Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8 is a lightweight laptop with an Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD. It’s designed for the on-the-go person who needs to get through their day without carrying around power cords everywhere they go.
Acer released this laptop in early 2018 so it is on the new side of laptops. There are no major glaring problems with it, however, there is always room for improvement. The only thing most people will notice is that it’s fairly bulky compared to most ultrabooks today.
CPU
The Intel Core i5 8250U 8th gen is a powerful quad-core processor. Core’s can be programmed to work independently, or in tandem with other cores when multitasking. Utilizing it for college-level courses will have no problem keeping up with whatever you are trying to accomplish. It also features Intel’s Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 which allows the processor to essentially “overclock” when properly equipped.
RAM
This laptop comes with 8GB of DDR4 SDRAM. It’s advertised as being able to run up to 16GB, however, it requires a specific type of RAM that is no longer in production. 8GB should be more than enough for your needs even if you are in school.
Storage
This laptop comes with a 256GB SSD which is plenty of storage space for most people, however, when you take into consideration the fact that SSD’s are more expensive than their HDD counterparts, it makes this laptop much less cost-effective. If you need more storage space consider purchasing an SDD to add on after the fact. No optical drive.
Display
14″ Full HD (1920×1080) IPS Widescreen LED-backlit Display with TrueLife and In-plane Switching (IPS) technology allows you to view images on the screen at nearly any angle without compromising color consistency, giving you a clear picture no matter where or how you look at it.
Graphics
The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 has 16 Execution Units (EUs) and is clocked at up to 1100 MHz. You can expect decent graphic performance, meaning even light gaming might not be out of the question. However, don’t expect it to handle games well that are resource hungry.
Keyboard & Touchpad
The keyboard is backlit and has 1.3mm key travel which offers a good tactile feel while still maintaining an overall low profile. The touchpad, while not the biggest available for laptops today, does have Windows Precision Touchpad support so gesture controls will work relatively well.
Ports
This laptop comes with 1 – USB 3.1 Type C Gen 1 port, 2 – USB 3.0 ports, 1 – USB 2.0 port, and 1 – HDMI port for your external devices like your mouse, controller, or graphics tablet.
Battery Life
The 4-cell Li-Ion (3220 mAh) battery is advertised to run for up to 12 hours on a single charge. It will last you all day if you are just checking email and surfing the web, but watching videos can drain it quickly. Make sure to bring along your charger just in case.
Chipset
The chipset is a combo of the Intel HM370 and IDA370 chipsets. It does not provide any benefits on its own but can work with this laptops’ built-in features like Touch to Share, Secure Digital Input Output (SDIO) support as well as three display interfaces: VGA, DisplayPort++, and HDMI.
Communication
This laptop comes built-in with an 802.11ac Wireless interface which offers both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands for fast wireless internet connectivity up to 433 Mbps which is fairly standard these days. Bluetooth 4.0 support allows you to connect your phone, tablet, or any other Bluetooth-capable device for easy data transfers or audio playback.
Audio
This laptop comes with 2 – Internal stereo speakers and support for High Definition Audio via HDMI or USB.
Input Devices
A backlit keyboard with 1.3mm of key travel offers a good tactile feel while still maintaining an overall low profile. The touchpad, while not the biggest available on laptops today, does have Windows Precision Touchpad support so gesture controls will work relatively well.
Memory Card Reader
The built-in media card reader supports only SD and MMC cards which is good if you need to add storage, but bad if you have a lot of different formats depending on where or what device your pictures were taken with.
Fingerprint Reader
The fingerprint reader is a great feature that can be used to secure your laptop from unauthorized access, however, it does add steps every time you want to log in.
Webcam
The webcam supports 720p HD video recording and has decent image quality for video conferencing.
WiFi
The built-in 802.11ac Wireless interface offers both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands for fast wireless internet connectivity up to 433 Mbps which is fairly standard these days.
Bluetooth
This laptop comes with Bluetooth 4.0 support which allows you to connect your phone, tablet, or any other Bluetooth-capable device quickly for easy data transfers or audio playback.
Dimensions & Weight
This laptop has a thickness of 16.9mm and weighs in at just 4.6lbs with the battery, making it easy to carry around when traveling or commuting between classes. It is also fairly sleek looking which gives it a more professional look over other laptops.
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64-bit is the installed operating system.
PROS:
- Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8 laptop is a lightweight, which is perfect for those who need something they can easily carry around.
- The Core i5 8250U Processor and 8GB of RAM should provide adequate performance for most people who don’t need anything too taxing.
- The 256GB SSD is more than enough storage space.
CONS:
- The laptop is also fairly bulky, likely due to the powerful quad core processors.
- There’s only 1 USB C port on the machine so if you need to connect an external device like a mouse or graphics tablet, you’ll have to purchase a USB A hub separately.
Conclusion
The Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8 laptop is an affordable and efficient machine for those who need a lightweight, yet powerful device. If you’re looking for something to do some college-level coursework on or just want a reliable computing machine that will allow you to multitask without any lag time, this might be the perfect fit.
With 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD storage space available, there should be plenty of room for your applications as well as all your data files. The only thing most people may not like about this model is its size – it’s fairly bulky compared to other laptops today – but if portability isn’t crucial then this shouldn’t deter you from purchasing it.
What is the Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8 laptop ideal for?
This laptop is great for those who need a quick and reliable machine that will allow them to multitask without lag time.
How much storage space does this laptop offer?
The Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8 comes with 256 GB of storage space.
What is the Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8 laptop’s operating system?
This laptop has Windows 10 Home 64-bit installed on it.
Does this laptop come with a webcam?
Yes, this laptop does offer 720p HD video recording and support for webcams built into your laptop.
Does the Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8 laptop support Windows Precision Touchpad gestures?
No, this laptop does not have Precision Touchpad support built into it.
Is there an HDMI port on this laptop?
No, unfortunately, the Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8 doesn’t support HDMI connectivity.
Does this laptop support Bluetooth?
Yes, this laptop does offer Bluetooth 4.0 support which allows you to easily connect your phone, tablet, or other devices quickly and easily for quick transfers of data or audio playback.
How many USB ports does this laptop offer?
The Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8 offers 2 USB 3.0 ports, 1 USB Type-C port, and 1 USB 2.0 port for connecting various external devices or memory sticks.
What is the battery life on this laptop?
The Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8 has a long battery life of up to 14 hours after being charged over 4 hours.
