Dell XPS 13 vs. Acer Swift 5: Which should you buy?

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Dell XPS thirteen vs. Acer Swift 5: Which should you buy?

Hot new xiii-inch Ultrabook

Dell XPS 13 (9300)

Ultralight fourteen-inch notebook

Acer Swift 5 (SF514-54T)

Dell'due south refreshed XPS 13 (9300) has a thinner bezel than ever before and a xvi:x attribute ratio for more screen space. The touchpad and keyboard keys are larger, and Intel's "Ice Lake" processors (CPU) are too included.

From $1,000 at Dell

Pros

• tenth Gen Intel Core "Ice Lake" CPUs
• Beautiful aluminum chassis
• FHD or 4K display with xvi:ten aspect ratio
• IR photographic camera and fingerprint reader
• Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, and microSD bill of fare reader

Cons

• Limited to dual Thunderbolt three
• Prices climb quickly

Acer'southward Swift 5 (SF514-54T) late-2019 refresh took the Ultrabook in the right direction. Its thin chassis does come up with some tradeoffs, but splendid bombardment life and solid operation make it a recommended option for anyone traveling light.

From $900 at Newegg

Pros

• Incredibly thin and light
• Slim bezel and matte touch brandish
• Available at a cheaper price
• Better connectivity options
• 10th Gen Intel Cadre "Water ice Lake" CPUs

Cons

• Frustrating fingerprint reader
• Not built to as high a standard
• Not as many configuration options

These two laptops have a lot in common, and they'll likely be on the shortlist for anyone shopping for a new 13- or fourteen-inch Ultrabook. The Acer Swift v is a more affordable option, at to the lowest degree with comparable hardware, while the XPS 13 is the premium choice that volition cost significantly more as you lot scale up the internal specs. Permit's take a shut await at the two laptops to assistance yous make up one's mind which is the better buy.

Dell XPS 13 vs. Acer Swift 5 tech specs

Here's a detailed breakdown of the exact specifications available in each laptop.

	Dell XPS thirteen (9300)	Acer Swift 5 (SF514-54T)
Processor	10th Gen Intel (10nm) Core i3-1005G1 Cadre i5-1035G1 Core i7-1065G7	10th Gen Intel (10nm) Cadre i5-1035G1 Core i7-1065G7
RAM	4GB, 8GB, 16GB LPDDR4	8GB LPDDR4
Storage	256GB, 512GB M.two PCIe NVMe SSD	512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Brandish size	xiii.iv inches Impact and non-touch on	14 inches Touch
Display resolution	1920x1200 (FHD+) 3840x2400 (UHD+)	1920x1080 (FHD)
Aspect ratio	16:10	sixteen:ix
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics (i3, i5) Intel Iris Plus Graphics (i7)	Intel UHD Graphics (i5) Intel Iris Plus Graphics (i7)
Ports	Ii Thunderbolt three microSD card reader iii.5mm audio	Thunderbolt 3 USB-A 3.one USB-A ii.0 HDMI 3.5mm audio
Biometrics	Fingerprint reader IR camera	Fingerprint reader
Wireless	Killer AX1650 Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth v.0	Intel AX201 Wi-Fi vi Bluetooth five.0
Battery	52Wh	54Wh
Dimensions	eleven.6 x 7.8 x 0.58 inches (296mm x 199mm x 14.8mm)	12.55 x 8.29 x 0.59 inches (318.7mm x 210.5mm x 14.95mm)
Weight	From 2.65 pounds (one.2kg)	2.18 pounds (990g)

Pattern and features

Both the 13-inch XPS 13 and the 14-inch Swift 5 have a standard clamshell blueprint with no convertible feature. The former Ultrabook is made from a single slice of aluminum, while the latter uses a magnesium blend that offers a lighter overall build. The XPS xiii feels rigid, while there is some flex to the Swift 5, just both laptops should concur upwardly well to average use.

Despite having a larger physical footprint and display than the XPS 13, the Swift 5 weighs almost one-half a pound less. At ii.65 pounds (1.2kg), the XPS 13 isn't exactly heavy, but if you lot want the lightest between the 2, you have to get with the Swift 5. Information technology almost feels unnatural when held, and yous'll hardly notice it's tucked into a haversack when you're on the movement.

Dell's laptop has seen its ports pared downwardly over the years, and the latest 9300 model has arrived at dual Thunderbolt 3, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm sound jack. If you lot're only interested in connecting a powerful docking station or don't mind investing in some hubs and adapters the selection should suffice. However, if you'd like superior native connectivity, the Swift 5 includes Thunderbolt iii, dual USB-A, HDMI, and a iii.5mm audio jack. It is missing a microSD carte reader, which is no doubt a downside for some people.

Source: Windows Central

The Swift 5 includes a fingerprint reader compatible with Windows Hi congenital into the right-hand palm rest, though it'southward rather choosy and doesn't have an IR photographic camera for facial recognition to back information technology upwardly. Despite thin bezel around the brandish, Dell has managed to include an IR camera in a higher place the screen to back-trail a fingerprint reader congenital into the XPS 13's ability button.

A significant change to the XPS xiii 9300 is the keyboard and touchpad combination. Dell has enlarged the keycaps by nearly nine%, and the touchpad has been blown up by well-nigh 17%. Keys stretch from edge to border, and that Precision touchpad is first-class for productivity. Acer's Swift 5 too has a comfy keyboard, but its keys are a bit smaller. The touchpad is also Precision and tracks well. We always recommend trying out a keyboard in person before buying a laptop, as personal preferences differ.

Overall, the XPS xiii is congenital to a higher standard, and the price reflects it. You get a solid aluminum chassis, carbon fiber or glass fiber palm rest, and sharp lines. The Swift v doesn't feel quite every bit solid and side-by-side doesn't look as premium, but information technology'due south not far behind. Partly due to this reason, information technology is available at a cheaper price.

Display

Source: Windows Central

Dell made the 13.4-inch display about 6.8% larger for the XPS thirteen 9300, with a 16:10 aspect ratio that's just a bit taller. Overall information technology offers a 91.5% screen-to-body ratio, which is quite impressive. The brandish seems to stretch to all edges, and there's inappreciably whatever chin below. It is available in a 1920x1200 resolution in non-touch and impact, offering brightness up to 500 nits. The non-touch model has a matte stop, while the touch model is "anti-reflective." At that place's also a UHD+ touch choice (3840x2400) that hits 500 nits effulgence, with 100% sRGB and xc% DCI-P3 colour accuracy.

Acer's Swift 5 has a larger 14-inch display set at a more common 16:9 aspect ratio and 1920x1080 resolution. It has an 86.iv% screen-to-body ratio with a slim bezel, and it has a matte stop to cut downward on glare. It does only hit almost 300 nits brightness, and so working in well-lit areas won't exist as easy compared to the 500 nits on the XPS thirteen. In our testing, the Swift 5's display hit 99% sRGB and 77% AdobeRGB for a rather full flick.

Performance and cost

Source: Windows Central

The XPS xiii 9300 starts at about $1,000 for a model with 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 CPU, 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, 256GB K.two PCIe solid-state bulldoze (SSD), and FHD non-impact display. Jumping up to an Intel Core i5-1035G1 CPU, 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD, and FHD not-touch brandish, you're looking at about $1,250. A comparable Swift 5 model with Core i5-1035G1 CPU (at that place is no Core i3 config available), 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM, 512GB Chiliad.2 PCIe SSD, and FHD impact brandish costs well-nigh $900. That'due south $350 less than the XPS 13 for similar performance and a bear upon display to boot.

Both the XPS 13 and Swift 5 come with upward to a Core i7-1065G7 CPU and 512GB SSD, though you tin configure Dell's laptop with upward to 16GB RAM while the Swift five caps out at 8GB. There is talk of a Swift 5 with an NVIDIA MX250 defended GPU and 16GB RAM, though then far, it doesn't seem to exist available. The XPS 13 does not have an option for a defended GPU, and there'south no expectation for a future upgrade.

Source: Windows Fundamental

Both laptops are equipped with Bluetooth 5 and a Wi-Fi vi adapter, allowing you to be gear up for incredibly fast wireless cyberspace. The XPS xiii is role of Intel's Projection Athena and features instant-on and excellent battery life. We will have to do our own tests, but expect at least a total workday of life from a charge. The Swift five is not part of Projection Athena, simply information technology still wakes incredibly quickly and delivers a solid eight hours of life from a charge (with more time if you're non pushing information technology).

These laptops are going to evangelize similar functioning thanks to both using Intel'south tenth Gen "Ice Lake" CPUs, and y'all'll have to make up one's mind if yous desire to spend the extra coin on all the actress bells and whistles that come up with the XPS 13. Dell as well makes it much easier to get precisely the laptop you desire, with multiple configurations available for customization. The Swift 5, on the other hand, is currently available in ii configurations with no customization options.

The XPS xiii (9300) has more options available for more people

You lot're going to pay more for an XPS 13, but Dell makes it like shooting fish in a barrel to get precisely the laptop you desire. There are plenty of customizable XPS 13 configurations available, including up to a 4K touch on display. It'south built to a higher standard, and it comes with more user-friendly features. It's not as calorie-free as the larger Swift v, but it'southward still a portable option.

Hot new 13-inch Ultrabook

Dell XPS 13 (9300)

Refreshed for 2022

Dell'due south latest XPS 13 is better than always with a thinner bezel, larger keyboard, and touchpad, and tenth Gen Intel "Water ice Lake" CPUs.

Acer'due south Swift 5 makes sense for anyone who travels low-cal

The incredibly light Swift 5 doesn't take quite the aforementioned premium flair every bit the XPS thirteen — nor does it accept almost every bit many configuration options — but information technology is more affordable. It too has a larger display and footprint, yet it weighs less. It impressed us enough that we gave it a Recommended Honor in our review.

Ultralight 14-inch notebook

Acer Swift v (SF514-54T)

As low-cal as they come

Acer's Swift 5 refresh boosts performance and battery life while remaining incredibly thin and light. If you're searching for an ultraportable 14-inch Ultrabook, this should make a great option.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/dell-xps-13-vs-acer-swift-5

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