Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro vs Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12
Apple's MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro dominates creative workflows with its stunning 3024×1964 Liquid Retina XDR display (1600 nits), exceptional 22-hour battery life, and superior M4 Pro performance (12-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 24GB RAM). Its Thunderbolt 3 connectivity and premium build justify the $270 premium. Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 compensates with exceptional portability (1.09kg), familiar Windows 11 Pro ecosystem, and expandable storage—ideal for business professionals prioritizing mobility and legacy software compatibility. The display gap is significant: MacBook's XDR panel with 120Hz ProMotion vastly outperforms ThinkPad's 1920×1200 IPS screen. Battery life also favors Apple (22 vs 13 hours). However, ThinkPad's lighter weight and dual Thunderbolt ports offer practical advantages for business travel. Creative professionals should choose the MacBook Pro; business users seeking maximum portability might accept the ThinkPad's limitations.
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Pro |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.60 kg | 1.09 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Carbon fiber + magnesium |
| Dimensions | 312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm | 312.8 x 215.0 x 14.96 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | 1 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | 2 |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 2 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 22 hours wireless web | Up to 13 hours |
| Capacity | 72.4 Wh | 57 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 14.2 inches | 14 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED | IPS, anti-glare |
| Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 1920 x 1200 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | — |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 24 GB unified | 16 GB LPDDR5X |
| Cores | 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU | 16 cores |
| Chipset | Apple M4 Pro | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H |
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro
Pros
- Powerful M4 Pro performance in a portable chassis
- Bright mini-LED ProMotion display
- Long battery life around 22 hours
- Three Thunderbolt 5 ports for high-speed I/O
- Excellent build quality and speakers
Cons
- Premium pricing
- Base RAM bumped to 24 GB raises entry cost
- Notch in display divides opinion
- No cellular or touchscreen option
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12
Pros
- Exceptionally light at 1.09 kg with durable carbon fiber chassis
- Best-in-class ThinkPad keyboard with excellent travel
- MIL-STD-810H tested for durability
- Strong business security with vPro and discrete TPM
Cons
- Premium price compared to similarly specced ultrabooks
- Base 1920x1200 IPS display is uninspiring vs OLED rivals
- Limited GPU performance for creative workloads
- Webcam quality still trails Surface and MacBook competitors
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