This past September, Intel announced the introduction of its 11th-gen Tiger Lake processors, which, coupled with its Xe integrated graphics, would go under the platform name of Intel Evo. This platform was designed to allow ultraportable laptops to get the best performance in terms of graphics when it comes to gaming and design. Along with this new platform, Intel also announced a certification program; in order for a laptop to wear the Intel Evo badge, it would have to meet key experience targets for responsiveness, instant wake, long-lasting battery life, and fast charge, as well as include Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB-C charging.
Almost immediately afterward, Acer unveiled its first Intel Evo–certified laptops in the form of its new version of the Swift 5 Ultrabook and two new iterations of its Swift 3 laptop. The new Swift machines became available in November, with the Swift 5 starting at $999 and the 13.5-inch (3:2 aspect ratio) and 14-inch (16:9 aspect ratio) versions of the Swift 3 starting at $799 and $699, respectively.
Acer Swift 5 14-inch Laptop — $1,290
Acer’s flagship Intel Evo–certified laptop, the Swift 5 is great choice for anyone needing a take-anywhere graphics machine. It is equipped with a 340-nit bright, 14-inch full HD IPS display capable of covering 100% of the sRGB color space, which should make the most out of the new Intel Xe technology. This touchscreen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass and comes with an antimicrobial coating. Its narrow bezel equates to an impressive 90% screen-to-body ratio and is housed in a chassis made from high-grade magnesium-lithium and magnesium-aluminum. The Acer Swift 5 is just 0.59 inches thick and weighs just 2.2 pounds.
This configuration of the Swift 5 comes with an 11th Gen i7 quad-core processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. It’s loaded with Windows 10, and being an Intel Evo–certified machine, you know it comes with Wi-Fi 6 and Thunderbolt and USB-C ports. It’s also equipped with Bluetooth 5.1, comes with a fingerprint reader for keeping your laptop secure, and has a battery life of 15 hours. And you get all this for under $1,300!
Acer Swift 3 14-inch Laptop — $770
At under $800, Acer’s Intel Evo–certified Swift 3 is a great choice for students or anyone else needing an affordable ultraportable that can handle the graphic demands of gaming and photo and video editing. Like the Swift 5, it is powered by 11th Gen i7 quad-core processor with Intel Xe graphics. It has a 300-nit bright, 14-inch full HD IPS display capable of covering 100% of the sRGB color space and an 82.73% screen-to-body ratio. It measures just 0.63 inches thick, and with an aluminum chassis, weighs in at 2.65 pounds.
You’ll get 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD with this configuration, as well as Windows 10 already loaded. It has a 16-hour battery life, and like the Swift 5, comes with Wi-Fi 6, Thunderbolt and USB-C ports, and Bluetooth 5.1. It is also equipped with two Acer PurifiedVoice microphones and an HD webcam with Super High Dynamic Range — perfect for all your videoconferencing needs. All-in-all, you get a lot of bang for your buck with the Swift 3, not to mention knowing that, with Intel Evo certification, you’re getting a quality machine.
