Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 scores 8.4 versus 7.5 for the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) is the cheaper option at $449. Choose based on the use cases below: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (Geekbench multi 9,850 vs 6,000).
- Longer battery: Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) (16.2h vs 11.8h web).
- Lighter: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (1.09 kg vs 1.35 kg).
- Display: OLED (Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12) vs IPS (Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025)).
- Cheaper: Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) (saves about $1,750 CAD).
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs Chromebook Plus 514 (2025): Full Breakdown
Performance: the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 9,850 against 6,000 for the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) — roughly 64% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 averaged 22 FPS versus 12 FPS. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the better pick if you game or edit video.
Battery and portability: the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) lasts longer away from a charger, running 16.2 hours in our web-browsing test versus 11.8 hours. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is also easier to carry at 1.09 kg versus 1.35 kg, which matters if you commute or travel.
Display: the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 uses a 14-inch OLED panel (2880 x 1800, 120Hz), while the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) has a 14-inch IPS panel (1920 x 1080, 60Hz). The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 measured brighter at 412 nits, and covered 99% of DCI-P3 — relevant for outdoor use and colour work.
Price and value: the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) is the cheaper option in Canada, about $1,750 less than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12. Weighed against our test scores (8.4 vs 7.5 overall), the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) offers the better value for the money, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the stronger laptop outright if budget is not the deciding factor.
For the complete testing data, read our full Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 review and Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 and the Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 | Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.4 ✓ | 7.5 |
| Price (CAD) | $2,199 | $449 ✓ |
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 155U | MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 |
| GPU | Intel Graphics (integrated) | Arm Mali (integrated) |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5x ✓ | 8GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 512GB ✓ | 128GB |
| Display | 14" OLED | 14" IPS |
| Brightness | 412 nits ✓ | 316 nits |
| Battery (web) | 11.8 h | 16.2 h ✓ |
| Weight | 1.09 kg ✓ | 1.35 kg |
| Geekbench multi | 9,850 ✓ | 6,000 |
| Gaming (1080p) | 22 fps ✓ | 12 fps |
| OS | Windows 11 | ChromeOS |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (3-year available) | 1-year limited |
Which Should You Buy?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 scores 8.4 versus 7.5 for the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) is the cheaper option at $449. Choose based on the use cases below: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 or the Chromebook Plus 514 (2025)?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 scores 8.4 versus 7.5 for the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) is the cheaper option at $449. Choose based on the use cases below: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus 514 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Which is better for school?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the better choice for school.
Which is better for business?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the better choice for business.
Which is better for gaming?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the better choice for gaming.
Which is better for multimedia?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the better choice for multimedia.
Which is better for programming?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the better choice for programming.
Which is better for travel?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the better choice for travel.
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