Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 scores 8.4 versus 7.6 for the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the cheaper option at $2,199. Choose based on the use cases below: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 leads overall, while the Legion Pro 5 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025) (Geekbench multi 19,200 vs 9,850).
- Longer battery: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (11.8h vs 6.4h web).
- Lighter: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (1.09 kg vs 2.5 kg).
- Display: OLED (Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12) vs IPS (Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025)).
- Cheaper: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (saves about $300 CAD).
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs Legion Pro 5 (2025): Full Breakdown
Performance: the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025) is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 19,200 against 9,850 for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 — roughly 95% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025) averaged 118 FPS versus 22 FPS. The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025) is the better pick if you game or edit video.
Battery and portability: the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 lasts longer away from a charger, running 11.8 hours in our web-browsing test versus 6.4 hours. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is also easier to carry at 1.09 kg versus 2.5 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 Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025) has a 16-inch IPS panel (2560 x 1600, 240Hz). The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025) measured brighter at 512 nits, and covered 86% of DCI-P3 — relevant for outdoor use and colour work.
Price and value: the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the cheaper option in Canada, about $300 less than the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025). Weighed against our test scores (8.4 vs 7.6 overall), the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (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 Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 and the Legion Pro 5 (2025) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 | Legion Pro 5 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.4 ✓ | 7.6 |
| Price (CAD) | $2,199 ✓ | $2,499 |
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 155U | Intel Core i9-14900HX |
| GPU | Intel Graphics (integrated) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (140W) |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5x | 32GB DDR5 ✓ |
| Storage | 512GB | 1000GB ✓ |
| Display | 14" OLED | 16" IPS |
| Brightness | 412 nits | 512 nits ✓ |
| Battery (web) | 11.8 h ✓ | 6.4 h |
| Weight | 1.09 kg ✓ | 2.5 kg |
| Geekbench multi | 9,850 | 19,200 ✓ |
| Gaming (1080p) | 22 fps | 118 fps ✓ |
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| 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 7.6 for the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the cheaper option at $2,199. Choose based on the use cases below: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 leads overall, while the Legion Pro 5 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 or the Legion Pro 5 (2025)?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 scores 8.4 versus 7.6 for the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the cheaper option at $2,199. Choose based on the use cases below: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 leads overall, while the Legion Pro 5 (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 Legion Pro 5 (2025) is the better choice for gaming.
Which is better for multimedia?
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (2025) 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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