The Acer Swift 16 AI is far from an AI dream but will do for creative generalists

Our Verdict

The Acer Swift 16 AI is a good laptop but not for demanding AI workflows. Our tests showed it struggling through image generation, upsizing images, and complex video editing. That's not to say it's a bad laptop; you've just got to be careful not to throw too much at it. If you're a generalist who needs a laptop for surfing the web, streaming videos, and performing light creative tasks, then this laptop will give you everything you need.

For

Large OLED touchscreen
Lightweight and portable
Incredible battery life

Against

Flimsy display panel
Lacks AI for creatives
Very poor speakers

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Having tested the Acer Swift 14 AI in 2024, I was incredibly keen to see if the 16-inch version, aptly named the Swift 16 AI, offered anything more than its smaller sibling. From a specs point of view, the only differences are in the size of the display (obviously) and the reduction from 32GB of RAM to 16GB.

With that in mind, and with no desire to rewrite my Swift 14 AI review, I'll focus on what sets the 16-inch version apart. At the start of my testing, I expected the laptop to be a contender among the best laptops for graphic design guides but not a great laptop for video editing. I found this to be mostly true, but it's not quite as straightforward as that. Read on to find out why.

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CPU:	Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor Octa-core 2.20 GHz
Graphics:	Integrated
Memory:	16 GB, LPDDR5X
Storage:	1 TB SSD
Screen size:	16-inch
Screen type:	OLED
Resolution:	2880 x 1800
Refresh rate:	90Hz
Colour gamut:	100% DCI-P3
Brightness:	400 nits
Ports:	HDMI 2.1 x1, USB-C x2, USB-A x2, Audio jack
Wireless connectivity:	Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Dimensions:	Not specified
Weight:	1.5 kg (3.4 lbs)

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Acer Swift 16 AI score card
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design:	Thin plastic and metal helps reduce weight, but this makes it susceptible to damage.	3.5/5
Features:	The star of the show is the 3K display, but there are also AI tools to help with productivity.	4/5
Performance:	Fine for basic creative tasks, but heavy video editing and AI tasks are a no-go.	4/5
Value:	Relatively pricey, especially given the lack of durability.	4/5

MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Evo: at creativebloq.com

A lightweight laptop for creatives who only work on minimally demanding projects. It's a winner when it comes to portability but can't be relied upon if the going gets tough.

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch: at creativebloq.com

An ultra-thin and light laptop that boasts an incredibly high-performing processor. If you're open to an Apple laptop over and above a Windows one, then the MacBook Air should definitely be in your shortlist.

Acer Swift 16 AI (Intel)

Paul is a digital expert. In the 20 years since he graduated with a first-class honours degree in Computer Science, Paul has been actively involved in a variety of different tech and creative industries that make him the go-to guy for reviews, opinion pieces, and featured articles. With a particular love of all things visual, including photography, videography, and 3D visualisation Paul is never far from a camera or other piece of tech that gets his creative juices going. You'll also find his writing in other places, including Creative Bloq, Digital Camera World, and 3D World Magazine.

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