Best 2-in-1 Laptops [39 Models Compared]

Convertible or detachable: picking a 2-in-1

A 2-in-1 is a laptop when you need to type and a tablet when you don’t: for reading, sketching, signing documents or watching something in bed. Every laptop on this page has a touchscreen that flips, folds or detaches.

Two designs, different strengths. Convertibles like the Lenovo Yoga 7i, HP OmniBook Flip and Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 have a 360-degree hinge. They feel like a regular laptop first, with a full keyboard, better battery and more ports. Detachables like the Microsoft Surface Pro pull apart into a light tablet, which is great in your hands but less steady on a lap.

Check the pen before you buy. Pen support varies by model and protocol, and many pens are sold separately. If you plan to take handwritten notes or draw, look for pen support on the spec sheet and, ideally, a pen that clips or charges on the laptop.

Size changes the experience. A 13 or 14-inch 2-in-1 is comfortable to hold as a tablet. A 16-inch convertible gives you a big canvas for drawing and a roomy screen as a laptop, but it’s heavy to hold in one hand.

Older business models show up too. Some rugged and education 2-in-1s here, like older Latitude and 11-inch classroom models, are built to survive drops but have slow processors. Compare the processor generation before choosing one for anything beyond basic use.

For drawing and design, see laptops for graphic design. For any laptop with a touch display, browse touchscreen laptops.

Frequently asked questions

What is a 2-in-1 laptop?

A laptop with a touchscreen that also works as a tablet. Convertibles have a 360-degree hinge that folds the keyboard behind the screen; detachables, like the Surface Pro, have a screen that comes off a keyboard cover.

Convertible or detachable: which is better?

Convertibles type better on a lap and usually have bigger batteries and more ports. Detachables are lighter as tablets and more like an iPad to hold, but the keyboard cover is often sold separately and is less stable on your knees.

Do 2-in-1 laptops come with a pen?

Some do, many don't. Check the spec sheet for pen support and the pen standard it uses (such as USI or Microsoft Pen Protocol), and the listing for whether a pen is in the box.

Are 2-in-1 laptops good for students?

Very. Handwritten notes, annotating PDFs and sketching diagrams all work better with a pen on the screen, and the tent mode is handy for watching lectures.

Is there a 2-in-1 with good performance?

Yes. Models like the Lenovo Yoga 9i, HP OmniBook X Flip and Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 use the same fast processors as regular thin laptops. A few, like the ASUS ROG Flow Z13, even add gaming-level graphics.