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Acer Swift 3 SF315 (8250U, MX150, FHD) Laptop Review

Multi-talented. Acer's 15.6-inch all-rounder is equipped with a quad-core processor, an IPS display and a GPU with enough performance power to render current games – and more. Even with its high-performance hardware, it offers a long battery life. Update: 4K SKU with 100 % sRGB

For the original German review, click here.

Acer has packed the Swift 3's components into a classy metal case. The computer runs on a Kaby Lake quad-core processor. This is not a conventional laptop processor (TDP: 45 watts), but a ULV model that uses energy economically (TDP: 15 watts). The competition includes computers like the Asus FX553VD, the HP Pavilion 15 Power and the Dell Inspiron 15 5567-1753.

Since we have already reviewed a Swift 3 SF315 51G model that is structurally identical to our current test device, we will not cover the case, connectivity, input devices, display or speakers at length. For more information on these subjects, please see our review of the Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9.

Update 07/25/2018: We got our hands on the 4K model of the Swift 3 315. It was not only brighter than the FHD model but also covered the sRGB color space by 100 %.

Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5 (Swift 3 SF315 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U 4 x 1.6 - 3.4 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce MX150 - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 1798 MHz, Memory: 1502 MHz, GDDR5, 64-bit connection, ForceWare 387.92, Optimus
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4-2133, dual-channel, no memory bank, memory soldered
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, BOE NV156FHM-N48, IPS, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
Hynix HFS128G39TND, 128 GB 
, + WDC WD10SPZX (1 TB, 5400 rpm), 1031 GB free
Soundcard
Realtek ALC255 @ Intel Sunrise Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: Audio combo, Card Reader: SD, 1 Fingerprint Reader, TPM 2.0
Networking
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 (a/b/g/h/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 18 x 384 x 255 ( = 0.71 x 15.12 x 10.04 in)
Battery
49.7 Wh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Primary Camera: 1.3 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Ms Office 365 (trial version), Norton Security (trial version), 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.9 kg ( = 67.02 oz / 4.19 pounds), Power Supply: 204 g ( = 7.2 oz / 0.45 pounds)
Price
979 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Size Comparison

385 mm / 15.2 inch 258 mm / 10.2 inch 31 mm / 1.22 inch 2.4 kg5.24 lbs390 mm / 15.4 inch 259 mm / 10.2 inch 23.3 mm / 0.917 inch 2.3 kg5.06 lbs378 mm / 14.9 inch 252.2 mm / 9.93 inch 24.1 mm / 0.949 inch 2.3 kg5.05 lbs384 mm / 15.1 inch 255 mm / 10 inch 18 mm / 0.709 inch 1.9 kg4.19 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
83.8 MB/s +382%
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
81.3 MB/s +367%
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
68.3 MB/s +293%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
23.3 MB/s +34%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
23.2 MB/s +33%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
17.4 MB/s
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
131.7 MB/s +414%
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
87.9 MB/s +243%
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
86.4 MB/s +238%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
27.5 MB/s +7%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
25.6 MB/s
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
24.9 MB/s -3%
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
666 MBit/s +9%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
649 MBit/s +6%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
611 MBit/s
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
465 MBit/s -24%
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
415 MBit/s -32%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
319 MBit/s -48%
iperf3 receive AX12
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
645 MBit/s +19%
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
627 MBit/s +16%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
541 MBit/s
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
529 MBit/s -2%
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
521 MBit/s -4%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
350 MBit/s -35%

Display

pixel grid
pixel grid

The Swift 3 is equipped with the same IPS FHD panel as the sister model that we have reviewed previously. This is a panel that displays the screen content accurately from any viewing angle and has a good contrast ratio. In terms of brightness, we expect more from a laptop in this price bracket – a number over 300 cd/m²  would be more appropriate. The two panels yielded somewhat different results, which is normal. Two structurally identical displays are never 100% alike.

Both screens produce backlight flicker due to pulse width modulation, but our current test device flickers at a frequency of 21000 Hz, which is a significantly higher number than we measured on its sister model. A frequency in that range should spare even sensitive users from eye problems and/or headaches.

263
cd/m²
255
cd/m²
237
cd/m²
249
cd/m²
248
cd/m²
247
cd/m²
208
cd/m²
218
cd/m²
207
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
BOE NV156FHM-N48 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 263 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 236.9 cd/m² Minimum: 19 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 79 %
Center on Battery: 249 cd/m²
Contrast: 1181:1 (Black: 0.21 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.98 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.26 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
58% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
38% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
41.18% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
58.7% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
39.86% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.37
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
TN, 1920x1080, 15.60
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
TN LED, 1920x1080, 15.60
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9
IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Display
-1%
-4%
-8%
-2%
-2%
Display P3 Coverage
39.86
39.28
-1%
37.98
-5%
36.24
-9%
38.81
-3%
39.02
-2%
sRGB Coverage
58.7
58.9
0%
57.1
-3%
54.6
-7%
57.9
-1%
57.7
-2%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
41.18
40.59
-1%
39.24
-5%
37.44
-9%
40.03
-3%
40.31
-2%
Response Times
-7%
32%
27%
10%
-32%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
42 ?(22, 20)
51.6 ?(26.4, 25.2)
-23%
43 ?(24, 19, plateau)
-2%
43 ?(18, 25)
-2%
38.8 ?(20, 18.8)
8%
42 ?(22, 20)
-0%
Response Time Black / White *
32 ?(17, 15)
29.2 ?(16.8, 12.4)
9%
11 ?(7, 4)
66%
14 ?(6, 8)
56%
28 ?(16.4, 11.6)
12%
32 ?(18, 14)
-0%
PWM Frequency
21000 ?(80)
1087 ?(90)
-95%
Screen
-10%
-11%
-66%
-7%
3%
Brightness middle
248
256
3%
225
-9%
145
-42%
256.6
3%
248
0%
Brightness
237
241
2%
215
-9%
144
-39%
243
3%
239
1%
Brightness Distribution
79
88
11%
91
15%
90
14%
81
3%
69
-13%
Black Level *
0.21
0.21
-0%
0.46
-119%
0.49
-133%
0.19
10%
0.18
14%
Contrast
1181
1219
3%
489
-59%
296
-75%
1351
14%
1378
17%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.98
5.2
-4%
3.94
21%
9.27
-86%
5
-0%
4.85
3%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
8.41
19.3
-129%
6.83
19%
16.9
-101%
20.1
-139%
8.34
1%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.26
3.5
18%
2.68
37%
12.28
-188%
2.7
37%
3.84
10%
Gamma
2.37 93%
2.35 94%
2.35 94%
2.03 108%
2.32 95%
2.29 96%
CCT
7149 91%
6576 99%
6709 97%
10732 61%
6599 98%
6790 96%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
38
37
-3%
36
-5%
35
-8%
36.7
-3%
37
-3%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
58
59
2%
57
-2%
55
-5%
57.7
-1%
57
-2%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-6% / -8%
6% / -4%
-16% / -42%
0% / -4%
-10% / -5%

* ... 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 21000 Hz ≤ 80 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 21000 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 80 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 21000 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - grayscale
CalMAN - grayscale
CalMAN - color saturation
CalMAN - color saturation

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
32 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 17 ms rise
↘ 15 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. » 84 % 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
42 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 22 ms rise
↘ 20 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. » 63 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Display 4K

Acer Swift 3 SF315-52G-8376 mit 15.6 inch, 3840x2160, glare, IPS
Acer Swift 3 SF315-52G-8376 mit 15.6 inch, 3840x2160, glare, IPS
4K AUO B156ZAN03.1 subpixel geometry
4K AUO B156ZAN03.1 subpixel geometry
visible halations in the corners
visible halations in the corners

Update 07/25/2018: The 4K panel in the more expensive Swift 3 SKU (SF315-52G-8376) offered an astonishingly high brightness. Unfortunately, it was also plagued by massive halations on the corners. The contrast ratio was excellent and we found no evidence of PWM.

Out of the box our 4K display suffered from a very noticeable blue tint resulting in a very high DeltaE deviation of 7. With a maximum of up to 9 and an average of 6.5 Delta E deviations for colors were similarly poor. Ideally, you should be aiming for values of less than 3, which would result in no visible difference between the actual color and the reference color for the untrained eye.

The panel’s response times were longer than for the FHD panel, and brightness distribution was very similar.

sRGB color space coverage was certainly the 4K panel’s highlight, and not one of its competitors was able to keep up with the 4K Swift 3. The same can be said about its 88 % AdobeRGB coverage – most competitors fail to exceed 40 % coverage of this much larger color space.

100% sRGB - perfect
100% sRGB - perfect
88% AdobeRGB - almost perfect
88% AdobeRGB - almost perfect
392
cd/m²
440
cd/m²
404
cd/m²
378
cd/m²
404
cd/m²
367
cd/m²
357
cd/m²
364
cd/m²
366
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AUO B156ZAN03.1 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 440 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 385.8 cd/m² Minimum: 18 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 81 %
Center on Battery: 394 cd/m²
Contrast: 1683:1 (Black: 0.24 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 6.55 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 3.64
ΔE Greyscale 7.41 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
100% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
88% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
Gamma: 2.57

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 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Thankfully, we were able to alleviate the color distortions all but completely through calibration. As always, the resulting ICC profile can be found for download in the box above. Please note that your system needs to be equipped with the exact same AOU B156ZA03.1 panel in order to benefit from the color profile. Many manufacturers use various panels for their seemingly identical notebooks.

Through calibration, we were able to decrease DeltaE for grayscale to 1 and DeltaE for colors to 3.6 and 7, respectively.

4K: CalMAN - Color Checker
4K: CalMAN - Color Checker
4K: CalMAN - Color Checker (calibrated)
4K: CalMAN - Color Checker (calibrated)
4K: CalMAN - grayscale
4K: CalMAN - grayscale
4K: CalMAN - grayscale (calibrated)
4K: CalMAN - grayscale (calibrated)
4K: CalMAN - saturation
4K: CalMAN - saturation
4K: CalMAN - saturation (calibrated)
4K: CalMAN - saturation (calibrated)

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
23 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 13 ms rise
↘ 10 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 45 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.6 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 (33.9 ms).
Outdoors in bright sunlight.
Outdoors in bright sunlight.
Brightness is not reduced on battery.
Brightness is not reduced on battery.
Perfect image in the shade.
Perfect image in the shade.

Thanks to its impressive maximum brightness of up to 44 nits the display remained usable even in bright sunshine outdoors. Our photo shows the Swift 3 4K on a particularly bright day in direct sunlight and in the shade, respectively. The matte display showed little to no reflections, and its viewing angles were as wide as expected of an IPS panel.

IPS 4K viewing angles
IPS 4K viewing angles

Performance

Acer's Swift 3 SF315-51G is a 15.6-inch multimedia device that is good in various aspects, including gaming. It renders all of today's popular games smoothly. Our test device is available for around 1000 Euros (~$1175; US model on the market for $750). Acer also offers other versions of the computer with different hardware components. The price starts at around 900 Euros (~$1050; US version $730).

Processor

The Swift 3 runs on an Intel Core i5-8250U quad-core processor from the Kaby Lake Refresh generation. The CPU supports Hyperthreading (each core can process two threads simultaneously). This chip is the direct successor of the dual-core Core i5-7200U and Core i5-7260U processors. In order to maintain the TDP of 15 watts even with four cores, the processor runs at a significantly lower base clock speed than its dual-core siblings. The 8250U's base clock speed is 1.6 GHz. Using turbo, it is possible to increase the speed to up to 3.4 GHz.

The extent to which the processor's turbo can be used is dependent on which application(s) the user is running. For example, the chip could only process the Multithread tests in the Cinebench benchmark at full turbo speed for 2 to 3 seconds. Afterward, the speed throttles down to between 2.4 and 2.5 GHz. The processor runs the entirety of the single thread tests at full turbo speed. The same goes for the Geekbench benchmarks: 3.4 GHz. With these results, the CPU positions itself between the Core i5-7300HQ and the Core i7-7700HQ.

To determine whether the CPU fully utilizes its turbo without interruption in AC power mode, we run the Cinebench R15 Multithread test for about 30 minutes in a continuous loop. After the first cycle, the results fall to between 525 and 530 points and remain there – demonstrating that the CPU is able to maintain a turbo speed of 2.4 to 2.5 GHz. 

0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340350360370380390400410420430440450460470480490500510520530540550560Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

Cinebench R11.5 or R15 analysis, compared to the competition:

Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5542
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
17505
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
6678
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
145 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
560 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
94.6 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
162 Points +12%
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
162 Points +12%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
159.9 Points +10%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
156 Points +8%
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
159 Points +10%
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
151 Points +4%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
148 Points +2%
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
146 Points +1%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
145 Points
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
143 Points -1%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Core i7-7500U
142 Points -2%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9
Intel Core i5-7200U
128 Points -12%
CPU Multi 64Bit
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
740 Points +32%
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
733 Points +31%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
732 (729min - 733max) Points +31%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
727 (704.77min - 731.97max) Points +30%
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
727 Points +30%
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
699 Points +25%
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
686 Points +23%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
560 Points
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
517 Points -8%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
511 Points -9%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Core i7-7500U
338 Points -40%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9
Intel Core i5-7200U
326 Points -42%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single 32Bit
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
7647 Points +38%
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
5933 Points +7%
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
5908 Points +7%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Core i7-7500U
5624 Points +1%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
5542 Points
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
5502 Points -1%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
5436 Points -2%
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
28648 Points +64%
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
22209 Points +27%
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
22053 Points +26%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
18304 Points +5%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
18158 Points +4%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
17505 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Core i7-7500U
12161 Points -31%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Multi-Core Score
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
13991 Points +3%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
13553 Points
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
9840 Points -27%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
9752 Points -28%
32 Bit Single-Core Score
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
3585 Points +5%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
3416 Points
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
3195 Points -6%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
3163 Points -7%
Geekbench 4.0
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
14084 Points +4%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
13486 Points
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
10551 Points -22%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
8085 Points -40%
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
4482 Points +8%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
4162 Points
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
4022 Points -3%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
3387 Points -19%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
15102 Points +6%
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
14975 Points +5%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
14207 Points
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
11075 Points -22%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
8081 Points -43%
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
4635 Points +9%
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
4540 Points +6%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
4266 Points
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
4040 Points -5%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
3387 Points -21%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
269.1 Points +9%
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
263.8 Points +6%
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
261.2 Points +5%
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
257.9 Points +4%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
248 Points
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
247.5 Points 0%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
245.5 Points -1%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Core i7-7500U
233.1 Points -6%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9
Intel Core i5-7200U
216.4 Points -13%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
1052 ms *
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Core i7-7500U
1051 ms * -0%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
1049 ms * -0%
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1003 ms * +5%
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
957 ms * +9%
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
949 ms * +10%
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
932 ms * +11%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
41638 Points +25%
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
37701 Points +13%
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
36423 Points +10%
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
36308 Points +9%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Intel Core i7-7500U
36101 Points +9%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
34965 Points +5%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
33233 Points
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9
Intel Core i5-7200U
32381 Points -3%

* ... smaller is better

System Performance

In terms of system performance, the Swift 3 is irreproachable. A solid-state disk and powerful Core i5 processor ensure a fast running system. The laptop's very good scores in the PCMark benchmarks attest to its ability to run programs beyond the realm of office and internet-related applications. It is not possible to improve the computer's overall performance – Acer has already maximized the machine's performance power.

PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3935 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
5065 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4992 points
PCMark 10 Score
3802 points
Help
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
Radeon RX 550 (Laptop), i7-7700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
4499 Points +14%
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
4042 Points +3%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
Radeon R7 M445, i7-7500U, SanDisk X400 SED 256GB, SATA (SD8TB8U-256G)
3978 Points +1%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Hynix HFS128G39TND
3935 Points
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Hynix HFS128G39TND
3832 Points -3%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9
GeForce MX150, i5-7200U, Kingston RBUSNS8180DS3128GH
3719 Points -5%

Storage Devices

A solid-state disk from Hynix serves as the system drive. This M.2 2280 model has a capacity of 128 GB. The SSD's transfer rates are good. The laptop offers plenty of storage space – alongside the SSD, Acer has packed a conventional 2.5-inch hard drive in the classy metal case. This drive provides 1 TB of storage and runs at 5400 RPM.

Hynix HFS128G39TND
Sequential Read: 481.5 MB/s
Sequential Write: 131.5 MB/s
512K Read: 324.8 MB/s
512K Write: 130.6 MB/s
4K Read: 30.81 MB/s
4K Write: 84.8 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 345 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 131.6 MB/s
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Hynix HFS128G39TND
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
Hynix HFS128G39TND
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
SanDisk X400 SED 256GB, SATA (SD8TB8U-256G)
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9
Kingston RBUSNS8180DS3128GH
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
2%
61%
-5%
34%
Read Seq
481.5
504
5%
502
4%
491.6
2%
462.2
-4%
Write Seq
131.5
136.2
4%
458.1
248%
141.7
8%
409.9
212%
Read 512
324.8
340.9
5%
382.8
18%
345.6
6%
310.3
-4%
Write 512
130.6
136.9
5%
385.7
195%
142.6
9%
216.6
66%
Read 4k
30.81
29.74
-3%
29.25
-5%
18.83
-39%
31.89
4%
Write 4k
84.8
76.8
-9%
55.9
-34%
76.3
-10%
73.2
-14%
Read 4k QD32
345
348.2
1%
285.2
-17%
348.5
1%
287.9
-17%
Write 4k QD32
131.6
136.4
4%
239.6
82%
104.8
-20%
170.6
30%

Graphics Card

The GeForce MX150 graphics core is one of Nvidia's current midrange GPUs. This graphics card is a mobile version of the GeForce GT 1030. It reaches speeds of up to 1798 MHz, supports DirectX 12, and has 2048 MB of GDDR5 memory at its command. The results in the 3D Mark benchmarks are in the normal range for this GPU.

3DMark 06 Standard Score
22407 points
3DMark 11 Performance
4918 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
82307 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
13562 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
3289 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
1201 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
9450 Points +99%
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
9357 Points +97%
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
7664 Points +62%
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
7537 Points +59%
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
AMD Radeon RX 550 (Laptop), Intel Core i7-7700HQ
5557 Points +17%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
AMD Radeon Pro 555, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
5185 Points +9%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
4742 Points
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-7200U
4547 Points -4%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
AMD Radeon R7 M445, Intel Core i7-7500U
2208 Points -53%
3DMark
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Graphics
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
225517 Points +122%
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
185000 Points +82%
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
AMD Radeon RX 550 (Laptop), Intel Core i7-7700HQ
159753 Points +57%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
101641 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
AMD Radeon R7 M445, Intel Core i7-7500U
46659 Points -54%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
7683 Points +108%
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
7666 Points +108%
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
6094 Points +65%
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
6002 Points +63%
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
AMD Radeon RX 550 (Laptop), Intel Core i7-7700HQ
4041 Points +10%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
AMD Radeon Pro 555, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
3721 Points +1%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
3688 Points
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-7200U
3603 Points -2%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
AMD Radeon R7 M445, Intel Core i7-7500U
1579 Points -57%

Gaming Performance

The Swift 3 is able to run every current game smoothly. Most titles reach sufficiently high frame rates at HD resolution (1366x768 pixels) and medium quality settings. It is possible to run some games at higher resolutions and/or quality settings, provided that their hardware demands are not too high. Titles that require a lot of performance power must be played at lower resolutions and/or quality settings. This is true of the game “Mafia 3”, for example.

low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 139.6 108 89.5 34
X-Plane 10.25 (2013) 104.2 54.6 29.8 21.9
Dirt Rally (2015) 229.2 99.3 52.2 27
XCOM 2 (2016) 72.8 25.9 15.8 7.1
Hitman 2016 (2016) 45.2 45.5 25.9 24.5
Need for Speed 2016 (2016) 95.8 61.7 31.4 22.7
Overwatch (2016) 121.7 87.4 66.8 41.9
Mirror's Edge Catalyst (2016) 81.4 54.5 39.5 23.4
Titanfall 2 (2016) 99.7 70.7 28.5 22.2
Team Fortress 2 (2017) 101 94 80.3 75.1
Ark Survival Evolved (2017) 52.7 13.3 10.2
FIFA 18 (2017) 174.2 99.8 76.6 59.5
BioShock Infinite - 1366x768 High Preset
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
185.8 fps +108%
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
AMD Radeon RX 550 (Laptop), Intel Core i7-7700HQ
117 fps +31%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
89.5 fps
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
AMD Radeon R7 M445, Intel Core i7-7500U
44.5 (8.7min - 164.9max) fps -50%
Titanfall 2 - 1366x768 Medium / Disabled AF:4x
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
70.7 fps
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
AMD Radeon R7 M445, Intel Core i7-7500U
41 fps -42%
Overwatch - 1920x1080 High (Render Scale 100 %) AA:SM AF:4x
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
92.2 fps +38%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
66.8 fps
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
AMD Radeon Pro 555, Intel Core i7-7700HQ
63.6 (51min - 76max) fps -5%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
AMD Radeon R7 M445, Intel Core i7-7500U
23.5 fps -65%

Emissions & Energy

The Swift 3 is relatively quiet under any level of load. In idle mode, the fan stands still as a general rule. At most, the user might hear the very quiet whirring of the 2.5-inch hard drive. Even under load the fan does not run very often. During our stress test, we recorded a sound pressure level of 35.6 dB(A).

Noise Level

Idle
30.5 / 30.5 / 30.9 dB(A)
Load
35.7 / 35.6 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: 30.5 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2034.13233.333.234.12531.529.631.332.531.53134.133.63134.334.14030.232.129.330.230.25030.329.928.731.230.36328.929.228.728.728.98027.23127.426.727.210026.125.72625.926.112524.52525.82424.516023.825.823.423.923.820023.124.322.923.823.12502322.721.621.72331522.922.321.221.122.940023.522.620.320.223.550022.322.519.619.222.363024.223.818.618.824.280023.723.918.318.123.7100024.824.717.717.624.8125025.925.817.817.625.9160024.924.817.817.824.920002524.717.517.625250024.424.317.717.824.431502525.117.717.925400021.821.818.218.121.8500022.422.518.218.322.4630020.820.718.618.420.8800019.719.618.718.719.71000019.11918.818.919.11250019.219.118.918.819.21600019.419.319.11919.4SPL35.735.730.530.535.7N2.32.31.41.42.3median 23.5median 23.8median 18.7median 18.8median 23.5Delta1.81.81.31.21.8hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseAcer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5

Temperature

The Swift 3 in the stress test.
The Swift 3 in the stress test.

The Swift 3 completed our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark running simultaneously for at least an hour) in different ways in AC power mode vs. battery mode. In AC power mode, the processor ran at 1.6 to 2 GHz. The graphics core's speed registered between 700 and 800 MHz. In battery mode, the CPU speed jumped back and forth between 400 MHz and 3.4 GHz. The GPU reached speeds between 1000 and 1300 MHz.

During the stress test (AC power mode), the laptop did not warm past moderate temperatures. The temperature crossed 40°C (104°F) in only one spot.

Max. Load
 35.8 °C
96 F
43.4 °C
110 F
39.3 °C
103 F
 
 34 °C
93 F
39.7 °C
103 F
30 °C
86 F
 
 27.2 °C
81 F
26.5 °C
80 F
27.2 °C
81 F
 
Maximum: 43.4 °C = 110 F
Average: 33.7 °C = 93 F
32.7 °C
91 F
38.1 °C
101 F
33.5 °C
92 F
28.6 °C
83 F
33.6 °C
92 F
31.4 °C
89 F
27.1 °C
81 F
28.2 °C
83 F
28 °C
82 F
Maximum: 38.1 °C = 101 F
Average: 31.2 °C = 88 F
Power Supply (max.)  53.4 °C = 128 F | Room Temperature 22.6 °C = 73 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33.7 °C / 93 F, compared to the average of 31.2 °C / 88 F for the devices in the class Multimedia.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 43.4 °C / 110 F, compared to the average of 36.9 °C / 98 F, ranging from 21.1 to 71 °C for the class Multimedia.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 38.1 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 27.2 °C / 81 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (+1.6 °C / 2.8 F).
heat development top (load)
heat development top (load)
heat development bottom (load)
heat development bottom (load)
heat development top (idle)
heat development top (idle)
heat development bottom (idle)
heat development bottom (idle)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2034.133.234.12533.332.533.33132.634.332.64029.630.229.65030.731.230.76328.228.728.2802726.72710026.925.926.912529.82429.81604123.94120043.723.843.725056.221.756.231557.821.157.840061.420.261.450063.419.263.463070.418.870.480074.618.174.6100073.217.673.2125072.417.672.4160073.817.873.8200074.517.674.5250075.317.875.331507517.975400075.118.175.1500071.818.371.8630069.218.469.2800068.218.768.21000064.618.964.61250070.818.870.81600068.31968.3SPL85.130.585.1N61.51.461.5median 69.2median 18.8median 69.2Delta8.41.28.435.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAcer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (75.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.6% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.7% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 60% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 33% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 44% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 49% 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 selectable/deselectable!)

Energy Consumption

In terms of energy consumption, the computer behaves as expected. In idle mode, we measured a maximum energy consumption rate of 9.1 watts. During the stress test, the rate rose to 55.6 watts. The energy consumption rate under load would be higher if the CPU fully utilized its turbo and the GPU ran at full power. The power supply that comes with the computer is rated at 65 watts.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.36 / 0.48 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.8 / 6.5 / 9.1 Watt
Load midlight 53.4 / 55.6 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 WLAN test – designed to simulate normal, everyday use – uses a script to keep the system busy by regularly loading new websites. The "balanced" profile is active, the display brightness is set to about 150 cd/m², and the device's energy saving functions are deactivated. The Swift 3 lasted 8:31 hours – an excellent run time.

Update 07/25/2018: Unsurprisingly, the 4K SKU’s battery life was much shorter than the FHD’s. This was less noticeable during our load tests and much more so when idle where they decreased by almost 2 hours (8:29 hours / 509 minutes). We were unable to run our Wi-Fi battery benchmark again due to technical difficulties.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 40)
8h 31min
Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, 49.7 Wh
511 min
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-55Z9
i5-7200U, GeForce MX150, 49 Wh
509 min 0%
HP Pavilion 15 Power 1GK62AV
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 70 Wh
481 min -6%
Dell Inspiron 15 5000 5567-1753
i7-7500U, Radeon R7 M445, 42 Wh
417 min -18%
Asus FX553VD-DM249T
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 48 Wh
360 min -30%
HP Pavilion Power 15t-cb2000
i7-7700HQ, Radeon RX 550 (Laptop), 70 Wh
341 min -33%

Pros

+ IPS display
+ SSD + HDD
+ runs quietly
+ remains cool
+ very good battery life

Cons

- dark display
- slow memory card reader

Verdict

The Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5, courtesy of cyberport.
The Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5, courtesy of cyberport.

Acer's 15.6-inch multi-talented multimedia machine smoothly renders current computer games on its glossy Full HD display. It makes a good impression in every other aspect too, regardless of the kind of application. The device never grows particularly warm or loud. The new ULV quad-core processor provides plenty of power. 

A solid-state disk ensures a fast running system. In addition, Acer has packed a 1 TB 2.5-inch hard drive into the laptop's case. The Swift 3's backlit keyboard made a good impression on us and is suitable for users who do a lot of typing. An excellent battery life tops off the package.

Acer's Swift 3 SF315-51G is a well-rounded and multi-talented multimedia machine, but it has a few weaknesses.

Acer has made some mistakes in terms of the display. Yes, the IPS panel displays the screen content accurately from any viewing angle, the contrast is good, and the color representation is reasonably faithful. But for a laptop in this price bracket, the display brightness is much too low. To make matters worse, Acer has chosen a panel with a glossy surface. A display like this does not belong in a mobile device.

Further criticism is due to the choice of speakers. The sound is not adequate for a multimedia laptop. We commend Acer for equipping the computer with a Type C USB 3.1 port, but it should have been a Gen 2 port. Acer has chosen a Gen 1 port instead.

Update 07/25/2018: We loved the 4K SKU of the Acer Swift 3 SF-315. The matte panel was very bright, and was thus even usable outdoors. Its 100 % sRGB color space coverage means it’s ideal for professional photo editing, and we were able to all but eliminate the blue tint with calibration. As usual, you can find the resulting ICC profile for download in the box above. Battery life was significantly shorter than for the FHD model.

Swift 3 SF315-52G-8376 with 4K panel and 100% sRGB
Swift 3 SF315-52G-8376 with 4K panel and 100% sRGB

Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5 - 10/16/2017 v6(old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
74 / 98 → 76%
Keyboard
80%
Pointing Device
94%
Connectivity
51 / 81 → 63%
Weight
64 / 20-67 → 94%
Battery
91%
Display
80%
Games Performance
77 / 85 → 91%
Application Performance
89 / 92 → 97%
Temperature
93%
Noise
92 / 95 → 97%
Audio
50%
Camera
43 / 85 → 51%
Average
75%
84%
Multimedia - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Acer Swift 3 SF315 (8250U, MX150, FHD) Laptop Review
Sascha Mölck, 2017-10-18 (Update: 2020-05-19)