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Scharon Harding-November 24, 2021 at 7:14 PM UTC

Acer chose Swift 5 as its carrier to introduce Windows 11, which is a safe choice. With a starting suggested retail price of US$1,100, up to 1TB of storage space, good port selection, and better keyboards and webcams, it will meet the needs of many laptops well.

However, when looking at further alternatives, "good" doesn't feel good. Compared with Swift 5, similarly priced options provide more CPU, graphics, and even SSD performance, and it is easy for your eyes to start wandering.

If you get one of the configurations with an antibacterial coating, the Swift 5 only meets the above characteristics, and these configurations are only suitable for Acer's fog green. You can get a gold machine with a higher configuration, but it will not have antibacterial properties.

So what exactly is the antibacterial function? Acer told me that it puts an antibacterial coating on 98% of its equipment. It focuses on high-touch areas, including hinges, touchpads, keyboards, and fingerprint readers.

The coating is made of silver ions. Studies have shown that silver ions can reduce bacteria by 99.9% according to the International Organization for Standardization 22196 test protocol, which created a method to test the antimicrobial activity of antimicrobial treated plastics and other non-porous plastics. . Product surface. "More specifically, ACS Applied Bio Materials describes silver ions as being able to "easily adsorb most biomolecules (DNA, membrane proteins, enzymes, or intracellular cofactors) in bacteria to inactivate their functions." The coating complies with the Environmental Protection Agency and biocidal product regulations. In addition to Swift 5, you can also find Acer's antibacterial function in a variety of PC product lines.

It is difficult to test its value because we do not have a microscope to compare the bacteria levels with or without silver ion reagents. But I think this coating can make people feel at ease about cleaning. Because, let us become reality: keyboards and touch screens become annoying.

An obvious disadvantage is that this feature causes a prominent logo on the top border of the Swift 5 screen. Enlarge/register the trademark just in case. Scharon Harding

The word "Antibacterial Corning Gorilla Glass" is already a long name, and I have to stamp things I have to look at every day, and this pair of trademark symbols makes it more intrusive to the appearance of the PC.

The brand also aims to remind you of the durability and scratch resistance of the monitor. Compared to the 14-inch Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro at the same price I have on hand, the overall lid of the Swift 5 (not just glass) feels thinner and is more flexible when intentionally bent.

However, if I did not return to "fog green", I would be dereliction of duty. It is decorated with complementary golden shadows in the clear keyboard legend, Acer and DTS audio logos on the deck, port inscriptions on the sides and hinges (printed with a thin "SWIFT" stamp), and a reflective Acer logo cover. Enlarged / "SWIFT" is printed on the golden spine. When Scharon Harding took a closer look, I could see tiny spots that gave the green chassis a light, textured appearance. Acer said it is made of "mixed pearlescent particles." In the world of silver, black, and gray laptops, popular colors are always exciting. It is not the boldest green, but the golden embellishment helps to add interest to the look. And because Acer did choose a low-key green, Swift 5 will not immediately look cheap or young.

The chassis itself is made of magnesium-lithium and magnesium-aluminum. Acer claims it is "2-4 times stronger than standard aluminum alloys of the same thickness, but 20-35% lighter." The Swift 5 I am reviewing weighs 2.31 pounds (1.05 kg). , 0.59 inches (1.5 cm) thick. In contrast, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro advertised as using aluminum has a thickness of 0.57-0.67 inches (1.45-1.7 cm) and a starting weight of 2.87 pounds (1.3 kg).

For durability, the flip cover is treated with micro-arc oxidation. Acer claims that it will form a hard layer that is "virtually free from scratches, corrosion and other forms of wear." However, in the hand, the chassis feels like ordinary lightweight plastic, slightly rough. There are some concessions when you put pressure on the PC-but only some. The surface does feel just enough to avoid damage, but it also feels far from invincible. Overcoming this cheaper texture is difficult, even if it is said to help durability.

The port selection includes at least one of everything I would like to see in such a machine. On the left side of the Swift 5, there is an HDMI 2.0 (instead of 2.1) port, a USB-A port that can charge other devices when the computer is turned off, a Thunderbolt 4, and a hole for plugging in the power adapter. After inserting the adapter, a small piece of silver connector will stick out, allowing the handle to gently shake when moving. I am worried that the connection will become loose over time, and a basic, thinner rubber cable inserted into it does not make me feel better. Zoom in/left. Scharon Harding

Moving to the right side of the machine, you will find another USB-A port and a 3.5mm jack located near the Kensington lock, taking up space. I would rather see a dedicated second USB-C port. Zoom in/right. Scharon Harding

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