Over the last decade, we have fundamentally changed the way we use our laptops – thanks in large part to 2-in-1 laptops. The best 2-in-1 laptops come in every size and shape, and there’s nothing like flipping your laptop into tent mode to take in some Netflix after a long study session.
Some of the top 2-in-1 laptops, like the Dell XPS 15 2-in-1, will come strapped with the best processors, and will be among the best laptops on the market right now. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this convenient form factor.
Most of the best 2-in-1 laptops are going to be convertible, meaning their keyboard flips around the back, in order to transform into a tablet. There are a few 2-in-1 laptops that approach it differently, namely the Surface Book 2. Microsoft’s convertible has a detachable keyboard, and its high-resolution PixelSense display is held up by sheer magnetic force.
No matter how they implement the 2-in-1 functionality, these flexible laptops will usually have stylus compatibility – even if it’s becoming more rare to find a stylus included in the box. So, to help you find the best 2-in-1 laptop for your needs, we’ve gathered up every convertible notebook we’ve reviewed recently, with all their pros and cons taken into consideration.
1. Samsung Notebook 9 Pro
Hands down, the best 2-in-1 laptop there is
CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620 – AMD Radeon 540 Graphics (2GB GDDR5) | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch – 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) LED display with Touch Screen Panel | Storage: 256GB SSD
- Uses S-Pen to great effect
- Excellent look and feel
- Inconsistent battery life
- Downward-firing speakers
The Samsung Notebook 9 Pro can go head-to-head with the 15-inch MacBook Pro, and for a substantially lower cost. Though it’s limited to only one configuration, albeit across two different sizes, the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro is as powerful as it is pragmatic. Defined in part by its inclusion of the S-Pen, this heavy-hitting hybrid is every bit as capable as Microsoft’s Surface Book and without the need to recharge its stylus.
2. Google Pixelbook
Making good on its Android promises
CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 12.3 inch QHD (2,400 x 1,600) LCD touchscreen | Storage: 128GB – 512GB SSD
- Gorgeous design
- Vibrant, responsive display
- Android app support
- Expensive
- Pixelbook Pen sold separately
- No biometric login
It might strike you as odd that a Chromebook is on a list of the best 2-in-1 laptops, especially rated so high, but the Google Pixelbook merges the two so flawlessly. It’s a wonderful device that takes the Chrome OS platform and elevates it to levels never seen before, or even since. The Google Pixelbook is packed with powerful internals and supports full Android apps, tearing down the walls that prevented Mac and Windows faithful from embracing the best Chromebooks.
3. Asus Chromebook Flip
A 2-in-1 Chromebook Android users won’t refuse
CPU: Intel Pentium – Core m7 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 510 – 515 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 12.5-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) LED backlit anti-glare display | Storage: 32GB – 128GB eMMC
- Elegant tablet mode
- Gorgeous, vivid screen
- No out-of-box Android support
- Middling speakers
We get it, the Pixelbook is enticing, but it’s also out of your price range. In that case, the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 is a choice alternative. Having introduced a touchscreen and convertible design to Google’s cloud-based Chrome OS, the Asus Chromebook Flip is made better by its compatibility with Android apps. That’s right, just like the Pixelbook, you can use the Asus Chromebook Flip for Google Play apps, albeit after installing an out-of-the-box update.
4. Dell XPS 15 2-in-1
A convertible that doesn’t compromise
CPU: Intel Core i5-i7 | Graphics: Radeon RX Vega M GL Graphics with 4GB HMB2 Graphics Memory | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD
- Impressive power
- Ultra-thin design
- Kind of expensive
If you’ve been looking for one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, but you also kind of wanted something with some serious horsepower, you’re in luck. The Dell XPS 15, already one of the best Ultrabooks you can buy today, has been transformed into one of the best 2-in-1 laptops – with discrete class Radeon RX Vega graphics to boot. What this means is that you can get a beautiful 2-in-1, without sacrificing sheer power. And, while that means it’s a bit expensive on the high end – it’s totally worth it.
5. Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13-inch)
A hole in one for 2-in-1s
CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620 – Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (2GB GDDR5) | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.5-inch, 3,000 x 2,000 PixelSense display | Storage: 256GB – 1TB
- Very good battery life
- Powerful
- Very expensive
- No Surface Pen included
The original Surface Book was great enough, so when we first heard that a 15-inch Surface Book 2 was on the way, our expectations went sky-high. Microsoft’s second 2-in-1 laptop isn’t perfect, but it’s still an impressive device. This 2-in-1 laptop isn’t just gorgeous, but it’s packed with 8th-generation Intel processors and Nvidia 10-series graphics for gamers and creative types alike. When you take that power and pair it with its nifty convertibility – it’s easy to see why it’s a winner.
6. Lenovo Yoga 920
Multi-faceted dexterity that stomps the competition
CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8 – 16GB | Screen: 13.9-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) – UHD (3,840 x 2,160) multitouch IPS with integrated camera | Storage: 256GB – 1TB PCIe SSD
- Lovely design
- Thin
- Lacks graphical power
- Keyboard still annoys in tablet form
While it doesn’t offer the same level of graphics performance, the Lenovo Yoga 920 is a much more affordable alternative to the Surface Book 2. For anyone who’s looking for value, rather than a detachable screen, the Lenovo Yoga 920 has a lot to offer. The design, for example, is less pronounced and has the subtlety of a more traditional Ultrabook. Meanwhile, it’s thin and powerful at the same time.
7. Microsoft Surface Book 2 (15-inch)
Two inches closer to perfection
CPU: Intel Core Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB GDDR5) | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15-inch, 3,240 x 2,160 PixelSense display | Storage: 256GB – 1TB PCIe SSD
- Crazy long battery life
- Massively powerful
- No up-firing base speakers
- Small trackpad
To be fair, we loved the 13-inch Surface Book already, so when we first caught word that a 15-inch Surface Book 2 was in the works, our expectations were amplified. In the end, Microsoft’s second 2-in-1 laptop isn’t perfect, but it is an impressive feat held back by a handful of (frankly necessary) concessions. For starters, this machine features cutting-edge 8th-generation Intel processors and Nvidia 10-series graphics for gamers and creative types alike. Pair that with its nifty convertibility, and we have ourselves a winner.
8. Lenovo Flex 6 14”
Making a case for the mid-range
CPU: Intel Pentium 4415U – i5-8250U | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Storage: 128GB – 256GB SSD
- Very affordable
- Commendable performance
- No Thunderbolt 3
If you’re in the market for one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, but want to save a few bucks, look no further than the Lenovo Flex 6 14”. For less than $1,000, you’re getting specs that will be able to handle most common workloads life throws at it – in a chassis that doesn’t just look good but is rigid and even supports the Lenovo Active Pen. The only real downside here is the tinny speakers and the lack of Thunderbolt 3 – but even that’s not enough to hold it back from – especially at its bargain price.
9. HP Spectre x360
A 2-in-1 with an affinity for high fashion
CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) – UHD (3,840 x 2,160) IPS touch panel | Storage: 256GB – 1TB
- Stylus included
- Stunning features
- Weak hinges
- Annoying keyboard layout
The HP Spectre x360 isn’t just one of the best HP laptops, but with its strikingly thin frame, it’s one of the best 2-in-1 laptops on the market right now. It’s packing all the power offered by the 8th-generation Kaby Lake R processors, so despite its slim build, the HP Spectre x360 can stream 4K video and even run some games at 720p. And, unlike many of the best 2-in-1 laptops, the stylus is in the box.
10. HP Spectre x360 15 (2018)
CPU: Intel Core i7-8550U | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce MX150 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.6 inch UHD (3,160 x 2,140) LCD touchscreen | Storage: 512GB SSD
- Elegant design
- Impressive performance
- A bit hefty
For years, HP’s Spectre line of Ultrabooks and 2-in-1s has been all about elegance and performance, and the 2018 HP Spectre x360 15 is no different. Packed with an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU, Nvidia MX 150 graphics and 16GB of RAM, you’re going to be able to do anything your workday throws at you – even up to some light gaming. However, the Spectre x360 is a bit heavy for a 2-in-1, so you likely won’t be using it in tablet mode very often, instead of putting it in tent mode to watch some movies on its gorgeous 4K panel.
We hope you enjoyed our best 2 in 1 laptops guide. If you did, we would appreciate if you helped us spread the word for this article by sharing it to you social networks.
Gabe Carey and Bill Thomas have also contributed to this article
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