Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34: Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 scores 8.4 versus 7.2 for the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34, making it the stronger all-rounder. The ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is the cheaper option at $499. Choose based on the use cases below: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus CX34 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (Geekbench multi 9,850 vs 5,200).
- Longer battery: ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 (12.6h vs 11.8h web).
- Lighter: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (1.09 kg vs 1.44 kg).
- Display: OLED (Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12) vs IPS (ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34).
- Cheaper: ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 (saves about $1,700 CAD).
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs Chromebook Plus CX34: Full Breakdown
Performance: the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 9,850 against 5,200 for the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 — roughly 89% 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 10 FPS. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the better pick if you game or edit video.
Battery and portability: the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 lasts longer away from a charger, running 12.6 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 1.44 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 ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 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 ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is the cheaper option in Canada, about $1,700 less than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12. Weighed against our test scores (8.4 vs 7.2 overall), the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 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 ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 and the Chromebook Plus CX34 feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 | Chromebook Plus CX34 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.4 ✓ | 7.2 |
| Price (CAD) | $2,199 | $499 ✓ |
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 155U | Intel Core i3-1215U |
| GPU | Intel Graphics (integrated) | Intel UHD (integrated) |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5x ✓ | 8GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 512GB ✓ | 128GB |
| Display | 14" OLED | 14" IPS |
| Brightness | 412 nits ✓ | 302 nits |
| Battery (web) | 11.8 h | 12.6 h ✓ |
| Weight | 1.09 kg ✓ | 1.44 kg |
| Geekbench multi | 9,850 ✓ | 5,200 |
| Gaming (1080p) | 22 fps ✓ | 10 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 7.2 for the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34, making it the stronger all-rounder. The ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is the cheaper option at $499. Choose based on the use cases below: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus CX34 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 CX34?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 scores 8.4 versus 7.2 for the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34, making it the stronger all-rounder. The ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is the cheaper option at $499. Choose based on the use cases below: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 leads overall, while the Chromebook Plus CX34 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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