The Computex event this time focuses on artificial intelligence technology through application and hardware innovation. There are many major international technology companies participating including Acer. Among the focus of the media present is their new Copilot+ laptop which is Acer Swift 14 AI which features various AI features optimized for better productivity. It is difficult to be given the opportunity to see the laptop more closely, I think it is appropriate to release a first look article for it to share together.
Specifications
Model Name Acer Swift 14 AI (SF14-11 / SF14-11T)
Display Size 14.5″ (2560 x 1600 pixels), 120Hz, 16:10
100% sRGB, Eyesafe Certified 2.0
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite
Qualcomm Adreno Graphics Chip (3.8 TFLOPS)
RAM Up to 32GB LPDDR5X-8533 (SDRAM)
Internal Capacity Up to 1 TB NVMe PCIe Gen 4 SSD
1440P QHD IR camera
Lens cover
2 x USB-C I/O plugs
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
HDMI 1.4
3.5mm audio jack
Additional features of Microsoft Copilot+
Copilot button (AcerSense)
AcerSense button
Acer PurifiedView 2.0
Acer PurifiedVoice 2.0
Indicator Activity
Fingerprint Security (Windows Hello)
Face (Windows Hello)
75 Wh Li-ion 3 cell battery
Price Starts at $1,099 (~RM5,161)
Shape
Acer Swift 14 AI has a good combination of body design and style with the functionality. The exterior design continues the minimalist concept that is the main basis of the production of any model in the series, but Acer wisely gives a more interesting twist for this new generation. It refers to the unique AI icon on the cover and the Activity Indicator on the right corner of the contact that provides visual cues for system status.
With a weight of about 1.36 kilograms many might think that this laptop should be light to hold. However, in my short experience, I found that it feels heavy to the point that it can cause discomfort in the hand. This still depends on each individual's opinion because it is very subjective. Different people will definitely have different dislikes for the weight of this laptop.
However, I can praise the selection of quality aluminum construction material that not only gives a luxurious look but also increases durability. I also like the included textured coating that protects this laptop from scratches, dust and fingerprints. The hinge used is also quite strong with the ability to open up to 180 degrees.
Then I tried the laptop's screen capabilities by doing some general things like watching videos and reading short articles in a short time. Personally, the results are quite satisfactory with the ability of the screen to display bright color processing, as well as the ability to achieve a better level of darkness in black.
The 14.5″ 120Hz WQXGA (2560 X 1600) screen used also looks good with a 16:9 aspect ratio that is believed to be able to provide an ideal workspace for multi-tasking functions. There's also a QHD 1440P webcam (supporting Windows Hello) with a built-in cover that complements it for better privacy.
On paper, the screen also passes Eyesafe Certified 2.0 certification to help reduce glare in bright environments. Of course, the screen is also a type of touch that allows various controls such as click, scroll and zoom to be made quickly. But for those who don't want to use the touch screen often, they can just use the touch pad provided.
The size is large enough with a rough surface that makes finger movement on it feel smooth. The full size keyboard used also has lighting support on each key. The most attention-grabbing of course is the appearance of a dedicated Copilot button for quick access to Copilot functions immediately, or to activate the menu key in the application. In addition to the presence of a dedicated AcerSense key button to access the AcerSense standardization software in one place. The power button can be found in the upper right corner which is also integrated with the fingerprint scanner function.
Next there are two air vents and two audio grilles for speakers on the same side. Two rubber pads also complement each corner to ensure stability and also prevent scratches on the bottom of the laptop. Connectivity options are also adequate with two (Thunderbolt 4) USB Type-C ports, two USB Type-A ports, HDMI 2.1 and a 3.5mm audio jack, along with Bluetooth LE Audio for better wireless audio quality.
Internal Components
Powered by a selection of Snapdragon X Plus and X Elite chips, Swift 14 AI is able to take the era of artificial intelligence to a better level. Both also have fast NPU (neural processing units) power to enable artificial intelligence tasks to be performed directly on the device.
More specifically, the Snapdragon X Elite chip is equipped with 12 Qualcomm Oryon CPU cores clocked at 3.8 GHz, two of which can be overclocked up to 4.3GHz when needed for heavier tasks. It is also produced through 4nm technology with a matching Adreno GPU that has a power of up to 4.6 TFLOP. A Qualcomm Hexagon NPU with 45 TOP capabilities is also included and can run AI LLM with 13 billion parameters directly without the data having to be sent to the cloud first.
Meanwhile, the Snapdragon X Plus is equipped with a 10-core Qualcomm Oryon CPU with a speed of up to 3.4GHz. This is paired with a new Adreno GPU capable of processing graphics up to 3.8TFLOPS. A Qualcomm Hexagon NPU with 45 TOP capability is also included for the purpose of powering the artificial intelligence tasks of the Microsoft Windows 11 operating system.
Memory matching depends on the configuration of the chip used which can reach 32GB LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD built-in storage. The included 75Wh three-cell battery is claimed to be able to provide up to 26 hours of usage time. In addition to having support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 as a complement.
New AI Era With Copilot + PC
Classifying the Acer Swift 14 AI as a laptop called Copilot Plus, there are certainly some exciting new features that are available through it. I also spent some time trying out each of the available features to see how they work in the real world.
Start with the Windows Recall feature that allows the laptop to remember all the activities that the user has done. Through it there is a specific timeline along with the time and date that can be easily scrolled by the user to return to the search or page that has been visited. In other words, this feature will display a picture of all the searches and pages that have been visited. Then the user can scroll back or find something needed.
In addition, it can also be detected by simply entering a specific keyword through the field provided. However in its development, the Recall feature has just been linked to a number of serious security risks. One of them is that all screenshots are stored on the computer in the form of an SQLite database that is not encrypted by Windows 11.
Continue further with the Cocreator feature on the Paint application that can easily generate images. Technically, this feature allows users to generate images based on prompts using the DALL-E model. Users are prompted to clearly state what they want the AI to produce. The more specific the prompt given, the greater the chance of getting an image with all the desired elements. Next, more than five image style options are also provided that can create certain effects according to the desired concept.
Through the Live Caption feature, various languages can be understood easily. This feature provides real-time translated captions for any video that is playing. A total of 44 languages are supported which are then translated into English. However, I had a little error when it failed to work properly during the test. As a result I cannot see in detail how the caption will be displayed. But what is certain is that there are special settings provided to place the caption in a comfortable position for the user.
I also had the chance to try the Windows Studio Effect feature which is able to improve the video calling experience better. Various settings and filters are provided that are believed to be able to provide a more high-quality video call experience. A quick test found that up to three filters can be selected at a time then some other settings such as the zoom capability for example can also be accessed through the camera's main settings. The experience is further improved with the PurifiedView 2.0 feature that is able to offer a video call experience with clearer visuals. Followed by Purified Voice 2.0 which can improve audio quality. Acer User Sensing is included and can turn off the screen automatically if there is no user, then reactivate when the user returns.
Conclusion
On paper, the Swift 14 AI looks good in all aspects. But things may change with extended use in the real world. I myself am also still not sure about the actual performance since I only got to try it for a short time during the exhibition. However, praise must be given to Acer for being able to provide a selection of products that are not only powerful but also believed to increase the daily productivity of users. The introduction of Swift 14 AI can also be considered a big leap from Acer towards preparing them to face the future, especially in the field of artificial intelligence, more seriously as an effort to meet current needs.