Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs Dell XPS 16 9640: Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 scores 8.4 versus 7.8 for the Dell XPS 16 9640, 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 XPS 16 9640 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Dell XPS 16 9640 (Geekbench multi 13,400 vs 9,850).
- Longer battery: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (11.8h vs 9h web).
- Lighter: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (1.09 kg vs 2.1 kg).
- Cheaper: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (saves about $1,000 CAD).
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 vs XPS 16 9640: Full Breakdown
Performance: the Dell XPS 16 9640 is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 13,400 against 9,850 for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 — roughly 36% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the Dell XPS 16 9640 averaged 78 FPS versus 22 FPS. The Dell XPS 16 9640 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 9 hours. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is also easier to carry at 1.09 kg versus 2.1 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 16 9640 has a 16.3-inch OLED panel (3840 x 2400, 90Hz). 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 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the cheaper option in Canada, about $1,000 less than the Dell XPS 16 9640. Weighed against our test scores (8.4 vs 7.8 overall), the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 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 16 9640 review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 and the XPS 16 9640 feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 | XPS 16 9640 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.4 ✓ | 7.8 |
| Price (CAD) | $2,199 ✓ | $3,199 |
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 155U | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H |
| GPU | Intel Graphics (integrated) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (60W) |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5x | 32GB LPDDR5x ✓ |
| Storage | 512GB | 1000GB ✓ |
| Display | 14" OLED | 16.3" OLED |
| Brightness | 412 nits ✓ | 408 nits |
| Battery (web) | 11.8 h ✓ | 9 h |
| Weight | 1.09 kg ✓ | 2.1 kg |
| Geekbench multi | 9,850 | 13,400 ✓ |
| Gaming (1080p) | 22 fps | 78 fps ✓ |
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (3-year available) | 1-year limited (onsite available) |
Which Should You Buy?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 scores 8.4 versus 7.8 for the Dell XPS 16 9640, 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 XPS 16 9640 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 or the XPS 16 9640?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 scores 8.4 versus 7.8 for the Dell XPS 16 9640, 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 XPS 16 9640 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 Dell XPS 16 9640 is the better choice for gaming.
Which is better for multimedia?
The Dell XPS 16 9640 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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