When 2-in-1 laptops first hit the market, they seemed more like a gimmick than a practical choice for business and professional use. However, in recent years, these versatile devices have become a staple across all major manufacturers. Many users now appreciate the convenience of switching seamlessly between laptop and tablet modes, making it easy to adapt to different tasks and environments.
The top 2-in-1 laptops offer flexibility, transforming from a traditional laptop setup with a keyboard and touchpad into a sleek tablet ideal for note-taking or browsing on the go. In laptop mode, users benefit from an adjustable screen and a familiar workspace, while in tablet mode, they enjoy a lightweight device that responds to taps, swipes, and often supports stylus input. Some models even feature a tent mode, which allows the keyboard to act as a stand for presentations or video calls.
Notably, many 2-in-1 laptops provide longer battery life compared to standard laptops, thanks to components designed for energy efficiency. Their slim and lightweight design enhances portability, making them an appealing option for those who need to carry their work with them. Plus, having a single device for both laptop and tablet functionality means users can access the same apps and data without the hassle of syncing across multiple devices.
Of course, not all 2-in-1 laptops are created equal. Some feature detachable designs, allowing users to completely separate the tablet from the keyboard, while others maintain a more traditional laptop structure, requiring the screen to be folded back for tablet use. There are even models with dual screens that forgo a physical keyboard, relying on virtual input instead.
Here are some of the best 2-in-1 laptops that bring versatile functionality to your computing experience.
Acer Chromebook Spin 714
Pros
- Great performance for a Chromebook
- Good battery life
- Good amount of ports
Cons
- No SD card reader
- Webcam is only 720p
Core Specs: Core i5-1235U, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD
Display: 14-inch 1920 x 1200 resolution 16:10 aspect ratio
Battery life: 10+ hours
If you thrive on the simplicity of online workflows and appreciate affordable tech, the Acer Chromebook is an excellent choice. This model, particularly the i5 configuration, is currently available at a great discount, even cheaper than the i3 version, making it a fantastic value.
While the specs are modest—featuring a Core i5-1235U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage—they’re more than sufficient for tasks like document editing and basic graphic design. The laptop also offers solid connectivity options, including two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, a USB-A port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Plus, with over 10 hours of battery life, you can work all day without worrying about recharging. Just keep in mind that it doesn’t come with a stylus, so you’ll need to purchase one separately if you’re interested in digital art.
Lenovo Yoga 9i Laptop
Pros
- Gorgeous OLED screen
- Powerful performance
- Stellar battery life
Cons
- No HDMI port
- Odd placement for stylus
Core Specs: Core Ultra 7 155H, 16GB RAM, and 2TB SSD
Display: 14-inch OLED 2880 x 1800 resolution
Battery life: 15+ hours
Lenovo is often credited with pioneering the modern 2-in-1 laptop, which is reflected in their extensive lineup of these versatile devices. Among their offerings, this model stands out as our favorite, boasting impressive specifications such as an OLED touch panel, an AI-enhanced Intel Core Ultra processor, and a generous 2TB SSD. Performance is exceptional for productivity tasks, and it handles some graphic-intensive applications reasonably well. While it may not match the performance of laptops with discrete graphics (thanks to its integrated Intel Arc), it remains a powerhouse for productivity.
The OLED display is a key highlight, complemented by highly responsive touch controls. It pairs beautifully with the included stylus, which conveniently snaps onto the top of the lid, making this device a solid alternative to dedicated drawing and note-taking tablets. However, it’s worth noting that the two permanently hinged sides mean you must rotate the screen fully to the back for tablet mode, resulting in a thicker and heavier device that’s not as easy to hold as a traditional tablet.
Additional features include excellent battery life, impressive speakers, a 1440p webcam, and a solid array of ports, including two USB-C Thunderbolt 4, one USB4, one USB-A, and a 3.5mm jack.
Microsoft Surface Pro 11 Copilot+
Pros
- Slim and lightweight chassis
- Good battery life
- Some useful AI features
Cons
- Expensive keyboard accessory
- ARM isn’t compatible with many Windows software
Core Specs: Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD
Display: 13-inch 2880 x 1920 resolution
Battery life: 10+ hours
This 2-in-1 laptop comes in various configurations, and we opted for one of the more budget-friendly options. It features a Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an LCD touchscreen. Higher-end models offer the X Plus Elite, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an OLED display. This configuration provides sufficient power for most productivity software, making it a solid choice for everyday tasks, though it’s not designed for gaming (Windows games often don’t run well on ARM devices). However, you can expect smooth performance from most apps, and compatibility is likely to improve over time.
More of a tablet than a laptop, it includes an integrated kickstand that allows you to prop it up on a table without needing to dock it to a keyboard. You’ll need to purchase the keyboard separately for laptop functionality, though there are more affordable compatible options available if you find the official Microsoft keyboard too pricey. The device is slim, lightweight, and user-friendly, offering a great touchscreen experience whether you’re tapping or using a stylus. Additional highlights include excellent cameras (1440p front and 10MP rear), over 10 hours of battery life, and a range of helpful AI features (along with a few that are less useful).
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
Pros
- Powerful discrete GPU
- Ready for resource-intensive creative tasks
- Serves as excellent drafting tablet
Cons
- A bit too thick and heavy for a 2-in-1 laptop
- Surface Pen not included
Core Specs: Core i7-13700K, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 64GB of RAM, and 2TB of SSD
Display: 14.4-inch 2400 x 1600 resolution
Battery life: 18+ hours
While the Microsoft Surface Pro is a solid choice, creatives in need of a true graphics powerhouse will find it lacking. For those individuals, this 2-in-1 laptop stands out as a much better option. The fully-loaded model boasts an Intel Core i7-13700K, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, 64GB of RAM, and 2TB of SSD storage, capable of handling virtually any desktop application. It’s a significant upgrade from the original Laptop Studio, which fell short of expectations. This new version excels with productivity software and really shines in graphics-heavy tasks like 3D modeling and video editing, areas where previous models struggled. While it may not be the fastest configuration available, it’s impressive for a device of its form factor.
You can technically hold it in one hand like a tablet, as the screen can fold flat over the keyboard. However, its thickness makes it less comfortable for prolonged use in that way. It’s manageable in a pinch, but probably not something you’d want to carry around all the time. Its optimal use case is as a drafting tablet, allowing you to tilt the display over the keyboard for easier drawing and sketching. Although it launched before the introduction of Intel’s AI CPUs, it does include an integrated Intel Movidius neural processor for some AI tasks. While the AI features aren’t groundbreaking, they’re a nice bonus if you find a use for them later on.