The best 2-in-1 laptops you'll find in our guide aim to offer a proper mix of power, versatility, and performance, these choices all provide the value and experience you're hoping to get from the latest hybrids.
The flexibility of a 2-in-1 laptop make these machines ideal for a wide range of users: students and CEOs, families and businesses, people who work from home, people who work on site and people who work from pretty much anywhere. They're usable in places where tablets just aren't an option, and adding a stylus opens up even more possibilities.
Especially when it comes to academics. Some of the top choices in our list are the perfect machines for school, and offer some of the best student laptop (opens in new tab) alternatives available.
In this, T3's comprehensive guide to the best 2-in-1 laptops, we’ve reviewed every kind of device for every kind of user. We’ve worked on Windows 10 2-in-1 laptops and on Chromebooks; we've studied 2-in-1 laptops that are perfect for going back to school; and we've investigated the best 2-in-1 laptops for business users as well.
The best 2-in-1 laptops available to buy today
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For most people, the Asus ZenBook Flip 13 is the best 2-in-1 laptop to choose
"The Asus ZenBook Flip S has a lot going for it, namely its 4K OLED touchscreen display, its much-touted ‘Tiger Lake’ processor and an eye-catching build that doubles down on thinness and sleek angles." – T3's Asus ZenBook Flip S review (opens in new tab)
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 colors. 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 endeavors 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. Compare our top two choices in Asus ZenBook Flip 13 vs Microsoft Surface Book 3: which laptop is right for you?
The Galaxy Book Pro 360 offers an incredible screen for the price
"The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 is a productivity powerhouse. It has a long-lasting battery, strong performance and the included S Pen works perfectly with its responsive touchscreen." – T3's Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 review (opens in new tab)
If you need a laptop to get you through the workday, and then to use for entertainment in the evenings, the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 will be a good choice. Not only is the screen a massive 15.6inches with a light and premium build quality, but the keyboard features a separate number pad and it comes with the S Pen included too. Perfect for getting work done, no matter what it may be.
Because this laptop is so lightweight and thin, using it as a tablet poses no problems at all. You push the screen back by 360-degrees (hence the name) and it automatically switches it into tablet mode. It doesn’t feel awkward like with so many other 2-in-1 devices and the screen is super responsive too.
Samsung Galaxy users (be that smartphone or tablet) will get the most from this laptop. It lets you seamlessly transfer files between Galaxy devices, or use your tablet as a second screen. You’ll also be able to control your smart home using SmartThings, and locate all your Galaxy tech using SmartThings Find.
If you need a portable and versatile 2-in-1 laptop then you won't get much better than the Microsoft Surface Pro 8
"The Microsoft Surface Pro 8 is a 2-in-1 laptop and tablet that works just as well in both forms." – T3's Microsoft Surface Pro 8 review (opens in new tab)
Anyone who needs versatility and portability from a 2-in-1 laptop should consider the Microsoft Surface Pro 8. If you buy the optional Surface Type Cover it works just as well as a tablet as it does a laptop.
You’ll easily be able to carry it around in your bag because it’s both slim and light. To transform it into a laptop you simply snap on the Surface Type Cover, it's much nicer to use as a tablet than devices with the 360-degree swivelling design.
Once attached, you can angle the keyboard upwards for a better typing position or lay it flat on a table. It’s worth bearing in mind that the slender design isn’t as firm as a traditional keyboard. While that won’t be a problem for most people, if you spend literally all day every day typing then it may not be right for you.
When it comes to performance, this doesn’t quite match up to some of the most powerful devices on this list but it’s really not that far off either. You’ll easily be able to get your work done on it, as well as edit photos and play some video games here and there.
The only area that the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 really falls down in is battery life. You’ll still get a good few hours of video playback from it but you will need to have the charger within reach if you take it to work with you.
To sum things up, this is the best Surface Pro device yet.
If you don't want to spend thousands, the Asus Vivobook 13 Slate OLED could be worth considering.
"If you want a laptop that doubles up as a tablet you'll like the Asus Vivobook 13 Slate OLED (T3300)." – T3's Asus Vivobook 13 Slate OLED review (opens in new tab)
Not all of the laptops on this list can be used comfortably as a tablet which means you might spend more time using them as your PC than anything else. If you want something that equally combines the two, check out the Asus Vivobook 13 Slate OLED.
The keyboard magnetically snaps onto the display, once it's taken off it feels like a proper tablet. In the box, it not only comes with the keyboard but you also get a cover stand to prop it up, a stylus with four pen tips and a case to protect it all. You get a lot for your money.
A 13.3-inch OLED touchscreen makes this Windows 11 PC ideal for streaming TV shows and movies as well as for getting work done. The screen is stunning and it's where the Asus Vivobook 13 Slate OLED really shines. You'll also get decent battery life and relatively quick charging too.
Because it's so reasonably priced, you will have to make some sacrifices. Here it's the performance that has suffered, it's not anywhere near as speedy as some of the other options on this list. But in saying that, it'll do just fine for casual web browsing, taking notes and streaming Netflix.
HP's Spectre is in a different league to many Windows laptops.
"While expensive, the HP Spectre x360 14 2-in-1 Windows laptop's combination of gorgeous screen, lovely keyboard and fantastic audio offers very good value." – T3's HP Spectre x360 review (opens in new tab)
HP’s Spectres are very impressive hybrid laptops and the latest versions are the best yet. This year’s X360 has 11th generation Intel Core processors, and the available graphics now go up to Intel Iris Xe.
The Spectre X360 is a very good-looking laptop and it’s built to a standard you don’t often see in Windows laptops: visually its closest rival may well be Apple’s M1 MacBook Pro. It’s beautifully made with a vivid, bright screen and a great keyboard, and as ever with HP it comes with a good selection of security options to keep your data safe. Battery life is around 13 hours and there’s a good range of configurations options for processors and storage.
It can get a little bit noisy when you push it hard but that’s a minor niggle in an otherwise extremely impressive package.
"The Samsung Galaxy Book Flex has just about everything you could want from a Windows laptop, including a superb screen, decent performance and long battery life." – T3's Samsung Galaxy Book Flex review (opens in new tab)
While the Samsung Galaxy Book Flex is going to set you back a substantial amount of cash, you get a lot back for your money – it ticks just about every box you could want to tick in terms of battery life, performance, screen quality, design and so on.
It's perhaps the extras that really make this laptop stand out though. You get an integrated S Pen stylus that slots right into the casing, while the trackpad doubles up as a wireless charging pad. Then of course there's the 2-in-1 nature of the device, which means you can use it in a variety of positions and for many different applications.
While the performance you get here isn't good enough for heavy video editing or gaming, it'll breeze through everyday tasks, and it's perfect for office workers and students alike (that high price notwithstanding). If you think you'll make use of the extra features, it's well worth the investment.
Microsoft's Surface range gets its next big flagship in the Pro 7 model.
"An excellent hybrid that doesn’t do quite enough to innovate on what Microsoft already had." – T3's Microsoft Surface Pro 7 review (opens in new tab)
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?
A premium tablet from Samsung that gives plenty of 2-in-1s a run for their money.
"The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 + delivers one of the most powerful and fully featured Android tablets ever, with some of the best components you can get in a tablet and a gorgeous Super AMOLED display." – T3's Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ review (opens in new tab)
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.
"The HP Elite Dragonfly isn't for everyone, but it looks great and ticks a lot of boxes for power users on the go." – T3's HP Elite Dragonfly review (opens in new tab)
The HP Elite Dragonfly is a superb laptop: it was a deserved winner of the best laptop gong at the T3 Awards 2020. Despite its svelte appearance and lightweight it’s packed with ports – two USB-A, two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 and HDMI – and can be specified in a huge range of configurations including 4G LTE and a 4K display. The build quality is spectacular and the performance is excellent too.
Why isn’t it topping our list here? Two reasons: one, it’s laser-focused on business users, so it’s not going to be ideal for everybody; and two, it’s not quite as good in tablet mode as it is in normal laptop mode.
As a laptop, the Dragonfly is solid, powerful and impressive – and it’s an absolute joy to type on, which really matters in a business laptop. But in tablet mode we found it a little unwieldy and a little bit bouncy. As a laptop, the Dragonfly deserves a full five stars but as a tablet, we’d take it down to four. We think it’s best suited to people who’ll spend most of their PC time in laptop mode but who still need the occasional bit of tablet time.
"This innovative tablet/laptop combo boasts a folding screen that makes it a doddle to transform from one mode to another." – T3's Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold review (opens in new tab)
The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold is a folding laptop, or certainly a hybrid folding device. This is clever and handy for a few reasons: it folds up really small, making it ultra portable and it allows you to use it in a number of different arrangements.
Place the optional keyboard over the bottom half of the screen and you have a functional 9in device. Unfold the screen and use the kick stand to have it upright on the desk and you have a 13.3in desktop. Keep the screen partly folded to split the screen for different tasks.
While the delivery isn't perfect – the screen isn't the brightest and the processing could be faster – it is still groundbreaking. It certainly opens up the potential for a new class of machines coming your way soon.
A small, convenient laptop for working here, there and everywhere.
"If you need a business laptop and you plan to work from different places, the HP Elite Dragonfly G2 is convenient, light and powerful. It fits a lot into a small, smart package and it can be converted into a tablet." – T3's HP Elite Dragonfly G2 review (opens in new tab)
If you need a laptop for hybrid working, you'll need it to be light and convenient to carry with you, the HP Elite Dragonfly G2 weighs less than a kilogram and is about the size of an A4 notepad. Even its charger is small, only slightly bigger than the average smartphone adaptor.
You'll have no problems fitting it into your bag, but that doesn't mean it skimps on power. This laptop has serious performance packed into it, with 16GB RAM and the newest 11th Gen Intel Core processors to choose from, it's a workhorse that won't let you down.
There were a couple of small downsides, like the fact that it would have been good to have a more sophisticated webcam considering how much people have been relying on video calls recently. The battery life isn't amazing either, it's just fine.
Despite that, this is a seriously impressive laptop - it's faster, more premium and even nicer to use than the first generation of the PC, the HP Elite Dragonfly, and that's saying something! If you're looking for a versatile, transportable laptop then look no further.
A sophisticated laptop oozing style and boasting speed.
"Be it for business or academia, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 is sure to help boost your productivity." – T3's Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 review (opens in new tab)
If you need a 2-in-1 laptop to stream TV shows and movies, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 combines an ultra-high-definition display with its own rotating soundbar to produce 360-degree audio. TV shows and movies are delivered how they were meant to be seen and heard.
The laptop itself oozes class with a leather design on the outside and a glass touchpad integrated into the palm rest on the inside. You'll also find a stylus garaged into the back of the computer.
It's not just stylish though, there's plenty of substance too. This is a speedy piece of kit which is sure to cope with pretty much everything you could throw at it. The only real downside is that the battery life is average but that won't be a deal-breaker for most. All-in-all this laptop will be well suited to productivity be that in business or academia.
It's covered in vegan leather which makes it look more like a folder than a PC.
"The HP Elite Folio is a 2-in-1 laptop with 5G support so you’re guaranteed to be able to get work done anywhere." – T3's HP Elite Folio review (opens in new tab)
Getting work done on the go has never been easier - the HP Elite Folio is compact, lightweight and it has 5G support so you can be connected to the internet wherever you are.
When it comes to performance it may not be quite as good as some of the other laptops on this list but it sure is one of the better-looking devices here. It's covered in vegan leather and features a pull-forward design which means you can convert it into a tablet or position it at any angle without needing to pick up the computer and faff around with it.
On the keyboard, there’s a docking station that houses the included HP Slim Pen so it’ll always be charged up and ready to go. And the camera has IR facial recognition to keep the laptop secure. You’ll also get pretty good battery life.
Don’t expect to use it to play complex games or for more creative workloads like video editing because the processor just can’t handle it as well as some of the other options here.
For affordable and portable performance, the Microsoft Go 2 has it all.
"If you want a tablet you can turn into a real-life laptop, The Surface Go is the best in class." – T3's Microsoft Surface Go 2 review (opens in new tab)
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, revitalizing 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 as well, which you're going to need to make full use of this as a laptop as well as a tablet.
Get even more information and buying advice in T3's dedicated should I buy the Microsoft Surface Go 2 feature.
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How to choose the best 2-in-1 laptop for your needs
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 2022, 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 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.
Which is better: 2-in-1 or laptop?
Depending on just exactly what you plan to do with your new machine, this question can be answered either way.
2-in-1's are ultra versatile and provide the convenience of an on-the-go tablet when you need it with the power of a laptop. There are sacrifices that are usually made to achieve this though, including reducing the internal specs performance and size to accommodate the smaller, more mobile friendly size.
Laptops in general will be more powerful and are best suited if you work for long sessions at a time. They'll provide a more solid platform with increased power and capabilities, albeit without the easy on-the-go mobile use. That's not necessarily a problem, as many laptop users sit for extended periods of time during use.
If you're someone who is on the go constantly but needs a powerful machine to keep up with you, 2-in-1's will do the trick but expected to spend a bit extra to get a machine that works properly for you.
If you're not sure that a 2-in-1 is the right laptop for you, T3 also has dedicated guides to various different types of the best laptops, and one of those might better suit you.
For example, we've got a best gaming laptops guide that's written with serious gamers in mind, a best lightweight laptops guide for those who want a laptop that won't be a pain to lug around, and a guide focused on the best student laptops, too.
We've also got a dedicated best Dell laptops guide, so if you like the US maker's systems (and we really do here at T3), you'll find the best Dells right there. And for awesome remote storage and access, be sure to check out T3's best NAS drives buying guide, too.
Lastly, if you're thinking of a 2-in-1 laptop then you're likely looking for some slate functionality. As such, before you do that be sure to check out the best tablets and best Kindle ereaders, as they may serve your needs even better.
