Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 scores 8.4 versus 8.3 for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the cheaper option at $1,449. Choose based on the use cases below: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 leads overall, while the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) (Geekbench multi 13,200 vs 9,850).
- Longer battery: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) (16h vs 11.8h web).
- Lighter: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (1.09 kg vs 1.34 kg).
- Display: OLED (Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12) vs IPS (PixelSense) (Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8)).
- Cheaper: Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) (saves about $750 CAD).
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs Surface Laptop 7 (13.8): Full Breakdown
Performance: the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 13,200 against 9,850 for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 — roughly 34% 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 16 FPS. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the better pick if you game or edit video.
Battery and portability: the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) lasts longer away from a charger, running 16 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 1.34 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) has a 13.8-inch IPS (PixelSense) panel (2304 x 1536, 120Hz). The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) measured brighter at 596 nits, and covered 82% of DCI-P3 — relevant for outdoor use and colour work.
Price and value: the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the cheaper option in Canada, about $750 less than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12. Weighed against our test scores (8.4 vs 8.3 overall), the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 and the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 | Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.4 ✓ | 8.3 |
| Price (CAD) | $2,199 | $1,449 ✓ |
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 155U | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus |
| GPU | Intel Graphics (integrated) | Qualcomm Adreno (integrated) |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5x | 16GB LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 512GB | 512GB |
| Display | 14" OLED | 13.8" IPS (PixelSense) |
| Brightness | 412 nits | 596 nits ✓ |
| Battery (web) | 11.8 h | 16 h ✓ |
| Weight | 1.09 kg ✓ | 1.34 kg |
| Geekbench multi | 9,850 | 13,200 ✓ |
| Gaming (1080p) | 22 fps ✓ | 16 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 8.3 for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the cheaper option at $1,449. Choose based on the use cases below: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 leads overall, while the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 or the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8)?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 scores 8.4 versus 8.3 for the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8), making it the stronger all-rounder. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) is the cheaper option at $1,449. Choose based on the use cases below: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 leads overall, while the Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Which is better for school?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (13.8) 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.
Real tests. Smarter laptop decisions.
Get top-tested laptop picks, Canadian deal alerts, and buying advice.