The digital nomad, that’s who Acer seems to be wooing with its latest slab of tech, the Swift Edge 16 (2023).
Starting at a not-so-modest AAED4,500, this is Acer’s attempt to meld high portability with substantial screen estate.
The Swift Edge 16’s OLED display is nothing short of excellent. Boasting HDR capabilities, and a resolution sharp enough to slice through butter – 3840 x 2000 pixels to be precise, garnished with a 120Hz refresh rate. This screen doesn’t just display colors; it romances them, albeit at a cost we’ll delve into later.
Under the hood, it’s powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U CPU coupled with AMD Radeon shared graphics. While 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and a 1TB SSD will keep everything running smoothly, the absence of a discrete graphics card is sorely missed – especially for the heavy video editing and demanding gaming enthusiasts of the world.
The Swift Edge 16 doesn’t skimp on ports; offering 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, an HDMI 2.1 port, micro SD card reader, and a 3.5mm combo-jack. Though the placement of both USB-C ports on one side feels like a minor hiccup in what could have been a design home run.
Weighing in at 2.73 lb (1.24kg), and with dimensions that can slide smoothly into a carry-on (0.60 x 9.68 x 14.08 inches), the Edge almost begs to be carried around. But when the rubber meets the road, or in this case, when the Swift Edge 16 is unleashed on day-to-day tasks, it handles most with gusto. Light editing work and casual gaming are within its wheelhouse, though anything more demanding and you’ll start to see the Swift Edge 16 gasp for breath.
Now, one would expect such a portable-focused laptop to boast a battery life as long as a summer day, but alas, reality bites. The battery life clocks in at a somewhat underwhelming 7 hours, falling short when bench-marked against other high-end Ultrabooks.
The high-resolution OLED screen, as gorgeous as it is, seems to be the primary suspect for draining the life out of the battery life.
The fast charging feature does try to atone for the battery life, with a ten-minute charge give you a 15% boost. However, it’s not going to win any speed charging contests anytime soon.
The Acer Swift Edge 16 straddles the line between a svelte success and a practical workhorse. It’s an appealing choice for those who want a large, color-accurate display as well as portability (if you’re willing to pay for the privilege, that is). But if your digital demands require more muscle, you might find this sleek machine a tad underwhelming.