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Acer Swift 3 (8th Gen i5-8250U, MX150, 14" FHD, 256GB/8GB, Backlit KB) US $752.47 (~AU $962) Delivered @ Amazon

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Acer Swift 3 (8th Gen i5-8250U, MX150, 14" FHD, 256GB/8GB, Backlit KB) US $752.47 (~AU $962) Delivered @ AmazonAffiliate
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lyl on 18/10/2017 - 23:44 amazon.com (2316 clicks)
Last edited 19/10/2017 - 00:18
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This is one of the more impressive releases of 2017, with a 8th Gen quad core i5. Also appears to be almost an ultrabook with a 14" screen and 1.7kg weight, but it still has a dedicated GPU to be able to run most games at low-medium settings. Been looking for something 13.3-14" with a dedicated GPU to be able to play some titles during my Uni breaks, but until now, the only options were laptops with 940MX.

Really in a dilemna whether to get this over an last gen Xiaomi Air (7th Gen i5 and intel HD 620). As 8th gen mobile i5s are now quad-core rather than dual-core, I'm guessing the battery life will definitely take a bit of a hit. The dedicated MX150 probably also isn't great for battery life. Will most likely wait for more reviews to pop up especially regarding the battery life of this before making my decision.

Decisions… decisions…

Specs:

8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U Processor (Up to 3.4GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce MX150 with 2 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM
14" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen IPS display
8GB LPDDR3 Memory & 256GB SSD
256GB SSD
1 - USB 3.1 Type C Gen 1 port, 2 - USB 3.0 Ports & 1 - USB 2.0 port
1 - HDMI port
802.11ac WiFi featuring 2x2 MIMO technology (Dual-Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz)
Acer Fingerprint Reader supporting Windows Hello
Back-lit Keyboard
Windows 10 Home
4-cell Li-Ion (3220 mAh) Battery, Up to 10 Hours Battery Life

Make sure to avoid Amazon's bad currency conversion rates and pay directly in USD with a fee free card such as 28 degrees or Bankwest Zero as it is over the $1000 GST-free threshold if you let Amazon do the converting. As of posting this deal, mastercard rates put it at ~$962

Price History at C CamelCamelCamel.
Computing 14inch Acer Computer Laptop

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closed Comments

  • railspider on 19/10/2017 - 00:49
    +3

    This is terrific for the price, even better than the equivalent Xiaomi Air if you can get Acer Australia (or Amazon) to honour the warranty.

  • ToastySteve on 19/10/2017 - 00:52
    +8

    I've just been reading about the performance differences between 7th and 8th gen CPU's today.
    From what I understand, 8th gen is the first significant improvement in performance in 3 or 4 generations, which puts it quite a ways ahead of the 7th gen.
    So my money would be on the 8th gen.

    (worth a watch if you have 5min)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDsxnwbbOIM

    • BoomTetrisForJeff on 19/10/2017 - 01:12
      +3

      i5-8250u is about the same performance as the desktop i5 7400 which is pretty dam good for a laptop, the price is just a bonus!

      • lostn on 19/10/2017 - 07:51

        Is the battery life less than i5-7200u? Or rather is the power consumption greater?

      • Danthemanz on 19/10/2017 - 09:35

        Hmm, sort of.
        Its still a 15w CPU, once you load up all the cores the clock speed will drop quite quickly down well below the 7400 clocks.
        For general tasks its a huge upgrade all in all, still not a desktop-grade chip for really heavy stuff like video work etc

      • TrulyUnicorn on 19/10/2017 - 09:30

        That's an awful comparison, pairing a $550aud processor, which requires a $200 suitable motherboard with a $550 GTX 1070. If you wanted a proper comparison you would use a GTX 1080ti, a card that actually makes sense to pair with an 8700k. And you're still comparing stock performance, the 8700k clocks a lot higher than Sandy Bridge on the 14nm++ node.

        Not only that but the extra cores crushes Sandy Bridge in multicore workloads. This benefits gaming a lot, the 8700k has much stronger frametimes (Even Kabylake i5's had messy frametimes being quadcores).

        I agree Ryzen is still the better buy for most users. Costs less and performs similarly with better multi-threading performance. But the 2600k is a fair deal behind.

        Why did you even feel need to post this? What are you responding to? Find somewhere else to bash on Intel.

        • vid_ghost on 19/10/2017 - 09:43
          -5

          They overclocked both CPU's …Sandy to 4.8Ghz and coffee to 5.2Ghz and the results stayed the same.. also my 2600k can get to 5Ghz easy! 32nm VS 14nm++ is 200Mhz lol that's pathetic .. :) 1080P Gaming on a GTX1070 DOES SHOW REAL performance.. the video card inst being bottlenecked.

        • TrulyUnicorn on 19/10/2017 - 09:48

          @vid_ghost: No you don't get it, you can't compare two high-end processors with a GTX 1070. No one will pair a 1070 with an 8700k or they have an unbalanced build. The GPU is a major bottleneck in this instance, look at some proper reviews.

        • vid_ghost on 19/10/2017 - 09:50
          -2

          @TrulyUnicorn:

          NEW games yes.. but he tested games from 2014 at 1080p in DX11 mid range graphics cards get over 100FPS on these titles with max settings.

        • TrulyUnicorn on 19/10/2017 - 10:07

          @vid_ghost:

          That's even worse. Why would you compare CPU performance on older games which utilize the extra cores less?

          Furthermore there's still bottlenecking. The 2600k has worse IPC, is clocked lower and has 2 less cores. Yet it performs EXACTLY the same most of the time, even disregarding the fact plenty of those titles were newer games. Actually read/watch reviews with a high-end GPU and look up frametime differences.

      • Danthemanz on 19/10/2017 - 09:40

        Somehow you seem to think the "average PC user" is a PC gamer who builds their own PC and doesnt have much money.
        Maybe "average male high school/uni student" might be more accurate for your information to be true.

        • vid_ghost on 19/10/2017 - 09:48
          -1

          1% of PC users REQUIRE more CPU performance then a 6 year old 2600k will give you.. That's a fact. SSD's and Graphics cards will be the only thing that would improve the desktop experience

      • bchliu on 19/10/2017 - 10:12

        Most of those tests run the GPU right up to 4K testing and the bottleneck will always be the GPU at this resolution.
        Try the same comparison at 640x480 and the GPU will not be the limiting factor but the CPU to process it quick enough. I expect the 8th Gen Coffee lakes to be at least twice as quick than a Sandy Bridge given the performance growth rate between the generations have been 15% or so.

      • riitiir on 19/10/2017 - 17:26
        +2

        Did you watch any of the other bench marks other than gaming?

        While the 2600k is still a healthy gaming chip it gets demolished in every other aspect.

        And now, this is a laptop…..not commonly known for their gaming ability so comparing those CPUs here is redundant.

  • AdamFury on 19/10/2017 - 01:03
    +2

    I’m in the exact same boat as you! Great deal on this laptop but love the design of the Xiaomi Air. I tend to keep my laptops for quite a few years though so definitely want something with an 8th gen professor. Hopefully the air 13 gets refreshed with 8th gen soon and I’m sold. I watched the above video too and it’s heaps informative definitely sounds like it’s a decent performance boost!

    • lyl on 19/10/2017 - 01:25

      Hopefully the air 13 gets refreshed with 8th gen soon and I’m sold.

      The Xiaomi air only recently got refreshed in August with a Fingerprint Scanner and MX150, so it doesn't look too hopeful another refresh is coming soon.

      • AdamFury on 19/10/2017 - 01:36
        +1

        Yeah that’s very true. Although it wouldn’t be unlike them to release a new model completely but who knows. I’m trying to hold off until about a month out from semester 1 next year myself!

      • Autonomic on 21/10/2017 - 11:28

        The original did get a refresh of sorts in Dec 2016, with an i7 cpu and 4g connectivity.

  • phill360 on 19/10/2017 - 07:57
    +1

    This laptop looks great for the money. Does any one know if the RAM can be upgraded or is it soldered to the motherboard?

    • Pete Gabitas on 19/10/2017 - 08:27

      RAM soldered in.
      Looks like it has a spare M2 slot but not sure if it's PCIE or SATA.
      Tempting.

  • sickre on 19/10/2017 - 08:06
    -4

    Why do manufacturers even bother putting in a crappy discrete graphics card like this when they already have a decent Intel 620 IGPU onboard? Its just extra weight, cost and lower battery life for not much.

  • Budju on 19/10/2017 - 08:29

    How long does ship take

    • lyl on 19/10/2017 - 09:51

      Around 2 weeks usually with Amazon

  • peter_mcc on 19/10/2017 - 09:31
    +1

    I'm interested but what happens if it breaks?
    I bought an Asus tablet from Amazon which isn't supported in Australia then cracked the screen. Asus Aus don't want to know about it and I can't find anywhere local to repair it. I can't even work out how to get it fixed in the USA.

    • Pete Gabitas on 19/10/2017 - 09:44

      I'd like to know this too.

      • Blurayz on 19/10/2017 - 10:49
        +1

        It doesn't have international warranty. Only International Travelers Warranty but I believe you must be resided in US.
        Below is what I get from Amazon website

        Does this item have international warranty/Guarantee ?
        Answer: If you purchase the system in the US the domestic warranty would be in the US. In addition, the system has an International Travelers Warranty but this is for genuine travelers only. Terms and Conditions are posted at http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/itw.htm. This page also provides links to the ITW service locations, ITW FAQ, and ITW Service Limitations. Please note if you live outside North America but purchase the system in the US, you will not get a domestic warranty in your country of residence. If local repair and support is important to you, we recommend you purchase the system in the country of residence.

      • MMMan on 19/10/2017 - 10:54

        In my case, they don't cover it.

        Bought an Acer Spin 5 off Amazon about 2 months ago. Arrived with a faulty key on the keyboard.

        Amazon advised that Acer Australia would take care of it under warranty.

        No such luck, tried contacting Acer twice and both customer service reps insisted that they do not cover products purchased from Amazon.

        Had to return it to Amazon for a refund as they refused to exchange it due to lack of stock.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/10/2017 - 10:54

      Acer does not have full international warranty, only international traveler warranty, which means if you try claim warranty in Oz for Acer laptop bought in US they'll ask you for proof you're living in US and only traveling to Australia. And even if you manage to prove it likely they won't be able to fix it as most US models are not sold in Australia and won't have parts available.

      Which gives you three options:

      1. Throw away broken and buy second one, it'll still be cheaper than what Acer wants for same model in Australia.
      2. Use some shipping forwarder to send and receive it in US.
      3. Use local repair shop and pay out of pocket.

      Frankly, for the price of it it's worth a bit of risk.

  • poptart042 on 19/10/2017 - 09:49

    Down in the Compare to similar items for this laptop there's the ASUS ZenBook UX330UA-AH54; is it worth the trade-off in processing power for a lighter and more portable laptop at amazon's current price ($699usd/~$890aud)? Looking for something light to carry me through post-grad studies.

    • lyl on 19/10/2017 - 09:53

      The 8th gen UX330UA is only US$50 more though, so definitely worth the upgrade to the 8th gen UX330UA if you want a Zenbook. Because of the small price difference, there's also a good chance 7th gen might go on sale soon.

      • [Deactivated] on 19/10/2017 - 15:21

        It's much lighter as well at 2.6 pounds (1.18kg)

    • Jackal on 21/10/2017 - 01:20

      Also no dedicated graphics card?

  • Unseatingcargo1 on 19/10/2017 - 09:50

    Fantastic laptop for the price! I've mentioned this on a couple threads. I just picked up the Xiaomi with the 7th gen CPU, mainly because of the Type C connector that charges/sends data etc. just like the Mac Pro, of which this one unfortunately doesn't have.

    8th gen CPU's are a decent step forward, and its exciting to see them at such a cheap price. Would be a great buy overall bar heavy gaming.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/10/2017 - 10:56

      Only if you believe marketing hype or have enough multithreaded load to use all cores. For 99% of people using Word or Chrome CPU won't make any difference whatsoever, you'll be better off buying faster SSD or more RAM than newer CPU.

      • Unseatingcargo1 on 19/10/2017 - 11:46

        Haha, not necessarily marketing hype there bud. I get where you're coming from though.

        Also, those who are gaming won't need to worry about their CPU if the GPU is either integrated or a MX150. The games will be GPU limited in that regards, unless of core you're gaming with like a celeron processor.

  • keishton on 19/10/2017 - 10:02

    what's the warranty like for buying stuff from amazon? do i have to send it back to the US if its doa?

  • FattyHope on 19/10/2017 - 10:12

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/335040 Is this better or is this laptop better? Im looking for a computer for gaming and school that I could record parts of the game play, the linked laptop has a Video Card but which one is better? And the cpu to can someone give me a detailed explaining about which one is better?

    • boxall on 19/10/2017 - 11:06

      Which one?

      Video cards can be compared here:

      https://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmar…

      Lenovo ones are 15".

    • donnot on 19/10/2017 - 11:25

      The Lenovo's GPU is much, much faster. The 7700HQ is higher clocked and will maintain its clock speed for much longer extended loads than the 8250U due to its much higher TDP, evident by the graph around 3:52 in this video. Obvious tradeoff is design/weight though.

  • Make it so on 19/10/2017 - 15:54
    +3

    It's a nice machine, but I think this model represents better value for $290 less. It weighs the same, yet has a 15.6" screen (in a small chassis), which makes a big difference. It does not have SSD and dedicated graphics, but does have DDR4. Personally I don't care about the graphics, and can do an SSD upgrade myself for just over $100. If it supports M.2 I may be able to keep the 1TB HDD in there at the same time.
    Between Asus and Acer, I prefer Asus for reliability.

    • Jackal on 20/10/2017 - 08:14

      Does 4k video editing require a dedicated graphics? Just recently got a mavic off ozB and now need to update everything else…

      • Make it so on 20/10/2017 - 11:51

        I haven't done 4K video editing myself, but I imagine it might need that. You would want a large SSD and a lot of RAM.

      • monkp on 23/10/2017 - 09:47

        I can edit 4k video smoothly on my PC with built-in Intel HD4600. I believe CPU raw power and amount of available RAM plays far more important role in that case. e3-1226v3 + 32gb RAM.

        • Jackal on 23/10/2017 - 19:09

          32gb RAM…i wonder whether any portable solution exists!

  • Dadidalol on 20/10/2017 - 00:57

    Hi guys, how does this laptop compare to the Lenovo E470?

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/330841

    Thanks

  • Juzman on 20/10/2017 - 10:10

    Here's a very recent review for anyone considering this laptop (note it is the 15" version): https://www.notebookcheck.net/Acer-Swift-3-SF315-8250U-MX150…

  • Yaren24 on 22/10/2017 - 22:16

    Hi all, to me I feel even include shipping, it is still cheaper to buy laptops from Amazon US than buying locally? Am I illusional?

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