We’ve seen Windows-based PCs built around Arm processors before, but this year Microsoft and Qualcomm are pushing for a new generation of more powerful, more efficient machines. And OEMs are onboard in spades. Acer’s first new laptop running on the updated SoC designs will be the Swift 14 AI — and yes, “AI” in the name means it’s packing a Neural Processing Unit (NPU).
But from the outside, there’s nothing to indicate that the Swift 14 AI is anything more than its siblings in the Swift series — straightforward laptop designs with good materials and a certain lack of flamboyance. The clamshell is using an aluminum-alloy body and a 2560×1600 IPS screen with a faster-than-average 120Hz refresh rate. The hinge is 180 degrees, and though this isn’t a convertible laptop, you can upgrade to a touchscreen if you want.
Underneath the backlit keyboard is a choice of Snapdragon X Plus or X Elite processors, 10 cores and 12 cores respectively, both running at 3.4GHz when you get them humming. Storage and RAM seem a little more familiar: “up to” 1TB Gen 4 and 32GB DDR5. Acer says that the built-in NPU can handle up to 45 TOPS (trillions of operations per second), though Windows’ ability to actually take advantage of that for anything beyond blurring video backgrounds is still in question.
Speaking of which, Acer upgraded the webcam a bit — it’s a 1440p model instead of the typical 1080p, complete with an IR sensor for compatibility with Windows Hello logins. As far as ports go, you get two USB-C ports supporting both charging and video, two more USB-A 3.2 ports, and a headphone jack. Acer says there’s a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter in the box. The whole kit and caboodle weighs 3.7 pounds, pretty average for a 14-inch laptop with those ports.
The battery is on the beefy side at 75 watt-hours with fast charging. Acer claims up to 12 hours of longevity, which is oddly low for an Arm-based laptop — just last week we spotted some Dell estimates (on a smaller battery, no less) that were way beyond that. But I’m getting ahead of myself; we need to get these things into the laboratory to do our own testing before we make any final judgments.
And when might we — and you — be able to put hands on the Swift 14 AI? Acer says it’ll be hitting shelves sometime in July in North America, with a starting price of $1,099.99.
