It hasn’t even been two months since we reviewed an Acer Swift Cross 14. That one inspired us with just right efficiency at an inexpensive value. Our present assessment tool comes with Intel’s newest processor era. The Acer Swift Cross 14 – which shall be to be had subsequent spring – homes an Intel Core Extremely 155H. From a {hardware} viewpoint, Acer has supplied us with a pc in line with the usual spec tool. Alternatively, by way of spring, there’ll nonetheless be minor enhancements to the accompanying instrument, the efficiency control and the BIOS. Because of this, we will be able to prevent wanting awarding a ranking till we see which long run enhancements Intel’s newest processor era brings to this top rate, OLED-display type.
In some benchmarks, we recorded greater than double the efficiency in comparison to the predecessor which packed an Intel Core i5-1335U. Additionally, Intel’s new Arc iGPU will undoubtedly please many players with Intel’s graphics now no less than on par with the Radeon RX 780M.
Intel itself ceaselessly compares its new processors with AMD’s Ryzen R7 7840U and, because of this, we will be able to be looking on the HP Pavillon Plus 14 which comes with each Intel and AMD processor variants, as a part of our comparability. A relatively extraordinary consultant may just come within the form of the Ayaneo Air 1S however this tool additionally comes with AMD’s robust competing chip. And, in any case, the LG Gram 2in1 and the Acer Swift Cross 14 SFG14-71 and their Thirteenth era processor concludes our illustrious workforce.
Despite the fact that first impressions would counsel the tool hasn’t gone through any adjustments, we nonetheless spotted that Acer has undertaken detailed enhancements to the aluminum case. The angular body design does not disclose any production flaws and this implies shall we virtually reproduction and paste the predecessor’s complete description. Alternatively, Acer has controlled to put in a considerably higher touchpad leading to a noticeable development to the pc’s usability.
It’s conceivable to glue as much as 3 screens to the small pc by means of HDMI 2.1 and each Thunderbolt 4 ports. The present Intel Meteor Lake processor helps output to as much as 4 screens concurrently. Likewise, Acer has even controlled to deal with a microSD card reader or even a mini Kensington Lock slot.
There aren’t any enhancements to be noticed within the microSD card reader. With its gradual 28 MB/s learn pace, it’s similar to remaining ’s type and is handiest appropriate for small quantities of information. Our AV Professional microSD is as much as ten instances quicker.
The use of iPerf3 and the Asus GT-AXE11000, in our Wi-Fi check, the Acer Swift Cross demonstrated significantly upper switch speeds each within the 5 GHz and six GHz networks. At as much as 1.9 GBit/s, uploads and downloads to a house community transfer alongside at a brisk tempo.
The Acer Swift Cross’s QHD webcam delivered very spectacular effects. The picture high quality may also be progressed a slightly extra because of Intel’s NPU and Home windows Studio Results. Alternatively, this taxes the iGPU and, as you could be expecting, the Acer Swift Cross’s lovers make their presence felt each briefly and loudly.
A fingerprint sensor, a Kensington Lock slot and a TPM 2.0 are on board. This implies all of the elementary safety necessities regarding bodily robbery and get entry to coverage are fulfilled.
We required a TX5 screwdriver and a suction cup to open the Acer Swift Cross. Simply as with the predecessor, many upkeep choices are to be discovered throughout the pc. Two M.2 slots, (one occupied) in addition to an put in Wi-Fi module are to be had. The lovers may also be simply got rid of for cleansing functions. Handiest the generously sized 32 GB RAM is soldered. By the way, the unfastened M.2 slot may also be discovered beneath the ribbon cable subsequent to the lovers.
Above all, the backlit secret’s force level is usually a little crisper. In a different way, the keyboard provides a pleasing typing enjoy. In darkish environments, the important thing backlighting may also be adjusted to 2 ranges. Very similar to the predecessor, the higher shell will also be bent rather and this would worsen some customers when urgent the keys firmly.
Within the new model, Acer has considerably greater the dimensions of the Swift Cross 14’s touchpad however the radii within the corners stay. This variation does not simply get advantages the appearance. In follow, many stuff reminiscent of drag and drop and copying are more uncomplicated to accomplish. Now 12 x 8 cm, the clickpad provides significantly extra space for inputs and gesture keep watch over.
The Acer Swift Cross Meteor Lake processor type now homes a far brighter OLED panel. It may achieve 400 cd/m², after which some, when exhibiting HDR content material. Deep blacks and excessive distinction ranges are usual for this sort of reveal generation. The brightness is even and at a answer of two.8K, in a 14-inch (round 36 cm) 16:10 side ratio you’ll be able to infrequently see particular person pixels with the bare eye. That every one guarantees we get to experience glorious picture high quality that may shine each open air and beneath studio lighting fixtures.
The Swift Cross’s new AcerSense app provides extra reveal profiles. Alternatively, we’ve not but noticed any adjustments to the measured values within the more than a few profiles. As discussed at first, Acer continues to be operating at the pc’s ultimate main points.
All 3 colour areas are virtually utterly lined by way of the very good OLED. Handiest the Adobe RGB colour house falls 3 % wanting perfection.
In the past, the more than a few reveal profiles have proven no enhancements to the measured colour deviations which, of their present state, are nonetheless very excessive. As an example, within the Adobe RGB colour house, our personal ICC profile delivers small enhancements to paint replica. We will be able to additionally think that Acer will make enhancements to this house within the completed instrument.
Due to its excessive brightness, the Acer Swift Cross plays smartly in outside eventualities regardless of possessing a shiny reveal. The viewing perspective research additionally did not disclose any abnormalities.
The brand new Acer Swift Cross 14 provides an Intel Meteor Lake processor. For the primary time, the Intel Core Extremely 7 155H could also be house to an Arc iGPU with 8 cores and an NPU. The tool is rounded off with 32 GB of DDR5 RAM and an SK Hynix 1 TB NVMe SSD.
As discussed originally, the Acer Swift Cross 14 we’re coping with is a tool that corresponds to the usual spec {hardware}. Our assessment system’s instrument and firmware are not but moderately perfected. As an example, in our Swift Cross 14, the values for the spice up efficiency have been to start with configured slightly too excessive. For the duration of the check, we additionally had issues of the preinstalled AlterView which creates visually attractive 3-D backgrounds. After a full of life change with Acer, we made up our minds to take away the instrument. We have been additionally ready to decrease the PL2 to 55 watts whilst leaving the PL1 at 45 watts, all with the help of TechPowerUp’s Throttle Forestall. This helped the pc run significantly higher and extra strong. Acer will adopt some considerably extra detailed fine-tuning when it comes the general efficiency control. This must end result within the pc taking part in higher efficiency than it these days does.
Intel’s new processor brings with it some long-awaited adjustments. For the primary time, the 7 nm production procedure chip now provides an NPU and the brand new Arc iGPU. The Core Extremely 7 155H homes six P-cores, 8 E-cores and two further LP E-cores which can be stated to be in particular calories effective. This implies a complete of twenty-two threads are to be had.
The most recent Intel processor era does not experience a transparent efficiency merit over its maximum equivalent Thirteenth-generation predecessor. Right here we’re coping with two gadgets with the Intel Core i7-13700H. Likewise, it provides six P and 8 E-cores. Handiest each low-power E-cores are lacking. Intel’s latest processor most often fares smartly in comparison to its direct competitor, the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U. In recent years (and unusually), the pink crew now has its nostril in entrance on the subject of single-core efficiency in Cinebench R23. We’ve already revealed an in depth research of the brand new processor era.
In line with Intel, the brand new Arc iGPU is predominantly liable for vital enhancements within the graphics efficiency. This turns into transparent once we check out the virtual content material introduction phase in PCMark 10. On this house, the Swift Cross 14 and its Arc iGPU are spectacular. Total, the Acer Swift Cross 14’s machine efficiency is way upper than its predecessor and lots of the comparability gadgets. This implies we’re coping with a potent tool that has no reason why to back off even if confronted with 3-D programs.
Within the Swift Cross 14, a brand new NVMe SSD from SK Hynix does its process and manages to succeed in moderate to excessive switch speeds in each and every benchmark. Within the DiskSpd loop, during which the garage’s efficiency is analysed over an extended duration, the learn pace drops rather.
In line with Intel, the brand new pc processor’s graphics efficiency is alleged to be double that of the Thirteenth era. At any fee, our first benchmarks ascertain very excessive efficiency with the eight-core Arc iGPU even managing to overcome the AMD Radeon 780M convincingly. Intel’s devoted pc GPUs fall brief in our research. Even leaving apart the 3-D efficiency, the Acer Swift Cross’s iGPU efficiency is astoundingly excessive.
With its very much progressed graphics, the Intel Core Extremely 7 155H impresses when gaming, so long as you do not overdo it with the standard settings or answer. Complete HD video games at medium or top of the range are playable at over 60fps, in lots of the video games we examined. This implies you need to do with out the kind of dGPU discovered in lots of laptops such because the GeForce RTX 2050 or the Arc 530M.
The close to doubling of the graphics efficiency turns into obtrusive when looking on the body charges in The Witcher 3 in ultra-quality settings. The Swift Cross 14 virtually delivers double the frames consistent with 2d because the Schenker Imaginative and prescient 14.
A Neural Processing Unit may also be discovered throughout the Intel Core Extremely 7 155H. This a part of the processor is tasked with processing AI programs very successfully. That suggests fashions reminiscent of Solid Diffusion or language fashions can already run at the tool. The use of the UL Procyon AI Interface benchmark, we put the GPU head-to-head with the NPU and concurrently checked the facility intake. In each eventualities, it briefly was transparent that the NPU’s efficiency was once handiest rather underneath that of the Arc iGPU when it got here to processing neural networks however the calories necessities have been just about halved. This certainly makes the AI accelerator extra effective than the graphics chip for a similar programs.
Subsequently, it is possible that most of the AI programs which these days run by means of the cloud may just quickly be operating in the neighborhood at the pc itself, in an energy-efficient approach, with out the desire for an web connection.
Intel kindly supplied us with a model of Gimp that already contains Solid Diffusion with OpenVINO and NPU improve. After a long setup, the text-to-image program labored unusually briefly. In the past, it was once conceivable to run Solid Diffusion on Arc graphics playing cards.
Admittedly, now not each and every picture created by way of the neural community is especially usable. Solid Diffusion handiest has a restricted talent to deal with faces, toes and arms, considered from a distance. However, the duties you place for this system must even be outlined as obviously as conceivable. Some enjoy is vital on this house to make sure to get what you requested for.
Regardless of the high-level efficiency, the brand new Acer Swift Cross hasn’t gotten any louder. At virtually 45 dB(A) beneath complete load, you could not in point of fact name it quiet however it’s tolerable. The Acer Swift Cross handles small and medium-sized duties most often with out the audible presence of the fan.
Sadly, what hasn’t modified is the pc’s very excessive floor temperatures which we measured throughout checking out. The bar at the back of the keyboard even controlled to hit 40 °C. Alternatively, the realm which heats up essentially the most is the display, onto which the fan’s expelled air is directed. Regardless of this, beneath standard operation when browsing the web or the usage of workplace programs, the pc’s floor handiest heats as much as a bit over room temperature.
As already discussed, we set the processor’s spice up efficiency to a degree rather underneath Acer’s set worth. Our tension check published that the Core Extremely 7’s steady efficiency surroundings (PL1) sits slightly too excessive. After some time, it settles to round 43 watts as an alternative of 45 however manages to deal with its efficiency point there ultimately.
Total, the Acer Swift Cross’s audio system sound just right. Handiest the bass may just pack a bit of extra punch. We have been not able to discern a distinction to the predecessor.
Intel’s new Meteor Lake processors are stated to be considerably extra calories effective than its predecessor. This was once now not solely obtrusive to us in our assessments, however, yet again, this highlights the put in instrument’s beta standing. Sturdy fluctuations are obvious in just about each and every calories dimension which signifies smaller load peaks.
The Acer Swift Cross 14, with its Intel Meteor Lake processor and 65 Wh battery, fell simply wanting the eight-hour mark within the Wi-Fi web browsing check. In line with our calories measurements, it is the OLED panel that makes use of essentially the most persistent when browsing. Visiting web sites and operating programs in darkish mode must give a boost to the runtimes significantly. With the predecessor, virtually 45 further runtime mins have been conceivable.
Acer has gotten the Swift Cross 14 to us moderately a bit of sooner than the tool hits the marketplace and that suggests now not the whole lot works completely. However, we have already had the danger to enjoy Intel’s newest processor era and we have been inspired by way of the Meteor Lake chip’s high-level graphics efficiency. We can control adjustments to the tool into spring subsequent after which ship our ultimate verdict at the Swift Cross 14 (2024). Nonetheless, it has already come to our consideration that the compact system advantages from the significantly extra robust Core Extremely 7. The greater graphics efficiency lets in the pc and its very good OLED reveal to experience a much broader software spectrum. This, no less than, makes gaming and video modifying an opportunity. The NPU core within the Meteor Lake processor was once additionally ready to exhibit its persistent in our assessments.
Weighing 1.3 kg, the Acer Swift Cross 14 is a light-weight powerhouse that packs a substantial punch within its chic case. Intel’s Meteor Lake processor guarantees a considerably wider vary of software use circumstances.
There is no query, the Swift Cross 14 is a cell tool. Due to Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1 and a few further ports, connectivity isn’t missing. In a while, there shall be different possible choices with Meteor Lake processors with Asus already providing one of these chipset in its ZenBook 14. Any person too impatient to look forward to laptops with Intel processors must check out 14-inch machines with the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U such because the HP Pavilion Plus 14.
The Swift Cross 14 is predicted to be to be had from February 2024. Up to now, an expected acquire value of just below 1,000 euros has been introduced for Germany.
Allow 48h for review and removal.