Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020) vs Acer Swift X 14 AI (SFX14-61G)
The real choice here is the system: the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch runs macOS and the Acer Swift X 14 AI runs Windows. Beyond that, the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch is more compact, while the Acer Swift X 14 AI is better for gaming and is faster.
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Key differences
- Operating system Depends on you
They run different systems: the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch runs macOS and the Acer Swift X 14 AI runs Windows. Pick the one that runs the apps you rely on.
- Gaming Acer Swift X 14 AI wins
The Acer Swift X 14 AI is the one for gaming: its RTX 5060 plays modern games at high settings, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch isn't made for games.
- Speed Acer Swift X 14 AI wins
The Acer Swift X 14 AI is quicker. Its AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 has the power for photo and video editing, while the Intel Core i5-1038NG7 in the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch stays smooth with lots of apps and tabs open.
- Battery life Acer Swift X 14 AI wins
The Acer Swift X 14 AI should last longer on a charge: it has a 76 Wh battery against 58 Wh.
- Screen size Depends on you
The Acer Swift X 14 AI has the bigger screen (14.5" against 13.3"), while the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch is more compact.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch if…
- You own an iPhone or prefer a Mac: it runs macOS and works smoothly with Apple devices.
- You want something compact for small bags and train tables: it has a 13.3-inch screen.
- You work near windows or outside: its screen is brighter at 500 nits.
Choose the Acer Swift X 14 AI if…
- You need Windows programs or want to play PC games: it runs Windows 11, which runs almost anything.
- You play games: its RTX 5060 plays modern games at high settings.
- You edit photos or video, or keep a lot open at once: its AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 is the more powerful processor.
- You work away from a plug: it should last longer on a charge (its maker claims up to 11 hours).
- You want more room to work: its 14.5-inch screen fits two windows side by side.
Full spec comparison
Add more laptopsThe Acer Swift X 14 AI leads on performance, battery and weight, the screen, ports and wireless and extras; elsewhere the two are closely matched. Highlighted values mark the better spec in each row, and you can hide the rows where they match.
Performance
The Acer Swift X 14 AI is ahead on performance.
It is better for gaming, is faster and has more storage, and the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020) | Acer Swift X 14 AI (SFX14-61G) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5-1038NG7 | AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Plus Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop |
| Graphics memory | — | 8 GB |
| Graphics power (TGP) | — | 90 W |
| AI engine (NPU) | — | 50 TOPS |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory type | LPDDR4X-3733 onboard | LPDDR5X-7500 |
| Maximum memory | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory upgrades | Soldered (not upgradeable) | Soldered (not upgradeable) |
| Storage | 512 GB | 1 TB |
| Storage type | SSD | SSD |
| Storage interface | — | PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 |
Screen
Each laptop has its strengths on the screen.
The Acer Swift X 14 AI has the bigger screen (14.5" against 13.3"), while the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch is more compact. The Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch is more compact and has a brighter screen, while the Acer Swift X 14 AI has a bigger screen, has an OLED screen and has a sharper screen.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020) | Acer Swift X 14 AI (SFX14-61G) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.3" | 14.5" |
| Resolution | 2.5K (2560 x 1600) | 3K (2880 x 1800) |
| Aspect ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| Panel | IPS | OLED |
| Refresh rate | — | 120 Hz |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 340 nits |
| Colour range | Wide colour (P3) | 100% DCI-P3 |
| HDR | None | VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 |
| Touchscreen | No | Yes |
| Pen standard | — | MPP 2.5 (touchpad stylus support) |
Battery and size
Each laptop has its strengths on battery and weight.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch is a little lighter, while the Acer Swift X 14 AI lasts longer on a charge and is slimmer.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020) | Acer Swift X 14 AI (SFX14-61G) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life (maker claim) | Up to 10 hours | Up to 11 hours |
| Battery capacity | 58 Wh | 76 Wh |
| Charger | 61 W | 100 W |
| Charges via | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 1.4 kg | 1.57 kg |
| Dimensions | 304.1 x 212.4 x 15.6 mm | 322.4 x 227.4 x 9.76-17.96 mm |
| Materials | recyclable low-carbon aluminium enclosure | Aluminium |
| Hinge | — | 180-degree lay-flat |
| Colour | Space Grey | Iron |
| Colours available | Silver, Space Grey | Iron, Titanium Gray |
Ports and wireless
The Acer Swift X 14 AI is ahead on ports and wireless.
It has HDMI and an SD card reader and has Wi-Fi 6E, and the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020) | Acer Swift X 14 AI (SFX14-61G) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 4x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C, charging, DisplayPort, USB 3.1 Gen 2 up to 10Gb/s), 1x 3.5 mm headphone | 2x USB4 Type-C (DisplayPort, charging), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (one with charging), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x microSD, 1x 3.5 mm audio |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | 4x Thunderbolt 3 up to 40Gb/s | USB4 40Gbps |
| External displays (max) | 2 | — |
| Card reader | None | microSD |
| Ethernet | None | None |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Mobile data | None | — |
Features
The Acer Swift X 14 AI is ahead on extras.
It has Copilot+ AI features and has a sharper webcam, and the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020) | Acer Swift X 14 AI (SFX14-61G) |
|---|---|---|
| Webcam | 720p FaceTime HD | 1080p + IR |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard | Backlit Magic Keyboard; 66-key ISO layout; Touch Bar; ambient light sensor | White backlight, AcerSense key, caps lock and mic-mute indicators |
| Login | Fingerprint | Face |
| Number pad | No | No |
| Touchpad | Force Touch trackpad | Multi-gesture haptic touchpad (Corning Gorilla Glass), Microsoft Precision, MPP 2.5 stylus support |
| Speakers | stereo speakers with high dynamic range and Dolby Atmos playback | 2 speakers, DTS:X Ultra Audio |
| Microphones | three-mic array with directional beamforming | — |
| Pen | No | Included |
| Security | Touch ID | Microsoft Pluton (firmware TPM), Kensington lock slot, BIOS user/supervisor passwords |
Software and model
They run different systems, so this comes down to the apps you use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch is sold renewed (used and refurbished); the Acer Swift X 14 AI is sold new. It is sold new and is newer, and the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020) | Acer Swift X 14 AI (SFX14-61G) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 Home |
| Model number | MWP42B/A | NX.JA8EK.006 |
| Released | 2020 | 2025 |