbook Pro. The Swift 1 SF114-32 is Acer's in-house competitor.

Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK (Swift 3 SF314 Series)
Processor
Intel Pentium Gold 4417U 2 x 2.3 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 610, Core: 950 MHz, Memory: 1200 MHz, Single-Channel, 26.20.100.7000
Memory
4 GB 
, DDR4-2400, Single-Channel, one memory slot (unoccupied), 4 GB soldered
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 157 PPI, AU Optronics B140HAN04.0, IPS, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ, 128 GB 
, 100 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm combined microphone and headphone jack, Card Reader: SD, 1 Fingerprint Reader, TPM 2.0
Networking
Intel Wireless-AC 7265 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 17.95 x 323 x 228 ( = 0.71 x 12.72 x 8.98 in)
Battery
48 Wh, 3220 mAh Lithium-Ion, 15.2 V
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Primary Camera: 0.9 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.6 kg ( = 56.44 oz / 3.53 pounds), Power Supply: 159 g ( = 5.61 oz / 0.35 pounds)
Price
399 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case & Equipment - Sleek Metal Case

The sleek, slim case of the Swift 3 SF314-54 is made of aluminum. Only the display frame is made of plastic. Silver, red, blue and rose gold are available as color choices. Our model is in silver. There is nothing to complain about craftsmanship. The gap widths are correct and there are no material overhangs. However, stability is not convincing. The base unit should have a higher rigidity. The battery is firmly installed. There is no maintenance flap.

To get access to the innards, the bottom panel would have to be dismantled. To do this, first remove all screws on the underside of the device. Subsequently, the bottom panel can be removed with the help of a flat spatula, for example. It is recommended to start at one of the two front corners.

The Acer laptop has a total of four USB ports. Three of them work according to the USB 3.2 Gen 1 standard (2x Type A, 1x Type C), the fourth (Type A) according to the USB 2.0 standard. The Type C port is for connecting peripherals only. It does not support DisplayPort, or charging of the device. An external monitor can be connected via HDMI if required.

The built-in memory card reader is not particularly fast. When copying large blocks of data, a maximum transfer rate of 28.8 MB/s is achieved. The transfer of 250 image files in JPG format (each about 5 MB) is completed at a speed of 26.1 MB/s. We test memory card readers using a reference card (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II). SD cards do not disappear completely in the reader, but protrude 15 mm (~0.43 in) outwards.

The WLAN module of the Acer Swift has a chip from Intel (Wireless-AC 7265). It supports not only the 802.11 a/b/g/n WLAN standards, but also the fast ac one. The transmission speeds determined by us under optimal conditions (no other WLAN devices in the immediate vicinity, small distance between laptop and server PC) are good.

Size Comparison

327.4 mm / 12.9 inch 236.5 mm / 9.31 inch 19.3 mm / 0.76 inch 1.5 kg3.21 lbs330 mm / 13 inch 219 mm / 8.62 inch 15 mm / 0.591 inch 1.4 kg3.09 lbs323 mm / 12.7 inch 228 mm / 8.98 inch 17.95 mm / 0.707 inch 1.6 kg3.53 lbs323 mm / 12.7 inch 228 mm / 8.98 inch 14.95 mm / 0.589 inch 1.4 kg3.09 lbs323 mm / 12.7 inch 228 mm / 8.98 inch 14.9 mm / 0.587 inch 1.5 kg3.31 lbs324.2 mm / 12.8 inch 209 mm / 8.23 inch 13.4 mm / 0.528 inch 1.4 kg3.15 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Left-hand side: power connector, HDMI, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (2x Type A, 1x Type C), combo headphone/microphone jack
Left-hand side: power connector, HDMI, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (2x Type A, 1x Type C), combo headphone/microphone jack
Right-hand side: memory card reader (SD), USB 2.0 (Type A), Kensington lock slot
Right-hand side: memory card reader (SD), USB 2.0 (Type A), Kensington lock slot
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Lenovo IdeaPad 320s-14IKB
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
79.2 MB/s +203%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (19.5 - 193.9, n=17, last 2 years)
70 MB/s +168%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
26.7 MB/s +2%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
26.1 MB/s
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
24.6 MB/s -6%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Lenovo IdeaPad 320s-14IKB
 
88 MB/s +206%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (23.6 - 239, n=17, last 2 years)
84.7 MB/s +194%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
37.4 MB/s +30%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
33.9 MB/s +18%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
29.5 MB/s +2%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
28.8 MB/s
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
676 MBit/s +6%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
638 (570min - 673max) MBit/s 0%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel Wireless-AC 7265
636 (598min - 663max) MBit/s
Lenovo IdeaPad 320s-14IKB
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
340 MBit/s -47%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel Wireless AC 9462
326 (274min - 361max) MBit/s -49%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
306 (239min - 358max) MBit/s -52%
iperf3 receive AX12
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
655 MBit/s +17%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
630 (523min - 670max) MBit/s +13%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel Wireless-AC 7265
558 (532min - 575max) MBit/s
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel Wireless AC 9462
348 (332min - 353max) MBit/s -38%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
284 (200min - 301max) MBit/s -49%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320s-14IKB
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
276 MBit/s -51%
03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595630665Tooltip
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK Intel Pentium Gold 4417U, Intel HD Graphics 610; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø558 (532-575)
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8 Intel Core i3-8145U, Intel UHD Graphics 620; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø629 (523-670)
HP 14-dk0008ng AMD Ryzen 7 3700U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 10; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø271 (234-285)
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387 Intel Pentium Silver N5000, Intel UHD Graphics 605; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø347 (332-353)
Chuwi LapBook Pro Intel Celeron N4100, Intel UHD Graphics 600; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø283 (200-301)
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK Intel Pentium Gold 4417U, Intel HD Graphics 610; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø636 (598-663)
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8 Intel Core i3-8145U, Intel UHD Graphics 620; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø638 (570-673)
HP 14-dk0008ng AMD Ryzen 7 3700U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 10; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø309 (212-410)
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387 Intel Pentium Silver N5000, Intel UHD Graphics 605; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø326 (274-361)
Chuwi LapBook Pro Intel Celeron N4100, Intel UHD Graphics 600; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø306 (239-358)

Input Devices - Backlit Keyboard on Board

The Swift 3 has a backlit chiclet keyboard on board. The flat and smooth keys have a short stroke and a clear pressure point. While typing, the keyboard shows a minimal flex which is not disturbing. The lighting is controlled with a function key. There is only one brightness level. All in all, Acer provides a keyboard suitable for both everyday use and regular typing.

The multi-touch ClickPad occupies an area of about 10.6 x 7.8 cm (~ 4.17 x 3.07 in). Thus, a lot of space is available to use for gesture control. The smooth pad surface makes it easy for the fingers to glide. The pad also responds to inputs in the corners. It has a short stroke and a clear pressure point.

Input Devices
Input Devices

Display - IPS, but Dark

Pixel grid
Pixel grid

The matte 14-inch display of the Acer Swift 3 has a native resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The screen offers good contrast (1613:1), the maximum brightness (252.4 cd/m²) is too low. We consider values beyond 300 cd/m² good. Nonetheless: Given the price level of the notebook, it is possible to live with the brightness value. Positive: The screen does not show any PWM flickering.

241
cd/m²
259
cd/m²
254
cd/m²
238
cd/m²
258
cd/m²
253
cd/m²
249
cd/m²
255
cd/m²
265
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics B140HAN04.0 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 265 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 252.4 cd/m² Minimum: 18 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 90 %
Center on Battery: 279 cd/m²
Contrast: 1613:1 (Black: 0.16 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.1 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.5 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
58% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
37% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
39.9% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
58.1% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
38.62% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.5
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Lenovo IdeaPad 320s-14IKB
IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Chuwi LapBook Pro
IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Display
70%
7%
6%
77%
-2%
Display P3 Coverage
38.62
66.2
71%
41.65
8%
40.96
6%
73
89%
37.96
-2%
sRGB Coverage
58.1
98.3
69%
61.8
6%
61.1
5%
96.1
65%
56.5
-3%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
39.9
67.8
70%
43.03
8%
42.37
6%
70.3
76%
39.22
-2%
Response Times
-1%
-5%
1%
-1%
1%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
43 ?(22, 21)
41 ?(21, 20)
5%
42 ?(21, 21)
2%
42 ?(23, 19)
2%
42 ?(21, 21)
2%
42 ?(22, 20)
2%
Response Time Black / White *
28 ?(16, 12)
30 ?(18, 12)
-7%
31 ?(16, 15)
-11%
28 ?(16, 12)
-0%
29 ?(15, 14)
-4%
28 ?(16, 12)
-0%
PWM Frequency
25000 ?(20)
352 ?(90)
24500 ?(20)
200 ?(90)
Screen
3%
-17%
-33%
-34%
-6%
Brightness middle
258
291
13%
274
6%
262
2%
297
15%
250
-3%
Brightness
252
276
10%
253
0%
242
-4%
268
6%
240
-5%
Brightness Distribution
90
90
0%
85
-6%
87
-3%
77
-14%
81
-10%
Black Level *
0.16
0.27
-69%
0.31
-94%
0.505
-216%
0.625
-291%
0.13
19%
Contrast
1613
1078
-33%
884
-45%
519
-68%
475
-71%
1923
19%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.1
3.86
24%
5.74
-13%
5.49
-8%
5.23
-3%
5.54
-9%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
19.99
8.26
59%
8.26
59%
10.63
47%
9.53
52%
10.5
47%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.5
5.33
-113%
4.61
-84%
4.84
-94%
6.72
-169%
5.2
-108%
Gamma
2.5 88%
2.25 98%
2.14 103%
2.3 96%
2.38 92%
2.29 96%
CCT
6829 95%
7426 88%
7281 89%
6347 102%
7015 93%
5796 112%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
37
62
68%
39
5%
39
5%
63
70%
36
-3%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
58
98
69%
61
5%
61
5%
96
66%
56
-3%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
24% / 16%
-5% / -10%
-9% / -21%
14% / -7%
-2% / -4%

* ... smaller is better

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
28 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16 ms rise
↘ 12 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 67 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
43 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 22 ms rise
↘ 21 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 67 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18080 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The display shows a decent color representation ex factory. With a DeltaE 2000 color deviation of 5.1, however, the target (DeltaE less than 3) is missed. The display does not suffer from a blue cast. The AdobeRGB and sRGB color spaces are not fully covered. The rates here are 37 percent (AdobeRGB) and 58 percent (sRGB).

The color profile we provide can slightly improve the display's color representation. It is important to ensure that the same display model (manufacturer + model number) is installed as in our test device. Otherwise, the color representation may worsen even further. Within a laptop model series, screens from different manufacturers are often used.

CalMAN - Color Accuracy
CalMAN - Color Accuracy
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Color Saturation
CalMAN - Color Saturation

Acer equips the Swift 3 with an IPS panel whose viewing angles are stable. Thus, the display is readable from any position. The low brightness makes outdoor reading very difficult. The device is made primarily for use inside buildings.

The Swift 3 outdoors (shot in bright sunshine)
The Swift 3 outdoors (shot in bright sunshine)

Performance - Enough for Office and Internet Use

With the Swift 3 SF314-54, Acer has a sleek and slim 14-inch laptop in its range of products. The computer offers enough power for office and internet applications. Our test device is available for almost 400 Euros (~$444). Thus, it is currently the most affordable representative of the series. Other configuration options are available.

Processor

The Swift 3 is powered by a Pentium Gold 4417U (Kaby Lake Refresh) dual-core processor. The CPU operates at a maximum speed of 2.3 GHz. There is no turbo. However, the Pentium supports Intel's Hyperthreading (two threads can be processed simultaneously per core).

The CPU tests of the Cinebench benchmarks are processed at full power (2.3 GHz) in AC mode. In battery mode, the speeds are 1.8 to 2.3 GHz (multi-thread) and 1.4 to 1.8 GHz (single-thread).

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
HWInfo
HWInfo
Intel XTU
Intel XTU

To determine whether the CPU can operate permanently with full power in AC mode, we check by running the multi-thread test of the Cinebench R15 benchmark in a continuous loop for at least 30 minutes. The results remain consistent. The CPU works at maximum speed.

The multi-thread performance of the Pentium Gold is about the same as that of the Pentium Silver N5000. However, the Pentium Gold offers higher single-threaded performance. The latter is more crucial in everyday use.

020406080100120140160180200220240260280300320340360Tooltip
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK Intel Pentium Gold 4417U, Intel Pentium Gold 4417U: Ø227 (224.21-228.14)
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8 Intel Core i3-8145U, Intel Core i3-8145U: Ø349 (347.66-361.38)
Lenovo IdeaPad 320s-14IKB Intel Pentium Gold 4415U, Intel Pentium Gold 4415U: Ø238 (235.55-239.81)
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG Intel Pentium Silver N5000, Intel Pentium Silver N5000: Ø230 (228.26-236.29)
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387 Intel Pentium Silver N5000, Intel Pentium Silver N5000: Ø227 (224.67-233.04)
Chuwi LapBook Pro Intel Celeron N4100, Intel Celeron N4100: Ø251 (249.39-252.12)
CPU clock rates during execution of the CB15 loop
CPU clock rates during execution of the CB15 loop
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
8012
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
4734
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
3570
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
2.57 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.08 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
16.83 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
26.71 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
228 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
89 Points
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (91.8 - 280, n=64, last 2 years)
235 Points +164%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel Core i3-8145U
150 Points +69%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320s-14IKB
Intel Pentium Gold 4415U
93 Points +4%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
89 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
 
89 Points 0%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
76 Points -15%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
73 Points -18%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel Celeron N4100
69 Points -22%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (514 - 2581, n=72, last 2 years)
1719 Points +654%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel Core i3-8145U
361 Points +58%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel Celeron N4100
251 Points +10%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320s-14IKB
Intel Pentium Gold 4415U
238 Points +4%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
236 Points +4%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
233 Points +2%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
228 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
 
228 Points 0%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single 32Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2481 - 10300, n=14, last 2 years)
7596 Points +113%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel Core i3-8145U
5953 Points +67%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
3570 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
 
3570 Points 0%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
2303 Points -35%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
2287 Points -36%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel Celeron N4100
2020 Points -43%
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Average of class Subnotebook
  (13940 - 56242, n=14, last 2 years)
38738 Points +383%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel Core i3-8145U
13074 Points +63%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
8012 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
 
8012 Points 0%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel Celeron N4100
7123 Points -11%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
6634 Points -17%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
6610 Points -17%
Cinebench R20
CPU (Single Core)
Average of class Subnotebook
  (216 - 738, n=66, last 2 years)
605 Points +198%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
203 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
 
203 Points 0%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
173 Points -15%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel Celeron N4100
153 Points -25%
CPU (Multi Core)
Average of class Subnotebook
  (810 - 6314, n=66, last 2 years)
3876 Points +721%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel Celeron N4100
560 Points +19%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
500 Points +6%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
472 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
 
472 Points 0%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Multi-Core Score
Average of class Subnotebook
  (last 2 years)
21447 Points +339%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel Core i3-8145U
7420 Points +52%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
5868 Points +20%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
5353 Points +10%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel Celeron N4100
5085 Points +4%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
4882 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
 
4882 Points 0%
32 Bit Single-Core Score
Average of class Subnotebook
  (last 2 years)
5120 Points +127%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel Core i3-8145U
3360 Points +49%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
2254 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
 
2254 Points 0%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
1876 Points -17%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
1707 Points -24%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel Celeron N4100
1623 Points -28%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Average of class Subnotebook
  (15240 - 43897, n=11, last 2 years)
32353 Points +516%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel Core i3-8145U
7859 Points +50%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
6202 Points +18%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
5467 Points +4%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel Celeron N4100
5307 Points +1%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
5248 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
 
5248 Points 0%
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Average of class Subnotebook
  (3460 - 7522, n=11, last 2 years)
6551 Points +143%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel Core i3-8145U
4118 Points +53%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
2695 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
 
2695 Points 0%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
2053 Points -24%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel Pentium Silver N5000
2014 Points -25%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel Celeron N4100
1799 Points -33%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel Celeron N4100 (Edge 44)
3193 ms * -48%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel Pentium Silver N5000 (Edge 44)
2868 ms * -33%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel Pentium Silver N5000 (Edge 42)
2797 ms * -29%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel Pentium Gold 4417U (Edge 44)
2162 ms *
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
 
2162 ms * -0%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel Core i3-8145U (Edge 42)
1314 ms * +39%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (363 - 1913, n=69, last 2 years)
596 ms * +72%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average of class Subnotebook
  (49893 - 98093, n=34, last 2 years)
80978 Points +385%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel Core i3-8145U (Edge 42)
29392 Points +76%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel Pentium Gold 4417U (Edge 44)
16702 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
 
16702 Points 0%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel Pentium Silver N5000 (Edge 44)
14601 Points -13%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel Pentium Silver N5000 (Edge 42)
13075 Points -22%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel Celeron N4100 (Edge 44)
11852 Points -29%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average of class Subnotebook
  (last 2 years)
348 Points +179%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel Core i3-8145U (Edge 42)
215.9 Points +73%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel Pentium Gold 4417U (Edge 44)
124.7 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
 
124.7 Points 0%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel Pentium Silver N5000 (Edge 42)
108 Points -13%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel Pentium Silver N5000 (Edge 44)
105.1 Points -16%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320s-14IKB
Intel Pentium Gold 4415U
98.8 Points -21%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel Celeron N4100 (Edge 44)
91.2 Points -27%

* ... smaller is better

System Performance

The system works smoothly. We have not encountered any problems. The built-in processor provides enough computing power for Office and Internet applications. A slight increase in overall performance would be possible by activating the dual-channel mode. This would require the installation of an additional memory module (4 GB of memory are already firmly soldered in the machine). The results in the PC-Mark benchmarks are good.

A look at our comparison chart shows that the IdeaPad 320s-14IKB, which has the quasi-same CPU-GPU combination, delivers better PCMark 8 results than the Swift 3. The PCMark 8 benchmark uses the OpenCL-1 functions of the iGPUs. At the end of 2018, Intel dropped the OpenCL-1 support for most of the latest integrated GPUs and has since only supported version 2.x. The Swift uses a graphics driver from August 2019 and OpenCL 1 is therefore not available. Thus, the laptop performs worse than the IdeaPad.

We installed a graphics driver from November 2018 (25.20.100.6373, with OpenCL-1 support) and reran the PCMark 8 benchmarks. The result of the "Home" sub-benchmark, for example, rises to 2647 points.

PCMark 7 Score
4348 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
2196 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
2323 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
3472 points
PCMark 10 Score
2178 points
Help
PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4384 - 7428, n=57, last 2 years)
5834 Points +168%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
UHD Graphics 620, i3-8145U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
3179 Points +46%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
HD Graphics 610, Pentium 4417U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
2178 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U, Intel HD Graphics 610
 
2178 Points 0%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
1926 Points -12%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1902 Points -13%
Essentials
Average of class Subnotebook
  (8890 - 11168, n=57, last 2 years)
10213 Points +107%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
UHD Graphics 620, i3-8145U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
6911 Points +40%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
HD Graphics 610, Pentium 4417U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
4944 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U, Intel HD Graphics 610
 
4944 Points 0%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, 64 GB eMMC Flash
4570 Points -8%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
4544 Points -8%
Productivity
Average of class Subnotebook
  (6213 - 10279, n=57, last 2 years)
7841 Points +118%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
UHD Graphics 620, i3-8145U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
5274 Points +47%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
HD Graphics 610, Pentium 4417U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
3592 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U, Intel HD Graphics 610
 
3592 Points 0%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
3202 Points -11%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2966 Points -17%
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4093 - 9749, n=57, last 2 years)
6805 Points +331%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
UHD Graphics 620, i3-8145U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
2392 Points +51%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
HD Graphics 610, Pentium 4417U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
1579 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U, Intel HD Graphics 610
 
1579 Points 0%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1378 Points -13%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
1334 Points -16%
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Subnotebook
  (4730 - 5285, n=3, last 2 years)
5030 Points +129%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
UHD Graphics 620, i3-8145U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
3281 Points +49%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320s-14IKB
HD Graphics 610, Pentium 4415U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW128HEGR
2657 Points +21%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
HD Graphics 610, Pentium 4417U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
2196 Points
Average Intel Pentium Gold 4417U, Intel HD Graphics 610
 
2196 Points 0%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
2141 Points -3%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
UHD Graphics 605, Pentium N5000, 64 GB eMMC Flash
2015 Points -8%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
UHD Graphics 600, Celeron N4100, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1918 Points -13%

Storage Devices

The system drive is an NVMe SSD from Kingston. This M.2-2280 model has a total capacity of 128 GB. About 100 GB of this can be used at delivery. The remaining space is distributed between the Windows installation and the recovery partition. The transfer rates are good, but the SSD built in here does not count among the top NVMe SSDs.

An SSD serves as a system drive
An SSD serves as a system drive
Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
Sequential Read: 776 MB/s
Sequential Write: 483.9 MB/s
512K Read: 571 MB/s
512K Write: 301.6 MB/s
4K Read: 26.17 MB/s
4K Write: 60.1 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 302.7 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 215.5 MB/s
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
Lenovo IdeaPad 320s-14IKB
Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW128HEGR
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
64 GB eMMC Flash
Chuwi LapBook Pro
64 GB eMMC Flash
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Average Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
 
Average of class Subnotebook
 
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
39%
64%
-84%
-79%
-28%
17%
286%
Write 4K
47.96
96.8
102%
127.9
167%
6.435
-87%
13.46
-72%
73.6
53%
74.7 ?(48 - 96.8, n=7)
56%
156.6 ?(65.3 - 329, n=39, last 2 years)
227%
Read 4K
17.62
36.99
110%
42.82
143%
5.91
-66%
7.071
-60%
8.018
-54%
30.3 ?(17.6 - 37, n=7)
72%
65.9 ?(22.2 - 92, n=39, last 2 years)
274%
Write Seq
479.4
463.1
-3%
795
66%
66.7
-86%
105.3
-78%
383.7
-20%
455 ?(405 - 479, n=7)
-5%
2528 ?(393 - 3918, n=19, last 2 years)
427%
Read Seq
940
794
-16%
1056
12%
268.9
-71%
235.5
-75%
429.6
-54%
660 ?(8.3 - 940, n=7)
-30%
2659 ?(455 - 4560, n=19, last 2 years)
183%
Write 4K Q32T1
169.9
291.7
72%
176.8
4%
7.795
-95%
14.68
-91%
112.5
-34%
222 ?(111.6 - 307, n=7)
31%
405 ?(219 - 690, n=39, last 2 years)
138%
Read 4K Q32T1
224.5
352
57%
322.4
44%
22.76
-90%
24.31
-89%
129.8
-42%
290 ?(190.1 - 357, n=7)
29%
492 ?(240 - 961, n=39, last 2 years)
119%
Write Seq Q32T1
492.1
468.1
-5%
793
61%
83
-83%
114.2
-77%
449.4
-9%
451 ?(387 - 492, n=7)
-8%
3850 ?(503 - 6773, n=39, last 2 years)
682%
Read Seq Q32T1
1516
1489
-2%
1782
18%
150
-90%
140.7
-91%
519
-66%
1350 ?(823 - 1516, n=7)
-11%
5146 ?(562 - 7116, n=39, last 2 years)
239%

GPU Performance

The graphics output is handled by Intel's HD Graphics 610 graphics core. This supports DirectX 12 and achieves speeds of up to 950 MHz. The 3D Mark scores are at a normal level for this GPU. An increase in performance would be achieved by activating the dual-channel mode (= installation of a memory module).

The built-in GPU decoder can relieve the processor when playing videos. Thus, the use of streaming services is not a problem.

GPU-Z
GPU-Z
DXVA Checker
DXVA Checker
3DMark 06 Standard Score
5904 points
3DMark 11 Performance
996 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
35756 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
4179 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
567 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
217 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2979 - 16904, n=56, last 2 years)
8111 Points +802%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i3-8145U
1415 Points +57%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel HD Graphics 610, Intel Pentium Gold 4417U (Dual-Channel)
949 Points +6%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel HD Graphics 610, Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
899 Points
Average Intel HD Graphics 610
  (804 - 949, n=5)
868 Points -3%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320s-14IKB
Intel HD Graphics 610, Intel Pentium Gold 4415U
804 Points -11%
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel UHD Graphics 605, Intel Pentium Silver N5000
780 Points -13%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel UHD Graphics 605, Intel Pentium Silver N5000
612 Points -32%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Intel Celeron N4100
575 Points -36%
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Subnotebook
  (2837 - 12349, n=61, last 2 years)
5921 Points +898%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i3-8145U
838 Points +41%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel HD Graphics 610, Intel Pentium Gold 4417U (Dual-Channel)
657 Points +11%
Average Intel HD Graphics 610
  (556 - 657, n=4)
607 Points +2%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel HD Graphics 610, Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
593 Points
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel UHD Graphics 605, Intel Pentium Silver N5000
576 Points -3%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel UHD Graphics 605, Intel Pentium Silver N5000
434 Points -27%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Intel Celeron N4100
430 Points -27%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Subnotebook
  (13768 - 65911, n=41, last 2 years)
29091 Points +474%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i3-8145U
7152 Points +41%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel HD Graphics 610, Intel Pentium Gold 4417U (Dual-Channel)
5542 Points +9%
Average Intel HD Graphics 610
  (4712 - 5542, n=4)
5204 Points +3%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel HD Graphics 610, Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
5067 Points
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Intel UHD Graphics 605, Intel Pentium Silver N5000
3701 Points -27%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Intel UHD Graphics 600, Intel Celeron N4100
3430 Points -32%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Intel UHD Graphics 605, Intel Pentium Silver N5000
3261 Points -36%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Subnotebook
  (811 - 4773, n=60, last 2 years)
1990 Points +953%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel HD Graphics 610, Intel Pentium Gold 4417U (Dual-Channel)
200 Points +6%
Average Intel HD Graphics 610
  (189 - 200, n=2)
194.5 Points +3%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Intel HD Graphics 610, Intel Pentium Gold 4417U
189 Points

Gaming Performance

The Swift 3 can run some games smoothly if they are set at low resolution and low quality settings. This includes titles that have minimal hardware requirements, such as "Team Fortress 2" or "League of Legends". The activation of the dual-channel mode (= installation of a memory module) would increase the frame rates.

The Witcher 3
1024x768 The Witcher 3 low
Average of class Subnotebook
  (37 - 249, n=54, last 2 years)
100.5 fps
1366x768 The Witcher 3 medium
Average of class Subnotebook
  (29 - 264, n=46, last 2 years)
63.2 fps
1920x1080 The Witcher 3 high
Average of class Subnotebook
  (11.2 - 92, n=58, last 2 years)
34.7 fps
1920x1080 The Witcher 3 ultra
Average of class Subnotebook
  (8 - 44.2, n=59, last 2 years)
18.7 fps
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 30.7 18.8 15.9 5.1

Emissions & Energy - Quiet, Cool and Long-Lasting

System Noise

The Swift works very quietly over the entire load range. At idle, the fan is often quiet and there is silence. Under load, the fan hardly turns up. During the stress test, we recorded a sound pressure level of just 31.6 dB(A).

Noise Level

Idle
30 / 30 / 30.3 dB(A)
Load
31.6 / 31.6 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 30 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2033.631.933.934.42533.332.931.332.43132.43632.836.94032.531.229.932.85031.330.828.430.86328.727.82927.78026.826.725.626.210025.625.225.42612524.924.824.424.916024.923.723.824.420023.52222.723.725022.52121.823.231521.320.320.421.640020.620.319.42050020.419.519.119.863019.918.418.519.4800201818.219.5100021.217.817.621.4125020.717.717.620.7160020.517.517.220.5200020.117.417.219.8250019.117.417.319.2315018.917.517.418.8400017.917.717.617.9500017.817.617.718630017.917.817.818.1800018.217.817.818.2100001817.817.8181250017.717.717.7181600017.817.917.818.1SPL31.630.13031.6N1.61.41.41.6median 20.1median 17.8median 17.8median 19.8Delta21.31.51.9hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseAcer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK

Temperature

The Swift 3 in stress test
The Swift 3 in stress test

Our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark run for at least one hour) is handled by the Acer laptop in the same way, regardless the power source, i.e. in both AC and battery mode. The processor operates at speeds between 1.8 and 2.3 GHz at the beginning of the test. After about four minutes, the clock frequency drops to 1.2 to 1.3 GHz. The graphics core can reach speeds between 850 and 950 MHz. The stress test represents an extreme scenario that does not occur in everyday life. We use this test to verify that the system is stable even at full capacity.

The Swift 3 does not really heats up. During the stress test, the temperatures at all measuring points are clearly below 40 °C (104 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F), respectively. In everyday use, the values are consistently in the green area.

Max. Load
 33.1 °C
92 F
33.8 °C
93 F
29.7 °C
85 F
 
 33.6 °C
92 F
34.4 °C
94 F
26.6 °C
80 F
 
 29 °C
84 F
26.7 °C
80 F
26.5 °C
80 F
 
Maximum: 34.4 °C = 94 F
Average: 30.4 °C = 87 F
27 °C
81 F
26.5 °C
80 F
34.2 °C
94 F
26.6 °C
80 F
31.5 °C
89 F
32.7 °C
91 F
26.3 °C
79 F
28.1 °C
83 F
29.8 °C
86 F
Maximum: 34.2 °C = 94 F
Average: 29.2 °C = 85 F
Power Supply (max.)  46 °C = 115 F | Room Temperature 23.1 °C = 74 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 30.4 °C / 87 F, compared to the average of 30.7 °C / 87 F for the devices in the class Subnotebook.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 34.4 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 34.2 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.9 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 29 °C / 84.2 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-0.7 °C / -1.3 F).
Heat map of the top of the device under load
Heat map of the top of the device under load
Heat map of the bottom of the device under load
Heat map of the bottom of the device under load
Heat map of the top of the device at idle
Heat map of the top of the device at idle
Heat map of the bottom of the device at idle
Heat map of the bottom of the device at idle

Speakers

The stereo speakers are situated in the front area of the device base. They produce an acceptable sound with minimal bass levels. For a better sound experience, the use of headphones or external speakers is recommended.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2031.533.931.52530.531.330.53134.132.834.14030.629.930.65028.228.428.2632829288025.825.625.810024.725.424.712525.324.425.316025.123.825.120033.722.733.725050.121.850.131554.820.454.840057.419.457.450060.219.160.263060.418.560.480073.418.273.4100070.517.670.5125066.117.666.1160060.417.260.420006417.264250060.417.360.4315060.517.460.540006017.660500058.117.758.1630055.317.855.380005917.8591000063.517.863.51250063.717.763.71600053.117.853.1SPL76.93076.9N36.41.436.4median 60median 17.8median 60Delta5.51.55.5hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAcer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (73.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 24.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.7% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (10.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.7% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (23.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 77% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 19% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 65% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 28% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Power Consumption

The Swift does not show any noticeable energy requirements. At idle we register a maximum demand of 9.8 watts. During the stress test (Prime95 and FurMark run for at least one hour), the level rises to 24.4 watts. The value is slightly higher in the middle load range with 25.1 watts. The rated power of the power supply is 45 watts.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.8 / 0.42 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 5.6 / 7.6 / 9.8 Watt
Load midlight 25.1 / 24.4 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Life

Our practical Wi-Fi test simulates the loading of websites with the help of a script. The "Balanced" profile is active, the energy-saving features are disabled, and the display brightness is set at approximately 150 cd/m². The Swift SF314 achieves a runtime of 9 hours and 30 minutes.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 44)
9h 30min
Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Acer Swift 1 SF114-32-P8GG
Pentium N5000, UHD Graphics 605, 53.9 Wh
740 min +30%
Average of class Subnotebook
  (303 - 1144, n=65, last 2 years)
624 min +9%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-55-31N8
i3-8145U, UHD Graphics 620, 50.7 Wh
614 min +8%
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK
Pentium 4417U, HD Graphics 610, 48 Wh
570 min
Medion Akoya E4253-30025387
Pentium N5000, UHD Graphics 605, 41 Wh
555 min -3%
Chuwi LapBook Pro
Celeron N4100, UHD Graphics 600, 38 Wh
491 min -14%
Lenovo IdeaPad 320s-14IKB
Pentium 4415U, HD Graphics 610, 30 Wh
460 min -19%

Pros

+ matte IPS screen
+ slim and stylish metal case
+ NVMe SSD
+ good battery life
+ backlit keyboard
+ always works quietly
+ hardly warms up
+ price

Cons

- dark display
- low color space coverage
- only 4 GB of RAM
- no DisplayPort via USB-C
- no charging via USB-C possible

Verdict

In review: Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK. Test model provided by Acer Germany.
In review: Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK. Test model provided by Acer Germany.

Acer's Swift 3 SF314-54 is a 14-inch laptop with a sleek, slim metal case. The built-in Pentium Gold 4417U processor provides enough power for Office and Internet applications. The device operates quietly over the entire load range and hardly heats up.

Acer does a lot of things right with the Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK. Price, features and performance give a coherent overall picture.

The memory configuration is quite meager with 4 GB (firmly soldered). However, the laptop still has one unoccupied memory slot on board. Thus, an expansion of the memory is possible. This is strongly recommended in order to activate the dual-channel mode. The latter leads to an increase in overall performance. An NVMe SSD ensures a fast running system. Changing the SSD would be possible.

The IPS Full HD screen boasts stable viewing angles, a matte finish, decent color representation and good contrast. The maximum brightness is too low. Measured by the price level of the computer, however, you can live with it.

The keyboard leaves a good impression and proves everyday use. Positive: It is backlit. Moreover, the battery life is good. Too bad: The laptop cannot be charged via the Type C USB port.

 

 

The Swift 3 comes with pre-installed Windows 10 Home in S-mode. The free upgrade to Windows 10 Home is recommended to every buyer. Otherwise, only applications that can be found in the Microsoft Store can be used.

Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK - 05/15/2020 v7
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
84 / 98 → 86%
Keyboard
82%
Pointing Device
86%
Connectivity
48 / 75 → 64%
Weight
68 / 20-75 → 87%
Battery
88%
Display
82%
Games Performance
28 / 78 → 36%
Application Performance
62 / 85 → 73%
Temperature
95%
Noise
97%
Audio
63 / 91 → 70%
Camera
42 / 85 → 49%
Average
71%
83%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Acer Swift 3 SF314-54 Laptop Review: An all-rounder at a great price
Sascha Mölck, 2019-09-11 (Update: 2019-09-11)