Finding the best 2-in-1 laptops can be challenging because there are so many on the market in various sizes, configurations and prices. If you’re not familiar with all the hardware, making a final, costly choice can be overwhelming. That’s where our list of the best 2-in-1 laptops come in: we did all the investigative hard work for you.
If you’re not familiar with the “2-in-1” term, it means the device has a 360-degree hinge enabling Laptop, Stand, Tent and Tablet form factors. They typically support stylus-based inputs and include touch-enabled screens to enable tablet-style input. We tend to gravitate towards the 15-inch class units because they’re normally lightweight while providing a decently-sized screen.
Our list of the best 2-in-1 laptops consists of mostly Windows 10 models save for a single Chromebook. Most of what you’ll find here have a starting price of over $999 and rely on eighth-generation Intel processors and discrete graphics by AMD or Nvidia. There’s something here for everyone whether you’re a content creator, programmer or PC gamer.
Our Favorite
Dell XPS 15 2-in-1
Starting price: $1,249
Also listed as one of our overall laptop favorites for 2018, the Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 is one of the first to rely on Intel’s eighth-generation “modules” packing four CPU cores, discrete “Vega” graphics by AMD and dedicated video memory that are all connected together by a “super highway.” Thus, not only do you get great performance, but enough oomph to play decent, high quality games.
Dell provides four starting points to configure the 2-in-1 for your needs. The display measures 15.6 inches and can be configured with a 1,920 x 1,080 or a 3,840 x 2,160 resolution. It’s backed by the Core i5-8305G or the Core i7-8705G, 8GB or 16GB of DDR4 system memory clocked at 2,400MHz, and fast, stick-shaped SSDs ranging from 128GB to 2TB of storage.
Port-wise, you get two Thunderbolt 3 ports (40Gbps), two USB-C ports (5Gbps), one headset jack and a Micro SD card slot. Other notable features include a backlit keyboard, Killer Wireless AC (867Mbps) and Bluetooth connectivity, a 720p webcam and four array digital microphones. All of this is powered by a 75WHr battery and a 130-watt power supply (adaper).
The rest
HP Spectre x360 15t
Starting price: $1,219
Here’s another 2-in-1 sporting Intel’s eighth-generation Core i7-8705G four-core module for an additional $120 in the final price, cramming four CPU cores, discrete AMD graphics and dedicated video memory into one chip. If you’re not a fan of team AMD, the default configuration consists of Intel’s eighth-generation Core i7-8550U four-core processor and discrete GeForce MX150 graphics by Nvidia that are not crammed into a single module.
HP’s 2-in-1 is based on a 15.6-inch touch-capable screen with a default 3,840 x 2,160 resolution. It consists of two memory slots supporting up to 16GB of DDR4 system memory clocked at 2,400MHz and between 256GB and 2TB of storage on a speedy stick-shaped SSD. It’s powered by a 84WHr battery but the external power supply depends on your chosen processor: 90 watts for the Core i7-8550U and 150 watts for the Core i7-8705G module.
Your port complement also depends on the underlying processor. Both include one USB-C port (5Gbps), one USB-A port (5Gbps), one HDMI 2.0 output, one headphone jack and an SD card reader. With models sporting the Core i7-8550U processor you get one Thunderbolt 3 port (40Gbps) while models with the Core i7-8705G module includes two Thunderbolt 3 ports.
Lenovo Yoga 920
Starting price: $1,299
Lenovo’s 2-in-1 sports a smaller screen than our two previous entries measuring 13.9 inches. Based on an IPS panel, you’ll find configurations with a 1,920 x 1,080 or 3,840 x 2,160 resolution, both of which support touch input. The screen is backed by Intel’s Core i7-8550U processor and an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 component. There’s no stand-alone graphics chip with this 2-in-1.
Currently, Lenovo provides three set configurations, one of which provides 8GB of DDR4 system memory clocked at 2,400MHz and two with 16GB of memory. The 8GB version provides 512GB of storage on a stick-shaped SSD while the two 16GB models include 1TB of storage on a stick-shaped SSD. Dell’s Active Pen is supported by the 16GB models while the 8GB model does not.
All three models include two Thunderbolt 3 ports (40Gbps), one USB-A port (5Gbps), an audio combo jack, Wireless AC (867Mbps) and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity, a 720p webcam and a chip-based fingerprint reader. Available in Platinum Silver and Bronze colors, Lenovo’s 2-in-1 relies on a 70WHr battery promising up to 10.8 hours with an Ultra HD display, and up to 15.5 hours on a Full HD display. All three ship with a 65-watt power supply.
Microsoft Surface Book 2 (15-inch)
Starting price: $2,499
Here we chose the 15-inch version although Microsoft sells a 13.5-inch edition with a lower starting price of $1,199. With the 15-inch model, the most expensive on our list, Microsoft provides only three configuration options: 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of speedy, stick-shaped storage. Everything else is nailed down and not configurable including the Core i7-8650U processor, 16GB of LPDDR3 memory clocked at 1,866MHz, a discrete GeForce GTX 1060 graphics chip and a solid 3,840 x 2,160 resolution. It supports 10-point touch input too.
What makes this 2-in-1 different than the competition is its Xbox Wireless support. That means you can automatically pair it with an Xbox One controller using Microsoft’s proprietary on-board technology versus using a USB-based dongle or a Bluetooth connection. Given this 2-in-1 relies on a GTX 1060 graphics chip with 6GB of dedicated video memory, you’ll get great high-definition gaming although pushing UHD graphics isn’t advisable.
Other ingredients thrown into the Surface Book 2 mix include two USB-A ports (5Gbps), one USB-C port (5Gbps), one headphone jack, two Surface Connect ports, an SD card reader, one 5MP front-facing camera, one 8MP rear-facing camera, Wireless AC (867Mbps) and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity. Microsoft says the battery promises up to 17 hours of video playback while the 2-in-1 is also backed by a 95-watt power supply.
Samsung Notebook 9 Pro 15
Starting price: $1,099
With Samsung’s 15-inch Notebook 9 Pro 2-in-1, the company sells multiple configurations starting at $1,099. There are three processor selections in all: the seventh-generation Core i5-7200U and Core i7-7500U chips in the lower-priced models and Intel’s eighth-generation Core i7-8550U in the higher-price configurations. All are based on a 15-inch screen with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution and support for Samsung’s S Pen peripheral, sold separately.
With this model, you’ll see 8GB or 16GB of system memory, 128GB or 256GB of storage on a stick-shaped SATA3 SSD, and discrete Radeon 540 graphics provided by AMD or discrete GeForce 940MX graphics by Nvidia. You’ll also get a 720p webcam across the board and IR cameras on select models supporting facial recognition via Microsoft’s Windows Hello.
For ports, the USB-C slot will either be configured with the standard 5Gbps connection or upgraded to Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps). Joining this port is an older USB-A connection running at 480Mbps, two modern USB-A ports at 5Gbps each, HDMI output, an audio combo jack and a Micro SD card slot. Powering Samsung’s 2-in-1 is a 54WHr battery and an external 60-watt power supply.
Chrome OS
Google Pixelbook
Starting price: $999
Google’s Pixelbook is currently the best Chromebook you can find despite its 12.3-inch display and seventh-generation Intel processor. Technically, it’s due for a refresh, but if you’re looking for a top-of-the-line Chromebook, Google’s Pixelbook may feel like a luxury car. It was also the first Chromebook to support Google Assistant, providing a dedicated key on the keyboard.
The Pixelbook’s 12.3-inch display packs a hefty 2,400 x 1,600 resolution, making it great for programmers and developers. Like Apple, Google provides specific configurations spanning processor, memory and storage: The Core i5-7Y57 with 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage; the Core i5-7Y57 with 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage; and the Core i7-7Y75 with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage.
Other ingredients tossed into the mix include two USB-C ports (5Gbps), one headphone jack, Wireless AC (867Mbps) and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, a 720p webcam, a backlit keyboard, support for the Pixelbook Pen (sold separately) and a handful of sensors. Google’s Pixelbook is backed by a 41WHr battery promising up to 10 hours of use and a 45-watt power supply. Google says you can get 7.5 hours of uptime after charging the battery for 60 minutes.
