Acer Swift SF314-42 AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Laptop
Acer has given the SF314-42, like its predecessor, a stylish and slim metal case. The chassis has a matte silver finish, which Acer has contrasted with a black plastic display frame. Acer has used smooth surfaces throughout. There is no maintenance hatch though, so accessing the machine's internal components requires some disassembly. We shall discuss this in the Maintenance section of this review.
The processing of our review unit does not give rise to any criticisms. Gaps between materials are precise, and nothing protrudes in any way. The device also does not reveal any serious stability problems. The base unit can be twisted a bit, but not concerningly so. The same applies to the lid. Applying pressure on the back of the lid does not cause the display to distort at all. The display is held in place by pleasingly tight hinges. These hold the lid firmly in place, with the display barely teetering as we use it.
The hinges allow the display to be opened up to 180°, for reference. It is possible to open the lid with one hand, too.
Connectivity
The laptop has two USB Type-A ports, with one operating at the USB 2.0 standard and the other on the newer USB 3.2 Gen1 standard. There is also a USB Type-C port that utilises the latest USB 3.2 Gen2 standard. The latter supports both DisplayPort and USB Power Delivery (PD), meaning that the device can output audio and video while being charged. Acer has still included a full-sized HDMI port and a power connector though, giving the Swift 3 two charging and video outputs. The
laptop does not have a memory card reader.
Communication
Acer has equipped the Swift 3 with an Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200, a modem that not only supports the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, but also the newer ax standard. Additionally, the AX200 offers Bluetooth 5.0 functionality. Our table below represents optimal Wi-Fi conditions with no other Wi-Fi devices placed between our review unit and our router. We positioned the laptop and our router closely, too.
Webcam
Acer has also equipped the Swift 3 with a 720p webcam. The results are somewhat washed-out and lacking in colour accuracy. With a Delta E deviation of just under 12, the Swift 3 misses our ideal target of 3 by a wide margin.
Accessories
In addition to the usual documents like warranty information and a quick-start guide, Acer includes a power supply in the box. No other accessories are included, though.
Maintenance
The Swift 3 does not have a maintenance hatch, as we mentioned earlier. Nevertheless, the innards are relatively easy to access. After removing all of the screws on the underside of the device, the lower shell can be removed using a pry tool or a flat spatula.
