Best 2-in-1 laptops 2023

The best 2-in-1 laptops can transform, flip, and flex into several bendable positions, including tablet and tent mode. Championed by Microsoft, these transfiguring laptops stood the test of time as primary devices that blend the utility of a laptop and the convenience of a tablet.

If you want to use a stylus — or your fingers — for notes or drawings, your best bet is to buy a 2-in-1 laptop. These convertible laptops, which feature a touchscreen, give you more to work with than just a boring ol' touchpad, allowing your creative juices flow. We've listed the best 2-in-1 laptops below, including laptops with 360-degree flipping abilities and detachable devices with built-in stands.

The Quick List

Best 2-in-1 overall

Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8

(Image credit: Future)
The best 2-in-1 for most people

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7-1260p
GPU: Intel Iris Xe
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 14-inch, OLED,1880p
Size: 12.5 x 9.1 x .6 inches
Weight: 3.09 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Breathtaking 2.8K OLED display
+
Great productivity performance
+
Great battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Display could be brighter

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 is one of the few laptops that has earned our prestigious Editor's Choice badge this year. Not only is this sleek, elegant convertible a stunner with its eye-catching, mind-blowing 14-inch vibrant OLED display, but it hit such a harmonious note in other aspects, too. It has an impressive 10-hour battery life on a single charge, its speakers are loud and impactful, its SSD is blisteringly fast, and its performance is top-notch for anyone seeking seamless productivity across the board. Get the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8, and you won't regret your purchase.

See our full Lenovo Yoga 9i review

Best for artists

Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360

(Image credit: Laptop Mag/Sean Riley)
The best 2-in-1 for most people

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7-1260P
GPU: Intel Iris Xe
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Display: 15.6-inch AMOLED, 1080p
Size: 14 x 9 x 0.46 inches
Weight: 3.1 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Stunning portable design
+
Vivid and bright Super AMOLED display
+
Long-lasting battery life
+
S Pen included

Reasons to avoid

-
Webcam could be sharper

Looking for a 2-in-1 that is perfect for your content creation and digital artistic needs? Stop looking right now. The Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 fits the bill. First of all, it ships with the beloved S Pen, the stylus that is one of the biggest selling points of Samsung Galaxy S-series flagship phone line. Now, you can use that stylus to take notes and draw with precision on the Galaxy Book 2 Pro's 360 display.

It also has a sweet, vivid, 15.6-inch AMOLED, 1080p display. And to our surprise, the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 lasts quite long on a charge: 12 hours! That being said, the Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 delivers all-day battery life — and then some.  It also outputted outstanding performance in our benchmarks, outpacing its rivals. The only downside is that we wish that the webcam could be a bit more crisp, but other than that, there's not a single downside of the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360.

See our full Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 review

Best under $1,000

Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (7620) review

(Image credit: Future)
The best laptop for most people

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7-1260P
GPU: Intel Iris Xe graphics
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 16-inch, 1200p
Size: 14.1 x 9.9 x 0.6~0.7 inches
Weight: 4.6 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Premium design
+
Bright display
+
Strong performance
+
Amazing battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Keyboard could be better

The Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 has a large display and a bright panel (for the price) — two features that often work against battery life. But still, against all odds, the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 managed to last a whopping 13 hours and 38 minutes on a charge. That's almost 14 hours!

Although it's under $1,000, this 16-inch Dell laptop has a premium design (the Laptop Mag editor who reviewed it says that the dark green configuration is the most attractive) and it delivered strong performance scores. It has a decent 12th Gen Intel Core i7 chip that can juggle all of your productivity needs in a cinch. 

See our full Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (7620) review. 

Best travel buddy

Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 9315

Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) (Image credit: Future)
The best 2-in-1 for travel

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i5-1230U
GPU: Intel Iris Xe graphics
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 13-inch, 2800 x 1920
Size: 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.3 inches
Weight: 2.9 pounds with keyboard

Reasons to buy

+
Lightweight, versatile design
+
Great price
+
Decent graphics performance
+
Bright, sharp screen
+
Good webcam

Reasons to avoid

-
Port selection could be better

Dell's XPS 13 series has always been a fan favorite in the laptop world, so why not consider its convertible, 2-in-1 version? The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) features a lightweight design with a detachable keyboard. This means it can be a tablet one minute and a clamshell laptop the next. This convertible also delivers impressive graphics performance, a sharp, bright display, and a crisp webcam. Some sacrifices you'll have to make, though, are power efficiency and port variety.

See our Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9315) review.

Best Chromebook

Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook

Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook (Image credit: Laptop Mag/Sean Riley)
Best Chromebook

Specifications

CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2
GPU: Integrated graphics
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB SSD
Display: 13.3-inch, 1920 x 1080-pixel
Size: 12 x 7.4 x 0.28 inches
Weight: 2.24 pounds with keyboard

Reasons to buy

+
Awesome battery life
+
Detachable, 2-in-1 design
+
Bright, vivid OLED display
+
Keyboard and cover included

Reasons to avoid

-
Stylus sold separately

Our review called the Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook a "near-perfect" laptop. It has a mouth-watering OLED display, a brilliant detachable 2-in-1 design, and comes with a keyboard and cover. To top it all off, lasts over 13 hours on a charge. This is a 2-in-1 laptop that you can bring to work or school, sans the charger, and you should still have some juice left at the end of the day. Can we get a "hallelujah" for power efficiency? The one downside you should consider, however, is that although it is compatible with a stylus, it does not ship with one. It is sold separately.

See our full Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook review.

Best business

HP Dragonfly Folio G3: The luxurious business hybrid 2-in-1

HP Dragonfly Folio G3 (Image credit: Future)
Best business

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7-1265U
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 13.5-inch, 1920 x 1080-pixel
Size: 11.7 x 9.21 x 0.7 inches
Weight: 3.09 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Sharp, colorful display
+
Accurate, useful pen
+
Strong performance
+
Soft faux leather lid

Reasons to avoid

-
Battery life could be better

The HP Dragonfly Folio G3 features one of the most attractive, eye-catching designs you'll find in the 2-in-1 PC space: the pull-forward display posture. This lets you grab the display by its bottom bezel and pull it forward onto the deck so that the display is angled like a digital easel. 

On top of that, it ships with a stylus that our reviewer says is ultra accurate, making it perfect for content creators, artists and note takers. The Dragonfly Folio G3 also delivers a sharp, colorful display, strong performance, and a gorgeous design that features a soft, faux leather lid.

See our full HP Dragonfly Folio G3 review.

Best budget

Asus Vivobook S 14 Flip OLED

Asus Vivobook S 14 Flip OLED (Image credit: Future)
Best budget

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Display: 14-inch 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED
Size: 12.3 x 8.9 x 0.74 inches
Weight: 3.31 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Sharp, colorful display
+
Accurate, useful pen
+
Strong performance
+
Soft faux leather lid

Reasons to avoid

-
Battery life could be better

Looking for something what won't break the bank? The Asus Vivobook S 14 Flip OLED should be your number one pick on this list! It won't set your wallet on fire, and it's actually good. It has a lightweight, ultraportable design, it can transform into a number of different postures, it has a gorgeous, 14-inch OLED display that will make you drool, and its sleek, dark blue chassis is a showstopper. It also has an LED NumberPad, great for consumers who are number crunchers. 

See our full Asus Vivobook S 14 Flip OLED review

Best display

HP Spectre x360 16

(Image credit: Future)
Best display

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7-1260P
GPU: Intel Arc A370M / Intel Iris Xe
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Display: 16-inch UHD+ (3840 x 2400) OLED touch display
Size: 14.09 x 9.6 x 0.7 inches
Weight: 4.1 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Comfy keyboard
+
Sufficient battery life
+
Good audio
+
Stunning 16-inch OLED touch display

Reasons to avoid

-
Heavy while in tablet mode

Our reviewer was stunned by the HP Spectre x360 16's OLED touch display, which is packed with a 3840 x 2400-pixel screen. It comes with a stylish, compact design and great Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers. 

Like any other 2-in-1, it can transform into a number of different modes, including tent mode, tablet mode, and clamshell mode. However, our review noted that the Spectre x360 is a 16-inch laptop, so using it as a tablet is a bit unwieldy. Other than that, the Spectre x360 16 is a 2-in-1 with one of the best displays on the market, so if you're ready to feast your eyes with a visual treat, don't overlook this excellent HP convertible.

See our full HP Spectre x360 16 review.

Best portable

Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3 showing Google Play Store

(Image credit: Laptop Mag)
Best portable

Specifications

CPU: MediaTek MTK 8183
GPU: Integrated Arm Mali-G72 MP3
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 128GB SSD
Display: 10.5-inch, 1900x1200-pixel touchscreen
Size: 12.7 x 8.9 x 0.68
Weight: 2 pounds with keyboard/case

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent battery life
+
Detachable 2-in-1
+
Durable
+
Built-in stylus

Reasons to avoid

-
Performance could be better

The Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3 is a 10-inch 2-in-1 that blew our mind. Big things really do come in small packages. It only weighs 1.1 pounds, but when you add that keyboard and case to the mix, it's still quite featherweight (2 pounds). On top of that, it comes with a garaged stylus for your drawing and note taking needs. 

The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 featured on this list is labeled the "best travel buddy" due to its perfect melange of power and compactness for frequent travelers. The Chromebook Detachable CM3, on the other hand, isn't necessarily a powerhouse, but it's ideal for anyone seeking something super pocketable that won't weigh them down. Plus, it has nearly 12 hours of battery life. Sweet!

See our full review of the Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3.

How we test the best 2-in-1 laptops

You first need to decide what type of 2-in-1 laptop is right for you. If you want a primary computing device for home and work, you should probably go with a laptop that can convert into a tablet, or what we call a bendback 2-in-1. These include the HP Spectre x360 13, Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo Yoga C940. 

If you want something more portable or just need a nice display for content viewing, consider buying a tablet that converts into a tablet via a detachable keyboard. In this category are the Microsoft Surface devices and Apple's iPad Pro. Tablets are also great for artists or designers because they typically support a stylus input and aren't as unwieldy as convertible laptops. 

Once you've made a choice between tablet or laptop, decide how much power you need. When it comes to specs, we recommend buying a laptop with an 11th Gen Intel U-series or H-series Core i5 CPU, at least 8GB of RAM (16GB is great) and a minimum of 256GB of storage. AMD is coming in hot with its Ryzen 5000 chips, so keep an eye out for those. 

Battery life is another key component of any good 2-in-1 laptop. If you plan to take the notebook to class or the library, don't count on there being an outlet! Consider a laptop that gets at least 9 hours of battery life, which should be enough to get you through a couple of classes with enough juice for studies.

Why Trust Laptop Mag

We put 2-in-1 laptops through extensive benchmark testing — both synthetic and real-world — before they end up in the hands of our reviewers. We evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers and heat management.

In our benchmark testing, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and sRGB color gamut of the laptop's display. For performance testing, we run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 4.3 and 5.0 and 3DMark professional graphics tests. 

To determine real-world performance, we task the laptop to convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution and to duplicate a 4.97GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics test is the Dirt 3 benchmark with medium settings at 1080p resolution. Gaming laptops go through an entire library of games at high settings to see how their discrete GPUs keep up. 

We also run heat tests by playing a 15-minute full-screen video and measuring temperatures in different areas of the laptop. Last but not least, our battery test consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. For MacBooks and premium Windows 10 (and soon Windows 11) laptops, a runtime of over 9 hours is considered a good result whereas gaming laptops and workstations that can stay powered for longer than 5 hours deserve praise. 

These tests are complemented with extensive hands-on testing from our reviewers who critique everything from the laptop's materials to the feel of its touchpad. 

Kimberly Gedeon

Kimberly Gedeon, holding a Master's degree in International Journalism, launched her career as a journalist for MadameNoire's business beat in 2013. She loved translating stuffy stories about the economy, personal finance and investing into digestible, easy-to-understand, entertaining stories for young women of color. During her time on the business beat, she discovered her passion for tech as she dove into articles about tech entrepreneurship, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and the latest tablets. After eight years of freelancing, dabbling in a myriad of beats, she's finally found a home at Laptop Mag that accepts her as the crypto-addicted, virtual reality-loving, investing-focused, tech-fascinated nerd she is. Woot!