In terms of connectivity,
Wifi ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Surface Laptop 5 15 (v6).
Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.
Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds
| Standard |
Speed |
Release Date |
Network |
Frequency Bands (GHz) |
| Wi-Fi 7 |
up to 40 Gbps
(5 GB/s) |
2023 |
802.11be |
2.4, 5, 6 |
| Wi-Fi 6E |
up to 9.6 Gbps
(1.2 GB/s) |
2020 |
802.11ax |
2.4, 5, 6 |
| Wi-Fi 6 |
up to 9.6 Gbps
(1.2 GB/s) |
2019 |
802.11ax |
2.4, 5 |
| Wi-Fi 5 |
up to 6.93 Gbps
(866.25 MB/s) |
2014 |
802.11ac |
2.4, 5 |
| Wi-Fi 4 |
up to 600 Mbps
(75 MB/s) |
2009 |
802.11n |
2.4, 5 |
* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.
USBBoth ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 and Surface Laptop 5 15 have USB-A ports. ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while Surface Laptop 5 15 has 1x USB 3.1 USB-A ports.Both ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 and Surface Laptop 5 15 have USB Type-C ports. ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while Surface Laptop 5 15 has 1x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports.
Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.
USB Type and Speeds
| USB Type |
Version |
Speed |
Date |
Other Features/Explanations |
| USB4 |
Gen 4 (2.0) |
80 Gbps |
2022 |
Also known as USB 80Gbps |
| USB4 |
Gen 3×2 |
40 Gbps |
2019 |
Also known as USB 40Gbps |
| USB 3.2 |
3.2 Gen 2x2 |
20 Gbps |
2019 |
Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2 |
| USB 3.2 |
3.2 Gen 2 |
10 Gbps |
2017 |
Previously known as USB 3.1 |
| USB 3.2 |
3.2 Gen 1 |
5 Gbps |
2017 |
Previously known as USB 3.0 |
| USB 3.1 |
3.1 Gen 2 |
10 Gbps |
2013 |
Faster data transfer rates |
| USB 3.0 |
3.1 Gen 1 |
5 Gbps |
2010 |
SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates |
| USB 2.0 |
2.0 |
480 Mbps |
2000 |
High-speed data transfer |
| USB 1.0 |
1.0 |
1.5 Mbps |
1996 |
Original USB standard |
ThunderboltBoth ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 and Surface Laptop 5 15 are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.
HDMI ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors. Surface Laptop 5 15 does not have an HDMI port.
Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.
HDMI Comparison Table
| HDMI Version |
Maximum Resolution |
Bandwidth
(Gbps) |
Color Depth
(bits) |
Release
Date |
| HDMI 2.1-2.1b |
7680 x 4320 (8K) @ 60p
3840 x 2160 (4K) @ 120p |
48.0 |
48 |
2017 |
| HDMI 2.0-2.0b |
3840 x 2160 (4K) @ 60p |
18.0 |
48 |
2013 |
| HDMI 1.4-1.4b |
3840 x 2160 (4K) @ 30p |
10.2 |
48 |
2009 |
| HDMI 1.3-1.3a |
2560 x 1440 @ 60p |
10.2 |
48 |
2006 |
| HDMI 1.0-1.2a |
1920 x 1200 @ 60p |
4.95 |
24 |
2002 |
* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.
SD Card ReaderNeither ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 nor Surface Laptop 5 15 has an SD Card Reader.
Audio JackBoth ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 and Surface Laptop 5 15 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.
To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.
| Connectivity and Ports |
WiFi Standard
(latest: v7) |
v7
|
v6
|
Bluetooth
(latest: v5.4) |
v5.3
|
v5.1
|
USB-A
(latest: 3.2) |
2x USB 3.2 |
1x USB 3.1 |
USB Type-C
(latest: USB4 2.0) |
2x USB 4.0
|
1x USB 4.0
|
Thunderbolt
(latest: 4) |
Thunderbolt 4
|
Thunderbolt 4
|
HDMI
(latest: 2.1) |
1x HDMI 2.1 |
No |
Display Port
(latest: v2.0) |
No
|
No
|
| VGA |
No
|
No
|
| Fingerprint Sensor |
Yes
|
No
|
| Optical Drive |
No
|
No
|
| Audio Jack 3.5mm |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Ethernet RJ45 |
No
|
No
|
| SD CardReader |
No
|
No
|
| Proprietary Charging Port |
No
|
Yes
|