Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) scores 9.0 versus 8.4 for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12, 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 MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) leads overall, while the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) (Geekbench multi 22,600 vs 9,850).
- Longer battery: Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) (16.8h vs 11.8h web).
- Lighter: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (1.09 kg vs 1.6 kg).
- Display: OLED (Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12) vs Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) (Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)).
- Cheaper: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (saves about $550 CAD).
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro): Full Breakdown
Performance: the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 22,600 against 9,850 for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 — roughly 129% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) averaged 52 FPS versus 22 FPS. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the better pick if you game or edit video.
Battery and portability: the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) lasts longer away from a charger, running 16.8 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 1.6 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 Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) has a 14.2-inch Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) panel (3024 x 1964, 120Hz). The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) measured brighter at 1020 nits, and covered 99% 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 $550 less than the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro). Weighed against our test scores (8.4 vs 9.0 overall), the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) offers the better value for the money, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) 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 Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 and the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 | MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.4 | 9.0 ✓ |
| Price (CAD) | $2,199 ✓ | $2,749 |
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 155U | Apple M4 Pro (12-core) |
| GPU | Intel Graphics (integrated) | Apple M4 Pro GPU (16-core) |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5x | 24GB Unified LPDDR5x ✓ |
| Storage | 512GB | 512GB |
| Display | 14" OLED | 14.2" Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) |
| Brightness | 412 nits | 1020 nits ✓ |
| Battery (web) | 11.8 h | 16.8 h ✓ |
| Weight | 1.09 kg ✓ | 1.6 kg |
| Geekbench multi | 9,850 | 22,600 ✓ |
| Gaming (1080p) | 22 fps | 52 fps ✓ |
| OS | Windows 11 | macOS |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (3-year available) | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) |
Which Should You Buy?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) scores 9.0 versus 8.4 for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12, 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 MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) leads overall, while the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 or the MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) scores 9.0 versus 8.4 for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12, 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 MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) leads overall, while the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 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 Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the better choice for gaming.
Which is better for multimedia?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the better choice for multimedia.
Which is better for programming?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) 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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