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MagyarAcer Swift 5 SF515-51T (i7-8565U, SSD, FHD) Laptop Review
The main focus Acer had when developing the Swift 5 SF515-51T was its weight, which the company wanted to be as low as possible. The project was successful: The slim notebook weighs just under one kilogram and therefore is one of the lightest 15.6-inch devices available. Currently, there is not a lot of competition for the Swift 5 to beat. The only similarly light-weight 15.6-inch notebook we found in our database was the LG Gram 15Z980. We have therefore also included the two 14-inch devices Asus ZenBook 14 UX433FA and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G6 2018 into our expanded comparison table. Despite their compact builds, both devices weigh more than the Swift 5.
Case - light, lighter, Swift
When holding the Swift 5 in your hands it feels as if it's simply an empty case. A press of the power button confirms otherwise. Acer's laptop weighs only 999 grams. (Yes, we weighed it. Our scales displayed 998.5 grams precisely.) This is over 100 grams less than the - already very light - LG Gram 15Z980.
The low weight is made possible by its light-weight build: Both the RAM and the SSD are firmly soldered onto the motherboard and cannot be removed. Acer has also chosen a good-looking slim magnesium case. Our test unit is silver; the Swift 5 is also available in blue. The battery cannot be removed nor is there a maintenance hatch. It is possible to remove the bottom cover - more on that later.
The slim, light-weight case boasts perfect workmanship. The gap dimensions are great and there are no sharp edges. However, the case is not immune to warping. Both the base unit and particularly the display cover can be warped significantly. This is the price you have to pay for such a light build. Pressure on the back of the lid is not visible on the screen. The hinges keep the display in position, except for minimum wobbling. The maximum opening angle is 180 degrees.
Connectivity - no surprises
The Swift 5 is thick enough for "normal"-sized ports. However, the SF515 does not offer a lot of these. Apart from an HDMI port, the notebook only has three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (2x Type-A, 1x Type-C). The Swift 5 does not offer an SD card reader either.
The Type-C port includes DisplayPort-via-USB-C functionality (with an adapter that has to be purchased separately). The notebook can also be recharged via this port - we tried.
The Swift cannot keep up with the LG Gram in terms of port selection. The latter offers more USB ports, a Thunderbolt 3 connector and a microSD card reader.
Communication
The Swift 5 is equipped with a Wi-Fi chip from Intel (Wireless-AC 9560) that supports the Wi-Fi standards 802.11a/b/g/n as well as the fast ac standard. We measured the transfer rates under ideal conditions (no other Wi-Fi devices around, test unit in direct vicinity to the server PC) and the results were very good. The module also offers Bluetooth 5. The Swift 5 does not have an Ethernet connector. Should this be needed, users will have to resort to using a suitable USB adapter.
Webcam
The Swift has a 0.9-MP webcam that produces images with a maximum of 1280x720 pixels. The results are a little grainy.
Accessories
The device does not come with any accessories apart from the usual information leaflets (quick-start guide, warranty information).
Maintenance
The notebook does not have a maintenance hatch. However, it is possible to reach the insides quite easily by removing the bottom cover. This requires unscrewing all (torx) screws from the bottom of the device. The cover can then be lifted off quite easily without the need of additional tools. Opening the device will not give you many maintenance options, however, as the SSD, RAM and Wi-Fi module are all soldered onto the motherboard.
Warranty
Acer has equipped the Swift 5 with a two-year warranty including pick-up service. The period and scope of the warranty can be extended. For example, a three-year onsite warranty costs 150 Euros (~$170). Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties article for country-specific information.
Input Devices - keyboard backlighting
Keyboard
The 15.6-inch device is equipped with a backlit chiclet keyboard that is made up of flat, smooth keys. Each key has short travel and a clear pressure point, but we feel that the actuation force could be slightly stronger. The keyboard gives way a little in the center while typing, but this was not particularly bothersome. The backlighting can be turned on and off via a function key (there is only one brightness level). Overall, Acer has equipped the Swift 5 with a decent keyboard, suitable for everyday tasks but not top of the range.
Touchpad
The ClickPad supports multi-touch gestures and is about 10.5 x 6.5 cm large. This offers plenty of space to use gesture control. The smooth surface makes gliding easy and the pad responds to inputs even in the corners. The integrated buttons have short travel and a noticeable pressure point.
Touchscreen
The capacitive touchscreen of the Swift 5 supports 10 touch points and is very easy to use. It responds quickly to our inputs.
Display - IPS touchscreen with good color display
The 15.6-inch touchscreen of the Swift 5 has a native resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and good brightness (319.2 cd/m²) and contrast (1100:1) values. The displays of the Swift 5 and its competitor, the LG Gram, are very similar. We are happy to state that the panel does not use PWM flickering at any brightness level.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 336 cd/m²
Contrast: 1100:1 (Black: 0.31 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.01 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 1.11
ΔE Greyscale 2.01 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
98% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
63% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
67.8% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
98% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66.8% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.52
| Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G6-20KG0025UK IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00 | Asus ZenBook 14 UX433FA IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00 | LG Gram 15Z980-B.AA78B IPS LED, 1920x1080, 15.60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 0% | -5% | -2% | |
| Display P3 Coverage | 66.8 | 68.3 2% | 64.3 -4% | 65.3 -2% |
| sRGB Coverage | 98 | 94.9 -3% | 89.7 -8% | 96.2 -2% |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 67.8 | 69.3 2% | 65.1 -4% | 66.3 -2% |
| Response Times | -3% | 0% | 8% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 38 ? | 40 ? -5% | 39.6 ? -4% | 34.3 ? 10% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 25 ? | 25 ? -0% | 24 ? 4% | 23.7 ? 5% |
| PWM Frequency | ||||
| Screen | -0% | -80% | -18% | |
| Brightness middle | 341 | 298 -13% | 332.8 -2% | 349 2% |
| Brightness | 319 | 287 -10% | 310 -3% | 331 4% |
| Brightness Distribution | 87 | 91 5% | 87 0% | 84 -3% |
| Black Level * | 0.31 | 0.2 35% | 0.29 6% | 0.32 -3% |
| Contrast | 1100 | 1490 35% | 1148 4% | 1091 -1% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.01 | 2.19 -9% | 5.14 -156% | 3.1 -54% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 4.74 | 4.39 7% | 11.88 -151% | 6.6 -39% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 1.11 | 1.67 -50% | 3.61 -225% | 1.5 -35% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.01 | 1.97 2% | 8.8 -338% | 3.3 -64% |
| Gamma | 2.52 87% | 2.43 91% | 2.33 94% | 2.16 102% |
| CCT | 6704 97% | 6571 99% | 8227 79% | 6973 93% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 63 | 62 -2% | 58.1 -8% | 61.46 -2% |
| Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 98 | 95 -3% | 89.2 -9% | 96.05 -2% |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -1% /
-0% | -28% /
-56% | -4% /
-12% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| 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 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
The Acer's panel already displays decent colors ex-works. We measured a Delta-E 2000 deviation of 2.10, which means it is within the ideal range of below 3. The display does not suffer from a blue cast and grayscales are well-balanced too. Calibrating the panel only improved things slightly. The color deviation dropped to 1.11 and the grayscales are displayed even better. The color-space coverage is promising as well: We measured coverage of 63% (AdobeRGB) and 98% (sRGB).
You can use our color profile to improve the Swift 5's screen according to our calibration. However, the changes are hardly noticeable as the display is already well-calibrated ex-works. Should you still want to use our color profile, please make sure that your device is equipped with the same display model (manufacturer + model number) as our test unit. Otherwise, using the color profile could make colors look even worse instead of improving them. Manufacturers often use panels from different makes within one notebook series.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 25 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 14 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 11 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. » 53 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 38 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 19 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 19 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. » 49 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms). | ||
Acer has equipped the Swift with an IPS panel with stable viewing angles. This means that the screen can be read from every position. The brightness and contrast would allow usage outdoors were it not for the reflective surface of the screen, which often makes this undertaking near impossible.
Performance - good enough for office and Internet applications
Acer has created a very light and slim 15.6-inch notebook that offers sufficient processing power for office and Internet applications. Our test unit is available for around $1400. Other configurations are available from $1000.
Processor
This slim device runs on the ULV quad-core processor Core i7-8565U (TDP of 15 watts), which is based on the current Whiskey Lake architecture. The CPU offers sufficient power for all common areas of use and should satisfy the needs of most users. The Core i7 works at a base clock rate of 1.8 GHz and can reach turbo rates of 4.1 GHz (four cores), 4.5 GHz (two cores) or 4.6 GHz (one core).
The Cinebench multithread tests we ran were completed at clock rates between 2.4 and 2.7 GHz. The single-thread tests resulted in clock rates from 3.8 to 4.6 GHz. These are the rates when connected to an external power supply. On battery, the CPU reaches speeds of 1.9 to 2.4 GHz (multithread) and 1.5 to 3 GHz (single thread). The Cinebench R15 results are considerably lower at 64 points (single thread) and 336 points (multithread).
We tested whether the turbo is used continuously when operating on power supply by running the Cinebench R15 multithread test in a loop for 30 minutes. The results continuously drop from the first to the seventh round and then remain steady for the remainder of the test, at which point the turbo use is very limited.
The CB15 loop confirms the results of our previous CPU tests: The Swift offers more multithread performance than the LG Gram 15Z980 for a short period of time but then falls behind as the Gram's processor can run at slightly higher turbo speeds in the long run.
The Whiskey Lake architecture on which the Core i7-8565U is based represents an optimized version of the Kaby Lake architecture. Therefore, Whiskey Lake offers higher clock rates despite the performance per MHz remaining the same. It is only the speed of the 8565U that makes it perform better than its predecessor - the Core i7-8550U used in the LG Gram.
| Cinebench R10 | |
| Rendering Single 32Bit | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (2481 - 10300, n=14, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UX433FA | |
| Average Intel Core i7-8565U (2682 - 8906, n=16) | |
| Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 | |
| Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (13940 - 56242, n=14, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UX433FA | |
| Average Intel Core i7-8565U (13806 - 23118, n=16) | |
| Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 | |
| Geekbench 3 | |
| 32 Bit Multi-Core Score | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Core i7-8565U (10521 - 13703, n=12) | |
| Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 | |
| 32 Bit Single-Core Score | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (last 2 years) | |
| Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 | |
| Average Intel Core i7-8565U (3340 - 4820, n=12) | |
| Geekbench 4.0 | |
| 64 Bit Multi-Core Score | |
| Average Intel Core i7-8565U (11576 - 14655, n=4) | |
| Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 | |
| 64 Bit Single-Core Score | |
| Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 | |
| Average Intel Core i7-8565U (4701 - 4791, n=3) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Average Intel Core i7-8565U (730 - 2622, n=43) | |
| Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 (Edge 44) | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UX433FA (Edge 42.17134.1.0) | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (363 - 1913, n=67, last 2 years) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (49893 - 98093, n=33, last 2 years) | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UX433FA (Edge 42.17134.1.0) | |
| Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 (Edge 44) | |
| Average Intel Core i7-8565U (13935 - 49795, n=42) | |
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Subnotebook (last 2 years) | |
| Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 (Edge 44) | |
| Asus ZenBook 14 UX433FA (Edge 42.17134.1.0) | |
| Average Intel Core i7-8565U (107.6 - 277, n=37) | |
* ... smaller is better
System Performance
The combination of SSD, quad-core processor and dual-channel RAM ensures a smooth, fast-running system. We did not encounter any problems during our testing period. The notebook provides more than enough performance for office and Internet applications and the PCMark results are very good as well. We also noticed that the LG Gram is far behind the Swift 5 in this area. This is probably connected to its SATA III SSD and lower CPU turbo speeds.
| PCMark 7 Score | 6240 points | |
| PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 4093 points | |
| PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2 | 5013 points | |
| PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 5181 points | |
| PCMark 10 Score | 4006 points | |
Help | ||
Storage Devices
Acer uses an NVMe SSD from SK Hynix that has a capacity of 512 GB. 440 GB of this is available to the user after initial setup. The remainder is taken up by the Windows operating system and Recovery partition. The transfer rates are good despite this model not belonging to the fastest NVMe SSDs around.
The SSD cannot be exchanged for a faster model, as the storage device is firmly soldered onto the motherboard. However, the Swift 5 does have another free M.2 2280 slot that can be connected to a suitable SSD. This slot only accepts NVMe SSDs; we tried connecting a SATA III model without success.
Should there be a problem with the soldered-on SSD, the storage device could be turned off in the device's BIOS. Users would have to connect a second SSD in the M.2 slot and install Windows 10 on that in order to continue using the notebook. The Windows installer will find the Windows license key on its own in the BIOS.
| Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G6-20KG0025UK Lenovo LENSE20256GMSP34MEAT2TA | LG Gram 15Z980-B.AA78B SK Hynix Canvas SC300 512GB M.2 (HFS512G39TNF) | Average SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrystalDiskMark 3.0 | -20% | -51% | -16% | |
| Write 4k QD32 | 490.1 | 184.7 -62% | 224.2 -54% | 330 ? -33% |
| Read 4k QD32 | 571 | 306.1 -46% | 251.5 -56% | 353 ? -38% |
| Write 4k | 149.1 | 94.1 -37% | 71.1 -52% | 116.2 ? -22% |
| Read 4k | 48.68 | 34.87 -28% | 23.6 -52% | 43.6 ? -10% |
| Write 512 | 678 | 243.3 -64% | 413.8 -39% | 617 ? -9% |
| Read 512 | 875 | 1227 40% | 367 -58% | 824 ? -6% |
| Write Seq | 763 | 479 -37% | 446.7 -41% | 745 ? -2% |
| Read Seq | 1089 | 1880 73% | 488.2 -55% | 1011 ? -7% |
Graphics
The Swift SF515 does not offer a dedicated GPU and uses Intel's integrated UHD Graphics 620 instead. The GPU clocks at between 300 and 1150 MHz. The results in the 3DMark benchmarks are normal for this GPU. The Swift benefits from its RAM running in dual-channel mode as this makes better use of the integrated graphics chip. Therefore, the device offers higher performance than devices that only have single-channel RAM.
The decoder that is integrated in the GPU can relieve CPU load when displaying videos in the usual formats such as H.264, HEVC/H.265 and VP9. This also includes videos with resolutions beyond Full HD.
| 3DMark 06 Standard Score | 12132 points | |
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 2087 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 9036 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 1199 points | |
Help | ||
Gaming Performance
The Swift 5 is able to display quite a lot of games smoothly - at low resolution and low quality settings. These are games that only have low to moderate demands on the device's hardware or are already a few years old. For example, the device can display Tomb Raider and BioShock Infinite from 2013 as well as Farming Simulator 19 from 2018. The dual-channel RAM has a positive impact on frame rates, which are higher than on comparable devices with RAM that runs in single-channel mode.
| low | med. | high | ultra | |
| Tomb Raider (2013) | 103.7 | 51.8 | 34.4 | 15.2 |
| BioShock Infinite (2013) | 76.5 | 39.9 | 33.5 | 9.4 |
| The Witcher 3 (2015) | 16.9 | 10.9 | 6.1 | 3.1 |
Emissions - quiet, sometimes silent
System Noise
Due to the slim build of the SF515 combined with the strong quad-core processor, we expected that a hard-working cooling system would be necessary to keep the notebook cool enough. This is not the case. The cooling fan is usually turned off while idling or running at low load (for example during office applications) and the device is silent. This means that the device can also be used in quiet surroundings or for work that requires high concentration. The cooling fan continues to lie low under maximum load and never becomes particularly loud. We measured 35 dB(A) during the stress test. Overall, the Swift and the LG Gram have similar characteristics in regard to their noise emissions.
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 30.5 / 30.5 / 30.9 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 34.9 / 35 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 30.5 dB(A) | ||
| Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 i7-8565U, UHD Graphics 620 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G6-20KG0025UK i5-8350U, UHD Graphics 620 | Asus ZenBook 14 UX433FA i7-8565U, UHD Graphics 620 | LG Gram 15Z980-B.AA78B i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620 | Average Intel UHD Graphics 620 | Average of class Subnotebook | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | 4% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 8% | |
| off / environment * | 30.5 | 30.25 1% | 28.8 6% | 29.7 3% | 29 ? 5% | 24.2 ? 21% |
| Idle Minimum * | 30.5 | 30.25 1% | 28.8 6% | 30.3 1% | 29.1 ? 5% | 24.5 ? 20% |
| Idle Average * | 30.5 | 30.25 1% | 28.8 6% | 30.3 1% | 29.1 ? 5% | 24.7 ? 19% |
| Idle Maximum * | 30.9 | 30.25 2% | 29.1 6% | 31.1 -1% | 29.7 ? 4% | 26.1 ? 16% |
| Load Average * | 34.9 | 31.3 10% | 36.1 -3% | 34.9 -0% | 33.5 ? 4% | 36.9 ? -6% |
| Load Maximum * | 35 | 31.3 11% | 41.2 -18% | 34.9 -0% | 36.1 ? -3% | 42 ? -20% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
Our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark running for at least one hour) is completed in the same manner both on power supply and battery. The processor starts working at 1.8 GHz and occasionally speeds up to 2.3 GHz. The clock rate is throttled to 1.1 GHz after several minutes and then drops slowly to 700-800 MHz. The GPU follows a similar pattern: It starts at 600 to 700 MHz and then drops to 500 to 600 MHz.
The slim notebook does not heat up particularly. We measured temperatures above 40 °C in several areas during our stress test, but these temperatures did not occur during everyday use. The stress test is an extreme scenario that does not represent the device's behavior in everyday use. We use this test to find out whether the system remains stable under maximum load.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 44.4 °C / 112 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 45.7 °C / 114 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.1 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 38.9 °C / 102 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (-10.6 °C / -19.1 F).
| Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 i7-8565U, UHD Graphics 620 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G6-20KG0025UK i5-8350U, UHD Graphics 620 | Asus ZenBook 14 UX433FA i7-8565U, UHD Graphics 620 | LG Gram 15Z980-B.AA78B i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620 | Average Intel UHD Graphics 620 | Average of class Subnotebook | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | 0% | -9% | -1% | -1% | -4% | |
| Maximum Upper Side * | 44.4 | 40.7 8% | 42.4 5% | 43 3% | 41.1 ? 7% | 42.7 ? 4% |
| Maximum Bottom * | 45.7 | 41.6 9% | 45 2% | 41 10% | 44.3 ? 3% | 45.3 ? 1% |
| Idle Upper Side * | 25.4 | 28 -10% | 31 -22% | 28 -10% | 26.8 ? -6% | 27.9 ? -10% |
| Idle Bottom * | 25.8 | 27.4 -6% | 30.8 -19% | 27 -5% | 27.7 ? -7% | 28.7 ? -11% |
* ... smaller is better
Speakers
The stereo speakers are positioned on the bottom of the device. They produce quite decent, full-bodied sound but lack bass. We would recommend connecting external speakers or headphones for better sound.
Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 audio analysis
(-) | not very loud speakers (62.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 14.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (23.5% 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
» 66% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 27% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
LG Gram 15Z980-B.AA78B audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 24.1% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.4% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 54% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 38% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 41% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 51% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Energy Management - room for improvement
Power Consumption
There are no noticeable outliers in the power consumption of the Swift 5. However, the device requires quite a lot of power while idling, with a maximum consumption of 11.6 watts. A value below 10 watts would be ideal for this hardware configuration and to fulfill Acer's goal. The power consumption only increases to 35 watts during our stress test, as the CPU hardly makes use of its turbo. The rated output of the power supply is 45 watts.
| Off / Standby | 0.25 / 0.25 Watt |
| Idle | 3 / 7.7 / 11.6 Watt |
| Load |
34 / 35 Watt |
   
| |
| Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 i7-8565U, UHD Graphics 620 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G6-20KG0025UK i5-8350U, UHD Graphics 620 | Asus ZenBook 14 UX433FA i7-8565U, UHD Graphics 620 | LG Gram 15Z980-B.AA78B i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620 | Average Intel UHD Graphics 620 | Average of class Subnotebook | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 1% | -6% | -13% | -6% | -37% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 3 | 4.7 -57% | 3.9 -30% | 3.7 -23% | 3.81 ? -27% | 4.9 ? -63% |
| Idle Average * | 7.7 | 7.3 5% | 5.9 23% | 8.5 -10% | 6.94 ? 10% | 8.36 ? -9% |
| Idle Maximum * | 11.6 | 9.4 19% | 8.8 24% | 10 14% | 8.75 ? 25% | 10.4 ? 10% |
| Load Average * | 34 | 28 18% | 41.7 -23% | 36 -6% | 35 ? -3% | 45.9 ? -35% |
| Load Maximum * | 35 | 28.2 19% | 44 -26% | 48.7 -39% | 47.5 ? -36% | 66 ? -89% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Runtime
The Acer SF515 reaches a runtime of 7:10 hours in our practical Wi-Fi test (simulated browsing of websites based on script with the power profile set to "balanced" and energy-saving options turned off; display brightness at 150 cd/m²). The 15.6-inch device also managed to run for 7:14 hours during our video test with the short film Big Buck Bunny (H.264, 1920x1080 pixels) in a loop, the profile set to "power saving" and the wireless module turned off and display brightness set to 150 cd/m².
Overall, the Swift 5 offers decent/good battery runtimes. However, it only makes last place in our comparison table. Particularly the LG Gram 15Z980 stands out in our practical tests with about double the runtime of our test unit. This is probably mainly due to its larger battery (72 Wh instead of 53.9 Wh).
| Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6 i7-8565U, UHD Graphics 620, 53.9 Wh | LG Gram 15Z980-B.AA78B i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 72 Wh | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon G6-20KG0025UK i5-8350U, UHD Graphics 620, 57 Wh | Asus ZenBook 14 UX433FA i7-8565U, UHD Graphics 620, 50 Wh | Average of class Subnotebook | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 103% | 31% | 33% | 35% | |
| Reader / Idle | 970 | 1468 51% | 1146 18% | 1252 ? 29% | |
| H.264 | 434 | 950 119% | 657 51% | 794 ? 83% | |
| WiFi v1.3 | 430 | 805 87% | 621 44% | 630 47% | 629 ? 46% |
| Load | 145 | 111 -23% | 196 35% | 115.4 ? -20% |
Verdict
Pros
Cons
The Swift 5 SF515-51T from Acer is a very light notebook that is made for frequent travelers who do not want to forego a large 15.6-inch display.
Weighing just under one kilogram, the device is hardly noticeable in your bag - no strained shoulders with this one!
In order to reach this low weight, Acer has chosen a magnesium case and several limitations. The RAM, SSD and Wi-Fi module are all soldered onto the motherboard, which means that none of these components can be exchanged or expanded. You should therefore be aware of how much storage you will need over the next few years before purchasing a Swift 5. At least there is a free M.2 2280 slot, so you could add some NVMe storage later on.
The device is powered by a Core i7 Whiskey Lake processor that offers sufficient processing power for office and Internet applications. Unfortunately, the Swift 5 cannot make the most out of its CPU when working over a long time, particularly during multithread operation. If you require continuous maximum performance, you had better look elsewhere.
The Swift 5 offers a decent keyboard with one-level backlighting, plus relatively good battery runtimes. The IPS touchscreen also gave us a good impression. It has ordinary contrast and brightness values and its color display is pleasing. However, be aware that this is a reflective display. Ideally, Acer would alternately offer a matte display without the touchscreen feature.
The Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T competes with the LG Gram 15Z980. The Acer is clearly the winner in terms of weight - however, the Gram offers significantly longer battery runtimes and a better port selection. These two factors might tip the balance in favor of the LG device for many potential buyers. Should Acer manage to keep down the weight in future versions of the Swift 5 while improving battery runtimes and port selection, things might get tight for the Gram.
Acer Swift 5 SF515-51T-76B6
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02/11/2019 v6(old)
Sascha Mölck
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