Best 2-in-1s 2018 (Laptop/Tablet Hybrids)

If you want a laptop with the greatest versatility, a 2-in-1 that is folded back or separated to switch to tablet mode is your best option. We have listed our 2-in-1 favorites below and here are three quick things to keep in mind when buying.

  • Folded or detachable ?: Folded in 2 in 1, which have screens that flip back 360 degrees, works much better in laptop mode and generally has greater resistance, a better keyboard and more ports. The 2-in-1 removable devices, which have screens that come out, provide a better tablet experience.
  • Screen resolution: While some cheaper models will have resolutions of 1366 x 768, try to get at least one 1920 x 1080 screen.
  • Size: To get the best balance between portability and usability, consider a 2-in-1 with a screen of 12 or 13 inches and a weight of less than 3.5 pounds. The smaller laptops are ideal for children, while the 15 and 17 inch models provide many real estate to draw or view the media.

News and updates (May 2018)

  • The Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 is the first laptop we have reviewed with the Intel Kaby Lake-G 8th Gen CPU.
  • We recently reviewed the Samsung Notebook 9 Pen, Samsung's premium convertible. While we liked the active pencil, the laptop's short battery makes it difficult to sell.

  Best overall: Lenovo Yoga 920

It's hard to decide which is more amazing: the Yoga 920 vibrant 13.9-inch screen or its gorgeous bronze-colored chassis. But Lenovo's 2-in-1 flagship consumer is more than a party for the eyes. This 3-pound convertible offers exceptional performance, thanks to its Intel 8th Gen Core i7 quad-core CPU and its fast PCIe SSD.

Artists and note takers will appreciate the included Active Stylus 2, which supports up to 4,096 levels of pressure. Everyone will love the 12 hours of battery life and the combination of Thunderbolt 3 and standard USB 3.0 ports.

Pros: Extended battery life; Bright and colorful screen; Attractive design; Stylus included
Cons: Surface keypad

Key specifications: 13.9-inch 1080p / 4K screen; CPU Core i7-8550U; More than 12 hours of battery life; 3.05 lbs

Lenovo Yoga 920 Review »

Starting at $ 1196.00
Lenovo

  Best Value: Acer Spin 1

For less than $ 350, the Spin 1 offers some features that are usually seen in laptops that cost closer to $ 1,000. Coated with an elegant aluminum chassis, this 11.6-inch convertible has one of the most colorful and bright 1080p screens on the market, giving it a better visual experience than many systems three times its price. It also comes standard with an active touch pen that supports 1,024 pressure levels. With a Celeron processor and 32 GB of storage, the Spin 1 will probably not replace your main PC, but it is an excellent secondary device and is a great option for kids.

Pros: Bright and vibrant Full HD screen; Elegant aluminum chassis; Snappy keyboard
Cons: Battery life

Key specifications: 11.6-inch IPS screen, 1080p; 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of eMMC storage, Intel Celeron N3350 CPU; 2.65 pounds

Acer Spin 1 Review »

Starting at $ 329.00
Amazon

  Best Splurge: Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13 inches)

With a starting price of $ 1,999 for a model with discrete graphics ($ 1,499 for a base model that few people want), the Surface Book 2 is not cheap. However, it provides an unprecedented amount of performance for a 3.5-pound removable device. The laptop combines the power of an Intel 8th Gen Core i7 CPU with the speed of the Nvidia GTX 1050 graphics and the beauty of its high resolution PixelSense display.

Unlike its little brother, Surface Pro, Surface Book 2 has a solid keyboard that allows you to balance on your lap, provides a great typing experience and has a large number of ports, including a USB type C connection. Surface Book 2 lasts an impressive 13 hours with a load and has one of the best inking experiences you'll find anywhere.

Pros: Innovative design; Magnificent screen; Long battery life; Big needle
Cons: Expensive; No Thunderbolt 3

Key specifications: 13.5-inch screen, 3000 x 2000; Up to the Intel Core i7-8550U CPU; Optional Nvidia GTX 1050 GPU; 3.56 pounds

  Best Detachable 2-in-1: Microsoft Surface Pro

After five years, the company that popularized the category is still the one that It makes the best detachable in the market. And after discarding the numbered names scheme, Surface Pro is better than ever. The battery life has increased by 1.5 hours, the new Surface Pen features more than 4,000 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition and the support bends back even at 165 degrees. And in case you've forgotten, Surface Pro still has an impressive detachable keyboard and one of the brightest and most accurate LCD screens we've ever seen.

Pros: Bright and high resolution screen; Elegant design; Fast keyboard; Strong performance
Cons: Bad battery life; Without USB-C; Feather surface and cover type extra cost;

Key specifications: 12.3-inch screen, 2736 x 1824; Up to the CPU Core i7-7660U; 1.73 lbs / 2.39 lbs with lid type

Surface Pro Review »

Starting at $ 799.00
Amazon

  The best 2-in-1 15-inch: Microsoft Surface Book 2

The 15-inch version Microsoft's Surface Book 2 is an amazing technical achievement that includes a powerful Nvidia GTX 1060 GPU at the base of a detachable 2-in-1. With that kind of graphics, you can edit 4K videos or create professional 3D animations while connected to the keyboard and then open the screen to take pictures or take notes. The Surface Book 2 also features a brilliant PixelSense display, a powerful Intel 8th-Gen Core i7 CPU and more than 12 hours of battery life.

Pros: Vivid display; The best 2-in-1 graphics performance; Versatile detachable design; Extended battery life
Cons: Expensive; No Thunderbolt 3

Key specifications: 15.6-inch screen, 3240 x 2160; Intel Core i7-8550U CPU; Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics; 4.18 pounds

Review of Surface Book 2 »

From $ 2499.00
Bestbuy

  Best design: Dell XPS 15 2-in-1

The folded convertible from Dell looks like the folding version of the XPS 15 2 -in-1, but it is thinner than ever. You still get the carbon fiber cover and the InfinityEdge screen, and the screen is bright and vivid. We also love the maglev keyboard, which is one of the best low-key typing experiences we've tried.

Pros: Strong performance; Excellent screen; Fantastic low-pass keyboard
Cons: Battery life is below average; The webcam is still looking for its nose

Key specifications: 15-inch screen, up to 4K; Intel Kaby Lake G CPU;

Review of Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 »

Starting at $ 1499.99
Dell

  Best Chromebook 2-in-1: Chromebook Asus Flip C302CA

Now that Chromebooks can run Android apps, you need a 2 – in-1 to take full advantage of all the additional functionality. The Chromebook Flip C302CA has enough performance to run Android applications on its folding touch screen. Add to that a premium aluminum design, a bright 1080p panel and a long-lasting battery, and it has the latest Chromebook 2-in-1.

Pros: Great performance; Light design; Good battery life
Cons: No USB ports type-A.

Key specifications: 12.5-inch screen, 1920 x 1080 resolution; USB charging type C; 4 GB of RAM; 64GB of storage

Chromebook Flip C302CA Review »

Starting at $ 429.00
Amazon

  Best business 2-in-1: HP EliteBook x360 G2

Sure, the 13.3-inch EliteBook x360 is for business, but We will not blame you for using it at home. The keyboard has a click and is responsive, and you will get a battery life of 9 hours. It also comes with a stylus in the box, which is perfect for using Windows Ink when you turn this convertible into a tablet.

Pros: Gorgeous design; Long battery life; Large keyboard
Cons: Screen with less than average attenuation

Key specifications: Display from 13.3 to 4K; Privacy screen; Up to the CPU Core i7-7600U; 2.8 lbs

EliteBook x360 Review »

Buy now

  The best 2 in 1 for kids: Chromebook Asus Flip C213SA

Chromebooks are great for kids, because they are easy to use and hard to infect with malware. However, small hands often contain butter fingers that can throw an expensive laptop on a concrete floor.

Fortunately, the Chromebook Flip C213SA convertible is almost indestructible, surviving drops of up to 3.9 feet on the concrete over and over again. Better yet, this 2-in-1 features a highly tactile keyboard, runs Android apps within Chrome OS and lasts more than 11 hours with a charge.

Pros: Durable design; Long battery life; Touch screen; Good sound
Cons: Average performance; Mediocre cameras

Key specifications: 11.6-inch screen, 1366 x 768; Intel Celeron N3350 processor; 4 GB of RAM; 2.81 pounds

Chromebook Flip C213SA Review »

From $ 344.00
Amazon

  Better rugged 2-in-1: Dell Latitude 7212

If you need a computer to take it to a construction site, an oil rig or another place where falls and spills are likely to occur, the Latitude 7212 is your best choice. In our tests, the Latitude survived 4-foot drops, without getting a scratch. A super bright screen and almost 10 hours of battery life (with two batteries) complete this impressive package.

Pros: Survive the 4-foot falls; Bright screen; Good battery life
Cons: Expensive; Blurred texture on the screen

Key specifications: 11.6-inch screen, 1920 x 1080; 2.6 to 5 pounds (depending on configuration); Up to 9:44 battery life

Dell Latitude 7212 Review »

Starting at $ 1899.99

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Author's biography
  Andrew E. Freedman

Andrew E. Freedman,
Andrew joined Laptopmag.com in 2015, reviewing computers and keeping up with the latest news. He has an M.S. in Journalism (Digital Media) from Columbia University. Lover of everything related to games and technology, his previous work has appeared in Kotaku, PCMag and Complex, among others. Follow him on Twitter @FreedmanAE.
Andrew E. Freedman,
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