Best 2-in-1 laptops 2020: top laptop-tablet hybrids

Choosing the best 2-in-1 laptop isn't getting any easier, what with so many top-class hybrid models now on the market – but the T3 experts can certainly help you in your decision. We've picked out all the key specs, information, prices and features of the very best 2-in-1 laptops on the market right now.

It's not difficult to see the appeal of these versatile devices: on the one hand you get the traditional laptop experience, ready for both work and play, and then on the other hand you get a tablet form factor that's simple to operate and even easier for on-the-go use (especially if you have a stylus).

Whether you're after the best 2-in-1 laptop for going back to school or the best 2-in-1 laptop under £500, we've got a superb line-up of Windows computers for you right here. Don't restrict yourself to either a tablet or a laptop – get one of the best 2-in-1 laptops now on sale, and enjoy the benefits of both form factors.

Don't be daunted by the number of different models and the sheer number of specs on show here. We've explained everything you need to know to guide you towards the best device for you, no matter what your needs or budget.

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The best 2-in-1 laptops available to buy today

With its full 360-degree ErgoLift hinge and minimal-bezel design, the Zenbook Flip 13 is one of the best laptops Asus has ever released. Befitting its namesake, the Flip 13 can be flipped between laptop, movie and tablet mode almost effortlessly, rated for at least 20,000 cycles. It feels solid and sturdy too, with a spun-metal finish available in three different colours. Our review model came in the Royal Blue variant, which looks fantastic with its rose-gold trim.

Tooled up with an 8th-gen Intel Core processor, this is average for a laptop, but powerful for a tablet. The tablet mode feels great to use, too, thanks to a responsive touchscreen and military-grade tested durable design. The only missing feature is a smart stylus, which would make using the tablet mode for artistic endeavours a bit easier, but there’s always the potential to buy a third-party pen.

We haven’t even delved into the brilliant audio quality courtesy of sound masters Harman Kardon, nor the well-designed keyboard that feels sturdy and comfortable to use. By far the coolest feature, however, is the integrated numpad. Hold down an invisible button on the corner of the trackpad, and concealed LED backlighting illuminates, transforming the trackpad into a full numpad, ready to tackle any and all calculations.

All of this, partnered with a really competitive mid-tier price point, makes the Asus ZenBook Flip 13 our top recommendation for the best 2-in-1 laptop.

Asus ZenBook Flip 13 vs Microsoft Surface Book 3: which laptop is right for you?

We were hugely impressed by what the Surface Book 2 had to offer, and the Surface Book 3 is an even better proposition: while the design stays mostly the same, the internals have been given a welcome boost, and at the top end of the configuration options you can get a discrete Nvidia graphics card installed.

This is both a heavy duty laptop and a heavy duty tablet rolled into one (and running the full version of Windows 10 of course) – unlike a lot of 2-in-1s, it has a proper laptop style keyboard, but also has a screen that completely detaches as well. While we've listed the specs for the 13.3-inch display above, a 15-inch model is also available if you want a larger display (just remember that the removable screen is going to be that bit bigger).

Anyone interested in the best 2-in-1 laptop at the moment has to check out the Surface Book 3 really, but it comes at a high price: this is only for those with relatively deep pockets to consider. Even at this price though, we don't think you're going to be disappointed.

Should I buy the Microsoft Surface Book 3?

This is a very Surface-heavy list and for good reason: Microsoft's forays into the 2-in-1 market have been a huge success, revitalising the company's image as a serious hardware maker right when it needed it. For people who want to get in on this without paying handsomely, Microsoft has you covered with the second Surface Go.

It builds on what made the original Surface Go so good, adding a more premium-feeling design and a small specs bump to make sure you can get through all of the computing tasks that you need to get through. It also squeezes in a bigger-sized screen into a form factor the same size as the original Surface Go, but cutting down on the bezels.

You can eke out around five hours of use between charges with the Surface Go, and given its size and power, it's perfect for everyday on-the-go computing. In your calculations about whether or not to buy this, make sure that you factor in the extra cost of the Type Cover keyboard in as well, which you're going to need to make full use of this as a laptop as well as a tablet.

Should I buy the Microsoft Surface Go 2?

Chromebooks lend themselves rather well to the 2-in-1 format: you can use them as a laptop when you need to do some serious work, but then you can also prop them up or fold them over when it's time for some sitting back and relaxing in front of Netflix instead. In either scenario, the Asus Flip 2-in-1 Chromebook has you covered.

Specs don't particularly matter when it comes to Chromebooks, but the Intel Core m3 processor and 4GB of RAM should handle as many browser tabs as you're able to load up. Remember that Chromebooks can also run Android apps as well now, which gives you another way of using the tablet.

We really like the design of this 2-in-1 Chromebook as well, all subtle greys and thin bezels, and it's lightweight enough to sling in a rucksack very easily. There are plenty of other models in the Asus Flip line, so be sure to check them all out in your search for the best 2-in-1 laptop around.

Very appealing looks, superb specs... what's not to like about the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1? The standard XPS 13 is a fine laptop in its own right, but this 2-in-1 version folds right over as well – perhaps most useful in tent mode, when you want to prop it up to enjoy some video streaming content in the evening. You get a device that's sleek, light, and capable of managing everything you need it to do.

As usual with Dell devices, a variety of configurations are available for your Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 – it depends how much money you've got to spend and what you need your laptop to do as to which one is going to be the best one for your particular needs. What's true about all of them, however, is that they're all very capable, very versatile, and very well-designed.

This is very much an option to consider if you're more interested in the laptop rather than the tablet aspect of the 2-in-1 experience – the XPS 13 is absolutely one of the best laptops on the market at the moment, and the fact that you can fold it right over and use it as a tablet just adds to the appeal.

We've been hugely impressed with Yogas gone by, and it's therefore no surprise that the latest Lenovo Yoga C930 makes an appearance on our best 2-in-1s of 2020 list. Ultra-thin and ultra-light, it's a premium bit of kit.

From the generous 13.9-inch screen, to the top end i7 processor from Intel, to the roomy 512GB of SSD storage, there's so much to like here. It's not the cheapest of course, but that doesn't mean this isn't good value for money.

With a 4K resolution display, Dolby Atmos sound, and some rather sleek looks, we're struggling to think of anything to put in the negatives column. The keyboard folds over rather than detaching, but it's a minor niggle.

One of the cheaper options in this guide, Acer's Switch Alpha 12 is clearly influenced by Microsoft's Surface Pro 4, but its wireframe kickstand more closely echoes HP's Spectre x2.

It boasts a trick that neither of those devices can, though: liquid cooling. That's right, the Alpha 12 is the first tablet that pumps a coolant solution around the inside to keep it running cool and quiet. It's an innovative device that is offered at a surprisingly acceptable price, especially considering that its decent keyboard dock is included in the bundle.

Silver, shiny, tough and smart, the Switch Alpha 12 has more than a few tricks up its sleeve to earn its place on our best 2-in-1 laptops list.

HP's latest iterative update to the Spectre x360 15 takes all the elements we loved about the 2018 version - namely its impressive performance and sleek design - and simply turns up the dial even more. The result is the HP Spectre x360 15T, with the base version boasting an 8th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics and 8GB of RAM. For a 2-in-1, those are some seriously impressive specs.

The Spectre x360 15T will zip through any normal task - from word processing to video streaming - and is even powerful enough for a little light gaming here and there. That gorgeous 4K display does them all justice, making for an incredible portable viewing experience. The only real trade off is size. For a 2-in-1, the Spectre x360 15T is quite bulky so expert a workout if you're lugging it around all day.

The Surface Pro 7 doesn't change a huge amount from the Surface Pro 6, especially in terms of its looks, but that's actually fine with us – there's no need to mess around with a winning formula just for the sake of it. It now comes with USB-C, and as an added bonus supports the most up-to-date and fastest Wi-Fi 6 standards as well.

As well as the i7 chipset that we've listed in the specs above, less powerful configurations are available too, so you can tailor the Surface Pro 7 to your needs and budget. If you've got the money, you can certainly get yourself a 2-in-1 that's capable of some serious performance – you shouldn't have any trouble with lag or slowdowns on the top-end configurations.

If the Surface Book 3 is a little too bulky for you and the Surface Go 2 is a little too on the small and underpowered side, then get the Surface Pro 7 as the perfect compromise. The only caveat is that the Surface Pro 8 might really revamp the design as well as bump the specs, when it arrives.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S7: which hybrid is best?

If you want something running Android that can do double duty as both a tablet and a laptop, then you don't have a huge number of options at the moment. Of the options that you do have, we reckon that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is just about the best of them: sleek, powerful, and with the famous S Pen stylus.

You're also going to want the optional Book Cover Keyboard as well, which helps you get much more out of the tablet. There's 5G on board as well, plus a quality sound system put together in partnership with experts AKG. With up to three apps on the screen at once, Android has never looked so good on a tablet as far as we're concerned.

The specs above apply to the 11-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, but if you want something bigger and have a bit more money to play around with, then consider getting the 12.4-inch Tab S7 Plus instead – they're both powerful Android 2-in-1 tablets that will last you for years.

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How to choose the best 2-in-1 laptop for you

Convertibles, hybrids, 2-in-1s, call them what you like – these are essentially tablets that convert into laptops using keyboard attachments, and they occupy the middle ground between the two.

Fully fledged laptops with detachable screens are less common, but we've included them too. You also get laptops that don't have detachable screens but which fold right over to become sort of makeshift tablets.

We're continuing to see some really decent quality hybrids hit the market in 2020, and whether you're looking for a lithe and luxurious 2-in-1 to take on the move, or are hunting down a convertible laptop to double up as a compact TV set, we've picked out the best options out there.

So how do you pick? It's a good idea to think about how you're going to be using your new computer, and thus how powerful it needs to be: that has a knock-on effect on price and portability. If you're going to be spending a lot of time typing, look for a 2-in-1 with a substantial keyboard attachment. If you're not, it doesn't matter so much.

Above you'll find the very best 2-in-1 laptops on the market in 2020.