Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 scores 8.4 versus 7.2 for the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025) is the cheaper option at $1,299. Choose based on the use cases below: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 leads overall, while the TUF Gaming A15 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025) (Geekbench multi 11,600 vs 9,850).
- Longer battery: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (11.8h vs 7.4h web).
- Lighter: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (1.09 kg vs 2.2 kg).
- Display: OLED (Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12) vs IPS (ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025)).
- Cheaper: ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025) (saves about $900 CAD).
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs TUF Gaming A15 (2025): Full Breakdown
Performance: the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025) is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 11,600 against 9,850 for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 — roughly 18% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025) averaged 104 FPS versus 22 FPS. The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (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 7.4 hours. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is also easier to carry at 1.09 kg versus 2.2 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 TUF Gaming A15 (2025) has a 15.6-inch IPS panel (1920 x 1080, 144Hz). 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 TUF Gaming A15 (2025) is the cheaper option in Canada, about $900 less than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12. Weighed against our test scores (8.4 vs 7.2 overall), the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (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 ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 and the TUF Gaming A15 (2025) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 | TUF Gaming A15 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.4 ✓ | 7.2 |
| Price (CAD) | $2,199 | $1,299 ✓ |
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 155U | AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS |
| GPU | Intel Graphics (integrated) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (115W) |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5x | 16GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 512GB | 1000GB ✓ |
| Display | 14" OLED | 15.6" IPS |
| Brightness | 412 nits ✓ | 312 nits |
| Battery (web) | 11.8 h ✓ | 7.4 h |
| Weight | 1.09 kg ✓ | 2.2 kg |
| Geekbench multi | 9,850 | 11,600 ✓ |
| Gaming (1080p) | 22 fps | 104 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 7.2 for the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025) is the cheaper option at $1,299. Choose based on the use cases below: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 leads overall, while the TUF Gaming A15 (2025) can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 or the TUF Gaming A15 (2025)?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 scores 8.4 versus 7.2 for the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025), making it the stronger all-rounder. The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025) is the cheaper option at $1,299. Choose based on the use cases below: the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 leads overall, while the TUF Gaming A15 (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 ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2025) 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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