rewrite this title This Acer laptop from last year is the reason I'm not upgrading in 2026

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I went into this review expecting the Acer Swift Edge 14 to be the brand’s next top-performing laptop, but that isn’t the case. Instead, it’s Acer’s latest midrange machine — but a very good one at that. It boasts a standout design, decent performance, and a long-lasting battery. 

There’s so much to like about this laptop, so let’s start with what impressed me the most. 

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Why we like it

The first thing that stood out to me was the laptop’s design: it’s aesthetically striking. This is an ultrathin machine, measuring just 0.65 inches at its thickest point and weighing 2.18 pounds. My old college notebooks weighed more than that. The laptop’s sleek form factor is made primarily of a magnesium-aluminum alloy, a material known for its lightweight properties and durability.

Most of the chassis is finished in a bright, eye-catching white, while the back has the device’s double-arrow logo and company branding etched in gold.

The keyboard is just as visually striking. The keycaps match the body’s white finish and sit slightly raised, creating a dramatic contrast with the shadows beneath.

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According to Acer, the Swift Edge 14 is the first of its laptops to have a “soft-touch keyboard”. The keys have been covered in a UV-cured coating that helps the caps resist wear and stains, while also giving them a unique, velvet-like texture. I’ve never felt a keyboard this soft before, and I don’t know if I can ever go back. As a result, typing is both comfortable and responsive, allowing for long writing sessions without a hint of fatigue. Another big part of this is the 1.3mm key travel distance. Thanks to this, I found it easy to type quickly and accurately.

Above the keyboard sits a 14-inch, 3K OLED screen that covers the entire DCI-P3 color gamut and supports VESA DisplayHDR True Black 600. All this tech results in vibrant, accurate color output with deep contrast. It’s nothing short of stunning. 

The glass is also covered in Corning Gorilla Glass Matte Pro to reduce glare and preserve that top-notch color accuracy. As the cherry on top, the display runs a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz and a response time of 0.2 to ensure smooth, fluid visuals for multimedia.

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The main downside of the screen is that it’s not very bright, peaking at 400 nits. Even at 100% brightness, it’s hard to see the display outside. Under artificial lights, however, it’s totally fine. You’ll be able to see the screen clearly in most indoor locations. 

Who it’s for

The Acer Swift Edge 14 is a good choice for anyone seeking a reliable work laptop with solid performance and an impressive battery. My review unit was equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor and 32GB of RAM. This CPU is from 2025, not Intel’s latest Panther Lake series released this year, but it’s still competitive. Because of that, however, I can’t really compare the Swift Edge to the latest laptops I’ve tested.

Below is a table comparing Acer’s laptop benchmarks with the Dell 14 Plus, Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1, and HP OmniBook 7 Aero.

As you can see in the table above, the Acer Swift Edge performs similarly to Dell’s and Lenovo’s machines. It handles multi-core workloads well, making the laptop a good choice for tasks like data analysis, photo editing, and software development. Its single-core performance is decent, too, ensuring fast app launch and smooth web browsing. Acer’s model does fall slightly behind HP’s OmniBook Aero, a smaller machine that we called out for its strong all-around performance.

What sets the Swift Edge apart from its rivals, however, is its battery life. During testing, the laptop lasted over 18 hours, almost 19, on a single charge. It recharges quickly, too, reaching 41% in about 30 minutes. By comparison, Dell’s and Lenovo’s models lasted about 12 hours each during my time with them, and HP’s Aero ran for just 10 hours before tapping out.

Who should look elsewhere

This is not a powerhouse workstation laptop, it’s a midrange device that’s well-rounded enough for a variety of mainstream consumer tasks. While it performs well, its Lunar Lake processor will struggle to handle particularly heavy workloads outside of its comfort zone. 

If you’re looking for a more powerful 14-inch laptop, check out the 2026 Asus ExpertBook Ultra. Its Panther Lake processor delivers significantly stronger overall performance. Creative professionals may want to consider Samsung’s Galaxy Book6 Ultra, which offers more power and a 16-inch 3K display better suited to video editing, animation, and design. 

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Outside of performance limitations, there’s very little to criticize. The Swift Edge 14 is an excellent work laptop, and it excels at what it’s designed to do.

ZDNET’s buying advice

There are two versions of the Acer Swift Edge 14 available. As a reminder, my review unit came with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor and 32GB of RAM, on sale for $1,500. A higher-end model housing the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V CPY retails for $1,600.

At those prices, the Swift Edge 14 feels a bit pricey, especially given that it relies on last-gen hardware. If you’re open to alternatives, the HP OmniBook 7 Aero mentioned earlier is worth a look. It delivers stronger overall performance at a lower starting price of $1,250. HP’s notebook is smaller, however, sporting a 13.3-inch screen.