Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 vs Acer Swift X SFX14-51G Comparison

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Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8

13.8 inches | May 2024

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Acer Swift X SFX14-51G

14 inches | January 2022

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Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 vs Acer Swift X SFX14-51G Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Surface Laptop 7 13.8 and Swift X SFX14-51G, two laptops from Microsoft and Acer. Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 was introduced to market in May 2024 and Acer Swift X SFX14-51G was launched in January 2022. As you can see, Swift X SFX14-51G is 2 years older than Surface Laptop 7 13.8. Let's see if this age difference between two laptops makes a big difference.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 and Acer Swift X SFX14-51G before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 Key Specs

Launched in May 2024
13.8" TouchScreen - IPS LCD, 3:2 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus
GPU: Qualcomm Adreno
16GB Ram
301 x 220 x 17.5 mm (11.85 x 8.66 x 0.69 inches)
Weight: 1.34 kg (2.95 lbs)

Acer Swift X SFX14-51G Key Specs

Launched in January 2022
14.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 1240P
GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB
8GB Ram
312.9 x 214 x 17.9 mm (12.32 x 8.43 x 0.7 inches)
Weight: 1.4 kg (3.09 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Surface Laptop 7 13.8 and Swift X SFX14-51G compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 over Acer Swift X SFX14-51G

Weight	1.34 kg vs 1.40 kg	0.06 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~85.6% vs ~84.9%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	4.7 mm vs 5.7 mm	1 mm thinner bezels
Screen PPI	201 ppi vs 189 ppi	More pixels per inch
Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Interact with your fingers
Screen Resolution	2304 x 1536 pixels vs 2240 x 1400 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Max Brightness	400 nits vs 330 nits	Brighter Screen
CPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 8 nm	Newer Generation GPU
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Left	Flexible cable positions
WiFi Standard	v7 vs v6E	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.4 vs v5.2	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity

Reasons to choose Acer Swift X SFX14-51G over Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8

Display Size	14 inches vs 13.8 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
GPU FLOPS	5.01 TFLOPS vs 3.80 TFLOPS	Dedicated GPU unit
GPU Type	Dedicated vs Integrated	Easy login with fingerprint
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs No	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-A Ports	2x USB 3.2 vs 1x USB 3.1	Faster USB-A
USB-A Port Type	3.2 vs 3.1	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.1 vs No

Common Strengths of Acer Swift X SFX14-51G and Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8

Launch Dates	May 2024 vs January 2022	Both laptops are recent models
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Dolby Atmos Support	Yes vs Yes	3D Surround Sound Support
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Acer Swift X SFX14-51G and Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8

Upgradable RAM	No vs No	No Option to increase the RAM size

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 vs Acer Swift X SFX14-51G: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 and the Acer Swift X SFX14-51G.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.34 kg (2.95 lbs)	1.4 kg (3.09 lbs)
Surface Area	662 cm2 (102.6 inches2)	670 cm2 (103.9 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~85.6%	~84.9%
Side Bezel Thickness	~4.7 mm	~5.7 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.10 kg/inch	0.10 kg/inch
	0.22 lbs/inch	0.22 lbs/inch
Colors	Black, Gray, Blue, Yellow	Gray
Cover Opening Angle	135Â°	130Â°

Comparison of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 and the Acer Swift X SFX14-51G External Dimensions

Weight

Surface Laptop 7 13.8 weighs 1.34 kg (2.95 lbs), whereas the Swift X SFX14-51G weighs 1.4 kg (3.09 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Acer Swift X SFX14-51G

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Thickness Comparison

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Acer Swift X SFX14-51G

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 is 0.10 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Acer Swift X SFX14-51G is 0.10 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 vs Acer Swift X SFX14-51G: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite	Intel Core i5 1240P Intel Core i7 1260P
Base Frequency	3.4 GHz	1.7 GHz
Number of Cores	10	12
Integrated GPU	Qualcomm Adreno	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	4 nm	10 nm

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 and Acer Swift X SFX14-51G.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 1240P

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	undefined	GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile 4GB
Base Clock Frequency	1100 MHz	1065 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)		45 W
Type	Integrated	Dedicated
FLOPS	3.80 TFLOPS	5.501 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	4 GB
Memory Type	LPDDR5X	GDDR6

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 has a FLOPS value of 3.80 TFLOPS whereas the Acer Swift X SFX14-51G ' has a FLOPS value of 5.01 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Acer Swift X SFX14-51G may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB 64GB	8GB 16GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	2x4 GB
RAM Clock	4266 MHz	4800 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR5X	LPDDR5
Upgradable	No	No
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

With a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, the Surface Laptop 7 13.8 offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the Swift X SFX14-51G's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 CPU/NPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus (No NPU)RAM: 16 GBGPU: Qualcomm Adreno	Acer Swift X (SFX14-51G) CPU/NPU: Intel Core I5 1240p (No NPU)RAM: 8 GBGPU: Geforce Rtx 3050 Mobile 4gb
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Suitable 2B model with Q4 quantization (recommended): Requires ~2.5 GB memory - fits in your 16 GB RAM Suitable, but iGPU typically falls in "Modest Speed" category (See performance table below for details)	✔ Expected performance: "Runs Well" 2B model with Q4 quantization (recommended): Requires ~2.5 GB memory - fits in your 4 GB VRAM (See performance table below for details)
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✔ Suitable 7B model with Q4 quantization (recommended): Requires ~5.3 GB memory - fits in your 16 GB RAM Suitable, but iGPU typically falls in "Modest Speed" category	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B, Dense 30B	⚠ 13–15B: Borderline / Slow. 16–30B: Not practical.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not practical on most laptops (64GB+ workstation laptops may be exceptions).	✖ Not practical on most laptops (64GB+ workstation laptops may be exceptions).

For more detailed LLM evaluation (subcategories, performance ranges, memory breakdown)

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8|Acer Swift X (SFX14-51G)

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total memory, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB unified memory. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems. Note: iGPU laptops use shared (unified) memory with lower bandwidth, making them more sensitive to memory pressure and offloading.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

Understanding Performance Categories

💡 Since this system uses iGPU, it typically falls in the "Modest Speed" range; more comfortable with short-medium context, expect noticeable slowdown with long context.

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on how much total memory is available for the model (unified RAM) and whether it needs to spill into slower storage. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in available unified memory for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

BATTERY	54 Wh	58.7 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	No
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left, Right	Left
Charge Power	39 W	100 W

On the other hand, the Swift X SFX14-51G features a higher battery capacity of 59 Wh, delivering longer usage time compared to the Surface Laptop 7 13.8's 54 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Acer Swift X SFX14-51G

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

STORAGE
Both laptops, the Surface Laptop 7 13.8 and the Swift X SFX14-51G have similar max. storage capacities of 1 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 vs Acer Swift X SFX14-51G: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 and Acer Swift X SFX14-51G since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Surface Laptop 7 13.8 has a display size of 13.8".On the other hand, Swift X SFX14-51G has a larger14.0" display.The total usable screen area of the Surface Laptop 7 13.8 is 567cm² / 88inch² whereas the Swift X SFX14-51G's total usable screen area is 568cm² / 88inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Surface Laptop 7 13.8 features a higher pixel density with 201 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Acer Swift X SFX14-51G

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Refresh Rate
Both Surface Laptop 7 13.8 and Swift X SFX14-51G offer the same refresh rate of 60 Hz.

Brightness
The Surface Laptop 7 13.8 offers a higher maximum brightness of 400 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Acer Swift X SFX14-51G

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 13.8 vs Acer Swift X SFX14-51G Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Surface Laptop 7 13.8 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Swift X SFX14-51G (v6E).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Surface Laptop 7 13.8 and Swift X SFX14-51G have USB-A ports. Surface Laptop 7 13.8 has 1x USB 3.1 USB-A ports, while Swift X SFX14-51G has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Surface Laptop 7 13.8 and Swift X SFX14-51G feature 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both Surface Laptop 7 13.8 and Swift X SFX14-51G are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

HDMI
Swift X SFX14-51G features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors. Surface Laptop 7 13.8 does not have an HDMI port.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Neither Surface Laptop 7 13.8 nor Swift X SFX14-51G has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Surface Laptop 7 13.8 and Swift X SFX14-51G are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v7	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.4	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	1x USB 3.1	2x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	2x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	No	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	Yes
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	No
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	No