Acer Swift Go 14 Review (SFG14-73-710N)

Welcome to Acer’s new Swift Go 14 that is an affordably packaged notebook that comes in a variety of different configurations which is nicely presented in its aluminum casing. Our review sample is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, has 16GB of RAM with a 500GB SSD. At its core, it is an every day notebook with a decent battery to provide great portability.

Although it runs on Windows 11 Home, it comes with Microsoft’s new Copilot AI features to help improve your workflow, including flawless integration across multiple devices with Intel Unison. It has advanced graphics with the Intel Arc CPU for smoother graphics that comes to life on the 16:10 ultra-smooth 90Hz OLED (non) screen with crisp and bright images… the screen is good as is the keyboard.

Specifications

• Model: Acer Swift Go 14 (SFG14-73)
• Chip: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 1.40GHz
• RAM/Storage” 16GB RAM; 512GB
• Display: 13-inch OLED, 2880×1800
• OS: Microsoft Windows 11 Home
• Connections:  WiFi 7, Bluetooth, HDMI, 3.5mm, microSD, Thunderbolt 4/USB-C
• Size/Weight: 14.9mm, 1.3kg
• Price: From $1899 AUD (September 2024)

Although AI is still in its infancy, the notebook is also supported by Intel’s Neural Processor Unit (NPU) that is a dedicated component to assist with artificial intelligence without overloading the CPU or GPU. For example, the new remove background option in paint would implement NPU. Additionally, the new Intel architecture maximizes both CPU and GPU for faster response and high throughput – in order words, overall improved performance.

The Acer Swift Go 14 comes with a myriad of connectivity options that includes 2 USB Type C (Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4) ports, HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth LE Audio and a MicroSD slot that really makes the device quite versatile. Add in Bluetooth 5.3 plus Wi-Fi 7 and this adds a level of future proofing.

What’s in the box

• Laptop
• USB Type-C Power Adapter
• Power Cord

Unboxing

Setup is easy and the device takes you through the Windows 11 installation wizard. Once installed, you’re ready to start your new computer journey. I found the boot-up speed fast as was using the device for day-to-day usage. There are some additional Acer apps that most laptop companies add to their devices and for the most part, I’ve never found them that useful.  

Acer, Windows & Intel integration

3DMark

3DMark is the world’s most popular benchmark app designed to measure the performance of computer hardware and more so from a gaming perspective. As there is no dedicated gaming component to the Swift GO 14, 3DMark recommended the lightweight version of Steel Nomad benchmark that scored 2591 that is on the lower side. But it should be noted that this is not a gaming laptop.

Geekbench 6

Geekbench 6 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures your system’s performance and compares it to other systems. No surprises where the Swift Go 14 scored due to the processor (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H) which does place the notebook in the midrange category for both single-core and multi-core results.

PCMark10

PCMark 10 features a comprehensive set of tests that cover the wide variety of tasks performed in the modern workplace. With a range of performance tests, custom run options, Battery Life Profile, and new Storage benchmarks, PCMark 10 is the complete PC benchmark for the modern office.

What does this score of 6167 mean? According to the developers of PCMark10, UL Solution state that for general PC use, they recommend 4100 of higher – for typical office work and light media content, 4500 or higher – for editing photos, videos and digital content, 3450 or higher. Give that, the PCMark10 score of 6167 that makes is ideal for day-to-day use.

Display

The display on the Acer Swift Go looks fantastic and is probably one of the best that I’ve used courtesy of its 90Hz OLED. Photos, text, and videos look amazing, and it could not be faulted, including very deep blacks. It also supports the following features to improve overall visual quality that includes;

• Cinema Grade 0% DCI-P3
  Wide Color Gamut
• DisplayHDR
  True Black 500
  1,000,000:1 Contrast
• TÜV RHEINLAND
  Eyesafe® Certified 2.0
  Low Blue Light
• Response Time
  Less Than 0.2ms

As a result, photos of the screen really do it an injustice because it needs to be experienced, so kudos to Acer for adding such a quality display to their latest notebook. This is great for casual gaming (or Xbox Cloud Gaming), streaming shows such as Disney+ or Netflix and photo manipulation which is made even faster thanks to the implemented AI features.

The following images were amazing on this OLED screen;

If you’re still working from home and using Zoom of MS Teams, the device also supports PurifiedVoice 2.0 AI Noise Reduction which is great for those conference calls. No qualms with the speakers and they can be quite loud for such a small system.

Charging is quite fast thanks to 100W charger via the USB-C port and the size of the battery is a 54 Wh Lithium-ion that easily allowed me to get through the day without charging (up to 9 hours). In terms of sound, the Acer Swift Go 14 is super silent when connected to power. The keyboard of the Swift Go 14 is great and has a nice keypress for touch typing, including backlighting. Wireless connectivity was fantastic, particularly via Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-FI 7 – super fast.

Final Thoughts?

The Acer Swift Go 14 is a great all-round notebook that is great for both the home or the office, including everything in-between. Aesthetically, it looks fantastic and is quite a streamlined and lightweight device. Add in decent performance that is matched with a super clear screen with colors and images that almost burst out of the screen. All in all, an impressive notebook from Acer that makes it the perfect run around for the one person, a family or office on go!