ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Prices start at $1,299, Acer Swift Edge 16 Delivers solid performance and a stunning OLED screen in a razor-thin form factor.
- The Swift Edge 16 can easily handle heavy workloads thanks to its AMD Ryzen 7 7735U processor, and its 1440p webcam will keep you looking good in meetings.
- The laptop suffers from its flimsy, plastic construction and squishy keyboard that makes typing less satisfying.
Floats like a butterfly; Sting like a bee — no other laptop captures Muhammad Ali’s famous quote as perfectly as the Acer. Swift Edge 16. I say that because the computer is incredibly lightweight, measuring half an inch thick when closed and clocking in at 2.73 pounds. But contrary to its thin appearance, the laptop comes with a gorgeous 16-inch 3.2K resolution (3,200 x 2,000 pixels) OLED display that I instantly fell in love with.
Also: I challenge you to find a better looking laptop for less than $1,000
High-quality output is possible due to VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 500 format support for laptops and it covers the entire DCI-P3 color space. The former allows for deep, bottomless blacks, while the latter enables rich, saturated colors. It is a feast for the eyes.
For testing, I watched a few episodes of the anime series Monster Slayer And I noticed a fabric-like texture at the show’s opening that I’d never seen before. The amount of detail can even highlight individual strokes of flowers on the default wallpaper. What’s more, the bezels surrounding the glass are skinny, making the display appear larger than it is. But there’s more to Swift Edge 16 than meets the eye. let me break
Recommended by ZDNET
Acer Swift Edge 16
Acer’s Swift Edge 16 is a great everyday laptop thanks to its stunning screen and lightweight design. You just need to hold the mouse keyboard on it.
A screen this beautiful needs to have the right hardware set to go with it. Under the hood, my review unit was equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7840U processor paired with an integrated AMD Radeon graphics card. It’s not the greatest configuration in the world, but the Swift Edge 16’s performance was still adequate for most of my uses in my experience.
I have about 50 tabs open in Google Chrome and the video is playing in the background Not once did I experience any drop in frame rate; Everything went smoothly. I should mention that my unit came with 16GB of RAM, which definitely helped the Swift Edge 16 perform at its best. You should also be aware that this laptop has a big appetite.
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As usual, I tested the battery by playing YouTube videos continuously at 720p and 50 percent brightness. It lasted about six hours before running out of juice, which is just enough for users who need low to moderate power consumption.
This laptop features another crowning jewel: its fantastic 1440p webcam. It blows the competition out of the water with crystal-clear capturing, and it’s only better thanks to Windows Studio Effects. These software tools can automatically blur the background, as well as adjust the frame so you’re always in the center as the star of the show. I enjoyed making sure the laptop did everything for me and looked good on video calls.
Not everything over Swift Edge 16 Peaches, however. I found the overall design to be rather plain looking. It’s your standard, all-black laptop; I’m sure you’ve seen it a thousand times before. But if a discrete machine is what you’re after, you’ll prefer this one.
When it comes to the keyboard, I have mixed feelings about it. I love that it’s full size, complete with a number pad on the side. I’m someone who prefers full-sized keyboards because they’re more comfortable for my hands. Also, if you find the bottoms too small, it can double as a large set of directional keys.
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But despite it being spacious, the keyboard had a terrible typing feel. The keys feel smooth, lacking the clicker, more tactile feedback I usually look for in a laptop. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that the laptop is made entirely of plastic. The material may seem cheap and flimsy to some, which I find odd since this is essentially a larger version of an ultraportable laptop. I would have liked it if Acer made the device more sturdy for travel.
Additionally, I’m not a fan of the backlighting. You can only see the light more clearly if you are reclining. But that means forcing you to sit in a position that might not be so comfortable. No amount of switching between modes fixes this. You can dim the lights less, but that doesn’t solve the problem. Also, the backspace key lacks lighting.
ZDNET’s buying advice
Over the past two years, 16-inch laptops have carved an interesting niche for themselves. They provide great all-around performance in a premium form factor. i see Swift Edge 16 As a sign of things to come. I can imagine this type of laptop becoming more common as it easily delivers on multiple fronts. I thoroughly enjoyed this computer despite its flaws. It has a great-looking screen (one of the best I’ve seen in a while) and solid performance all around.
You can buy my review unit on Black Costco’s website for $999. Sold by Best Buy Same setupBut it comes in olivine black, which has a green tint.