Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 vs Microsoft Surface Go 4
The Verdict
Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 is a premium ultrabook designed for professionals requiring serious processing power, while Microsoft's Surface Go 4 is a lightweight tablet-laptop hybrid for casual computing. Performance differences are substantial: the X1 Carbon features 13th Gen Intel Core processors with up to 14 cores versus the Go 4's entry-level Intel N200, making the ThinkPad vastly superior for productivity tasks, multitasking, and demanding applications. Display quality favors the ThinkPad with its optional OLED panel offering 2880 x 1800 resolution and 90Hz refresh rates compared to the Go 4's modest 1920 x 1280 touchscreen. Battery life is competitive (15 hours vs 12.5 hours), though the ThinkPad's larger capacity provides better sustained performance. Storage configurations differ dramatically: ThinkPad starts at 512GB while Go 4 offers only 128GB. At $1449 versus $579, the ThinkPad commands a premium but delivers enterprise-grade durability, superior keyboard, full port selection, and genuine multitasking capability. The Go 4 suits ultralight travelers and basic Windows users. For professionals or anyone needing a capable workhorse, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 is the clear winner.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 if…
- →Incredibly light at 1.12 kg — ideal for travel
- →Optional 2.8K OLED display is stunning for media and creative work
- →Best-in-class ThinkPad keyboard with excellent key travel
Buy the Microsoft Surface Go 4 if…
- →Ultra-portable at 1.22 lbs — lightest Windows tablet/laptop
- →Windows 11 Pro included — enterprise-ready out of the box
- →Surface Pen and Type Cover support for versatile use
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11
Pros
- Incredibly light at 1.12 kg — ideal for travel
- Optional 2.8K OLED display is stunning for media and creative work
- Best-in-class ThinkPad keyboard with excellent key travel
- MIL-STD 810H tested for ruggedness and durability
- Good port selection includes USB-A, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 4
Cons
- OLED option significantly reduces battery life to around 10 hours
- 60Hz IPS panel feels behind the times
- Starting price of $1449 is expensive for the base config
- Soldered RAM limits upgradeability
- Integrated graphics only — not suitable for GPU-heavy workloads
Microsoft Surface Go 4
Pros
- Ultra-portable at 1.22 lbs — lightest Windows tablet/laptop
- Windows 11 Pro included — enterprise-ready out of the box
- Surface Pen and Type Cover support for versatile use
- PixelSense touchscreen with excellent touch and pen accuracy
- microSD slot for expandable storage
Cons
- Intel N200 is slow for anything beyond basic web browsing
- 128 GB storage fills up quickly with Windows updates
- Type Cover keyboard sold separately at $99-$129
- Only one USB-C port — no USB-A, no HDMI
Full Specifications
| Spec | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 | Microsoft Surface Go 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.12 kg | 1.22 lbs (0.55 kg) |
| Material | Carbon fiber and magnesium alloy | Magnesium alloy |
| Dimensions | 315.6 x 222.5 x 15.36 mm | 9.65 x 6.9 x 0.33 inches |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | — |
| USB-A ports | 2 | — |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | — |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| SD card | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 15 hours (IPS) / 10 hours (OLED) | Up to 12.5 hours |
| Capacity | 57 Wh | 28 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 14 inches | 10.5 inches |
| Type | OLED (IPS optional) | PixelSense IPS touchscreen |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 1920 x 1280 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz (90Hz OLED) | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB / 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe | 128 GB UFS |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB / 32 GB LPDDR5x | 8 GB LPDDR5 |
| Cores | 10-core (2P + 8E) / 14-core (6P + 8E) | 4 cores |
| Chipset | 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1365U / i7-1370P | Intel N200 |
Related Comparisons
- Microsoft Surface Go 4 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
- Microsoft Surface Go 4 vs LG gram 14 (2024)
- Microsoft Surface Go 4 vs Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Gen 8 14"
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 vs Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 vs Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 vs Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in laptops, see all Lenovo products or all Microsoft products. View full details for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 or the Microsoft Surface Go 4.