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Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6 Notebook Review

Enduring mobility. Acer's 14-inch laptop pleases with its silent system and very long battery life. This is due to the combination of a Braswell processor and high-capacity battery. With a price of 400 Euros (~$422), it is also an affordable device.

For the original German review, see here.

The Swift 1 is the entry-level model in Acer's Swift lineup. Core i and Core m processors are absent here. Acer relies on Braswell CPUs. The company kills two birds with one stone with this device: Firstly, the Swift is an affordable, enduring laptop in the series, and secondly, it is a rival for the Chromebook without the restrictions involved. A permanent Internet connection is not needed and there are no desktop applications. Laptops, such as Medion's Akoya S4219Lenovo's E31-70HP's Stream 13 and HP's Chromebook 14 are among its rivals.

Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6 (Swift 1 SF113 Series)
Processor
Intel Pentium N3710 4 x 1.6 - 2.6 GHz, Braswell
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), Core: 700 MHz, dual-channel, 20.19.15.4474
Memory
4 GB 
, DDR3-1600, dual-channel, soldered memory
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1366 x 768 pixel 112 PPI, Chi Mei N140BGA-EA3, TN LED, glossy: no
Storage
128 GB eMMC Flash, 128 GB 
, 90 GB free
Soundcard
Realtek ALC235 @ Intel Cherry Trail / Braswell SoC - HD Audio Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, Audio Connections: Audiokombo, Card Reader: SD, TPM 2.0
Networking
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 17.9 x 339.4 x 234.9 ( = 0.7 x 13.36 x 9.25 in)
Battery
55 Wh Lithium-Ion, Battery runtime (according to manufacturer): 13 h
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: SD
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, McAfee LiveSafe (trail), MS Ofice 365 (trial), 24 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
1.6 kg ( = 56.44 oz / 3.53 pounds), Power Supply: 266 g ( = 9.38 oz / 0.59 pounds)
Price
399 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case and Connectivity

The casing of the Swift 1 is made mainly of plastic. Only the base unit's upper side is made of aluminum. Despite the use of plastic, the device can be described as stylish. As to its build, the laptop does not show any major shortcomings. This is slightly different as far as the robustness is concerned. In our opinion, the base unit can be warped a bit too easily. This is true to an even greater extent of the lid.

Acer has equipped the Swift 1 with the most necessary interfaces. One of the two Type-A USB ports supports the USB 3.0 standard. Acer should have installed a further Type-C port. The interface distribution is good: They are in the rear on both sides. The installed Wi-Fi module is a Wi-Fi chip (QCA9377) from Qualcomm. It supports the 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi standards as well as the faster ac standard. However, the transmission rates are very poor, even under ideal conditions (no other Wi-Fi devices in the vicinity, short distance between the laptop and the server PC).

The installed memory card reader is not the fastest of its kind. A maximum transfer rate of 34.5 MB/s is achieved when copying large data blocks. Transferring 250 JPG image files (approx. 5 MB each) is performed at 20.6 MB/s. We test the memory card reader with a Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II reference card. Unfortunately, SD cards cannot be inserted completely into the reader; they protrude by about 5 mm (~0.2 in).

Size Comparison

344 mm / 13.5 inch 239.8 mm / 9.44 inch 21.6 mm / 0.85 inch 1.8 kg4.05 lbs341 mm / 13.4 inch 235 mm / 9.25 inch 20.5 mm / 0.807 inch 1.6 kg3.53 lbs339.4 mm / 13.4 inch 234.9 mm / 9.25 inch 17.9 mm / 0.705 inch 1.6 kg3.53 lbs339.4 mm / 13.4 inch 234.9 mm / 9.25 inch 17.9 mm / 0.705 inch 1.6 kg3.53 lbs333.2 mm / 13.1 inch 229 mm / 9.02 inch 19.5 mm / 0.768 inch 1.5 kg3.36 lbs320 mm / 12.6 inch 230 mm / 9.06 inch 21.5 mm / 0.846 inch 1.6 kg3.49 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Right: USB 2.0 (Type-A)
Right: USB 2.0 (Type-A)
Left: Power-in, HDMI, USB 3.0 (Type-A), combo audio, SD card reader
Left: Power-in, HDMI, USB 3.0 (Type-A), combo audio, SD card reader
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Medion Akoya S4219
 
36.3 MB/s +77%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
 
21 MB/s +2%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
 
20.56 MB/s
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
 
18.6 MB/s -10%
Lenovo E31-70 80KX015RGE
 
10.3 MB/s -50%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Medion Akoya S4219
 
87.9 MB/s +155%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
 
34.5 MB/s
Lenovo E31-70 80KX015RGE
 
29.93 MB/s -13%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
 
27 MB/s -22%
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Lenovo IdeaPad 710S Plus-13IKB
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
614 MBit/s +753%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter (jseb)
72 MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Lenovo IdeaPad 710S Plus-13IKB
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
608 MBit/s +756%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter (jseb)
71 MBit/s

Input Devices

The Swift 1 comes with an unlit chiclet keyboard. The flat, lightly roughened keys have a short drop and clear pressure point. The keyboard yields slightly when typing on it. However, we did not find this annoying. Overall, Acer has installed a very decent keyboard that is designed for even prolonged typing sessions. The multitouch ClickPad has a surface area of approximately 10.6 x 6.1 cm (~4.2 x 2.4 in). Thus, it provides enough room for using gestures. The pad's sleek surface makes it easy for the fingers to glide over it. The pad has a short drop and defined pressure point.

Input devices
Input devices

Display

Pixel grid
Pixel grid

The matte 14-inch screen in the Swift has a native resolution of 1366x768 pixels. Neither its brightness (247.2 cd/m²) nor its contrast (474:1) convinces. However, the rates are acceptable in view of the laptop's price. Unfortunately, the screen exhibits PWM flickering at a frequency of 200 Hz in brightness levels of 90% and lower. This can lead to headaches and/or eye problems in sensitive users. To make things worse, the screen flickers permanently without the power supply, i.e. even at a brightness of 100%. The second screenshot under PWM (pulse-width modulation) illustrates this.

261
cd/m²
262
cd/m²
250
cd/m²
259
cd/m²
270
cd/m²
248
cd/m²
226
cd/m²
232
cd/m²
217
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Chi Mei N140BGA-EA3 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 270 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 247.2 cd/m² Minimum: 20.8 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 80 %
Center on Battery: 270 cd/m²
Contrast: 474:1 (Black: 0.57 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.01 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 12.73 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
62% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
39% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
42.35% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
61.5% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
40.97% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.36
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
TN LED, 1366x768, 14.00
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
TN LED, 1366x768, 14.00
Medion Akoya S4219
IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Lenovo E31-70 80KX015RGE
TN, 1366x768, 13.30
HP Stream 13-c102ng
TN, 1366x768, 13.30
HP Chromebook 14 G1
TN, 1366x768, 14.00
Display
-1%
45%
20%
-1%
Display P3 Coverage
40.97
40.68
-1%
61.7
51%
49.25
20%
40.68
-1%
sRGB Coverage
61.5
60.6
-1%
84.8
38%
73.5
20%
59.8
-3%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
42.35
42.08
-1%
62
46%
50.9
20%
42.32
0%
Response Times
-9%
-12%
-2%
-8%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
32 ?(10, 22)
49.6 ?(23.6, 26)
-55%
33 ?(11, 22)
-3%
44.4 ?(22.8, 21.6)
-39%
45 ?(21, 24)
-41%
Response Time Black / White *
30 ?(16, 14)
21.6 ?(16.4, 5.2)
28%
17 ?(7, 10)
43%
20.4 ?(14, 6.4)
32%
25 ?(7, 18)
17%
PWM Frequency
200 ?(90)
200 ?(90)
0%
50 ?(40)
-75%
200 ?(90)
0%
201 ?(30)
1%
Screen
-31%
28%
-36%
-22%
7%
Brightness middle
270
231
-14%
216
-20%
206
-24%
190
-30%
226
-16%
Brightness
247
213
-14%
211
-15%
200
-19%
179
-28%
227
-8%
Brightness Distribution
80
87
9%
65
-19%
84
5%
85
6%
86
8%
Black Level *
0.57
0.47
18%
0.2
65%
0.6
-5%
0.33
42%
0.4
30%
Contrast
474
491
4%
1080
128%
343
-28%
576
22%
565
19%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.01
9.1
-202%
3.7
-23%
9.2
-206%
9.84
-227%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
6.33
14.88
-135%
5.88
7%
14.8
-134%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
12.73
9.55
25%
2.67
79%
10.94
14%
10.32
19%
Gamma
2.36 93%
2.47 89%
2.65 83%
2.76 80%
2.48 89%
CCT
14629 44%
11384 57%
6418 101%
13282 49%
11884 55%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
39
38.84
0%
55
41%
46.92
20%
38
-3%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
62
60.59
-2%
85
37%
73.36
18%
60
-3%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-14% / -21%
20% / 24%
-6% / -19%
-10% / -15%
7% / 7%

* ... smaller is better

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 detected 200 Hz ≤ 90 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 200 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 90 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 200 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18099 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The panel surprises with a relatively good color reproduction in the state of delivery. With a DeltaE 2000 shift of 3.01, it just misses the target range (DeltaE less than 3). However, the screen exhibits a bluish tint.

CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN - Saturation Sweeps

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
30 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16 ms rise
↘ 14 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 77 % 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
32 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 10 ms rise
↘ 22 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. » 36 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Acer has installed a viewing angle dependent TN panel. Thus, the screen is not legible from every position. The Swift 1 can be used outdoors when the sun is not shining. The laptop's screen has been designed for indoor use.

The Swift outdoors (in overcast conditions)
The Swift outdoors (in overcast conditions)

Performance

With its Swift 1, Acer has a 14-inch laptop that is suitable for using basic office and Internet applications. The integrated video decoder also allows playing videos - at home or on the go. Our review sample is priced at approximately 400 Euros (~$422). Only one other model (Celeron N3060, 64 GB eMMC) was available for 300 Euros (~$317) at the time of testing.

Processor

The Swift is powered by Intel's Pentium N3710 (Braswell) quad-core processor. The CPU's computing power is enough for simple office and Internet applications. The SoC's low TDP allows passive cooling, which is also implemented here. The CPU clocks at a base speed of 1.6 GHz, which can be boosted to 2.56 GHz via Turbo. Our CPU tests were performed at full speed. It is too bad that Acer relies on the Braswell platform and not on the new Apollo Lake platform. The CPU and GPU performance of the latter has been increased considerably compared with Braswell.

Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
1344
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
4755
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
2822
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
41 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
152 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
15.74 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
98 %
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Lenovo E31-70 80KX015RGE
Intel Core i3-5005U
83 Points +102%
Acer Aspire ES1-332-P91H
Intel Pentium N4200
53 Points +29%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
Intel Pentium N3710
41 Points
Medion Akoya S4219
Intel Pentium N3700
37 Points -10%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
Intel Celeron N3050
34 Points -17%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
Intel Celeron N3050
33 Points -20%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Lenovo E31-70 80KX015RGE
Intel Core i3-5005U
209 Points +38%
Acer Aspire ES1-332-P91H
Intel Pentium N4200
165 Points +9%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
Intel Pentium N3710
152 Points
Medion Akoya S4219
Intel Pentium N3700
141 Points -7%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
Intel Celeron N3050
63 Points -59%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
Intel Celeron N3050
62 Points -59%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Lenovo E31-70 80KX015RGE
Intel Core i3-5005U
7048 Points +48%
Acer Aspire ES1-332-P91H
Intel Pentium N4200
5284 Points +11%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
Intel Pentium N3710
4755 Points
Medion Akoya S4219
Intel Pentium N3700
4375 Points -8%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
Intel Celeron N3050
2142 Points -55%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
Intel Celeron N3050
1272 Points -73%
Rendering Single 32Bit
Lenovo E31-70 80KX015RGE
Intel Core i3-5005U
3144 Points +134%
Acer Aspire ES1-332-P91H
Intel Pentium N4200
1677 Points +25%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
Intel Pentium N3710
1344 Points
Medion Akoya S4219
Intel Pentium N3700
1200 Points -11%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
Intel Celeron N3050
1114 Points -17%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
Intel Celeron N3050
1025 Points -24%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Single-Core Score
Acer Aspire ES1-332-P91H
Intel Pentium N4200
1362 Points +34%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
Intel Pentium N3710
1019 Points
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
Intel Celeron N3050
868 Points -15%
32 Bit Multi-Core Score
Acer Aspire ES1-332-P91H
Intel Pentium N4200
4425 Points +27%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
Intel Pentium N3710
3480 Points
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
Intel Celeron N3050
1589 Points -54%
Geekbench 4.0
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Acer Aspire ES1-332-P91H
Intel Pentium N4200
1555 Points +32%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
Intel Pentium N3710
1179 Points
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Acer Aspire ES1-332-P91H
Intel Pentium N4200
4162 Points +21%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
Intel Pentium N3710
3433 Points
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Lenovo E31-70 80KX015RGE
Intel Core i3-5005U
106.9 Points +70%
Acer Aspire ES1-332-P91H
Intel Pentium N4200
89.1 Points +42%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
Intel Pentium N3710
62.9 Points
Medion Akoya S4219
Intel Pentium N3700
59.3 Points -6%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
Intel Celeron N3050
51.2 Points -19%

System Performance

The system makes a smoother impression during use than we are used to from other comparable devices. Acer seems to have matched the components well. The very decent PCMark 8 scores confirm this impression. It is not possible to increase the total performance. Positive: The soldered working memory operates in dual-channel mode.

PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
2114 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
2302 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
1595 points
Help
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo E31-70 80KX015RGE
HD Graphics 5500, 5005U, Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
2782 Points +32%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), N3710, 128 GB eMMC Flash
2114 Points
Acer Aspire ES1-332-P91H
HD Graphics 505, Pentium N4200, WDC Slim WD10SPCX-21KHST0
2073 Points -2%
Medion Akoya S4219
HD Graphics (Braswell), N3700, 128 GB eMMC Flash
1645 Points -22%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
HD Graphics (Braswell), N3050, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1630 Points -23%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
HD Graphics (Braswell), N3050, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1568 Points -26%

Storage Device

Data can be stored on an eMMC module with a total capacity of 128 GB. Almost 96 GB of this can be used. The storage device's transfer rates are on a normal level for eMMC modules. The storage capacity can be expanded via an SD card when required. However, this is rather a theoretical option. Since SD cards protrude out of the memory card reader by about 5 mm (~0.2 in) and the cards are not locked in place, this is not really practical.

128 GB eMMC Flash
Sequential Read: 166.5 MB/s
Sequential Write: 85 MB/s
512K Read: 153.8 MB/s
512K Write: 75.6 MB/s
4K Read: 13.2 MB/s
4K Write: 13.04 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 35.12 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 12.66 MB/s
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
128 GB eMMC Flash
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
32 GB eMMC Flash
Medion Akoya S4219
128 GB eMMC Flash
Lenovo E31-70 80KX015RGE
Seagate ST500LM000 Solid State Hybrid Drive
HP Stream 13-c102ng
32 GB eMMC Flash
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-11%
-3%
-53%
1%
Read Seq
166.5
173.5
4%
151.2
-9%
116.4
-30%
152.8
-8%
Write Seq
85
77.9
-8%
55.7
-34%
120.7
42%
76.9
-10%
Read 512
153.8
154.8
1%
156.6
2%
37.01
-76%
167
9%
Write 512
75.6
64.1
-15%
46.9
-38%
73.1
-3%
22.79
-70%
Read 4k
13.2
15.88
20%
16.29
23%
0.507
-96%
18.28
38%
Write 4k
13.04
8.583
-34%
16.5
27%
4.156
-68%
16.78
29%
Read 4k QD32
35.12
25.73
-27%
20.62
-41%
0.967
-97%
31.59
-10%
Write 4k QD32
12.66
8.656
-32%
18.86
49%
0.652
-95%
16.08
27%

Graphics Card

Intel's HD Graphics 405 GPU is installed. It supports DirectX 12 and clocks at speeds of up to 700 MHz. The 3DMark scores are on a normal level for the GPU installed here. The dual-channel working memory has a positive impact here. A look at our comparison chart reveals that the HD Graphics 505 successor is considerably stronger - on a low level.

3DMark 11 Performance
565 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Lenovo E31-70 80KX015RGE
Intel HD Graphics 5500, Intel Core i3-5005U
887 Points +79%
Acer Aspire ES1-332-P91H
Intel HD Graphics 505, Intel Pentium N4200
583 Points +18%
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
Intel HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), Intel Pentium N3710
496 Points
Medion Akoya S4219
Intel HD Graphics (Braswell), Intel Pentium N3700
468 Points -6%
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
Intel HD Graphics (Braswell), Intel Celeron N3050
394 Points -21%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
Intel HD Graphics (Braswell), Intel Celeron N3050
275 Points -45%

Gaming Performance

The installed SoC can render only a few games smoothly. The older a game is, the more likely it is that it will run on the Swift. However, the user will have to be satisfied with low resolutions and low quality settings. Considerably more playable games are found in Casual Games in Windows Store.

low med. high ultra
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) 21.8 10.4 6.5
Dead Space 3 (2013) 43.2 19.6 14.3
BioShock Infinite (2013) 23.2 11.8 10
Battlefield 4 (2013) 16.5 12.5 8.3
Risen 3: Titan Lords (2014) 14 9.1
Alien: Isolation (2014) 18.9 13.6
Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014) 12.1 7.6
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 35.2 22.8
Anno 2205 (2015) 10.8 6.9
Rainbow Six Siege (2015) 15.3 8.9
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 7.1 4.2
Mirror's Edge Catalyst (2016) 10.5 6.1
Civilization VI (2016) 12.2 5.2
Farming Simulator 17 (2016) 31.3 21.3
Titanfall 2 (2016) 14.4 10.5
Resident Evil 7 (2017) 13.5 11

Emissions and Energy Management

System Noise

The Swift is cooled passively. Thus, a fan that could produce noise is not installed. An occasional crackling from inside the laptop was audible during our gaming test. However, the laptop's speakers have to be turned off and the user has to be in a very quiet environment to hear this at all. This was not observed in routine office use.

Temperature

The Swift in the stress test
The Swift in the stress test

The Swift performed our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark run for at least one hour) similarly in AC and battery mode. The CPU and GPU clocked at high speeds for only a few seconds before the processor was throttled to 800 MHz and the graphics core to 480 MHz. These rates were maintained for 20 to 30 minutes. Then, the CPU and GPU gradually throttled a bit further to 720 MHz (CPU) and 460 MHz (GPU). The laptop's temperature development is within limits. 40 degrees Celsius (~104 degrees Fahrenheit) was exceeded on two measuring points during the stress test. The temperatures were much lower in routine use.

Max. Load
 36.1 °C
97 F
32 °C
90 F
26.9 °C
80 F
 
 36.6 °C
98 F
32.8 °C
91 F
27 °C
81 F
 
 31.9 °C
89 F
27 °C
81 F
25.2 °C
77 F
 
Maximum: 36.6 °C = 98 F
Average: 30.6 °C = 87 F
26.2 °C
79 F
33.5 °C
92 F
43.6 °C
110 F
25.5 °C
78 F
34.9 °C
95 F
44.2 °C
112 F
24.9 °C
77 F
28.6 °C
83 F
31.6 °C
89 F
Maximum: 44.2 °C = 112 F
Average: 32.6 °C = 91 F
Power Supply (max.)  34.3 °C = 94 F | Room Temperature 21.9 °C = 71 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 30.6 °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 36.6 °C / 98 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 44.2 °C / 112 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25 °C / 77 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 31.9 °C / 89.4 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 (-3.6 °C / -6.5 F).
Temperature development upper side (load)
Temperature development upper side (load)
Temperature development underside (load)
Temperature development underside (load)
Temperature development upper side (idle)
Temperature development upper side (idle)
Temperature development underside (idle)
Temperature development underside (idle)

Speakers

The stereo speakers are situated on the device's underside. They produce a thin sound without much bass. Headphones or external speakers will have to be used for a better sound experience.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2039.439.739.42540.639.640.63139.330.539.34038.832.938.85037.33137.36339.732.339.78040.628.540.610041.129.141.112541.325.841.316042.925.642.920043.824.643.82504522.84531547.52347.54005021.65050052.52152.563055.519.655.580057.31957.3100059.718.759.7125066.41866.4160075.817.575.8200075.517.375.5250073.617.173.6315071.416.971.4400069.716.869.7500068.916.968.9630066.716.866.7800066.416.766.41000066.416.666.41250066.816.466.81600067.316.467.3SPL82.830.382.8N46.51.446.5median 66.4median 18median 66.4Delta102.31035.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAcer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (75 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.8% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (2.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 9.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (22.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 71% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 23% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 59% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 34% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram in comparison (checkboxes above can be turned on/off!)

Power Consumption

The Swift's power consumption is inconspicuous. The energy requirement is on a normal level for the installed hardware platform over the entire load range.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.16 / 0.36 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4.1 / 8.3 / 8.6 Watt
Load midlight 13.5 / 14.5 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 Runtime

A sticker on the Swift promises a battery life of up to 13 hours. This time proved to be quite realistic in practice. Acer's laptop achieved a runtime of 11:01 hours in our practical Wi-Fi test - a very good outcome. Here, we simulate the load needed for opening websites. The "Balanced" profile is enabled, the energy-savings mode is disabled, and the screen's brightness is set to approximately 150 cd/m².

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 38)
11h 01min
Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6
N3710, HD Graphics 405 (Braswell), 55 Wh
661 min
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook 14 AO1-431-C6QM
N3050, HD Graphics (Braswell), 55 Wh
631 min -5%
HP Chromebook 14 G1
2955U, HD Graphics (Haswell),  Wh
427 min -35%
HP Stream 13-c102ng
N3050, HD Graphics (Braswell), 37 Wh
370 min -44%
Medion Akoya S4219
N3700, HD Graphics (Braswell), 35 Wh
318 min -52%
Lenovo E31-70 80KX015RGE
5005U, HD Graphics 5500, 35 Wh
254 min -62%

Pros

+ matte screen
+ noiseless system
+ decent keyboard
+ 128 GB of eMMC storage
+ 2-year warranty
+ very good battery life

Cons

- dark, low-contrast, viewing angle dependent screen
- PWM at max. brightness without power supply
- no upgrade options
- no Type-C USB
- below-average WiFi data rates

Verdict

In review: Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6. Test model provided by Notebooksbilliger.de
In review: Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6. Test model provided by Notebooksbilliger.de

The Swift 1 is the lowest-performance and cheapest model in Acer's Swift lineup. However, it does not need to hide. Although the casing is mainly made of plastic, the Swift 1 can be described as stylish. This is also due to its slim exterior. The Swift 1 cannot compete with the Core i and Core m processors in its more expensive siblings. The installed Pentium N3710 processor is suitable for basic office and Internet applications.

Acer has a stylish, slim and enduring typewriter and browsing machine in its portfolio. The price of just under 400 Euros (~$422) also makes the device affordable for pupils and students.

The laptop is always silent and does not heat up excessively. The storage device has a capacity of 128 GB. Almost 96 GB of this can be used. This should be enough for most users. The laptop does not feature a backlit keyboard. The installed unit makes a very decent impression and can be used for frequent typing. The superb battery life adds to that. The laptop's relatively low price is reflected in the screen. Acer has installed a dark, low-contrast, viewing angle dependent panel. Nevertheless: The screen is acceptable in view of the low price.

Finally, a wish list for a potential successor: Dear Acer, in addition to an Apollo Lake SoC, a backlit keyboard, and at least one Type-C USB port would be appreciated. An IPS screen would round things off, but this will probably remain a wish considering the Swift 1's price.

Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6 - 02/09/2017 v6(old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
78 /  98 → 79%
Keyboard
73%
Pointing Device
82%
Connectivity
37 / 80 → 47%
Weight
68 / 35-78 → 76%
Battery
94%
Display
80%
Games Performance
41 / 68 → 61%
Application Performance
52 / 87 → 60%
Temperature
93 / 91 → 100%
Noise
100%
Audio
55 / 91 → 60%
Camera
33 / 85 → 39%
Average
68%
79%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Acer Swift 1 SF114-31-P6F6 Notebook Review
Sascha Mölck, 2017-02-14 (Update: 2018-05-15)