Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs Dell XPS 13 9350: Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon has the better keyboard, OLED display option, and port selection, while the XPS 13 is more compact with longer battery life. Choose the ThinkPad for typing and ports; choose the XPS for size and endurance.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Dell XPS 13 9350 (Geekbench multi 14,100 vs 9,850).
- Longer battery: Dell XPS 13 9350 (15.2h vs 11.8h web).
- Lighter: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (1.09 kg vs 1.19 kg).
- Display: OLED (Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12) vs IPS (Dell XPS 13 9350).
- Cheaper: Dell XPS 13 9350 (saves about $700 CAD).
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs XPS 13 9350: Full Breakdown
Performance: the Dell XPS 13 9350 is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 14,100 against 9,850 for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 — roughly 43% 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 18 FPS. The Dell XPS 13 9350 is the better pick if you game or edit video.
Battery and portability: the Dell XPS 13 9350 lasts longer away from a charger, running 15.2 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 1.19 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 Dell XPS 13 9350 has a 13.4-inch IPS panel (1920 x 1200, 60Hz). The Dell XPS 13 9350 measured brighter at 478 nits, and covered 78% of DCI-P3 — relevant for outdoor use and colour work.
Price and value: the Dell XPS 13 9350 is the cheaper option in Canada, about $700 less than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12. Weighed against our test scores (8.4 vs 8.0 overall), the Dell XPS 13 9350 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 Dell XPS 13 9350 review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 and the XPS 13 9350 feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 | XPS 13 9350 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.4 ✓ | 8.0 |
| Price (CAD) | $2,199 | $1,499 ✓ |
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 155U | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite |
| GPU | Intel Graphics (integrated) | Qualcomm Adreno (integrated) |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5x | 16GB LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 512GB | 512GB |
| Display | 14" OLED | 13.4" IPS |
| Brightness | 412 nits | 478 nits ✓ |
| Battery (web) | 11.8 h | 15.2 h ✓ |
| Weight | 1.09 kg ✓ | 1.19 kg |
| Geekbench multi | 9,850 | 14,100 ✓ |
| Gaming (1080p) | 22 fps ✓ | 18 fps |
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (3-year available) | 1-year limited (onsite available) |
Which Should You Buy?
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon has the better keyboard, OLED display option, and port selection, while the XPS 13 is more compact with longer battery life. Choose the ThinkPad for typing and ports; choose the XPS for size and endurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 or the XPS 13 9350?
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon has the better keyboard, OLED display option, and port selection, while the XPS 13 is more compact with longer battery life. Choose the ThinkPad for typing and ports; choose the XPS for size and endurance.
Which is better for keyboard?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the better choice for keyboard.
Which is better for battery life?
The Dell XPS 13 9350 is the better choice for battery life.
Which is better for ports?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the better choice for ports.
Which is better for portability?
The Dell XPS 13 9350 is the better choice for portability.
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