The best touchscreen laptops cover a wide spectrum of performance powerhouses, budget-minded stalwarts, entertainment wonders, and versatile 2-in-1s. Toss in a long battery life, and it's no wonder they're a great value for anyone who likes navigating with a screen instead of a touchpad — and you'll often find them among Laptop Mag's best 2-in-1 laptops and best laptops overall, too.

Our new favorite touchscreen laptop is the 2-in-1 Asus Vivobook 16 Flip. With commendable speed, battery life, and a vibrant 16-inch OLED panel, it's a strong value. If you need something cheaper, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers incredible multitasking performance and over 18 hours of battery life for under $1,000. If you want the best, thinnest, and lightest touchscreen laptop available, check out the Asus Zenbook S 14.

If you're not sure you'll need a touchscreen, check out our best laptops page, which includes non-touch models. If you are looking for a touchscreen to do specific creative work, the best laptops for Photoshop or the best laptops for graphic design include touchscreen laptops geared for those specific tasks. If you want to save money, our curated selection of the best laptop deals is an excellent, up-to-date resource.

This page is constantly updated based on our latest reviews to reflect Laptop Mag's current picks for the best touchscreen laptops in 2025.

The Quick List

Best overall

2-in-1 laptops are designed for a wide range of situations, and as Laptop Mag staff writer Madeline Ricchiuto mentions in her review of the Asus Vivobook 16 Flip, we "tend to be picky about our 2-in-1s." But the Flip offers a “compelling combination” of solid performance, power efficiency, a stunning OLED display, and smooth iGPU gaming performance — making it the best touchscreen laptop on the market.

Its speedy Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor and 32GB of RAM offer ample multitasking power, but the laptop's battery life doesn't suffer for all the performance it cranks out. In our battery rundown test, it surfed the web for nearly 14 hours before it needed a charge — 3 hours longer than our previous pick, the HP Spectre x360 16. And in our Handbrake transcoding test, it converted a 4K video to 1080p in under 8 minutes. That's not the fastest we've ever seen, but for a 2-in-1 laptop that's not primarily designed to be a video editing or graphic design laptop, that's good!

The Flip doesn't have the brightest OLED display Laptop Mag has ever tested, but a max of 356 nits of brightness is enough to ward off most glare. (Try to angle the screen away from any harsh overhead lighting, though.) A good thing, too, since the display produces incredibly vibrant colors and deep contrasts. It covers 84.4% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which is much more than most competing laptops.

Another of the Asus Vivobook 16 Flip's great features: gaming. Its integrated graphics make most games playable (at least 30 fps) on Medium graphics at 1080p — even Baldur’s Gate III.

See our full Asus Vivobook 16 Flip review.

Best budget

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (7441) is part of the first wave of Copilot+ PCs to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor — and for a budget touchscreen laptop we've seen go on sale for less than $1,000, it's impressive: great performance, great heat management, excellent battery life, and even a solid webcam. Laptop Mag's editor, Rami Tabari, sums it up best in his review: "If your focus is affordability and incredible battery life, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is the one to buy."

It has one of the slower Snapdragon X processors, but it sure doesn't feel like it. This laptop flew past the average premium machine in our Geekbench 6.3 overall performance test, 13,281 to 9,726, respectively. It also has one of the longest battery lives we've seen in any laptop: 18 hours and 20 minutes, which blows past the average premium laptop by almost seven hours.

There's more: it has a surprisingly good 1080p webcam that clearly captures fine details like strands of hair, and the contrast doesn't blow out when there's too much light. You can safely keep this Inspiron on your laptop, too, whether you're writing a paper for a history class or streaming the latest gaming news on YouTube.

But here's the sacrifice: this laptop's display color. It's dull, covering only 69.1% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. (The average premium laptop covers 88.7%.) Brightness is its redeeming quality: a max of 470 nits.

See our full Dell Inspiron 14 Plus review.

Best Chromebook

I definitely agree with our reviewer, Stevie Bonifield, in that the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is "ideal for students or professionals who mainly work through web browsing."

Typing with its keyboard feels comfortable and crisp. Movie dialogue comes through its speakers loud and clear. It can transform into a tablet, which makes it easier to use certain Google Docs features like handwritten annotations. And as an added bonus, buyers get a free, 1-year subscription (normally $20 per month) to Gemini Advanced, Google's suite of AI tools like Deep Research.

Its Intel Core Ultra processor handles multiple open Chrome tabs, video streaming, and other basic tasks with legerity. In the Geekbench overall performance test, the Spin performed admirably with a score of 6,335, making it 8% faster than the average Chromebook (5,246) and in-line with our real-world experience.

While we wish its battery life was longer, it can still last through a typical day at work or school — but that's dependent on how bright you set the display and how often you'd use this Chromebook throughout the day.

For our battery run down test, we set the display to 150 nits of brightness and have the laptop continuously cycle through a series of web pages until the battery runs out of power. The Spin made it 9 hours and 30 minutes before powering down.

If you have the display set to its maximum brightness of 355 nits, that number can be shorter. Still, that number is higher than some Chromebooks we've tested in the past.

See our full Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 review.

Best OLED

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is another convertible laptop that passed the Laptop Mag "taste-test." Our reviews editor, Rami Tabari, called it a "great all-in-one package" that's like having an LG OLED TV in your lap. Featuring an alluring OLED display, boomin' audio, a clicky keyboard, and long battery life packed into a lightweight chassis, it has almost everything an ideal laptop should have.

It's our best OLED pick for a reason: the incredibly color-accurate display. The Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition covers an outstanding 149.2% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and had Tabari "drooling over the colors." (I would too.) With over 400 nits of max brightness to push through harsh glare, it's not only great for watching movies, but also for video editing, graphic design, and drawing.

However, its processing performance makes it a better portable movie theater than a device for editing them (at least professionally). The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V isn't a slow-poke, but some of this laptop's biggest competitors offer comparable features with faster performance at a lower price.

The Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition falls behind in raw multicore performance by as little as 1% or as much as 29%. However, when it comes to real-world tasks like video transcoding, this laptop fares better. In our Handbrake test, it took almost 6 and-a-half minutes to convert a 4K video to 1080p.

If you want to use it as a drawing tablet, this laptop is thankfully cool enough to put in your lap. Its hottest point, between the G and H keys, didn't exceed 88.3 degrees during testing — well below our 95-degree comfort threshold.

See our full Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition review.

Best ultraportable

As Laptop Mag's Madeline Ricchiuto said in her review of the Asus Zenbook S 14: "This is an impressive launch laptop for Intel Lunar Lake and a win for Asus." Nearly everything about it — its design, portability, performance, battery life, and OLED screen — makes it the best-balanced, thin and light laptop in its class.

It's OLED display and battery life are this laptop's most impressive features. The glossy, 3K display produces rich and accurate colors. Its peak brightness (342 nits), though dimmer than some of its competitors, is still bright enough to ward off the harsh glare of fluorescent office lighting. The 3K display also helps conserves power, while still looking as crisp and clear as 4K; the Zenbook S 14 lasted just under 14 hours in our web surfing battery test.

While that's not as long as some of its competitors, it's impressive how Asus fit a large, 72Wh battery inside the laptop's incredibly thin chassis. That definitely has a hand in powering this laptop past the 10-hour mark.

It handles dozens of open browser tabs and simultaneously running apps without a hitch, too. On the Geekbench 6 cross-platform CPU benchmark, it's evenly matched in single-core performance with the the Asus Zenbook S 16 (AMD Ryzen AI), 2,751 to 2,765, respectively. Just a 0.5% difference.

Multicore performance is a different story, though. It trails behind the Asus Zenbook S 16 (13,282) by 16% and the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (12,707) by 13%. That's disappointing to see, especially compared to Intel's last-gen Meteor Lake chip.

But the Zenbook S 14 makes up for that with its quick SSD, taking just 17.8 seconds to complete our 25GB File Copy test at a transfer rate of 1,513 MBps.

See our full Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) review.

Best business

A good business laptop should have a powerful CPU, a snappy keyboard, and an office-appropriate chassis. But a great one does all that and more, like the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x G4. Our reviewer, Stevie Bonifield, writes that it has "surprising strengths" for a business laptop, including "seriously impressive speakers." It's the kind of laptop that can be an "an around-the-clock companion."

At 0.5 inches thick and 2.7 pounds, this ThinkBook is as thin and as light as other laptops on this list. It's easy to travel with, whether flying to a conference or walking down the hall to the conference room (or, for you remote workers, to your favorite coffee shop). Its two-toned, silver-gray chassis is business-appropriate without being business-boring. It also has a snappy keyboard with a decent amount of tactile feedback, yet it stays pretty quiet. (I've tested a lot of Lenovo laptops over the years, and I like their keyboard for the same reasons.)

Stevie praises how well Billie Eilish’s “Ocean Eyes” sounded through the ThinkBook's speakers; the bass was smooth, balanced with the highs in a way that created a surround-sound effect.

While this laptop's CPU isn't the most performative compared to some of its closest competition, it still handles numerous open browser tabs with two or three apps open at once just fine. Geekbench 6 benchmark tests revealed a multicore score of 11,058, which is lower than some of its director competitors. But most people will not notice a difference in basic productivity tasks.

Unlike CPU performance, though, battery life is definitely more noticeable, and we wish this laptop lasted longer than 8 hours and 39 minutes. By comparison, every laptop on this list has much more battery life, between two hours and ten hours more.

But if your job doesn't constantly keep you glued to your laptop, or you rarely ever work away from a desk (maybe you're a teacher!), its lower-than-average battery life shouldn't be a huge concern.

See our full Lenovo ThinkBook 13x G4 review.

Benchmark comparisons

Recently Reviewed

Not every laptop can make the best touchscreen laptop page. (You'd be scrolling for days if we included them all!) We review new laptops every week and over 100 laptops yearly, so here's a look at our most recently reviewed laptops that didn't make this page either due to a fault, price, battery life, display brightness, or something else.

How to find your perfect touchscreen laptop

Whether you're looking for a clamshell or a 2-in-1, there are a few key things to keep in mind before you buy a touchscreen laptop.

Display: You need something bright and sharp

Touchscreen laptops aren't exclusively reserved for artists and designers but many use them. (Some even come with a stylus.) If you're looking for your next digital sketchbook or canvas, you absolutely need a display that can accommodate your creative endeavors. If it's too dim or can't accurately present color, you most likely will be disappointed.

OLED displays generally produce the richest colors with the widest color gamuts, but there are also good IPS displays out there. 80% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut should be your minimum if you're an artist, but you'll be better off the closer you get to 100% (or higher in some cases).

We also recommend getting a laptop with a high resolution display since they present sharper images. If you're an artist or designer who creates highly detailed work, a 2K display or higher will let you get into the nitty gritty.

Design: Sturdy portability is a necessity

Flexibility is vital, especially for 2-in-1 laptops. Not only do its hinges need to support up to 360-degree angles, but trying to draw or tapping on a screen that constantly bounces becomes a headache real quick. Creaky hinges and a lid that feels like it'll snap off every time you lift it are an absolute no.

The best touchscreen laptops support themselves in any position and require conscious force to open and close the lid. Laptops with an aluminum chassis are usually the sturdiest, but you'll want to read our reviews and see which ones feel the best in practice.

We also recommend getting a light laptop, anything around four pounds. Depending on the size, some can be a little heavier or lighter, though.

Battery life: The longer the better

Battery life is another key component of any good laptop. If you travel a lot, walk back and forth across campus multiple times a day, or draw in the park against your favorite tree for hours on end, don't count on there being an outlet! Consider a laptop with at least ten hours of battery life, which should get you through most days.

FAQs

Q: Is there an Apple touchscreen laptop?

A: No, currently, no Apple touchscreen laptop is produced by the company. The closest you can get in 2025 is purchasing an iPad Pro 13-inch M4 with an Apple Magic for iPad Pro 13-inch. This combination gives you a powerful detachable 2-in-1 laptop experience, but the big trade-off is that you are running iPadOS rather than macOS. Depending on your usage and software needs, that may be a dealbreaker for you.

As for whether there will ever be an Apple touchscreen laptop, there have been rumors of a foldable MacBook and patents for touchscreen MacBook designs filed by Apple, but it is unclear if any of these designs will ever come to market.

Q: Are there touchscreen gaming laptops?

A: While touchscreen gaming laptops are uncommon, they do exist. The best touchscreen laptop for gaming in 2025 is the Asus ROG Flow Z13 (2025). This detachable 2-in-1 gaming laptop offers a bright and vivid touchscreen display and remarkable performance.

For gamers, the biggest caveat with this laptop is that it only includes integrated graphics, and while our reviewer says they are, "The most powerful integrated graphics I've ever tested," they still can't compare to a dedicated high-end GPU. Asus does have a solution for that, you need to purchase the Asus ROG XG Mobile, an external GPU that plugs into the Z Flow 13 via Thunderbolt 5 and supercharges it with up to an RTX 5090 laptop GPU.

Q: I already have a stylus; will it work with one of these laptops?

A. That depends! Not all touchscreens have stylus support. The ones that do might not support the same type of pens. We recommend checking the manufacturer's website of both the laptop and stylus to be absolutely sure.

This will help you determine what pen protocols the stylus and laptop support. The two main ones are Microsoft Pen Protocol (MPP) and Wacom AES. They're not intercompatible, but some pens support both, while others only support one.

How we test touchscreen laptops

We put each touchscreen laptop through extensive benchmark testing—both synthetic and real-world—before we send it to our reviewers. We evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers, and heat management.

For synthetic performance, we run each laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 6 and 3DMark professional graphics tests. On Chromebooks, we also use Geekbench 6 in addition to JetStream 2, WebXPRT 4, and CrXPRT 2 to determine their CPU and web performance.

To measure real-world performance on laptops, we: convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution; duplicate a 25GB multimedia file; and run the Sid Meier's Civilization 6 Gathering Storm benchmark with medium settings at 1080p resolution to test graphics.

On both laptops and Chromebooks, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to measure display brightness and DCI-P3 color gamut. To measure heat output, we play a 15-minute, full-screen video and then measure the surface temperature of different areas on the laptop.

For battery tests, we set the display to 150 nits of brightness and then the laptop navigates a controlled group of web pages with text, images, and videos.

Once a laptop is through our initial lab tests, our expert reviewers take over, using it extensively in their daily work for approximately a week. This hands-on, real-world approach, coupled with our lab data, enables Laptop to deliver a detailed and accurate review of every laptop.

See this page on How We Test Laptops for more details on our benchmarking procedures.

Why Trust Laptop Mag

Laptop Mag reviews over one hundred different laptops yearly, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games. We're not just experts in the laptop field, as we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest in gaming.

We are 100 percent independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades and continues to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.

Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.

One of the world's largest technology publishers, Future Publishing, enforces our editorial trustworthiness. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector — and we're the group's specialist for all things mobile tech.

The best 2-in-1 laptops in 2025 offer a versatile experience: They can flip between a traditional laptop layout, a tablet, and anything in between using a 360-degree hinge. For those who constantly change their environments, this form factor is perfect.

After over five years of reviewing laptops, I've tested my fair share of 2-in-1 laptops, so I know what boxes a laptop needs to tick to earn a spot as one of the best. Plus, I have a personal love for convertible laptops. My first work laptop was the convertible Lenovo Flex 5, and the Lenovo Yoga 9i has been my daily driver for the last three years.

If you've decided a 2-in-1 laptop is the best option for you, you're likely looking for a laptop that can move with you throughout the day. Use it in traditional laptop mode to get your work done, flip it into tablet mode for drawing or graphic design tasks, and tent mode is perfect to end the night watching your favorite TV show or movie.

Every convertible laptop I've picked for this list is well-constructed, with sturdy hinges that'll stand up to daily rotation. Beyond great build quality, the best 2-in-1 laptops feature a battery that'll last all day, solid multi-tasking performance, and a gorgeous display. These 2-in-1 laptops are among the best laptops, period.

No matter what you're searching for in a 2-in-1 laptop, we have an option that'll fit the bill.

Update log

5/22/2025: Swapped the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition in for the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i as the best graphic design option and updated benchmark comparisons.

The Quick List

The best 2-in-1 laptops in 2025

Through extensive hands-on testing and a series of thorough benchmarks, we decided that the products below are indeed the best 2-in-1 laptops of 2025.

Best 2-in-1 overall

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip is a “compelling combination” of specs and features, according to Laptop Mag’s Madeline Ricchiuto, making it our favorite 2-in-1 laptop to recommend for most people.

Inside, you’ll find an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor leading the pack, accompanied by 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics. For supporting multiple RAM-hungry browser tabs and even Photoshop and low-intensity games, this configuration is more than equipped.

For concrete proof of this convertible laptop’s performance abilities, let’s take a look at a few benchmarks. In our testing, the Vivobook 16 Flip delivered a great Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 10,987, completed the Handbrake conversion test in 7 minutes and 41 seconds, and maxed out at 85.8 degrees Fahrenheit, well below our comfort threshold of 95 degrees.

Despite impressive performance, this laptop promises healthy battery life. In our battery test, which involves continuous web surfing at 150 nits brightness, the Vivobook 16 Flip lasted a whopping 13 hours and 47 minutes, winning out easily over our previous overall pick: the HP Spectre x360 16 (11.07). That’s more than enough for a full work day, followed by a few hours of streaming or internet shopping.

And of course, for a 2-in-1 laptop, a stunning display is paramount — and this laptop doesn’t disappoint. The Vivobook 16 Flip sports a 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Whether you’re drawing, watching a TV show, or organizing your calendar, this laptop’s display will deliver vibrant colors and rich contrast.

As a bonus, you can even get some solid gaming performance out of this laptop. In our review, it handled Baldur’s Gate III at Medium, 1080p settings incredibly well, with stable frame rates and lush visuals. It’s not going to earn a spot as one of the best gaming laptops any time soon, but it’s an impressive feat for a convertible laptop.

See our full Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607) review.

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Best budget

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a 2-in-1 Chromebook that'll save you a little more than a shiny penny and still provide a solid overall experience. It's packed with an Intel Core i3-1315U processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of eMMC storage, and a 14-inch, 1920 x 1080 touchscreen display.

Mark Anthony Ramirez said, "The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i takes full advantage of Google's AI-infused Chrome OS and delivers potent performance that will impress you," in our review of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus.

For its performance, we tested it against the Geekbench 6 overall performance test where the IdeaPad Flex 5i scored 5,384, sliding past the 5,259 Chromebook average at the time. That's decent enough to get you through most less-taxing tasks. And thanks to the Chromebook's relatively light operating system, it won't suffer the same slowdowns as a Windows laptop.

The IdeaPad Flex 5i is also quite portable, measuring 12.4 x 9.0 x 0.8 inches and weighing 3.57 pounds. It lands somewhere between the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (3.02 pounds) and the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (3.7 pounds). It also looks nice, featuring an aluminum storm grey colored lid — that's not common for a cheap laptop.

Adding to that portability is its battery life. It lasted 9 hours and 43 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test, which consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits. It's a bit shorter than the Chromebook average at the time (9:50). However, you'll get more than a workday or school day's worth of life out of this laptop. Close to 10 hours is still solid, especially for a laptop this affothat is rdable.

Unfortunately, you'll need to sacrifice the display. The Flex 5i's 14-inch, 1080p display covered a dismal 46.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and produced only 306 nits of brightness. This isn't too far from what we expect from a laptop at this price point. Still, both scores landed well below the Chromebook average at the time.

Despite that, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is an excellent 2-in-1 laptop if you are on a budget.

See our full Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review.

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Best for graphic design

With its gorgeous OLED display, good performance, and a plethora of other premium features, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is one of the best laptops for graphic design you’ll find with a nifty convertible form factor. Though it's not a cheap 2-in-1 rig at $1,749 full price, you get a lot of value in exchange.

In our review of the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition, Rami Tabari notes, “Between its battery life and punchy keyboard, and its OLED display and strong speakers, this thing is sure to be one of the best laptops I review this year.”

This laptop’s best-selling feature is, without question, its 14-inch, 2880 x 1800-pixel OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. We were “drooling over the colors” in testing, which makes total sense, seeing as the laptop covered an impressive 149.2% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Then, the display also clocked 421 nits brightness, plenty for working indoors or in direct sunlight.

On top of its enticing display, the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition also packs one of Lenovo’s famously clicky, satisfying keyboards, a well-balanced soundbar that lives between the laptop’s hinges and produces stellar audio, and an all-aluminum chassis that’s cool to the touch and rounds out the premium experience.

The only feature that falters slightly is performance, notching a Geekbench 6 score of just 11,059. For everyday tasks, this is perfectly fine. However, if you plan on tackling more intense projects, like video editing, it may struggle to keep up with you. The Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition also lacks an HDMI port and more than one USB-A port, but this is easily remedied by adding one of the best USB-C hubs to your setup.

In exchange for average performance, this laptop is able to achieve a full workday of battery life and then some. In the Laptop Mag battery life test, which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits brightness, this laptop held on for 12 hours and 47 minutes. It’s not going to beat the laptops with the best battery life, but it’s impressive nonetheless, considering the laptop’s power-hungry OLED display and its thin-and-light chassis.

See our full Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition review.

Best foldable

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold model we reviewed is built with an Intel Core i7-1260U, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and a 16.3-inch OLED display at 2560 x 2024-pixel resolution. Of course, the main selling point of this device is that it's foldable. If you're unsure what that means, it essentially has the ability to act as a laptop with a keyboard magnetically attached to the deck, and if you remove the keyboard, you can extend it out into a single, full-sized tablet.

Madeline Ricchiuto said, "As a business machine, the ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 is perhaps positioned better than its competitors because its flexibility matches the current hybrid work environment better than a standard laptop might," in our review of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold.

This means most people aren't going to need this laptop, but for those that do, our reviewer claimed that it's arguably the best foldable laptop available right now. It's shockingly thin and light, coming in at just 2.9 pounds in tablet mode and 4.3-pounds with the keyboard and stand attached.

Its design allows for a compelling all-in-one use case. You can turn the laptop into a makeshift monitor and then detach the keyboard to emulate a quick desktop setup in no time at all. Considering it's only 4.3 pounds, it can easily fit most bags and is perfect for on-the-go workers who prefer larger space for their projects.

It's important to keep in mind, however, that its Intel Core i7-1260U is a couple of generations old now, so don't expect the latest and greatest processing speeds. On the Geekbench 6 overall performance test, its multi-core score of 7,953 is decent but notably slower than other laptops on this list, like the Yoga 9i's 9,954.

Its battery life also leaves a bit to be desired, coming in at 8 hours and 44 minutes in laptop mode and 7 hours and 22 minutes in tablet mode. Regardless, it has more than enough success in its execution to make for a great foldable.

See our full Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 Gen 1 review.

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Best for travel

What makes a laptop great for travel is its physical portability. The LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP) is the lightest 2-in-1 16-inch laptop ever. The Gram Pro 16 comes in at 14.1 x 10 x 0.51 inches and 3.08 pounds, which is tiny compared with the HP Spectre x360 16 (2024) (4.3 pounds, 14.1 x 9.7 x 0.8 inches) and the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 Gen 9 (4.7 pounds, 14.3 x 10 x 0.7 inches).

Sean Riley said, "It can rattle around in your laptop bag on a trip or commute and come out unscathed," in our review of the LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1.

Adding to its portability is its battery life. The Gram Pro lasted 10 hours and 41 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test, which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits. That puts it in a tightly competitive spot with the HP Spectre (10:45), and it crushes the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i (9:51). So not only is the Gram slim and light, but it'll also survive longer than your average workday.

The Gram Pro is built with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. On the Geekbench 6.3 overall performance test, the LG Gram Pro soared over the category average, which was a couple of thousand points lower at the time. It also hovered around the HP Spectre (12,370) and Yoga Pro 9i (12,141).

Its 16-inch, 2880 x 1800 Touch OLED display is absolutely stunning to behold, managing an 133.5% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut and a brightness of 392 nits. Its combination of brightness, color, and high resolution should be fantastic for artists who need to go in-depth with accuracy.

The keyboard is pleasantly bouncy despite its low key travel. The touchpad is also quite responsive. Unfortunately, the touchpad is quite mushy, so if you choose the Gram Pro 16, you might want to check out the best wireless mouse page.

Ports are also very important on a laptop for travel. The last thing you want is to be carrying a dongle or worse yet, forgetting to pack it, so make sure these ports suit your needs. The LG Gram Pro comes with two USB Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, two USB Type-A ports, and a headphone jack. Unfortunately, if you need an SD or microSD card slot, you'll need a USB Type-C hub.

See our LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP) review.

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Best business

The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo A2VM is among the first batch of laptops that have earned our prestigious Editor's Choice badge in 2025, and it has shot its way up to the top as one of the best business laptops we've tested.

The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo is built with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics, 32GB of RAM, 2TB of SSD storage, and a 60Hz, 1,920 x 1,200-pixel resolution IPS touchscreen. Even while its display may seem underpowered on paper, it boasts solid color depth and decent brightness.

The MSI Summit scored 10,895 on the Geekbench 6 overall performance test, which is pretty solid, but you can definitely find better performance in competitors like the Asus Zenbook S 16 (13,282) or HP EliteBook Ultra G1q (12,717)

Its display performed solidly in our color tests, reproducing 85% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which is about better than what we'd expect out of a business laptop. The MSI Summit was similarly decent in our brightness tests, as it managed an average of 366 nits, which is fine enough for most. We do think it might be a bit too dim for usage while outdoors, especially if it's a sunny day, but it will be more than enough for a majority of indoor settings.

Unfortunately, we were pretty let down by its speaker system, as it's underwhelming in both volume and quality, delivering audio that delivers an uneven sound.

The best part of the MSI Summit is its staggering battery life, lasting 16 hours and 52 minutes in Laptop Mag's test which involves continuous web browsing over wifi at 150 nits of brightness. We typically recommend laptops with more than 10 hours of battery life, and this absolutely crushes that metric.

You won't regret your purchase of the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo if you're a business user. With its incredible battery life, solid performance, sturdy hinges, and satisfying keyboard, this is a great laptop.

See our full MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo review.

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Benchmark comparisons

Recently reviewed 2-in-1 laptops

Not every laptop we review can make it onto our best 2-in-1 laptop buying guide, but just because they came up short of the guide doesn't mean they aren't worth checking out. Here's a look at some of our recent reviews that may still be a fit for you despite not making our buying guide, either for a minor fault or simply because it isn't a convertible laptop.

How to find the best 2-in-1 laptops

Finding the perfect 2-in-1 for you differs from a traditional laptop. After all, these are meant to be portable and must fulfill their name appropriately.

Display: You need something bright and sharp

While 2-in-1s aren't exclusively reserved for artists and designers, it's often used by them to make a quick and easy transformation from a traditional laptop to a tablet for illustrating. As a result, you absolutely need a display that can accommodate your creative endeavors, and if it's too dim to be taken on-the-go or too lackluster to accurately present color, you will absolutely be disappointed.

OLED is a great start if you're in need of a quality 2-in-1, but IPS displays can also feature excellent color in some cases. 80% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut should be your minimum if you're an artist, but if you can get closer to 100% or even go beyond, the better off you'll be.

We also recommend higher resolutions to let you get into the nitty gritty when illustrating, as it will present crisper detail for artists and designers. 2K should be your floor, but the higher, the better.

Design: Sturdy portability is a necessity

2-in-1 laptops are inherently all about flexibility, as their hinges support up to 360-degree angles. You don't want hinges that creak and a lid that feels like it'll snap off every time you lift it. Sturdiness is a necessity, and we've found that the best 2-in-1 laptops can support themselves in any position and require conscious force to move about. An aluminum chassis is a great start, but you'll want to read our reviews and see which ones feel the best in practice.

And since 2-in-1 laptops are frequently moved around quite a bit, we recommend something light. Anything around 4 pounds and under is recommended, but some can be a little heavier, depending on the size.

Battery life: Long-lasting is vital for being on-the-go

Battery life is another key component of any good 2-in-1 laptop. If you plan to take the notebook to class, work, or spend a whole day illustrating in a park, don't count on there being an outlet! Consider a laptop with at least 11-12 hours of battery life, which should be enough to get you through most of the day without worry. In any case, the longer, the better.

FAQs

What does "2-in-1 laptop" mean?

It can mean different things for different laptops, but the core design philosophy implies that the product can transform from a laptop into a tablet. They're also all touchscreen laptops (because it would defeat the purpose otherwise).

Now, that can take many forms. The most common one is a traditional laptop with a 360-degree hinge. But there are also detachable laptops, which feature a removable keyboard. There are dual-display laptops, which feature a discrete Bluetooth keyboard. Then there are foldable laptops, which feature a display that can fold in two and also may feature a discrete keyboard.

Do all 2-in-1 laptops fold the same?

No, and this is actually super important to research. Some 2-in-1 laptops are well-crafted with sturdy hinges and magnetic folds that snap in place when put in tablet mode. However, I've also reviewed laptops with sloppy hinges and no magnetic backing. It's important to take a look at the Design sections in Laptop Mag's reviews.

Additionally, there are foldable and detachable laptops. The former features a screen that folds in half, and the latter features a traditional tablet design with a detachable keyboard. Again, read that Design section to ensure you're getting what you need.

Do 2-in-1 laptops break easily?

Ideally, 2-in-1 laptops should not break easily. 2-in-1 laptops often feature the strongest hinges in comparison to traditional laptops, as they're designed to support their own weight when configured in various positions.

Whether you're in tablet mode or tabletop mode, it should be able to hold its own weight. If we review 2-in-1 with weak hinges, it's unlikely that we'd recommend it to begin with, as sturdy hinges is a necessary baseline requirement for a solid 2-in-1 laptop.

Are 2-in-1 laptops good for drawing?

It depends. 2-in-1 laptops are used for business, or casual use, and then some with a very specific focus on catering to artists.

Some are designed for illustrating, but you want to ensure that's one of its intended use cases. You'll also want to make sure it's compatible with a pen.

Are 2-in-1 laptops good for gaming?

No, 2-in-1 laptops are not generally good for gaming. The crossover between gaming laptops and 2-in-1 laptops is pretty much non-existent, but 2-in-1 laptops with discrete GPUs do exist, like the Asus ROG Flow X16. However, these are pretty rare.

Integrated graphics have gotten significantly better over the years. If you're using a laptop with a modern Lunar or Arrow Lake processor or even one of AMD's latest AI chips, you'll likely get some decent performance for casual gaming, but don't expect too much. The gaming-focused Asus ROG Flow Z13 (2025) is one of the only examples of a gaming 2-in-1 laptop with integrated graphics that we recommend.

Is a convertible laptop the same as a 2-in-1 laptop?

Generally speaking, the terms "convertible" and "2-in-1" are used interchangeably to describe a device that can be used as a traditional laptop and folded into a tablet.

However, more specifically, a convertible laptop typically involves a built-in keyboard. According to IT company CDW, the term "hybrid laptop" describes a laptop with a keyboard that can be removed, like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold.

That said, any laptop with a 360-degree hinge that can fully fold backwards is typically lumped into the same broad category, whether it's technically a convertible or hybrid laptop.

How we test the best 2-in-1 laptops

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 5.4 and 6.3 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 Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm benchmark with high 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 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. For 2-in-1 laptops in particular, it needs a strong hinge and practical design to support its own weight. It's important that every part of the design feels sturdy so that no matter what position a user bends the hinge, it won't collapse.

Why Trust Laptop Mag

Laptop Mag reviews over one hundred different laptops every year, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games. We're not just experts in the laptop field, as we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest in gaming.

We are 100% independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades, and we continue to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.

Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.

Our editorial trustworthiness is enforced by one of the world's largest technology publishers, Future Publishing. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector — and we're the group's specialist for all things mobile tech.

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What makes a great 2-in-1 laptop? The most important spec is the only one where the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 let me down: the display.

If you're hunting for a new laptop and have your eye on a 2-in-1, chances are you're interested in using it in tablet mode for tasks like digital art or watching movies. All the core reasons to go for a 2-in-1 over a regular laptop hinge, quite literally, on a great display.

That's why, despite some great strengths, I have to recommend a few other laptops over the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16. Here's a look at what you should expect from a great 2-in-1 laptop and a few top picks to get you started, whether you're a budget-conscious user or a creative professional.

See also: Best laptop deals in June 2025

The one spec you should never overlook in a 2-in-1 laptop

Your price range has a big impact on what you should look for in a 2-in-1 laptop, but one thing you absolutely shouldn't overlook is display quality.

All of the use cases that set 2-in-1 laptops apart, particularly when it comes to tasks like drawing or graphic design, rely on a high-quality display. So, if you compromise in this area, you're not getting your money's worth, and you're sacrificing what should be the top strength of any great 2-in-1.

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 is a perfect example, as it excels in several areas, with the key exception being its display. In our DCI-P3 color gamut test, it scored a mere 44%, which is barely half of the usual 80% threshold we look for, especially at this price point. It doesn't get very bright, either, averaging just 316 nits. For a 2-in-1, those scores are just too low to ignore.

Three 2-in-1 laptops with great displays

The Yoga's test scores translate into a dull, dim display that is noticeably less vivid side-by-side with other laptops. It's impossible to miss how washed out all the colors look.

If you're considering the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 for other reasons, like its impressive integrated graphics performance, and don't mind sacrificing display quality, or you can find it at a steep discount, it could still be a good option for some people.

However, if you're specifically looking for a 2-in-1, you'll have a better experience on a laptop with a higher-quality display. Luckily, you have a few great options to choose from.

1. Best overall: Asus Vivobook 16 Flip

The best overall alternative to the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 is the Asus Vivobook 16 Flip, which sports a stunning 3K OLED display. It's one of the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy right now and costs just $100 more than the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16.

The Vivobook scored well on our display tests, reproducing 84.4% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 119.2% of the sRGB color gamut with an average brightness of 356 nits. As an added bonus, it has a bit more battery life than the Yoga at 13 hours and 47 minutes.

Whether you're a student, professional, or casual user, if you're looking for a great 2-in-1 in the same price range as the Yoga, you really can't go wrong with the Vivobook 16 Flip.

2. Budget option: Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714

At $799, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is a good budget-friendly alternative to the Yoga, particularly for students. It scored 78.7% on the DCI-P3 color gamut score, which is just shy of the 80% I ideally prefer, but considering the price, this is still a much better display than what you're getting on the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16, which costs $100 to $400 more, depending on the configuration.

It's also worth considering the Chromebook if you prefer Google's Gemini AI assistant over Microsoft Copilot. There are some genuinely useful Gemini features baked into the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 that can really come in handy, like live captions or AI-assisted photo editing. I found it generally more consistent and reliable than Microsoft Copilot. It's easy to see why it's one of the best Chromebooks.

3. For creators: Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition

2-in-1 laptops are often ideal for creatives since they can double as a drawing tablet with the help of a Bluetooth stylus. If you're a creator, you don't want to miss out on the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition. Not only is it a better buy than the Yoga 7i 2-in-1, but it's also a fantastic overall laptop for creatives and one of our picks for the best touchscreen laptops.

The stunning 14-inch 3K OLED 120Hz display scored superbly well on our display tests. It reproduced a whopping 149.2% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 210.6% of the sRGB color gamut and averaged 421 nits of brightness. While it doesn't come quite as cheap as the Yoga 7i, the top-tier display is worth it for creative professionals.

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Sometimes, I review a laptop that I really want to love, and I get so close, only for a massive drawback to sour my experience. Unfortunately, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 is a perfect example.

The Yoga offers good speakers, solid battery life, a relatively affordable price tag, and integrated graphics that perform much better than I expected. If that was the whole story, I'd have no trouble wholeheartedly recommending this laptop.

However, the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 has a critical flaw that's enough of an issue to make me think twice before counting it among the best Lenovo laptops or best 2-in-1 laptops. Unfortunately, the Yoga's incredibly disappointing display is its Achilles' heel. That doesn't mean it can't be the right laptop for you, but there are a few things you should consider before making a purchase.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16: Specs (as reviewed)

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16: Price and configurations

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 is available in a few configurations, starting at $899 for the model with an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, Intel Arc 130V integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 16-inch, 1920 x 1200 IPS touch display.

The configuration we reviewed costs $1,099 and includes an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor, Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and a 16-inch, 1920 x 1200 IPS touch display. For an additional $65, you can upgrade to Windows 11 Pro.

It's worth noting that Lenovo offers education discounts for the Yoga 7i 2-in-1, but you have to purchase the laptop using a confirmed education email address.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16: Design

Lenovo didn't change much on the design of this year's Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It sports a polished aluminum chassis that will blend in seamlessly at school or work. The bezels around the 16-inch display could be thinner, but that's a minor flaw.

The keyboard is spacious and snappy, as Lenovo's keyboards usually are, and includes a number pad and function row, perfect for productivity users. The touchpad below is roomy, as well.

As its name suggests, this is a 2-in-1 laptop, meaning you can flip the display all the way back to use in tablet mode. It's compatible with the Lenovo Yoga Pen, available separately for $59, in case you want to use the Yoga's tablet mode for drawing or taking handwritten notes.

The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is reasonably thin and light for a 16-inch laptop, measuring 14.21 x 10.12 x 0.67 inches and weighing 3.96 pounds. That's on par with other laptops in this size and price range:

• Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250): 14.05 x 9.87 x 0.67 inches, 4.52 pounds
• Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): 13.98 x 9.62 x 0.69 inches, 3.9 pounds
• MacBook Air M4 (15-inch): 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches, 3.3 pounds

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16: Ports

The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 doesn't offer a lot of ports, but it features a diverse enough selection to cover most people's needs, including:

• 1x HDMI 1.4
• 1x USB Type-A
• 2x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4
• 1x MicroSD card reader
• 1x 3.5mm audio jack

One more USB port might've been nice, but I was pleasantly surprised to see an HDMI port and even a microSD card reader. If you find yourself needing more ports, you can hook up the Yoga to one of the best laptop docking stations or USB Type-C hubs.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16: Battery life

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 performed well on our battery life tests, lasting 13 hours and 19 minutes.

While other laptops have done better, like the 15-inch MacBook Air M4 (15 hours, 22 minutes), the Yoga's time is still more than enough to get through a typical day at work or school. It's also nearly twice as long as the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1, which features a similar price and specs but lasted less than 8 hours in our tests.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16: Display

The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 really let me down with its display quality. There's a lot to like about this laptop, but the display is a huge flaw to overlook. It's visibly dull, with little vibrancy and noticeably washed out colors. The difference is impossible to miss looking at the Yoga's display side-by-side with other laptops or even my ViewSonic Omni desktop display.

I could visibly tell that the scenery in episodes of Survivor looked less vibrant and colorful on the Yoga's display. The Fijian jungles looked noticeably washed out, even if the contrast and sharpness was fine.

Considering how dull the Yoga's display is, I wasn't surprised that it did poorly on our display benchmarks. It covered just 44% over the DCI-P3 color gamut, barely half of the usual 80% or more I prefer to see. Even for a relatively budget-friendly laptop, that is a seriously disappointing color gamut score, one that's important to note if you're a creative or want to use your laptop for art, design, or gaming. It defeats the purpose of a 2-in-1 laptop.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16: Keyboard and touchpad

I'm often a fan of the keyboards on Lenovo laptops and the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 is no exception. It features a snappy, responsive, and roomy full-size keyboard that's perfect for pounding out essays and emails.

On the Monkeytype typing test I scored 100 words per minute with 100% accuracy, which is above average but just shy of my personal best of 108 words per minute with 98% accuracy, scored on the HP EliteBook Ultra G1i AI.

The touchpad on the Yoga is also good, with plenty of space and a smooth, responsive surface. It offered just the right amount of travel and feedback to be satisfying without slowing me down.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16: Audio

The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 features bottom-firing speakers in the front right and left corners that sound surprisingly good for the price. They get much louder than I expected and deliver solid range, detail, and depth.

"Dead Club City" by Nothing But Thieves sounded great on the Yoga, with assertive bass, clean vocals, and surprisingly good depth, making for an immersive listening experience. "Overcome," also by Nothing But Thieves, came through the speakers great, as well, with crisp highs (although the mids in this song were a tad muffled, most likely because of the bottom-firing speaker orientation).

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16: Performance and heat

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor that performs well for the price. It kept up with everyday tasks like word processing or web browsing, even with multiple apps and numerous tabs open.

I didn't notice any lag or slow loading times during my daily use. If you're a student or a casual user, the performance you'll get from the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 should be more than enough.

If you're a power user or a professional, you may run into the Yoga's limits. It scored 11,050 on the Geekbench 6 benchmark, which is on par with other laptops with this processor but not as high as some rivals scored.

For instance, the MacBook Air M4 15-inch scored 14,921, nearly 4,000 points higher. If you use your laptop for resource-intensive tasks like photo or video editing, you'll probably notice that difference. Of course, the MacBook Air is a bit more expensive than the Yoga 7i 2-in-1, and it isn't a 2-in-1 laptop, so there are trade-offs to consider.

However, if sheer performance is your top priority, the MacBook Air would be a better fit.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16: Gaming and graphics

The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 isn't a gaming laptop, but its Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics are surprisingly capable. If you want to use your laptop for some casual gaming, the Yoga can deliver a pretty decent experience for the price.

I played Risk of Rain 2 on the Yoga and got smooth, responsive gameplay with an average of 60 frames per second on Medium/High graphics settings at 1920 x 1200. The only time I noticed any lag or stuttering was during cinematic cutscenes, like the game's intro video. The actual gameplay didn't display any significant performance issues, though.

The Yoga also did fairly well on our graphics benchmark tests with a score of 9,249 on the 3DMark Fire Strike benchmark and an average of 56.8 fps in Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm. That's better than most other laptops at this price point can deliver, especially considering the Yoga's relying only on integrated graphics.

Of course, if you want to play resource-intensive modern AAA games, you'll be better off with one of the best gaming laptops. But if you're just looking to do a round of Fortnite here and there or play some lightweight indie games, the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is up to the task.

The lackluster display does hold back the gaming experience, though. Plus, as we’ve tested, the Intel Arc 140V can’t handle games like Elden Ring Nightreign.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16: AI features

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 is a Copilot+ PC, meaning it comes with Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant pre-installed and features a dedicated Copilot key on the keyboard for launching the AI.

You can use the Copilot app for basic generative AI tasks like asking questions or generating text and images. Copilot also powers features elsewhere in Windows 11, like Windows Studio Effects in the Camera app, which uses AI to enhance your video quality. You can also use Cocreator in the Paint app for combining generative AI with your own doodles.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16: Webcam

Laptop webcams often leave a lot to be desired in terms of camera quality and the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 is no exception. While I've seen worse, I've also seen better. The 1080p webcam delivered visibly grainy visuals in my test video, even in good indoor lighting. This webcam would be fine for basic everyday video calls, but for anything beyond that you'd be better off getting one of the best webcams.

While the camera isn't great, the Yoga's built-in mic is solid. My voice was clear and crisp in my test video. The mic even managed to cut out the background noise from my air conditioner.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16: Software and warranty

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 comes with Windows 11 Home and includes the standard suite of basic Microsoft apps like Copilot, the Microsoft Store, Microsoft Edge, and the Xbox app. The Yoga also includes the Lenovo Vantage app, where you can see all of your device's specs, adjust your settings, check for updates, and access troubleshooting guides.

The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 is covered by Lenovo's standard one-year warranty for parts and labor, which you can extend or upgrade through Lenovo Premium Care Plus.

Bottom line

I wanted to love the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16, especially after its graphics performance and audio quality proved to be much better than I expected. Unfortunately, the display quality is so poor it's hard to overlook, even at the Yoga's relatively affordable price.

The 2-in-1 form factor and spacious 16-inch display would otherwise make the Yoga perfect for creative tasks, gaming, and watching movies, but all of those rely on a high-quality display, counteracting what would otherwise be great selling points for the Yoga. Unfortunately, the display is so underwhelming that I'd only suggest you pick up this laptop if you can find it at a good discount during a sale or if display quality isn't a concern for you.

Aside from the display, the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 delivers pretty good value for your money with plenty of performance for students and casual users. The battery life is enough to get through a full day of school or work, and the integrated graphics can handle some lightweight gaming in your downtime. If the display were better, the Yoga would be a no-brainer. You may want to consider one of the best 2-in-1 laptops instead, though.

When you're looking for a laptop on a budget, you'll have to sacrifice a feature or two, but there's one thing you shouldn't compromise on: battery life.

I was reminded of this while reviewing the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1, a budget-friendly laptop that surpassed my expectations in a few areas, but fell far behind on battery life, lasting a mere 7 hours and 37 minutes.

While the Dell may have won me over otherwise, I can't overlook battery life that's less than 8 hours, and neither should you. Even if you're on a budget and need a 2-in-1 for $1,200 or less, there are better options that will get you the same features and all-day battery life.

See also: Best laptop deals

Don't overlook this critical flaw in the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1

The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 gets a few things right. For starters, it has a great display for the price, a 16-inch, 2560 x 1600, mini-LED panel that delivers 446 nits of brightness and reproduces 87% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. For $1,199, that's not bad at all.

Additionally, the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 performed better than expected on our graphics tests, considering it's running on Intel's integrated graphics. It averaged just under 60 fps in Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm. That's plenty of performance for running casual games or lightweight indie titles.

Unfortunately, those strengths simply can't outshine the one major flaw with the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1: its battery life. With less than 8 hours of battery, this laptop is not going to get through a full day of work or school (besides that, it's pretty heavy, so it's not the best to commute with).

I understand considering some compromises when you're searching for a laptop on a budget, but this is one area you don't want to ignore. After all, what good is Dell's snazzy display if the battery is going to die on you before the end of the day? This is especially important to consider if you're a power user or frequently use resource-intensive apps, like photo or video editing software, which will drain the battery even faster.

As much as I wanted to like the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1, you can do better for the same price or less.

3 budget-friendly 2-in-1 laptops with great battery life

The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 may not have lived up to my hopes, but luckily, there are some better budget-friendly 2-in-1 laptops with great battery life. A few in particular are great options for the same price as the Dell or less, but with significantly longer battery life.

1. Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607)

The first, and arguably best, alternative to the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is the Asus Vivobook 16 Flip. This is currently ranked as Laptop Mag's best 2-in-1 laptop and boasts great battery life with a time of 13 hours and 47 minutes.

It's at the upper end of the budget range, but starts at just $1,199, the same price as our review configuration for the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1.

For that price, the Asus Vivobook 16 Flip delivers all-day battery life, a stunning OLED display, solid integrated graphics performance, and, of course, the versatility of a 2-in-1 design.

2. Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 (2025)

Next up is the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16-inch. This one comes in at the same price of $1,199 but offers twice as much storage as the base configuration of the Asus Vivobook 16 Flip, making it a great choice for anyone who has a lot of files and photos to store on their laptop.

The 2025 version of the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 fell behind the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 in our overall performance tests and our display tests, but scored nearly twice as high on our battery life test with a time of 13 hours and 19 minutes. So, it could be the right fit if battery life is your top priority and you don't mind compromising display quality.

3. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

Lastly, it's worth mentioning the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus. While its battery life of 9 hours and 43 minutes could be better, it's still a couple hours longer than the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1, and the IdeaPad is hundreds of dollars less expensive. It's also currently ranked as Laptop Mag's best budget 2-in-1 laptop.

This laptop could be a great pick if you're on a tight budget and want something for less than $600 that will still last all day. It's a good choice for students and casual users who mainly need a laptop for web browsing, replying to emails, and other lightweight tasks.

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is a similar alternative with a stronger processor in case you want something in the same price range with a bit more performance. However, it only gets an honorable mention since the IdeaPad has longer battery life.

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Some laptops come so close to offering great value for your money, only to have a critical flaw weighing them down. The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is a perfect example.

Starting at just $799, this is a budget-friendly 2-in-1 with a roomy 16-inch display, great for watching movies or even some casual gaming. While it could have performed better in some areas, the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 isn't a bad deal at all, at least at first glance. It's when you dig a little deeper that a major flaw appears, one that will be a deal breaker for many users: disappointing battery life.

If you're looking for a budget-friendly 16-inch laptop, you may want to start your search with the best 16-inch laptops or the best 2-in-1 laptops. The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 might seem like a good deal at first, but there are a few things you should know about it before buying.

Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250): Specs (as reviewed)

Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250): Price and configurations

The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is available in three configurations, starting at $799. The base configuration includes an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, Intel Arc integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.

The next configuration up, which is the one we tested, costs $1,199 and includes an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. The third configuration includes all the same specs, except it ships with Windows 11 Pro instead of Windows 11 Home, which increases the price to $1,299.

The second configuration will be the best fit for most people. Unless you're specifically buying a laptop for work, you don't need to spend the extra $100 for Windows 11 Pro. However, spending a few hundred to get twice as much RAM and storage compared to the base model is a good idea if you can afford it.

Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250): Design

Dell went with a basic, straightforward design for the 16 Plus 2-in-1. The chassis is a dark, metallic blue that's almost black, with a glossy Dell logo in the center of the lid. The keyboard is a dark gray with a thin, minimal font.

Since this is a 16-inch laptop, you get a very roomy keyboard and touchpad, including a function row and number pad. While the power button is part of the keyboard, I appreciate that it is relatively isolated in the top right corner and feels distinctly different from the other keys, making it less likely you'll hit it by accident while you're typing.

This is a 2-in-1, so you can flip the display all the way around to use it in tablet mode. However, I noticed that the hinges are pretty stiff, which is preferable to weak hinges on a 2-in-1, but you may need to apply a bit more pressure to flip the display all the way back.

One unfortunate trade-off with the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is its somewhat bulky design. 16-inch laptops aren't the most portable in general (if that's your top concern, a 14-inch is definitely the way to go), but the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is on the heavier side, even compared to similar laptops. It measures 14.05 x 9.87 x 0.67 inches and weighs 4.52 pounds. That's over half a pound heavier than similarly-sized laptops:

• Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): 13.98 x 9.62 x 0.69 inches, 3.9 pounds
• Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16 (2025): 14.21 x 10.12 x 0.67 inches, 3.96 pounds
• MacBook Air M4 (15-inch): 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches, 3.3 pounds

Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250): Ports

The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is somewhat sparse on ports but has the basics most people need:

• 1x HDMI 2.1
• 1x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4
• 1x USB Type-C
• 1x USB Type-A
• 1x 3.5mm headphone jack

Those ports might be enough for casual users, but if you have multiple accessories you like to use with your laptop, I suggest pairing the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 with one of the best laptop docking stations or a USB Type-C hub. Keep in mind, one of the USB Type-C ports on this laptop doubles as the charging port.

Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250): Battery life

Battery life is the biggest weakness of the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1. It severely underperformed on our battery life test compared to similar laptops, lasting just 7 hours and 37 minutes. That's less than a full day at work or school, which is a huge disappointment.

That weak battery life combined with a somewhat bulky design make it difficult to recommend the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 to commuters or anyone who travels frequently with their laptop. You'll need to lug around the charger, too, since this laptop is not going to last all day.

Meanwhile, the Asus Vivobook 16 Flip and the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1, both similarly priced 16-inch laptops, lasted 5 to 6 hours longer than the Dell. If battery is a top priority for you, either of these laptops would be a better choice.

Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250): Display

The display on the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is good for the price. It's a 16-inch, 2560 x 1600, Mini-LED touch display that's reasonably sharp and bright. It's not as good as OLED, but it's better than a typical LCD in this price range. Colors are vivid and accurate, with decent contrast, and text is perfectly legible.

I watched a couple of episodes of Lost Cities with Albert Lin on the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1, and it displayed National Geographic's sprawling vistas and sharp close-up shots with good depth, detail, and contrast. The display gets pretty bright, too — I never had to crank it up past the halfway mark.

While I usually prefer 14-inch laptops over 16-inch ones, I must admit that the larger display is great for watching shows and movies. If you mainly want a laptop for entertainment and casual use, the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 could be a good fit.

The only thing I dislike about the display is its high reflectivity. In dark scenes or with dark mode on, I could easily see my own reflection on the screen, which is very distracting. Here's how it stacks up against the competition in our display benchmarks:

Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250): Keyboard and touchpad

The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 features a full-size keyboard with a function row and number pad, which is a huge bonus for anyone who relies on macros or often uses their laptop for productivity tasks.

The keyboard is roomy, snappy, and responsive. On the Monkeytype typing test, I scored 92 words per minute with 95% accuracy, which is a bit lower than normal for me, but still decent.

I have a love-hate relationship with the touchpad on the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1. On one hand, it's huge, measuring 5.2 x 3.5 inches. Unfortunately, clicking feels mushy and dull, with little travel or feedback. You can always connect a wireless mouse to resolve that issue, but that could use up one of the few ports on the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1.

Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250): Audio

The speakers on the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 sound surprisingly good. Of course, they're not going to compete with high-end audio gear, but they sound better than I expected for the price.

The atmospheric guitar rhythms of Girl in Red's "We Fell in Love in October" were smooth, crisp, and surprisingly clear, considering the Dell's speakers are bottom-firing. The vocals came through with good depth and clarity without needing to crank the volume up above 40.

Dialogue sounds good, as well. I could hear every line in Lost Cities With Albert Lin with perfect clarity and no noticeable distortion or muddiness.

Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250): Performance and heat

The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor that's able to keep up well with casual daily tasks like web browsing and word processing. It doesn't have any trouble managing a plethora of browser tabs, and multitasks fairly well. I didn't notice any significant lag or long loading times during my daily use.

However, if you're a power user, you'll run into the limitations of this laptop. It scored 11,152 on the Geekbench 6 benchmark, which is on par with other laptops with this CPU, but on the lower end compared to what you can get in this price range.

For instance, the similarly priced MacBook Air M4 (15-inch) scored significantly higher at 14,921. Of course, it isn't a 2-in-1, so if tablet mode is a must-have, the MacBook might not be an option for you. The same goes for dedicated Windows users.

While I would have liked to see higher performance scores from the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1, it's not bad considering the specs you're getting for the price (32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage). The performance you'll get here is more than enough for casual users or lightweight tasks for school and work.

Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250): Gaming and graphics

I was surprised to see how well the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 handled gaming, considering it's running on Intel Arc 140V 16GB integrated graphics. To be clear, it's no gaming laptop. However, if you're looking for a budget-friendly 16-inch laptop that can do some casual gaming on the side, the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 might be a good pick.

It averaged 58 fps in Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm and scored 9,177 on the 3DMark Fire Strike graphics benchmark, putting the Dell ahead of all of its rivals nearly across the board. It even outscored the MacBook Air M4 in Civilization VI.

If you just want to play casual games like Fortnite or lightweight indie titles, the Dell should be able to keep up just fine, especially if you're willing to lower your graphics settings. But as we’ve tested, the Intel Arc 140V can’t handle games like Elden Ring Nightreign.

Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250): AI features

The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is a Copilot+ PC, so it comes with Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant pre-installed, along with a dedicated Copilot key for accessing it. If you're not interested in using AI, you can ignore Copilot and use this like any other Windows 11 laptop, although there are a few features that could be helpful.

For instance, Windows Studio Effects uses AI to improve webcam quality and apply effects like blurring your background, which can come in handy if you're often in video meetings. Copilot can also generate text and images from the Copilot app. You can use Copilot to generate live captions of video and audio content, as well.

Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250): Webcam

Laptop webcams are frequently underwhelming, but even by my low expectations, the camera quality on the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is quite poor. It's visibly grainy and blurry, even in good lighting. It’s a 1080p sensor, but it definitely didn’t look like 1080p in my test video.

On the other hand, the microphone was surprisingly decent. If you use this laptop for video calls, the other participants will have a hard time seeing you, but at least they'll be able to hear you well. The mic captured my voice with decent depth and clarity and little to no distortion. With that said, you'll probably want to pair it with one of the best webcams.

Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250): Software and warranty

The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 comes with Windows 11 Home (or Windows 11 Pro for an additional $100) and includes the standard suite of pre-installed apps like Microsoft Edge, the Microsoft Store, and the Copilot app. It also includes Dell Optimizer, where you can view and, as the name suggests, optimize all of your system settings like battery life and thermal management.

The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is protected by Dell's standard 1-year hardware warranty.

Bottom line

The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 has some strengths, including its display quality and surprisingly solid gaming performance. However, its extremely poor battery life, combined with merely acceptable daily performance and a heavy chassis, make it difficult to recommend for most people in this competitive price range.

With less than 8 hours of battery life, you won't be able to get through a full day of work or school without hauling around a charger with you. That's a significant letdown, considering there are other 16-inch 2-in-1 laptops available for around the same price that offer significantly longer battery life.

If battery life isn't a top concern for you, the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 may still be worth considering. The 16-inch display is vivid and bright, making this a good pick if you mainly use your laptop for entertainment. It can handle casual gaming better than expected, considering its price, so this may also be a good option if you're shopping for a budget-friendly laptop and want to play some lightweight games.

It's not a bad laptop, and if you can find our upgraded configuration for under $1,000 on sale, that is worth stronger consideration, but it's not destined for a spot among the best 16-inch laptops or best 2-in-1 laptops. If that's what you're in the market for, consider some of our recommended alternatives.

Lenovo's Innovative Tech Savings event continues with sitewide savings on just about everything in the PC maker's inventory. As expected, discounts on Lenovo's top-rated laptops make up the bulk of doorbuster deals, with discounts of up to 54%.

One featured deal drops the excellent Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9 to $1,199 via coupon, "YOGATECH3" — one of our favorite Lenovo 2-in-1 laptops. Previously priced at $1,579, that's $380 off and one of the best laptop deals from the sale.

Browse: Lenovo's entire sale

It's not the lowest price I've seen for this Lenovo laptop. However, it's a solid savings for an excellent 2-in-1 laptop.

It ships with a handy Lenovo Slim Pen (valued at $65) for convenient navigation, sketching, and note-taking. Lenovo also throws in a free protective sleeve, which you don't often see when buying a laptop.

Our expert reviewers tested and rated thirty Lenovo laptops last year, and the Yoga 9i was one of the most impressive.

In our Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9 review, we praised its solid Intel Ultra Core 7 performance, gorgeous OLED display, and thin yet sturdy design.

In one trial, Lenovo Yoga 9i scored a multi-core score of 12,455 on Geekbench 6's overall performance test. This beat the category average of 10,297, which means it should easily handle demanding workloads.

At $380 off, the fantastic Yoga 9i is worth considering if you're looking for a versatile laptop.

Today's best Lenovo Yoga 9i deal

If anyone knows anything about me, I love my big, beautiful LG OLED TV — I have two in my house, and I am considering getting a third (no, I don’t have that kind of money, I just know deals). Because of that, I am super picky about my laptop displays, so when the Yoga 9i landed on my laptop, I started drooling.

I recently reviewed the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition, and there’s a lot to love there, but the display and audio experience completely blew me away, making this laptop a killer multimedia device.

Whether you travel often, like snuggling up in bed, or simply cannot afford a chunky LG OLED TV, here’s why you should consider the Yoga 9i.

The Yoga 9i is the peak multimedia device

The two key features of the Yoga 9i are its display and audio. However, its battery life and design lend themselves quite well to this purpose.

First things first, the Yoga 9i is rocking a 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, 120Hz OLED touchscreen display. It clocked in 421 nits of brightness and covered 210.6% of the sRGB and 149.2% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. For context, that offers nearly double the color coverage of the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4.

We don’t have the tools to measure audio quality, but no other laptop manufacturer has replicated the Yoga’s sound bar hinge. It delivers 360-degree sound with four speakers, which include two 2W tweeters (treble) and two 2W woofers (bass). It offers a loud, wide range that makes the lows, mids, and highs feel distinct. It’s easily equal to or better than your average TV speaker, maybe not in volume but in quality.

Of course, the Yoga 9i can’t replace 65 inches of big-screen goodness, but it certainly helps that it's remarkably cheaper. You can score the Yoga 9i for just $1,499 right now at Best Buy. That’ll get you the shiny 14-inch display alongside an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.

Technically, since it does sport the Intel Arc 140V iGPU, you can get in some light gaming as well. We ran Sid Meier's Civ VI: Gathering Storm (Medium, 1080p) at a solid 69 frames per second. You might be able to run some AAA games as well, albeit at low settings.

The core advantage that the Yoga 9i has over a TV is portability. The Yoga 9i weighs only 2.9 pounds and measures 12.44 x 8.66 x 0.65 inches. You could fit this thing into most laptop bags and even some purses. And this is so easy to snuggle up in bed with.

Battery life is another critical component for this stellar streaming superstar. You can’t binge The Last of Us on a laptop that dies during a critical moment. Thankfully, this rig will net you 12 hours and 47 minutes of battery life. Your time will vary since we set our display brightness to 150 nits, so the dimmer your screen, the more battery life you’ll eke out.

If you are constantly on the go, the last thing you want to worry about is your shiny new laptop breaking apart during a single drop. Well, lucky for you, the Yoga 9i sports an aluminum chassis that’s been MIL-SPEC tested for drops, shocks, extreme temperatures, and more.

Overall, if you’re looking for a laptop to watch your favorite shows and listen to your favorite music, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is the perfect choice.

If you’re looking for a great all-in-one package ultraportable laptop, then the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is here to rock your expectations.

What do you get with the Yoga 9i? Let me rattle it off: a beautiful 14-inch OLED display, bangin’ speakers, crispy keyboard, and long battery life packed into a sleek ultraportable device. The real question is, what don’t you get?

Unfortunately, that would be overall performance. The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor doesn’t pack the same punch as its competitors.

However, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition’s performance is serviceable for most people, and every other feature feels like a sweet treat you’d get after dinner. There’s no doubt it could land somewhere among the best laptops and best 2-in-1 laptops, but is it right for you? Let’s find out.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition: Specs and benchmarks

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition: Price and configurations

There’s only one configuration of the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition available at the time of publication, which you can find for $1,749 at Best Buy. It’s outfitted with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, 120Hz OLED touchscreen display.

At the time of writing, there’s an entry on Lenovo’s site, but all it says is “Available Soon.”

If you’re looking for a laptop that’s a little cheaper, I recommend checking out our best budget laptops page.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition: Design

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is a looker thanks to its cosmic blue aluminum chassis, which is MIL-SPEC tested, so it can withstand a lot of punishment, including drops and extreme temperatures. The lid is accompanied by built-in hinge speakers and a curvy lip where the webcam is slotted in. There’s also a glossy blue Lenovo logo stamped at the center.

The inside offers more of the same polished look, except now revealing actual polish on its glossy sides all around the laptop. Between the spacing on the keyboard and the size of the touchpad, the deck looks decently organized (there’s even a fingerprint reader on the bottom right of the keyboard. I also appreciate the super thin bezels around the display (minus the camera bump, which does feature a privacy shutter).

Since this is a 2-in-1, you can do a little yoga and flip it around in tent and tablet positions. It felt pretty sturdy when transforming it, and while the hinge applies enough pressure to keep the display in tablet mode, it would’ve been nice if it were magnetized.

At 2.9 pounds and 12.44 x 8.66 x 0.65 inches, the Lenovo Yoga 9i may not be the heaviest among the pack, but it certainly is the thickest. That’s to be expected, however, since the Yoga 9i is a 2-in-1 laptop. And even then, it’s still pretty thin. Here’s how it compares:

• Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4: 2.7 pounds, 12 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches
• Asus Zenbook 14 UX3405: 2.81 pounds, 12.3 x 8.67 x 0.59 inches
• Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro: 3.44 pounds, 14 x 9.93 x 0.5 inches

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition: Ports

Despite how petite the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is, there are still enough ports to get around.

• 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps, DP, PD)
• 1x USB-A (10Gbps)
• 1x USB-C (20Gbps, full function, PD, DP, USB 4)
• 1x Audio combo jack

Need more ports? Check out our best USB Type-C hubs and best laptop docking stations pages.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition: Battery life

The last thing you want your super flexible, ultraportable laptop to do is die, so long battery life is key. And the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition delivers.

On the Laptop Mag battery test, which sets the laptop to continuously surf the web over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness, the Yoga lasted 12 hours and 47 minutes. That’s longer than all of its competitors except the MacBook, which lasted nearly 3 hours longer. Apple still has the secret sauce, but there’s no taking away the Yoga 9i’s impressive longevity.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition: Display

I will never get tired of OLED, and laptops like the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition are the reason why. With its 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, 120Hz OLED touchscreen display, the Yoga had me drooling over the colors.

I jumped into the latest Lilo & Stitch trailer and felt like I time-traveled back to 2002. Stitch’s blue fur and Lilo’s red flowery shirt exploded with color, matching their unyielding personalities. The panel is also plenty bright, so I didn't miss a beat during the darker scenes like Stitch escaping his ship.

None of Yoga’s rivals could compete in color coverage. Although the MacBook is a bit brighter overall, the Yoga 9i’s OLED display is far superior and even more colorful than most premium laptops overall.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition: Keyboard and touchpad

Clicky clacky make me happy. My fingers danced across the keyboard with the grace of… someone who knows how to dance. They require decent pressure to actuate, and they’ve got plenty of travel.

I knocked out 84 words per minute on the 10fastfingers.com typing test, climbing above my usual 81-wpm. There’s a wide spacing between the keys, so I always feel like I know where to click. This may be the greatest example of Lenovo’s famous laptop keyboards.

The Yoga 9i’s 5.3 x 3.1-inch touchpad is pretty smooth, but does offer a bit of resistance to those with clammy hands (me). The clicker is a bit shallow, but it’s sharp enough that it’s satisfying.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition: Audio

Oh heck yeah — I absolutely love the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition’s hinge speakers. I honestly found it hard to stop singing and actually write this section.

If you’ve ever listened to “Dangerous” from Epic: The Musical, then you’d know how hard I was bobbing my head. The vocals, crisp and present; the guitar, bright and impactful; the percussion, bassy. There’s also a strong balance between the instruments so none of them gets muddied together.

You can adjust the audio settings in the Dolby Access app, which offers presets for Music, Game, Movie, Voice, and even a Dynamic setting that automatically adjusts the profile based on what you’re listening to.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition: Performance and heat

I didn't expect the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition’s Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor to be this much of a detriment to the performance. Even with 32GB of RAM, the Yoga 9i is the worst-performing laptop amongst its competitors.

Now, depending on how you use your laptop, this may not be a problem for you. The laptop was perfectly fine while juggling a couple dozen Chrome tabs and a handful of YouTube videos. But if you plan on using it for more intensive tasks, like video editing, then you probably want something more powerful.

It clocked the lowest scores in the Geekbench 6 overall performance test and our HandBrake benchmark, which sets it to transcode a 4K video to 1080p. That’s squaring up against the MacBook Air’s M4, Zenbook 14’s Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, and Galaxy Book’s Intel Core Ultra 7 256V.

However, it did feature the fastest SSD. Now, its SSD transfer rate wasn't breaking records, but it's still faster than the competition.

One critical feature is heat management. The Yoga 9i handles heat like my AC handles a hot summer day. The hottest it got was 88.3 degrees Fahrenheit, located at the center of the keyboard between the G and H keys. For context, our comfort threshold is 95 degrees, so you can sit this baby comfortably in your lap (which is less common than you'd think for a device called a laptop).

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition: Gaming and graphics

While you shouldn’t expect to play AAA games at max settings, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition’s Intel Arc 140V iGPU did a pretty nice job with some light gaming.

In Sid Meier's Civ VI: Gathering Storm (Medium, 1080p), the Yoga 9i pumped out an average of 69 frames per second. It surpassed the MacBook Air’s M4, Zenbook 14’s Intel Arc 140T, and Galaxy Book’s Intel Arc 140V.

You can definitely get away with playing some AAA games at the lowest settings.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition: AI features

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition’s Intel Core Ultra 7 258V features the Intel AI Boost NPU with a Peak of 47 TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second). Since this is a Copilot+ PC, the Yoga 9i supports a suite of AI tools powered by Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant.

There aren’t any big Lenovo-branded AI features, but you do get Windows Studio Effects, Cocreator, and Live Captions.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition: Webcam

While I like how the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition’s 1440p webcam is situated on the device, it didn’t change how terrible it was.

My green shirt turned into RGB static, the window beyond me was overexposed, and my facial features were overall hazy. If you are frequently on cam, I recommend checking out the best webcams.

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition: Software and warranty

Apart from the usual suite of Windows 11 apps, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition ships with the Lenovo Vantage app, which you can use to see product details, warranty length, change device settings, modify online security, scan hardware, and update preferences.

The Lenovo Yoga 9i features a one-year limited warranty.

Bottom line

Unless you need more than an ultraportable laptop, there isn’t much reason why you shouldn’t get the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition. Between its battery life and punchy keyboard, and its OLED display and strong speakers, this thing is sure to be one of the best laptops I review this year. However, technically, the performance ain’t it, chief.

If you’re looking for a high performer with longer battery life for a similar or cheaper price, I recommend the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4. But if you're a Windows user, you need to be willing to make the switch to a MacBook.

Otherwise, if you’re not juggling an intensive workload, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is a great fit for any user.

I developed a love-hate relationship with Chromebooks a couple years after I started teaching; ChromeOS severely limits what programs I use to teach my interactive fiction class, but when the pandemic pushed us into distance learning, those Chromebooks gave my students without their own laptops the opportunity to attend class and keep up with assignments.

Two years later, when we were back in the classroom, those same Chromebooks were still useful in a pinch, but they had already started to show their age, which is why I wish I could wave a magic wand and replace them all with the Acer Chromebook Spin 312.

At a glance, it looks like a Windows laptop compared to the now seven-year-old Chromebooks I have in my classroom. Its keyboard, touchpad, and hardware components are all major upgrades, and I know my students would recognize and appreciate them. But our aging Chromebooks came into our classrooms during a literal crisis, likely with the help of federal emergency funds.

Who knows when my school — or any school — will have the funds to upgrade, but here’s why I’ll shout my recommendation for the Spin 312 for as long as it’s still around.

Out with the old

All of my school’s 2,200 Chromebooks — enough for every individual student — are Dell Chromebook 11 5190 laptops. With a price tag around $339, it came with an Intel Celeron N3450 (1.1GHz), 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of eMMC storage. My school opted for the clamshell form factor instead of the 2-in-1, but it did splurge for the touchscreen version.

Laptop Mag reviewed the Dell Chromebook 5190 shortly after its release in early 2018, and seven years later, I can attest to their durability. They've been knocked off desks and slammed into their charging carts, and yet most have only a few scraps or dings. But with each passing school year, I see fewer students grab one out of the cart when it's time to write, pulling their own out of their backpack instead. My students who do need to use one of the Chromebooks will sometimes come to me for tech support.

I've been asked to troubleshoot frozen laptops, ones that won't turn on even after being charged, that have run out of storage space, and that are running too slow. Aside from telling those students to grab another Chromebook or to close a bunch of browser tabs, there's not much I can do aside from flag the issues with the IT department. (Those moments are especially distressing when one of my students asks for help recovering their work.)

The other issue is the aging ChromeOS operating system itself. How long will Google keep rolling out long-term support updates for these devices? According to the company's auto update policy, the school's Chromebooks will receive automatic updates until June 2027. After that, the school will need to opt in to receive extended updates, assuming it still makes sense to keep most of those Chromebooks around.

In with the new

For $450, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 I recently reviewed comes with an Intel Core i3-N305 (3.80GHz), 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of eMMC storage. Like the Dell Chromebook, it features a touchscreen, but it’s a 2-in-1.

Comparing both laptops side by side is a trip: my eyes were the only testing equipment I needed to see that the Acer Chromebook boots up noticeably faster. With twice the amount of RAM and a much faster processor, it can handle more open Chrome browser tabs, and switching between them happens in the blink of an eye instead of a slow second.

The increase in storage space is the most crucial. Since these laptops stay in the classroom, multiple students use them throughout the day in every class, downloading assignments, reading material, and whatever else they need for that class period. (Can't forget about website data and browsing activity, either!) They save a surprising amount of data to the local storage, which fills up quickly.

This can be especially problematic if the school IT department partitioned the local storage in anticipation of the greatest number of separate users, or for a recovery image of ChromeOS. (Possibly both!)

Will the Chromebook frenzy continue?

With federal emergency funds for schools now exhausted, schools will need to figure out a way to fit new Chromebooks into their budget, or make the ones they have last as long as they can. These devices didn't solve all the problems distance learning presented, but they were the least expensive technological solution for getting through it.

There is one silver lining if schools opt to purchase new Chromebooks: they're still some of the best laptops for students on a budget, and their overall quality has improved drastically since the Dell Chromebook 11 5190.

Windows laptops are getting cheaper, and while I wish my school provided something like the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 Gen 7 to our students, the cost of the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 makes it a better option. Especially if my school buys 2,200 of them.

Convertible 2-in-1 laptops require a careful balance of performance, battery life, and stunning displays. Since they’re a hybrid device intended for a wide range of situations, we at Laptop Mag tend to be picky about our 2-in-1s.

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip stands out in this challenging landscape thanks to solid performance and power efficiency from its Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Lunar Lake chipset, a stunning OLED display, smooth iGPU gaming performance, access to advanced Copilot+ AI features, and an oversized touchpad.

It's a compelling combination that could earn it a spot among our best Asus laptops and best 2-in-1 laptops. However, it's not perfect; I was disappointed in its mushy keyboard, inconsistent bottom-firing speakers, and sub-par webcam.

But its excellent features made me forgive those minor flaws. Read on to see if it does the same for you.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Specs and benchmarks

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Price and configurations

There is only one configuration available for the Vivobook 16 Flip at the time of writing. Priced at $1,349, the Vivibook 16 Flip (TP3607) comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Lunar Lake processor with integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics and an Intel AI Boost NPU with up to 47 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) of AI power. Since the Vivobook 16 uses a Lunar Lake CPU, it features 32GB of memory-on-package, which cannot be upgraded. Asus also opted for a 1TB SSD and a 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, 120Hz OLED touchscreen display.

While $1,349 is a little pricey for a Vivobook, as far as 16-inch OLED convertibles go the pricing doesn’t feel unearned. The Vivobook 16 Flip does offer 32GB of memory and a 1TB SSD to boot.

If the 16-inch display is a bit too much screen space for you, Asus offers the Vivibook Flip in a 14-inch variant. This model starts at $999 and features an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor with integrated Intel Arc 130V graphics and an Intel AI Boost NPU with up to 40 TOPS of AI power. The Vivobook 14 Flip also comes with 16GB of memory-on-package, a 512GB SSD, and a 14-inch, 1920 x 1200, 60Hz OLED touchscreen.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Design

Asus’ Vivobook line typically skews for a minimalist design, and the 16 Flip is no different. With a Matte Grey colorway and subtle chrome Asus Vivobook badging, the 16 Flip can fit into most environments.

The Vivobook 16 Flip is a 2-in-1 convertible laptop with sturdy hinges. Asus put the Vivobook through the MIL-STD-810H tests, so it is durable enough to survive extreme high and low temperatures, exposure to moisture and dust, and low pressures. You shouldn’t have anything to worry about when flipping between tent, tablet, and laptop modes.

As for portability, the Vivobook 16 Flip is rather light and thin, measuring 13.98 x 9.62 x 0.67~0.69 inches and weighing 3.9 pounds. This isn’t the lightest or slimmest laptop we’ve ever reviewed, but it's easy enough to cart around in a bag or backpack.

It is a bit chunkier than non-convertible laptops, but it’s still slim enough to compare to other 16-inch laptops like:

• Acer Swift 16 AI (Intel): 14.0 x 9.8 x 0.39 inches, 3.5 pounds
• Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 (G7 QOY): 14.0 x 9.8 x 0.6 inches, 4.03 pounds
• Asus Zenbook S16 (UM5606): 13.92 x 9.57 x 0.47~0.51 inches, 3.3 pounds

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Ports

The Vivobook features a number of useful ports, with both USB Type-A and Type-C connections, so you shouldn’t worry about finding room for all your favorite accessories. The full list of ports includes:

• 1x Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort 1.4, power delivery)
• 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort 1.4, power delivery)
• 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
• 1x HDMI 2.1
• 1x Audio combo jack
• 1x MicroSD card reader

But if you plan to use the Vivobook to power your home office, you may want to invest in one of the best laptop docking stations or USB-C hubs so you can connect a monitor, keyboard, and mouse without losing all of your ports.

Unless you’d rather opt to cut the cord and go wireless for all your peripherals.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Battery life

Intel’s Lunar Lake processors are part of Intel’s Evo platform, designed for enhanced power efficiency, and the Vivobook 16 Flip falls in line. I used the 16 Flip during my average workday with battery to spare, though more demanding applications and downloads did eat into my battery life while I was setting up the Vivobook, leaving it at about 30% after 7 hours.

Once my test applications were downloaded and installed, it had much better battery survivability, with the Vivobook 16 Flip at 40% battery life remaining after my usual 8-hour workday, complete with some light Photoshop use, an hour of video calling, and the occasional game testing.

The Vivobook 16 Flip lasted 13 hours and 47 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test, which is pretty average for a Lunar Lake system. We have seen some Intel laptops hit the 18.5-hour battery life realm, but most tend to be in the 13-14-hour mark, including the Asus Zenbook S 14.

The Vivobook 16 Flip did outpace the AMD Ryzen AI-powered Zenbook S 16, which lasted 11:35, though the Vivobook was still well behind the Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7, which survived an astounding 21 hours on the same battery test.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Display

The Vivobook sports a glossy 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, 120Hz OLED touchscreen panel, which presents that lush, infinite contrast ratio. It also means the Vivobook isn’t quite as bright as some competitors, with a max brightness of just 356 nits, but that is more than enough to cut through most glare, though harsh overhead lights can still interfere.

Considering its 1800p OLED panel, I had high hopes for the 16 Flip. I used the trailer for Disney’s live-action remake of Lilo and Stitch for my display testing, and I was not let down. While Hawaii hardly needs any help to look stunning, the high contrast ratio of the OLED display and the vibrant colors added the right level of cartoon styling to the trailer. From the lush greenery and bright Pacific beaches to Stitch’s bright blue CGI fur, the trailer is a visual feast.

The Vivobook’s OLED display also held up well under our lab benchmarks, with a reported 84.4% DCI-P3 gamut coverage. This is pretty good, considering most of the competition doesn’t hit the 80% mark and that OLED color testing is skewed lower than it presents.

A solid display carries even more importance for a 2-in-1 as one of the reasons you’d buy a 2-in-1 is for entertainment. And if you’re looking for a quality laptop to power your next Netflix binge, the Vivobook 16 Flip has a display panel gorgeous enough to fit the bill.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Keyboard and touchpad

Asus kept to a rather minimalist keyboard deck for the Vivobook 16 Flip, though the laptop does feature a compact full-sized keyboard, including a number pad. The keys are nicely spaced apart, and each key supports a solid amount of key travel to keep your fingers from bottoming out.

Unfortunately, the membrane feels mushy, and there’s no satisfying click activation. After a bit of use, this bothered me less and less, but switching between the Razer BlackWidow v4 Pro keyboard I use at my office desk and the Vivobook was a consistently jarring experience. So unless you’re very picky about keyboard feel, the Vivobook’s membrane keyboard isn’t likely a huge drawback.

On the 10fastfingers.com advanced typing test, I averaged 85 words per minute (WPM), which is just below my 88 WPM average on the Apple MacBook Pro 14. So, there isn’t much of a learning curve, and I typed as accurately as I normally do.

My only complaint with the keyboard size is that the “Ctrl” key is so far to the left that I sometimes can’t quite hit it with my pinky finger, as my hands are on the smaller side. But that’s hardly an issue I run into when using a laptop.

The touchpad on the Vivobook 16 Flip is oversized, measuring 6.1 x 4 inches, and features a nice silky feel, so it's comfortable under my fingertips. It is a bit off-center because Asus put a numeric pad on the 16 Flip’s keyboard, and the touchpad is centered below the spacebar.

However, since the touchpad is so oversized, my fingers still meet its surface in the center of the keyboard deck. Only the bottom half of the touchpad has a physical click, while the top half of the touchpad accepts only tap and swipe controls. While this isn’t out of the ordinary, the physical input does have a deep travel, which makes the contrast more jarring than usual.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Audio

Laptop speakers won’t get you theater-quality audio. Top-firing speakers do offer a bit more fidelity, but the Vivobook 16 Flip features bottom-firing speakers that sit below the laptop’s beveled sides.

The speakers target the surface it sits on when in laptop mode. at your desk or table. In tablet mode, however, the speakers face the top cover of the display. So tent mode is ideal for streaming sessions, not only because it props up the display at a nice angle but also because it frees the Dolby-tuned Smart Amp speakers to get you more volume and better audio quality.

I queued up Allegaeon’s “The Swarm” for my audio deep-dive, and while the Vivobook 16 Flip wasn’t going to be replacing my soundbar anytime soon, it got enough volume to fill a room, though audio quality suffered at volumes above 80%.

The frenetic bass drum beats were still identifiable, but the guitar riffs and bass line blended into an unintelligible mess. Below 80%, it was easier to differentiate between instruments in the complex, technical melodic death metal track.

Of course, this was less of an issue with Chappell Roan’s new country single, “The Giver,” which still had solid sound separation between Chappell’s twangy vocals and the clean guitar melody.

If you want an immersive streaming experience with studio-quality sound, I’d recommend connecting a set of the best headphones rather than using the built-in speakers. But they’re enough to get the job done, especially when in tent mode.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Performance and heat

Intel’s Lunar Lake chipset targets power efficiency, which means it suffers a bit when put to the test in demanding, multicore tasks. But it can keep up with most people's web surfing, email use, and light photo editing.

I opened over 10 Chrome tabs and several videos while running a game download and Photoshop in the background on the Vivobook with little slowdown. And that was on battery power. Intel’s Lunar Lake CPU takes less of a hit on battery compared to its predecessors.

On power, the Vivobook’s performance is similar, if a little faster, with high-intensity tasks like object selection in Photoshop. There’s a slight load time on battery in isolating an object with the selection tool, but nothing that would interfere with your photo editing workflow.

While the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V isn't going to deliver one of the best video editing laptops, it’s more than powerful enough for those looking to buy a good 2-in-1 laptop for general use.

The Vivobook also keeps cool under pressure, hitting just 85.8 degrees Fahrenheit when streaming videos or gaming. So you’ll have no trouble resting it on your lap or bed next time you need to stream the entire new season of Only Murders in the Building.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Gaming and graphics

As a 2-in-1 convertible laptop, you aren’t going to confuse the Vivobook Flip 16 for one of the best gaming laptops, and we wouldn’t recommend it for Monster Hunter: Wilds any time soon. But we did put the Vivobook through some gaming tests in case you need an all-in-one laptop that can flex from work or school to streaming and gaming.

At this point, I’m practically a parody of my worst self when it comes to gaming. I opted to run a few dungeons in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail to test the Vivobook’s performance in a game I am overly familiar with. I’ve queued up this game on several Intel Arc 140V systems, so I knew what to expect.

At 1080p resolution and “Standard (Laptop)” graphic presets, I had no trouble running my daily Expert Dungeon and Trial roulettes. The framerates were smooth and stable above 30 fps, even with the newer Dawntrail content. Running around the Solution Nine hub city was a visual treat with all the flashy cyberpunk lights and chrome structures. My frame rates peaked at 60 fps but mostly remained in the 45-55 fps range.

I also pulled up my Act One save of Baldur’s Gate III, and the Vivobook did well at similar Medium, 1080p settings as usual. The Act One Emerald Grove environment looked lush, the framerates were stable, and even picking a fight with the Owlbear looked smooth. At least in terms of frames, my party’s survivability was less so.

Lunar Lake’s gaming performance is pretty solid on battery power, so you don’t have the usual gaming laptop fps drop when you disconnect from an outlet. While the Vivobook 16 Flip is not a gaming machine, it can hold its own.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): AI features

As an Intel Lunar Lake laptop, the Vivobook 16 Flip does have access to the full Copilot+ suite of features, including advanced Windows Studio camera effects, Live Captions, and CoCreator in Microsoft Paint.

I’m still not sold on the Copilot+ suite of AI offerings, but it is nice to see that functionality on laptops powered by Intel and AMD processors in addition to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X series.

You can also opt for Intel’s AI Playground as your chatbot and image generator of choice, which supports most large language models (LLMs), including DeepSeek and Microsoft Phi 4.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Webcam

The Vivobook’s 1080p camera features a privacy shutter and is suitable for the occasional video meeting, as well as Windows Hello secure sign-in. The feed will be a little grainy when pulled up full-screen on the Vivobook’s 1800p display, but it is clear when the feed is minimized for a standard video call.

While I didn’t notice much color bleed from the webcam, the colors were distorted, with an overemphasis on warmer tones and a muted quality to cooler colors. My face looked pinker than usual, while my teal hair faded into the white walls of the Laptop Mag office. This color distortion was worse in Google Meet than with the Windows Camera application.

If you intend to use the Vivobook for frequent video calls or virtual presentations, we recommend using one of our best webcams instead.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Software and warranty

Asus preloaded the Vivobook 16 Flip with a handful of apps like MyAsus, CapCut, StoryCube, ScreenXpert, and GlideX. You also get a number of Microsoft programs pre-installed with Windows 11 Home, including Copilot, Microsoft 365, and Clipchamp.

You’re not really dealing with bloatware from Asus on the Vivobook, though the number of Microsoft applications installed does edge into that territory for some.

Asus has included a 1-year limited warranty on the Vivobook Flip.

Bottom line

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip is not a perfect laptop. It has a mushy membrane keyboard and a slightly distorted webcam feed. Then there’s the bottom-firing speakers which can limit the volume and audio quality when in laptop mode.

That said, the Vivobook 16 Flip is a solid value. For just $1,349, you get a gorgeous 1800p OLED display, all-day battery life, reliable all-around performance, smooth iGPU graphics, and a responsive SSD. You can also access the full Copilot+ platform, Intel AI playground, an oversized touchpad, and a full-size keyboard.

It checks all the boxes we set for our best 2-in-1 laptops. It’s also durable and features an understated design that can fit in at the office. The only 2-in-1s you might consider over the Vivobook 16 Flip are the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024), which is our best overall 2-in-1 for good reason, or if you need a 2-in-1 for business, the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo might be the better option as it's a thinner and lighter solution designed for enterprise users and comes with the MSI Pen 2 alongside the laptop.

I might be addicted to Netflix documentaries. It could be a problem.

Recently, I started watching the one about Steph Curry and the Paris Olympics in my kitchen while cooking pasta. Apparently, having a 65-inch screen in my living room and another 55-inch in the den is not enough. I’m hooked.

Fortunately, I found the ideal laptop for watching movies and shows.

Choosing the gear

My main discovery is that this “third screen” option in the kitchen is more about having something to watch while cleaning up than a primary focal point. Here’s the laptop I chose, how to set everything up, and a few tips and tricks for making it work long-term in a room primarily intended for making tacos and enjoying conversation.

Having a laptop in the kitchen is a perk, not a privilege. In other words, the system must serve double duty as a productivity machine, in addition to Netflix entertainment, even if those documentaries are the primary purpose.

I picked the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 for several reasons. One is the price. At $949, the system is not exactly a budget model but also not overly expensive. It’s powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS, has 16GB of RAM and a 1TB drive.

That’s about the right level of speed and power for watching movies and shows, but it also allows you to stay productive in the kitchen by checking email and browsing the web. The 2-in-1 can fold up like a tent to look more like a television; when you flip the laptop upside-down, the screen automatically flips.

This model has a touchscreen, which makes it easy to select shows, pause, fast-forward, and adjust the volume. I also liked that its well-built aluminum chassis is not flimsy or cheap. While this is not a rugged laptop by any means, the Inspiron withstood a few splashes and food splatters just fine during my testing.

It also gets the nod for a long-lasting battery. When I'm in the kitchen, I usually move the laptop around to make room for bowls, plates, and chopping boards. That means I don't want to plug and unplug constantly. The laptop lasts about 10 hours, although when I used it for Netflix movies, it lasted more like five hours.

One final reason I liked this kitchen model is that the screen extends almost out the bezel. I remember when Dell first introduced that innovation a few years ago. It makes Netflix movies and shows pop a little more, filling the screen. Audio quality is acceptable but not overpowering. I could hear dialogue but would not pick this laptop for music playback — I already have an Alexa Echo Show.

Getting it all to work

My first recommendation for making this all work is downloading and installing the Windows app for Netflix. Once you start using the system in the kitchen, with the laptop sitting like a tent on a counter, you’ll want to avoid using a browser like Chrome. It’s a pain to flip the laptop back for typing, access Netflix.com, and then return to the tent position.

Instead, the Netflix app can sit on your desktop. You start the app by pressing the icon and can start watching your shows and movies. I also liked using the touchscreen in the kitchen to browse for documentaries. I found several by scrolling to the bottom of the window and looking through the documentary category.

The Inspiron is made more for business use than a consumer laptop that might have a rubber edge. Fortunately, even with the aluminum edges, the laptop sat perfectly still on a marble counter. I wondered if it would slide around if ingredients started flying around or the counter became slick, but it stayed put.

My only gripe with this model is that I wished the screen, at 14 inches, was slightly bigger. It’s always a trade-off, of course. A bigger screen would have meant a higher price, more weight, and less room on my countertops. While watching a WWII documentary where the filmmakers had colorized and enhanced the historical footage, I wished I was watching on a bigger screen. At that point, I just paused and watched the rest of the series on my 65-inch television in the living room.

That’s what makes the Inspiron 2-in-1 a good match for the kitchen. It meant I could start watching a show as background entertainment and even as a way to preview a show to see if I wanted to settle in and watch the whole series later.

For anything that would have been better with surround sound and a bigger screen, I marked the show or movie as a favorite and watched it later.

Other purposes in life

Of course, at the $949 price, you’ll want to lug the Inspiron with you for other purposes as well. I used the laptop at my local coffee shop several times, and I must say this is an excellent keyboard that reminds me of the 14-inch MacBook I own.

Since I’ve been testing gear since 2001, I’ve concluded that the keyboard is the primary feature on any laptop that makes it or breaks it for me. I use it all day for typing, and if the keyboard is not a good match, every other spec becomes less critical. I might be impressed by the crisp screen, the long battery life, and the performance, but if the keyboard layout and design are awkward and uncomfortable, the keys feel too springy or spongy, or the keyboard is too rigid, it’s always a pass.

In terms of that 10-hour battery life: I wonder how accurate that is. During my testing period, the laptop lasted more like 5-6 hours while watching Netflix shows and a little over six hours when I mostly used Google Docs and Chrome. Using this laptop in the kitchen is not a big deal — I've never been in that room for more than an hour or two. I wondered if someone picked this laptop for serious business or creative work and if they’d be surprised that the better life doesn’t match the specifications.

I enjoyed using the system in the kitchen. The screen is bright and colorful, the touchscreen is responsive, and the battery life was perfectly fine.

Because the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 is also a great business laptop, I found its dual purpose (entertainment and productivity) met my needs — and then some.

More from Laptop Mag

• Best Dell laptops in 2025: 5 top picks based on testing and reviews
• Dell is gunning for Apple with its new Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max laptops (yes, like that)
• Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 (Snapdragon X Plus) review: Marathon battery life, and it keeps its cool

Hunting for a detachable 2-in-1 laptop is tricky. They're technically tablets but support the operating system of a regular laptop and function generally the same, apart from the detaching keyboard. Unfortunately, there are few available.

The most popular is the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, but it's not exactly power-user-friendly, especially since its ARM-based chip excludes a number of the native Windows apps. However, I am here to tell you that you have another option: the Asus ROG Flow Z13. In case you are unfamiliar, ROG (Republic of Gamers), is the gaming line for Asus, so no surprise this detachable 2-in-1 is bigger and meaner, with AMD's latest power-hungry chipset.

But power isn't everything, and there are a few things the Surface Pro 11 gets right that the Flow Z13 doesn't. If we throw them in a ring, which one will come out on top? Let's find out.

Asus ROG Flow Z13 vs. Surface Pro 11: Pricing and configurations

These detachables are expensive, there's no way around that, but one of them gives you more value for your money.

We tested the $2,299 model of the Asus ROG Flow Z13, which comes with an AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 processor, an AMD Radeon 8060S iGPU, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 13.4-inch, 2560 x 1600, 180Hz IPS touchscreen display. It also comes with the detachable keyboard cover.

Meanwhile, our configuration of the Surface Pro 11 tablet alone is $1,499, which comes with the Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 processor, Qualcomm Adreno iGPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and a 13-inch, 2880 x 1920, 120Hz OLED display. Adding the Surface Pro Flex Keyboard with Slim Pen brings it up to $1,849.

If you look at it from a price-to-performance ratio, neither is a great deal, but the detachable 2-in-1 form factor makes both a unique proposition. Given that both put you close to $2,000, you might as well get the Asus ROG Flow Z13. Yes, I am aware that it's $450 more, but you're getting a significantly more powerful CPU, iGPU, RAM, and storage for that price gap, which is worth it.

The ROG Flow Z13 starts at $2,099, which drops you down to AMD Ryzen AI MAX 390. If you're looking for cheap, the lowest configuration of the Surface Pro 11 tablet alone is $899, but that configuration includes a much weaker Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 processor and an LCD screen. If you want the keyboard cover, it's an additional $150, putting you up to $1,050.

The Surface Pro 11 is cheaper, but particularly when considering the models we reviewed, the ROG Flow Z13 offers more value.

Winner: Asus ROG Flow Z13

Asus ROG Flow Z13 vs. Surface Pro 11: Design

While I do love the way the Asus ROG Flow Z13 looks, it is no competition against the Microsoft Surface Pro 11.

The Flow Z13 looks like a jumped straight out of Altered Carbon (I'm not over it, Netflix). It sports sci-fi-esque decals on the back alongside a RGB-lit glass pane and kickstand with a fancy prismatic tab on the bottom left. However, the device is mostly black. The Surface Pro 11 is rather minimalist but comes in black, silver, blue, and sand colorways.

The Surface Pro 11 is also much thinner and lighter, coming in at 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches and 1.97 pounds (2.6 pounds with keyboard). Meanwhile, the Flow Z13 stacks up to 11.81 x 8.03 x 0.51~0.59 inches 2.68 pounds (3.53 pounds with keyboard).

Thinner, lighter, and more colorful, the Surface Pro 11 takes it.

Winner: Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Asus ROG Flow Z13 vs. Surface Pro 11: Battery life

There isn't that much room to work with in a detachable, but both the Asus ROG Flow Z13 and Surface Pro 11 offer an impressive amount of battery life.

On the Laptop Mag battery test, which sets the machine to continuously surf the web over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness, the Flow Z13 survived 10 hours and 16 minutes, which is impressive for a gaming tablet. However, the Surface Pro 11 squeezed out 12 hours and 11 minutes. It's not that great considering it's a standard consumer laptop, but it is better.

Winner: Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Asus ROG Flow Z13 vs. Surface Pro 11: Display

This didn't go the way I expected it to go. The Asus ROG Flow Z13 sports a 13.4-inch, 2560 x 1600, 180Hz, IPS touchscreen display while the Surface Pro 11 comes in with a 13-inch, 2880 x 1920, OLED, 120Hz panel. The former sports the higher refresh rate we'd expect for a gaming rig but the latter offers higher resolution and OLED technology.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Flow Z13's display, as it was plenty bright and decently colorful. But despite not being built for gaming, the Surface Pro 11 got the experience down pat, getting 24% brighter and 40.9% more colorful.

If you really need that high refresh rate, the Flow Z13 is better for you. However, the Surface Pro 11's display is better in almost every way.

Winner: Microsoft Surface Pro 11

Asus ROG Flow Z13 vs. Surface Pro 11: Keyboard and touchpad

Thin and light laptops, detachable or no, typically come at the cost of their keyboards. So while the Asus ROG Flow Z13 is a bit of a chunker, its keyboard is superior to the Surface Pro 11.

The Flow Z13's keys are clicky, bouncy, and offer decent spacing to get you speeding through your work. The touchpad is also incredibly smooth and offers a strong click. Unfortunately, you'll have some issues while gaming because the keyboard is too deep into the chassis and too close to the touchpad.

In contrast, the Surface Pro 11's keys felt hollow and lacked clickiness. Your palms will never feel supported on its deck. Then there's the touchpad, which is too resistant and you can barely tell when the clicker is depressed.

Winner: Asus ROG Flow Z13

Asus ROG Flow Z13 vs. Surface Pro 11: Gaming and graphics

Ready to witness a murder? The Asus ROG Flow Z13 is rocking the all-new AMD Radeon 8060S iGPU whereas the Surface Pro 11 sports the Qualcomm Adreno iGPU. The former is a gaming tablet and the latter is a standard consumer device.

Unfortunately, we could not test more games on the Surface Pro 11, so we have only one point of comparison, and that's the Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm benchmark. But the results speak for themselves.

The Flow Z13 scored a whopping 127 frames per second (1600p, Medium) whereas the Surface Pro 11 couldn't even break the 30-fps minimum for playability. It managed only 21 fps, and that was at 1080p. The Surface Pro 11 couldn't escape this landslide.

Winner: Asus ROG Flow Z13

Asus ROG Flow Z13 vs. Surface Pro 11: Performance and heat

Measuring overall performance wasn't as brutal as the graphics comparison, but the Asus ROG Flow Z13's AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor still showed the Surface Pro 11's Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 CPU no mercy.

On the Geekbench 6 overall performance test, the Asus ROG Flow Z13 showcased a 34.8% advantage in performance versus the Surface Pro 11. When it came to transcoding a 4K video to 1080p on our HandBrake benchmark, the Flow Z13 completed it 46.7% faster. SSD speeds? A whopping 81% faster.

The Flow Z13 crushed the Surface Pro 11 in every test except the heat test. The Surface Pro 11's hottest temp reached 107 degrees Fahrenheit, which is slightly cooler than the Flow's 110 degrees.

Winner: Asus ROG Flow Z13

Overall winner: Asus ROG Flow Z13

The Asus ROG Flow Z13 and Surface Pro 11 are detachable 2-in-1 laptops with completely different goals, so it's tough to compare them 1-to-1. However, the premium detachable 2-in-1 market is so limited, if you're in the market for one you need to consider all options, and the Flow Z13 claims the overall victory.

You simply cannot beat the raw performance and graphics of the Asus ROG Flow Z13. It also offers an infinitely better keyboard. And even though it's more expensive, you're getting a much better price-to-performance ratio.

Despite that, the Surface Pro 11 is cheaper. For folks that aren't going to game, you'll get a better display and even a sleeker design. Just remember you can't drop to the cheapest Pro 11 configuration and still have that great display.

But overall, if I'm going to spend close to $2K, it better be able to play a terribly-performing game like Monster Hunter Wilds, which the Flow Z13 does incredibly well.

Winner: Asus ROG Flow Z13

Framework folds a new 12-inch laptop into its portfolio today, literally — it’s a 2-in-1, and it seems kinda cool, but I am already hesitant about one thing.

Framework is famous for its user-based upgradable, customizable, and fixable laptops. It’s just a fact of nature that laptops will give out a lot sooner than the average desktop. Well, at least, it’s harder to deal with individual issues. Framework laptops cut out all of the stress and put the power in your hands.

The Framework Laptop 12 is the company’s first 12.2-inch convertible laptop and it’s marketed as a budget notebook, set to launch sometime in mid-2025 with pre-orders opening in April. However, we don’t know the starting price just yet.

There's just one thing: The size is a concerning factor when we’re talking about durability, but something tells me Framework considered that.

However, what I am concerned about is the quality of the keyboard and touchpad. It may feature a satisfying click and smooth surface, but does it have enough room? Unfortunately, we don’t know the size, but we know what it looks like.

Everything we know about the Framework Laptop 12

First things first, what is Framework offering in its new convertible laptop? Well, the Framework Laptop 12 can be outfitted with a 13th Gen Intel Core i3 or i5 processor and up to 48GB of DDR5-5200 RAM, 2TB of NVMe SSD storage, and Wi-Fi 6E. Framework marketing the Laptop 12 as a budget notebook left me concerned about the display quality, but apparently the 1920 x 1200 panel will feature over 400 nits of brightness with touch and stylus support. The overall specs seem up to snuff from afar.

All that will come in a sleek chassis and with an optional stylus in five different colorways, including black, white, pink, green, and purple. Framework has “overmolded shock-absorbing TPU over rigid PC/ABS plastic with an inner metal structure,” which translates to: It’s durable. Framework claims that if a user even manages to break it, it’s apparently the easiest product in its lineup to repair.

Unfortunately, we don’t know much more about the Framework Laptop 12. However, we’ve received a photo of someone typing on it, and I’m already concerned about the comfort. I’ve recently written about how I love a good 13-inch laptop, but the size can make or break them. 13-inch laptops like Dell XPS 13, which come in at 11.62 x 7.84 inches, are too small and require some strain to type swiftly and accurately. I don’t even know what a 12-inch laptop would feel like.

There’s only so much length and width you could expand upon on deck before you bump up display sizes. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure people could benefit from having a smaller laptop. However, if this is the only budget option that Framework has on offer, it’s severely limiting to those who need a larger notebook without the funds to get there.

Again, we haven’t received size and weight just yet, so it could be perfectly fine. And we also need to get our hands on it to determine if the keyboard and touchpad experience are satisfying to begin with.

Regardless, it’s always exciting when Framework puts out laptops because it’s pretty antithetical to how the consumer tech industry currently operates. And going against the grain is how technology flourishes.

2-in-1 laptops attempt to bridge the gap between tablets and traditional clamshell laptops by offering a 360-degree hinge and touchscreen display. Because 2-in-1s are a hybrid system, they often do have a compromise or two to make.

I recently got my hands on the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo, a solid business laptop. The Summit offers great battery life, solid performance, a vivid display, and a satisfying keyboard. The Summit's only downsides are a cramped keyboard and poor audio quality.

Because of its strengths as a business convertible, the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo deserves its 4.5-star rating. But how does it compare to our Best 2-in-1 laptop, the HP Spectre x360 14?

MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo vs. HP Spectre x360 14: Pricing and configurations

The Summit is a business laptop, but its starting price is pretty affordable at $1,499 for an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Sure, it isn't a bargain, but we typically see business laptops priced at high individual rates because they're intended to be bought in a fleet of hundreds.

Our upgraded review unit with a 2TB SSD costs only $1,599. Additionally, both models of the Summit come with the MSI Pen2 stylus.

Pricing was one of the major drawbacks of the Spectre x360 when we reviewed it, as our review configuration cost $1,858 while the starting configuration cost $1,468 for an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor with 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD.

However, you can find the Spectre on sale at HP for $1,199 for the Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB model. This is a pretty solid bargain if you can grab it.

While it is a great deal, the Spectre is running a last-gen Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor. Meanwhile, the Summit features a new Intel Core Ultra 7 258V CPU. So if you miss the sale on the Spectre or if you want one of the latest Intel processors, the Summit makes the better overall choice from a pricing and configuration standpoint.

Winner: MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo (A2VM)

MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo vs. HP Spectre x360 14: Design

Both the HP Spectre and the MSI Summit have contrast metal lining the outside edges of the chassis.

This luxe detailing gives both 2-in-1 laptops a premium feel, and it looks gorgeous. But the HP Spectre x360 is the primogenitor of this look, and HP nails the details with the Spectre logo on the hinges and the sliced-off edges. HP also offers a few different color options for the Spectre, while the Summit sticks to the black and brass contrast.

The Spectre is easily portable, measuring 12.4 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches and weighing 3.2 pounds. However, the Summit is a bit smaller and lighter, measuring 11.82 x 8.75 x 0.64 inches and weighing 2.9 pounds. Of course, the Summit is a 13-inch laptop compared to the Spectre's 14-inch chassis, so that will account for some of the weight difference.

If you're looking for a convertible with the slickest design, the HP Spectre is the clear choice.

Winner: HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)

MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo vs. HP Spectre x360 14: Battery life

The MSI Summit 13 houses one of Intel's most efficient processors to date, which is to say the Intel Core Ultra 200V Lunar Lake series. We have seen fantastic battery life from this chipset and the Summit is no different. Lasting almost 17 hours of battery life on the Laptop Mag battery test, the Summit offers battery life that will get you well beyond a full workday.

After all, the HP Spectre x360 lasted 11 hours and 1 minute on the same battery test, which is well behind the Summit's 16 hours and 52 minutes of battery life.

So while both 2-in-1 laptops will get through an 8-hour workday, you won't have to worry about running out of battery if you leave the Summit's charger at home. Meanwhile, the HP might struggle to keep up with your workload if you tend to do more than answer emails and work on spreadsheets all day.

Winner: MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo (A2VM)

MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo vs. HP Spectre x360 14: Display

Because of their nature as convertible laptops, 2-in-1s need good displays. After all, one of the main selling points of these laptops is their ability to function as entertainment systems in place of a tablet.

While neither the Spectre nor the Summit will be winning any awards for having the most colorful display we've ever tested, both feature decently accurate panels measuring at least 85% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. The Spectre x360 does have a slightly more vibrant display, measuring 85.8% coverage versus the Summit 13's 85%. That's a realistically unnoticeable difference.

In terms of brightness, the Summit and Spectre both hit 366 nits of peak average brightness. So both these glossy-panel 2-in-1s are bright enough to cut through most glare, though nothing super noteworthy.

The only real difference in display quality between these two laptops is panel type. MSI opted to use a more budget-friendly gloss IPS display while HP put a more premium OLED panel in the Spectre.

Winner: HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)

MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo vs. HP Spectre x360 14: Performance and heat

The one downside to Intel's Lunar Lake chipset is performance. It's an incredibly efficient processor, but it can't hold up to the raw power of the Meteor Lake Intel Core Ultra 100H series.

So if you need strong performance, the HP Spectre x360 with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H outperforms the Summit 13 AI+ Evo's Intel Core Ultra 7 258V in multithread performance.

The Spectre x360 and Summit 13 AI+ Evo both offer enough performance to handle general work tasks and don't hit any bottlenecks with dozens of Google Chrome tabs and YouTube videos open. So you aren't getting a bad processor either way, but the Spectre x360 has a slight edge on CPU power.

Both 2-in-1s get a little warm, with peak temperatures of 101.5 and 101.7 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a bit above our comfort threshold of 95 degrees. But neither convertible will be singeing your fingerprints off.

Winner: HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)

Overall winner: HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)

Both the HP Spectre and the MSI Summit are quality 2-in-1 convertibles. We gave both laptops a 4.5 out of 5 stars for very good reasons.

While the HP Spectre x360 14 does edge out the Summit by virtue of stronger performance and an OLED display panel, there are some good reasons to opt for the Summit instead.

If you want a newer CPU and longer battery life, the Summit 13 AI+ Evo is the 2-in-1 to buy.

But overall, the HP Specter x360 is a beast and is currently on sale, making it a fantastic bargain.

Winner: HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)

I reviewed the first iteration of the Asus Zenbook Duo last year and was blown away by the seamless incorporation of its dual-display technology. Ideal for productivity, and just a fun feature to play with in general, the additional panel hidden beneath its detachable keyboard came together excellently.

Asus' 2025 refresh of the Zenbook Duo utilizes the same core design, but now brings the latest Arrow Lake processor, Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, to the same chassis. This is a refresh, meaning the major changes come in only the performance and battery life.

In other words, it's still the same great laptop, although it does suffer in one key avenue as a result of its new processor. Regardless, it's still among the best touchscreen laptops out there.

Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Specs and benchmarks

Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Price and configurations

The Asus Zenbook Duo 2025 is a refresh of last year's model of the same name, featuring one of the new Arrow Lake processors, particularly the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H CPU and integrated Intel Arc 140T graphics. Our model costs $1,699 at Amazon and is built with 1TB of SSD storage, 32GB of RAM, and dual 2,880 x 1,800-pixel resolution OLED touchscreens at 120Hz refresh rate.

Alternative models include a base $1,599 unit built with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265H processor and a downgrade to a 1,920 x 1,200-pixel resolution panel. And the final model is similar to the unit we reviewed but costs $1,699, upgrading the SSD storage to 2TB while reducing the OLED panel down to 1,920 x 1,200p.

Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Design

Pulling the Zenbook Duo out of its box reveals what looks like nothing more than an ordinary 2-in-1 laptop, bolstered by the sturdiness of its aluminum chassis that gives it a premium feel.

Lifting the lid reveals its deck, and those who are none the wiser probably wouldn't even realize that a hidden screen lies underneath the keyboard (although the deck is notably thick, so keen observers will immediately note its bulk).

Lifting the detachable keyboard is easiest at the top edges, as trying to pry it up from the bottom will prove a difficult task since the magnet is at the lower center.

On the base of the Zenbook Duo is a firm stand that can prop the deck up. When extending the hinge and keeping the laptop upright, one screen can sit above the other. This is when utilizing its detachable keyboard is ideal, and it works perfectly.

My only criticism of the Zenbook Duo's design is that the hinges of its top display are a little wobbly, but since it's not a 2-in-1 laptop, that's to be expected.

The Zenbook Duo weighs 3.8 pounds and measures 12.3 x 8.6 x 0.6~0.8-inches, which is notably heavy and thick for a 14-inch laptop, but it's all a result of its dual-display feature.

Here's how it compares to the competitors:

• Asus Zenbook Duo (2024) — 12.3 x 8.6 x 0.6~0.8 inches, 3.6 pounds
• HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) — 12.4 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches, 3.2 pounds
• LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 — 14.1 x 10 x 0.49~0.51 inches, 3.08 pounds

Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Ports

While the Zenbook Duo 2025 isn't necessarily packed with ports, its inclusion of two Thunderbolt 4 and an HDMI 2.1 allows more than enough breathing room for most users.

• 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
• 2x Thunderbolt 4 with support for display / power delivery (data speed up to 40Gbps)
• 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS
• 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack

If you find yourself needing more USB Type-A ports or aren't happy with its selection of ports in general, our best USB Type-C hub or best laptop docking station can add any port you might need.

Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Battery life

There's not much difference between last year's model of the Zenbook Duo and this year's model, but with a new processor, its power efficiency will shift for better or worse. Unfortunately, in this case, it's for the worse.

On the Laptop Mag battery life test, which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits, the Asus Zenbook Duo lasted 8 hours and 39 minutes before running out of juice. We usually set 8 hours as our bare minimum before we recommend against a laptop for its longevity, but the Zenbook Duo 2025 is cutting it close. It's especially damning considering last year's model lasted 10 hours and 34 minutes on the same test.

Two hours shorter in battery life between generations isn't great, and that's not even considering the longevity with the second display on: With the second display active, the Zenbook Duo 2025 lasts 6 hours and 5 minutes, versus last year's 8 hours and 22 minutes.

Some things to keep in mind, however: The model we tested last year utilized an Ultra 7, while this year's model boasts an Ultra 9. Beyond just that, these displays are higher resolution at 2880 x 1800-pixel resolution rather than 1920 x 1200, so that could have an impact on battery life.

Regardless of the comparisons, just barely hitting over eight hours is pretty disappointing.

Here's a look at how the Asus Zenbook Duo 2025's result stacks up against its actual competitors:

Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Display

Dual-displays may seem like overkill in a laptop, especially when we're all used to them having a single display, but it can be vital for improving productivity. Beyond just being able to work on two screens at once, it's even great when you want to have some fun. As someone who used last year's model of the Zenbook Duo to run a tabletop roleplaying game campaign, the laptop's two displays and detached keyboard provided plenty of room to plot and plan the demise of my adventurers.

Thankfully, Asus has ensured you're getting something pretty great out of both screens. Each panel is a 2880 x 1800 OLED touchscreen with solid color coverage, but its display brightness leaves a bit to be desired. While it won't be anywhere near high enough to handle areas caked in direct sunlight, it'll be fine in a well-lit room.

I watched a trailer for Dog Man and adored how the Zenbook Duo's OLED display portrayed the vibrant city streets and buildings, as every color from the red brick buildings to the purple cloudy sky appears distinct and pops beautifully.

Here's how the Asus Zenbook Duo 2025's display performed in our lab tests against its competitors:

Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Keyboard and touchpad

Built with an easily detachable keyboard that magnetically slots onto the deck seamlessly, the Zenbook Duo 2025 isn't held down by its primary feature. Its keyboard even supports a dedicated charging slot, and through a simple flick of a switch on the side, you can activate Bluetooth mode. My only criticism of the keyboard is that it utilizes half-sized arrow keys.

I took the 10fastfingers typing test and achieved an amazing score of 123 words per minute at 100% accuracy. The concept of a detachable keyboard will make you wonder if it feels cheaper than the regular laptop's keyboard, but rest assured, each key is satisfyingly clicky.

The 5.1 x 2.9-inch touchpad feels smooth to use, and multi-finger gestures like swapping between tabs and minimizing windows work without issue. However, it suffers from the same issues most do, as its top portion isn't clickable. Otherwise, it

Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Audio

Built with bottom-firing speakers that are so much louder than you are ready for, the Zenbook Duo 2025 boasts a solid audio system that won't disappoint. But it can get a bit muddy when multiple sounds are playing at once.

I listened to "Loved You Before" by Peach PRC. At 60% volume, I was shocked at the volume of the speaker system, which was already at a comfortable listening level for my small office. At 100% volume, it's loud, but the elements of the song begin to mesh together, from the backing percussion to the vocals.

If you don't want to use an external audio solution, the Zenbook Duo 2025's built-in speakers are a pretty solid option. However, nothing can replace the best headphones.

Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Performance and heat

The Zenbook Duo 2025's launch is justified by the presence of that shiny new Arrow Lake processor, refreshed inside the same Duo we saw last year. Thus, it's built with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. If you want your Duo to be powered by the latest and greatest processor, this is the model you'll want.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285H managed a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 16,048 inside the Duo 2025, compared against last year's model achieving a multi-core score of 12,873 with its Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU. When comparing its performance to an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU, which is the high-end processor of the previous generation, the Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 managed a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 13,653 with that chip.

While that additional boost in power is welcome, it has seemingly had a negative impact on the battery life, as it lasted a little less than two hours shorter in the 2025 model.

The Zenbook Duo does get a bit warm, but it won't burn your legs to a crisp, as its underside stayed at around 87 degrees Fahrenheit with the dual displays on. However, its hottest point at the center underside, above the kickstand hinge, did get pretty spicy at 99 degrees, which is above our 95-degree comfort threshold. In my own testing, the laptop never got hot enough for me to notice, nor are its fans particularly loud.

Here's how the Asus Zenbook Duo 2025 performed in our real-world and lab tests compared to its competitors:

Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Gaming and graphics

Looking to primarily play games? Don't invest in the Zenbook Duo. Stop reading and check out our best gaming laptops. We still tested its gaming capabilities regardless, especially as we're curious how well Intel's integrated graphics improve with each generation.

The Zenbook Duo is built with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor and Intel Arc 140T integrated graphics with 16GB of VRAM. And it performed miles better than the competition, and even last year's Duo, playing Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm at 56 frames per second on Medium, 1080p settings. Getting so close to a full 60 fps on integrated graphics is impressive, especially when last year's Duo got only an average of 34 fps on the same test.

Here's how the Asus Zenbook Duo 2025 performed in a few of our typical game benchmarks compared to the competition:

Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: AI features

Powered by the shiny new Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor utilizing the Intel AI Boost NPU with 13 peak TOPS (trillions of operations per second). The NPU is utilized throughout Microsoft's 365 Suite to help assist you with the use of AI.

The Duo comes with a Copilot button that allows the user to quickly access Windows 11's built-in AI, alongside boasting additional applications like Live Translations, Image Creator, Background Removal, and more.

Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Webcam

Featuring a simple 1920 x 1080 webcam, the Zenbook Duo doesn't do particularly great in this department.

I took a photo of myself in my office, and the pink of my wall and the shades of various wall art appeared a bit muted and undersaturated. At the very least, the image wasn't overly blurry, making it a decent choice if you just need something for conferencing. Be sure to check out our best webcams if you want something better.

Asus Zenbook Duo 2025: Software and warranty

The Zenbook Duo uses Windows 11 as its operating system and offers the all-encompassing MyAsus application.

MyAsus allows the user to monitor battery, CPU load, memory usage, available storage space, system information (like its serial number), warranty service, and more. Device settings include the ability to add battery care options, change fan profiles, modify how much memory is allocated to the integrated GPU, add noise canceling or change audio modes, activate OLED care, and much more.

The Asus Zenbook Duo ships with a standard 1-year warranty.

Bottom line

2025's Zenbook Duo refresh still boasts the same great dual-display implementation, colorful OLED display, loud speakers, and clicky keyboard bolstered by the presence of an ultrapowerful Arrow Lake processor. But that same boon comes with a caveat, as the battery life suffers, coming in nearly two hours shorter than last year's model.

It's hard to recommend anything quite similar to the Asus Zenbook Duo, so even with its flaws, it's still an excellent choice all around. If you'd like something similar, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i boasts nearly a four-hour longer battery life. But if you look past its longevity issues, the Zenbook Duo is still great.

Update Feb. 10 at 11:48 a.m. ET: This HP Envy x360 15 has expired. Alternatively, you can get the HP Envy x360 14 for $879 ($320 off).

This week's HP's Presidents' Day sale features an exclusive deal on one of its top-rated laptops. If you're on the hunt for a versatile personal computer, the HP Envy x360 15 holds its own against today's best 2-in-1 laptops.

During HP's sale, you can get the HP Envy x360 15 for just $849. That's a massive savings of $400 and the lowest price I could find for this HP laptop (model: (15-fe1097nr). As a deals guru, I track sales everyday and this is one of the best laptop deals for the money.

The HP Envy x360 features a convertible 360-degree hinge design, powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, and dual top-firing DTS:X Ultra speakers. Plus, it supports HP's Active Pen which lets you conveniently take notes, sketch, and mark up documents on the fly.

In our HP Envy x360 review, we rated it 3 out of 5 stars and liked its comfortable keyboard and touchpad. Our review unit's performance was underwhelming, however a Windows 11 update has apparently fixed the issues. The HP Envy x360 has an average customer review rating of 4.3 out 5 stars on HP's landing page. Satisfied owners praise the laptop's powerful performance, vibrant display, responsive touchscreen, and solid build quality.

If you prioritize those aforementioned attributes in a 2-in-1 laptop, the HP Envy x360 is worth a look. Especially with this tempting $400 discount.

Today's best HP Envy x360 15 deal

Black Friday is long gone from our rearview mirrors, and Cyber Monday is fading into a distant dot on the horizon. However, I'm something of a nostalgic type when it comes to thinking back to the good old days of just this past Monday when I was able to save hundreds of dollars on some incredible laptops, and it seems Best Buy is, too.

Relive the heights of Black Friday and Cyber Monday in this ongoing deal from Best Buy that sees the awesome 16-inch HP Envy x360 2-in-1 laptop on sale for just $649 — a cool $450 off its regular $1,099 asking price, and a fantastic opportunity to net yourself a versatile touchscreen convertible laptop powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 processor with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage for less.

Not a fan of AMD processors? You can grab the same laptop with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor at a steep discount too. Best Buy is also slashing the price on the Intel Core Ultra-powered 16-inch HP Envy x360 2-in-1 down to just $699 — a brilliant $400 saving on an excellent AI PC.

Both configurations offer the 2-in-1 form factor for effortless switching between laptop and tablet modes, and a striking 16-inch 2K WUXGA (1920 x 1200) touchscreen. Intel or AMD, this is a brilliant laptop for everyday use and one of my favorite Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals revived. Grab it while you can, you won't regret it.

Today's best HP Envy x360 16, 2-in-1 laptop deal

Cyber Monday is over, and some of the best deals are still available today, but there's only a short time left to lay claim to them. The clock is ticking on some huge savings this year, and we don't want you to miss out on the best of them, like this $568 Amazon Cyber Monday discount on the LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 laptop, now at its lowest-ever price to date of only $1,531.

This impressive laptop is among the select few to win Laptop Mag's highly-coveted Editor's Choice award in 2024, offering solid Intel Core Ultra 7 performance alongside the stunning visuals made possible by its vivid 16-inch OLED touchscreen display. The highlighted configuration offers 32GB of RAM and a whopping 2TB of SSD storage. More than enough for years of use and archiving of photos, videos, apps, and documents.

There's also a more modest configuration available that sees the LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 available for just $1,199 at LG. This configuration offers the same 16-inch touchscreen OLED panel and Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, though trims the specs to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage for a saving of $600.

If you're looking for something even lighter on the wallet, then be sure to check out this $900 off deal on the 13th Gen Intel Core i7-powered LG Gram 16 2-in-1 for only $999 at Amazon. This configuration ditches the OLED panel and trims the storage to just 1TB, but it retains the same 32GB of RAM.

However, if you want peak performance in a machine that is built to accommodate you and all your data for years to come, let's dive deeper into our highlighted deal on the LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1.

Today's best LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 extended Cyber Monday deal

With Black Friday having come and gone, Cyber Monday is your last chance to save big on some of the best laptops on the market, including this 16-inch, AI-ready HP Envy x360 2-in-1 now just $649 at Best Buy.

This deal sees Best Buy slice $450 off of the HP Envy x360's regular asking price of $1,099, an enormous saving on a popular laptop that offers impressive performance and versatility thanks to its 2-in-1 design.

That 2-in-1 design means you can fold the Envy x360's screen the entire way back, giving you multiple options for how to use it. You can use it as a traditional laptop or as a tablet or in a tent-like display mode to great effect due to its sizeable 16-inch touchscreen display.

Under the hood, the HP Envy x360 packs a powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU with Intel Graphics alongside 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. Frankly, this is a fantastic Cyber Monday laptop deal on a lauded laptop that is perfect for everyday use. Let's take a closer look at the deal.

Today's best HP Envy x360 16 Cyber Monday deal

Convertible laptops are underrated. Having a 2-in-1 device that can act as a laptop when you need to get some work done and a tablet when you're ready to stream your favorite show is incredibly helpful. Plus, you're only paying for and needing to keep up with a single device rather than two.

Right now, you can pick up Lenovo's latest IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 for only $699 when you buy it through Staples. This configuration was just announced in August, and it regularly costs $899, so this is a $200 discount on a laptop that's only been available for a few months.

We haven't reviewed this particular laptop, but many of Lenovo's previously launched 2-in-1 and Snapdragon laptops have earned strong reviews from us. Lenovo generally constructs its 2-in-1 devices well, with sturdy hinges and a solid build.

This particular IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 configuration is equipped with a vibrant 14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) OLED display, 16GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus (X1P-42-100) 8-core CPU. The laptop also features integrated Qualcomm Adreno graphics and an integrated Qualcomm Hexagon NPU.

With a Snapdragon X Plus chip and the integrated NPU, this Copilot+ PC is ready to take on all the AI-powered tasks you throw at it. Customers who've purchased this configuration on Lenovo's site have praised its AI abilities, as well as its overall performance and outstanding battery life.

If you're ultimately looking for a convertible laptop with a color-rich OLED display, strong performance, and great battery life, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 is a smart pick. Or, if you want to check out your other options first, take a look at the other best Black Friday laptop deals we've rounded up for alternatives.

Today's best Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 deal

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I love a good 2-in-1 laptop, particularly Lenovo's Yoga 2-in-1 series. In fact, my daily driver laptop for years has been the Yoga 9i OLED 2-in-1, and I absolutely love it.

Today's deal isn't for my daily laptop configuration (though you can pick up a Yoga 9i OLED 2-in-1 for just $1,299 right now) but for an even more affordable configuration from Lenovo's Yoga 7i series.

It's true, you can pick up a 16-inch Yoga 7i 2-in-1 through Lenovo for only $769.

When you read these specs, you'll be even more amazed at how low Lenovo has priced this laptop for Black Friday.

It's equipped with Intel's Core Ultra 5 125U processor, which performed well during tests in our 16-inch Yoga 7i 2-in-1 review. Although its 9,415 Geekbench 6.1 score fell a bit short of the premium laptop average, the laptop "kept up well and never felt sluggish," even with 10+ browser tabs open, Laptop Mag reported then.

This Lenovo Yoga 7i config also features 16GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and a 16-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS touchscreen display with 300 nits max brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate. These components worked together to help the laptop last 11 hours and 24 minutes in our battery test, well beyond the premium laptop average of 10 hours and 7 minutes.

The smaller 14-inch Yoga 7i 2-in-1 we reviewed had a similarly impressive battery life, lasting 12 hours and 57 minutes. In this review, we also positively noted the laptop's "minimalist aesthetic that never fails to please," silky trackpad, and "clicky, satisfying, and well-sized" keyboard. You'll find all of those same features on the larger 16-inch model.

All in all, the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is an excellent pick if you're stuck between getting a laptop and a tablet. It performs well, lasts quite a while on a single charge, and its keyboard offers a rewarding typing experience.

If you're not convinced the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is the right pick for you (or you want to browse before making a final decision), check out the other best Black Friday laptop deals we've rounded up for alternatives.

Today's best Lenovo Yoga 7i deal

Black Friday is here and there's no shortage of amazing deals to get ourselves lost in, and if you're not careful, you'll end up losing the contents of your wallet, too. In this case, we're looking at my personal favorite line of laptops ever: The Lenovo Yoga series.

I called the Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 8) a "masterful 2-in-1" and firmly stand by it being my favorite laptop of 2023. While the 2024 Yoga 9i missed the mark compared to last year's model, it was still excellent and reminded me of why these laptops are my favorite: A gorgeous, vivid OLED display, long-lasting battery life, a beautiful aluminum chasis, sturdy exterior, performance that won't disappoint.

Now that Black Friday is here, we're seeing steep discounts on all sorts of Lenovo Yoga laptops, and it's absolutely blowing us away. For example, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16-inch is currently available for $499 at Best Buy. This is $400 off its original price, and turns an impressive mid-range laptop into something only budget buyers could get their hands on.

There's plenty of other Lenovo Yoga laptops seeing great discounts, so let us jump right into them.

Best Lenovo Yoga laptop Black Friday deals

Black Friday isn't for another two weeks, however, select AI-driven Dell 2-in-1 laptops are already on sale. If you're looking for a price break on a convertible laptop for school or work, here's a deal worth your while.

For a limited time, you can get the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (7640) for just $799 directly from Dell. Normally priced at $1,149, that's $350 in savings and one of the best pre-Dell Black Friday deals available this week.

Shop: Dell Black Friday deals

In terms of price history, this is the biggest discount I've seen on this Dell 2-in-1 AI PC since its January 2024 launch. Although we didn't get our hands on this latest release, we put its predecessor through our extensive testing.

In our Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 (7620) review, it earned 4 out of 5 stars thanks to its premium design, strong performance, and bright display. It lasted more than 13 hours in our Laptop Mag Battery Test which entails continuous surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness.

If you prioritize versatility and want to streamline your workload, the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 is a wise choice. Especially at this Black Friday-worthy deal price.

Today's best Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 laptop deal

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The 2024 Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 is a touchscreen 2-in-1 laptop for productivity and play. If you want to take advantage of this week's early holiday deals on laptops, here's one worth your while.

Today only, you can grab the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 for $479 at Best Buy. This limited-time deal knocks $200 off its $680 list price and undercuts Target's current price by $40.

Outside of the 2023 IdeaPad Flex 5i (model 82R7004KUS) which dipped to $436, this is the lowest price I could find on this 7th-generation release (82R700L5US).

At $200 off, this is one of the best Black Friday 2-in-1 laptop deals to snag early.

While we didn't get a chance to review it, the IdeaPad Flex 5i is highly rated among users. Since its March 2024 launch, it has earned a feedback rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from satisfied Best Buy customers. Owners praise the laptop's smooth performance, responsive touchscreen, and battery life. Integrated into its design is a fingerprint reader for fast and secure logins.

Powered by Windows Home in S mode, the IdeaPad Flex 5i is streamlined for security and speed.

This deal ends on Nov. 8 at 12:45 a.m. ET.

Today's best Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i deal

More from Laptop Mag

• 35 best early Black Friday deals of 2024: Top discounts
• 17 best early Black Friday laptop deals in November 2024

Black Friday is more than a month away, but we're already finding deep discounts at the same level as you'd expect from the perennial holiday season sales event. Today we highlight the HP Envy 2-in-1 with Windows Copilot+ at Best Buy, available for a limited time with a massive 40% discount.

At $400 off its regular price, this laptop carries one of the deepest discounts we've seen on a laptop in this price range and one of the deepest discounts we've seen on a Copilot+ PC so far. And it's one of most rare discounts we've seen this season.

Snag the 14-inch HP Envy 2-in-1 for $699 at Best Buy (model 14-fc0023dx, also referred to as the HP Envy x360). This configuration integrates Windows Copilot+ AI, and it's packed with a powerful complement of components, among them a 14th-generation Intel Core Ultra 7 155U processor, Intel Arc Xe graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 1 TB SSD. Those specs are plenty for productivity tasks including heavy spreadsheet work, casual gaming and e-sports, and performing basic photo and video edits. 

The advantage of this HP Envy 2-in-1 lies with this laptop's hinged you can use this laptop in a variety of positions. The WUXGA IPS (1,920 x 1,200) touchscreen can flip around to use in tent mode or as a tablet. This model weighs 3.08 pounds, making it light enough to tote around all day in a backpack without breaking your back. 

We reviewed an earlier iteration of this laptop and gave it 4 stars for its performance and design (including an excellent clicky keyboard).

The HP Envy 2-in-1 at Best Buy is just one of many great laptop deals we've scouted this month. We will continue to update that list with more Black Friday-level deals as we get closer to the main Black Friday event in November.

Today's best HP Envy 2-in-1 deal

One product I can definitively state has been my favorite throughout my years of testing and reviewing laptops: The Lenovo Yoga 9i. With the 2024 model, the company continued to solidify why this series is the best of the best, yielding a thin, light, powerful, and beautiful 2-in-1 laptop that would be the laptop I'd buy for myself. And while October Prime Day is over, it's still on sale at Lenovo!

The Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9) is currently available for $1,099 at Lenovo, which is $350 (or 24%) off its original price of $1,449. This is the base model, built with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, Intel Arc integrated graphics, 16GB of LPDDR5X-7467MHz RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and a 14-inch, 2,880 x 1,800-pixel OLED touch display at 120Hz.

When I reviewed the Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9), I fell in love with its stunning OLED panel, Intel Ultra 7 performance, thin and sturdy chassis, clicky keyboard, and powerful speakers. It is the ultimate choice for those want a sleek 2-in-1, and while its battery life left a bit to be desired, it doesn't stop it from still being my favorite series of laptops.

Best Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9) October Prime Day deal

HP Envy 2-in-1 laptops are excellent travel companions with enough power to handle your work and school tasks, all while remaining pretty affordable even at their base prices. I absolutely loved the previous HP Envy x360 2-in-1 that I reviewed, and during October Prime Day, some of the best HP Envy 2-in-1 laptops are seeing steep discounts.

By far our favorite deal of the bunch is the HP Envy 2-in-1 14" powered by AMD Ryzen 7 available for $649 at Best Buy. This is $400 off its original price of $1,049, which is a pretty steep discount considering it features a modern AMD Ryzen 8840HS processor, 1TB of SSD storage, and 16GB of RAM. These are all surprisingly good specs for something so affordable, and it's a big part of why it's our number one pick in this list.

But there's plenty of more excellent HP Envy 2-in-1 deals available, so let us jump right into the selection.

Best HP Envy 2-in-1 October Prime Day deals

2-in-1 laptops are vital for artists and workers who need versatility, as being able to swap from tablet to laptop mode makes for the perfect companion for certain workflows. And considering 2-in-1 laptops are light and portable, they're the ultimate travel companions. We've seen some excellent 2-in-1 laptops go on sale during Amazon's October Prime Day, but we didn't expect that many of our best 2-in-1 laptops would be seeing discounts.

In fact, our number one choice for best overall 2-in-1 is currently on sale, with the HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 currently at $1,179 @ Amazon. This is $300 off its original price of $1,479, and considering how we absolutely fell in love with its thin and light chassis, long-lasting battery life that hit 11 hours, and powerful Intel Core Ultra performance, it's an absolute steal.

But that's not the only 2-in-1 laptop that has come on sale, so without further ado, lets jump into some of the best deals for our favorite 2-in-1 laptops.

Best 2-in-1 laptop October Prime Day deals

Sometimes you want the flexibility of a 2-in-1 laptop without the higher price tag such models typically carry. Enter the 16-inch Lenovo IdeaPad 2-in-1 laptop with AMD processor, now on sale for $634 (down from $ 879) at Lenovo. 

We reviewed the 14-inch version of this model and found it a stellar choice with excellent system performance and unimpressive battery life. The 16-inch IdeaPad, which is on sale for 27% off, has the same processor as the model we reviewed. 

The 16-inch IdeaPad configuration that's on sale now at Lenovo has an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor, integrated AMD Radeon 780M graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. It has a 16-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS touchscreen display with 300 nits brightness. The hinged display can flip around into tent and tablet modes, and the laptop comes with the Lenovo Digital Pen stylus, so you can start drawing on the screen as soon as you get the system set up.

To get this sale price, use code IDEAWK2 at Lenovo.

Today's best Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 deal

At Laptop Mag, we have the rare privilege of testing several multiples of the number of laptops the average person would touch throughout their lives.

I've reviewed 40 and have grown more critical as my appreciation for certain elements of a laptop's design and features comes to the forefront with each subsequent review.

Last year, that manifested when I tested the Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 8), which I called a "masterful 2-in-1" and went so far as to assert that it was "near-perfect," with its only flaw being a display that could have been brighter.

Otherwise, its gorgeous OLED display, 2.8K-resolution glossy panel, satisfying keyboard, swift SSD speeds, solid productivity performance, sturdy, lightweight aluminum chassis, impactful audio, and long-lasting battery life made it the best laptop I've ever tested.

It's been a little over a year since I wrote that review, and now, I have the ninth generation of the Lenovo Yoga 9i in my hands. Does it live up to the hype?

Does Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9) keep up the greatness?

Akin to any laptop's yearly refresh, the big difference with the latest Lenovo Yoga 9i is its upgrade to a more modern Intel processor. In this case, it's built with an Intel Ultra 7 155H CPU versus the previous generation's Intel Core i7-1360P processor.

The jump in performance isn't necessarily massive. The Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 8) managed a multi-core score of 10,828 on the Geekbench 6 overall performance test, while the Yoga 9i (Gen 9) managed a multi-core score of 12,455. 

However, this is only one test, as the gap when converting a 4K video to 1080p using the HandBrake app is far greater. The Yoga 9i (Gen 8) took 9 minutes and 45 seconds to complete this task, while the Yoga 9i (Gen 9) nearly halved that by taking only 5 minutes and 10 seconds.

Otherwise, the Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9) we tested is a tad lighter and thinner, coming in at 2.9 pounds and measuring 12.4 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches, versus the Yoga 9i (Gen 8) being 3.1 pounds and measuring 12.5 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches. While this may not seem like a huge difference, the lightness of the latest model is tangible.

Beyond these differences, the latest generation of the Lenovo Yoga 9i improves upon little else. It has a new Cosmic Blue finish, a dark blue similar to cobalt.

It also claims the same phenomenally colorful OLED panel that I fell in love with last year. With a choice between 2.8K or 4K resolution, the previous model's 142 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut is pretty much on par with the latest's 136 percent coverage. It's even identical in being a tad dim, as both feature brightness around 350 nits.

If the company had kept the Yoga 9i's other positive qualities intact, Lenovo would have knocked it out of the park and potentially solidified itself as my favorite laptop of 2024. Sure, it wouldn't have broken new ground or anything, but why shy away from a great formula?

Unfortunately, the Yoga 9i (Gen 9) suffers from one major flaw: It lacks long battery life.

Where the Yoga 9i (Gen 9) stumbles

On the Laptop Mag battery life test, which involves continuous web surfing at 150 nits, the Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 8) lasted 10 hours and 10 minutes before running out of juice. We typically recommend 10 hours or more to indeed be safe regarding battery life, especially for long days at work or school or if you're traveling. 

The Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9) would have been a perfect successor if it could match the previous generation or at least get remotely close, but that's not the case. On the same test, the Yoga 9i (Gen 9) ran out of juice after 7 hours and 24 minutes. That's nearly a whole three-hour difference in battery life.

This ultimately brings us to a difficult decision: Is slightly superior performance and a 0.2-pound difference in weight worth a sub-eight-hour battery life? We cannot answer that question, as it depends on your use case, but it's the main area in which the Yoga 9i (Gen 9) stumbles compared to the near-perfect model from the previous generation.

This is especially damning when battery life is seeing a whole new era of longevity in other laptops, like the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED, lasting for as long as 15 hours and 52 minutes with the same processor. The HP Spectre x360, another 14-inch 2-in-1 laptop, has the same processor and a similar OLED panel yet manages 11 hours of battery life.

Seeing Lenovo plummet so far from greatness is disheartening. While the laptop is fantastic otherwise, the Yoga 9i (Gen 9) doesn't quite live up to the hype the previous generation established.

I recently reviewed the Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9), which is the successor to my favorite laptop ever. I called 2023's model the best 2-in-1 of the year on multiple occassions, but now that we're in a new year with new laptops, it's time to see if Lenovo can keep up the pace.

So far, 2024 has seen a number of excellent 2-in-1 laptops, but the one that stood out the most thus far is the HP Spectre x360. It blew our minds and yielded a near-perfect machine, but it's about time we pit it up against last year's champion and see if it can steal the title of best 2-in-1.

Lenovo Yoga 9i vs. HP Spectre x360: Price

HP built the Spectre x360 we reviewed with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 32GB of RAM, 2TB of SSD storage, and a 14-inch, 2,880 x 1,800-pixel resolution OLED panel. This exact model is currently available for $1,899 at Best Buy.

The Lenovo Yoga 9i we reviewed has an Intel Ultra 7 155H processor, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and a 14-inch, 3,840 x 2,400-pixel OLED panel. It's currently available at Lenovo for $1,649.

Considering Lenovo offers similar specs with its Yoga 9i for $250 less, it absolutely wins in price.

Winner: Lenovo Yoga 9i

Lenovo Yoga 9i vs. HP Spectre x360: Design

Design is always a matter of personal preference, but I won't shy away from my adoration of the Lenovo Yoga 9i's aesthetic. Its large, single hinge housing a speaker system is plain and simply genius, while the keyboard stretching across the entire deck is more than welcome.

The HP Spectre x360 has its speaker system on the left and right side of the keyboard, while its two hinges connect the deck and lid. Both are sleek machines, and you won't be disappointed by their minimalistic class, but I've always preferred the Yoga 9i.

The HP Spectre x360 weighs 3.2 pounds and measures 12.4 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches, whereas the Lenovo Yoga 9i weighs 2.9 pounds and is 12.4 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches. Overall, Lenovo has managed to make a thinner, lighter machine, but the difference isn't so significant that the Spectre x360 is completely demolished in lightness. Both are ultralight machines that won't disappoint in design and size.

Winner: Draw

Lenovo Yoga 9i vs. HP Spectre x360: Ports

Both the Lenovo Yoga 9i and HP Spectre x360 aren't particularly strong in the port department, but there is a clear winner between the two.

The HP Spectre x360 features its power jack and USB Type-A port on the left, while the right side has two USB Type-C ports. The Lenovo Yoga 9i is similar, featuring an always-on USB Type-A port and Two Thunderbolt 4 ports. On the right side, it has an audio jack and an additional USB Type-C with Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort 1.4.

The Yoga 9i wins for its additional USB Type-C and audio jack, although the Spectre x360's inclusion of a dedicated power jack does benefit it because it means you won't have to give up a USB port to charge the laptop.

Winner: Lenovo Yoga 9i

Lenovo Yoga 9i vs. HP Spectre x360: Display

The Spectre x360 and Yoga 9i feature OLED displays, but one is far more colorful. The Spectre x360 covered 86 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut, while the Yoga 9i hit 136 percent coverage. Otherwise, its brightness is in a similar range, with the Yoga 9i hitting a peak of 357 nits on average, while the Spectra x360 is just a tad brighter at 366 nits.

While that alone would be enough for the Yoga 9i to secure a victory, it also has a 3,840 x 2,400-pixel resolution panel. Who doesn't want to watch movies on a gorgeous 4K display?

Winner: Lenovo Yoga 9i

Lenovo Yoga 9i vs. HP Spectre x360: Performance

On the Geekbench 6 overall performance test, the Spectre x360 achieved a multi-core score of 12,358, whereas the Yoga 9i managed a multi-core score of 12,455. Both are pretty close, which makes sense, considering they boast the same processor.

However, the Yoga 9i pulled miles ahead when converting a 4K video into 1080p using the HandBrake app, as it accomplished the task in 5 minutes and 10 seconds. On the other hand, the Spectre x360 took 7 minutes and 30 seconds. 

While the Yoga 9i is mostly ahead, the Spectre x360 has a slightly faster SSD, with a transfer rate of 1,362 megabytes per second. The Yoga 9i is a bit behind at 1,002Mbps.

These performance numbers are a bit too close to say one wins over the other, so this is another draw.

Winner: Draw

Lenovo Yoga 9i vs. HP Spectre x360: Battery life

While the Yoga 9i has been doing pretty well for itself thus far, this is where things get bad for Lenovo. 

On the Laptop Mag battery life test, which involves continuous web surfing at 150 nits, the Yoga 9i lasted 7 hours and 24 minutes before running out of juice.

On its own, that's already rather dire. We typically recommend 10 hours or more of battery life and set eight hours as our bare minimum in non-gaming laptops. Things get worse when considering that the HP Spectre x360 lasted 11 hours on the same battery life test.

There's no doubt which laptop wins, as it's not even close.

Winner: HP Spectre x360

Lenovo Yoga 9i vs. HP Spectre x360: Overal winner

Throughout this competition, the Lenovo Yoga 9i struck up quite a few small wins against the HP Spectre x360. It boasts a thinner, lighter chassis, stronger performance, more ports, and a colorful display. However, many of these victories are on the smaller side, whereas the HP Spectre x360's blow against the Yoga 9i is monumental.

In layperson's terms, the Yoga 9i and Spectre x360 are in a boxing match. The Yoga 9i successfully jabs the Spectre x360 in the abdomen several times, but the Spectre x360 makes one decisive strike against the Yoga 9i's jaw, and the victor is decided.

Back to reality, this relates to the Spectre x360's battery life, which is nearly four hours longer than that of the Yoga 9i. A 2-in-1 laptop with less than eight hours of battery life is rough, and that's why the Spectre x360 takes this win.

Winner: HP Spectre x360

The successor to my favorite laptop ever takes one step forward and two steps back.

When I reviewed last year’s model of the Lenovo Yoga 9i, I couldn’t believe how close the company got to reaching perfection. It’s still the best laptop I’ve reviewed since, and upon receiving the latest generation, I couldn’t wait to see what Lenovo had done with it.

Lenovo has made improvements in its design by shrinking the laptop’s size and weight and introducing the latest Meteor Lake processor. Beyond these enhancements, it mostly maintains its best qualities, but one major flaw robs Lenovo’s claim to another near-perfect machine. Keep reading to see whether or not the latest Lenovo Yoga 9i is right for you.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9): Specs

Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9): Price and configuration

The Yoga 9i starts at $1,449 at Lenovo and is built with an Intel Ultra 7 155H processor, 16GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and a 14-inch 2.8K OLED panel at 120Hz refresh rate. The Yoga 9i we reviewed brings the price up to $1,649 but instead has a 3,840 x 2,400-pixel OLED panel and 32GB of RAM. 

Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9): Design

I adore the design of Yoga laptops, but the Lenovo Yoga 9i, in particular, is the cream of the crop. Its thin and light chassis yields an ultraportable that is simultaneously gorgeous, capable, and convenient for traveling. Its wide hinge has speakers built into it, which results in the benefits of a top-firing audio experience without wasting space elsewhere. This allows for a keyboard that stretches across the entire deck.

Its shiny aluminum finish is beautiful. While last year’s model was a reflective silver, the latest model features a dark blue in the vein of cobalt; it looks sleek. The Yoga 9i is among the few Windows laptops with a design more appealing than a MacBook, and this comes from someone who adores the sleekness of Apple’s laptops.

The Yoga 9i weighs 2.9 pounds and measures 12.4 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches, and it’s impressive that the company managed to get the machine under three pounds. Compared to the previous generation of the Lenovo Yoga 9i (3.1 pounds, 12.5 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches), the latest model cuts a bit of weight and bulk.

Competitors like the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (3 pounds, 12.3 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches) and Lenovo Yoga 7i (3.6 pounds, 12.5 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches) are also 14-inch laptops, yet the Yoga 9i is the lightest of the bunch. The HP Envy x360 2-in-1 (4 pounds, 14.1 x 9 x 0.7 inches) is a 16-inch laptop, so it’s no shock that it’s heavier and larger. 

Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9): Ports

Considering the Yoga 9i’s thin size and low weight, it offers the ports you’ll need under most circumstances. It has an always-on USB Type-A and two Thunderbolt 4 ports on its left side. On its right side, it has an audio jack and an additional USB Type-C with Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 on its right side.

While it doesn’t feature an HDMI or microSD, its two Thunderbolt 4 ports, which can be used even while it’s charging through the other USB Type-C port, give it tons of versatility.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9): Display

The Yoga 9i has a practically perfect display. It is built with a 14-inch, 3,840 x 2,400-pixel resolution OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and excellent color depth.

I watched the trailer for Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel, Gladiator II, and was left speechless at how stunning it looked on the OLED panel. Everything from its gorgeous wide shots of Roman architecture to its intense action sequences was crisp and vivid.

From the very first moment when a flickering torch paints Paul Mescal’s face in a warm glow, the panel is stunning to behold. The contrast from the darkest corners of this dim dungeon to how vibrant the fire itself is reveals its color depth and range.

One moment when a coliseum was filled with bright blue water was so beautiful and colorful that my heart skipped a beat. When I compared this scene to my gaming monitor, it felt like I was watching a whole different trailer, considering how lackluster it was.

The Yoga 9i did phenomenally on our color tests, reproducing 136 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Not only does this crush the mainstream laptop average of 84 percent, but it also goes above and beyond the Yoga 7i (46 percent), Zenbook 14 (80 percent), and Envy x360 (128 percent).

The only drawback of its display is that it didn’t go above and beyond in our brightness tests. Its peak is 357 nits on average, a little below the 385-nit average. While brighter than the Yoga 7i (314 nits) and Zenbook 14 (339 nits), the Envy x360 (378 nits) is the best choice for outdoor work.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9): Audio

Similar to last year’s model, the Yoga 9i’s speakers are loud, clear, and impactful. They easily handled the movies and music I threw at them without issue. While they don’t feature the crispness of an external speaker, they’re great for a laptop. The Yoga 9i even features a dedicated key for swapping audio modes, featuring presets for music, film, and gaming presets.

I listened to the Italian alternative rock song “Certamente” by Madreblu and was impressed by the punchiness of the percussion. It was loud and clear without drowning out the other instruments. The vocals were also balanced and weren’t overly prioritized, while the speakers are more than loud enough without sacrificing clarity and quality.

When watching the trailer for Gladiator II, I swapped its audio preset to film, and I continued to be amazed by how impactful the speaker system is. Voices were loud and resounding, while sound effects from screams to arrows being fired boasted a tangible bass that did about as good a job as a laptop can at emulating a movie theater.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9): Keyboard and trackpad

Lenovo’s Yoga keyboards practically never disappoint, and the latest 9i is no exception. It offers a clicky, satisfying type feel with additional useful keys, including a fingerprint scanner, an audio preset key, and another that changes performance modes.

I took the 10fastfingers typing test and managed 113 words per minute with 97 percent accuracy, which is around what I can normally manage on my mechanical keyboard. I had no issue typing through this review and felt as comfortable as ever jumping between keystrokes.

The 5.3 by 3.1-inch trackpad takes up nearly all of the vertical space between the keyboard and the bottom of the deck, and it’s pretty wide. It felt nice and smooth while browsing the internet and dragging files, but I wish its uppermost section was clickable.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9): Performance

The Yoga 9i is built with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 1TB of SSD storage, and 32GB of RAM, making it a powerhouse of productivity. This lightweight yet capable machine will allow you to handle your workflow easily.

On the Geekbench 6 overall performance test, the Yoga 9i’s multi-core score of 12,455 is fantastic, pulling ahead of the category average of 10,297 by a couple of thousand. The Yoga 7i (Intel Core Ultra 5 125U; 9,214) and Envy x360 (AMD Ryzen 7 7730U; 8,196) are quite a bit behind, but the Zenbook 14 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H; 12,707) is in the same lane.

While converting a 4K video into 1080p using the HandBrake app, the Yoga 9i accomplished the task in 5 minutes and 10 seconds, which is better than the 8-minute and 13-second category average. The Yoga 7i (10:14), Zenbook 14 (6:36), and Envy x360 (7:30) all failed to keep up with the Yoga 9i.

The Yoga 9i duplicated 25GB of multimedia files in 26 seconds at a transfer rate of 1,016 megabytes per second, which is a bit slower than the 1,184MBps category average. The Yoga 7i (512GB SSD; 1,002MBps) was only slightly slower, while the Zenbook 14 (1TB SSD; 1,236MBps) and Envy x360 (1TB SSD; 1,245 MBps) were a decent bit ahead.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9): Graphics

We absolutely do not recommend the Yoga 9i if you’re in need of a gaming laptop, but that should be self-explanatory. However, its integrated Intel Arc graphics did well enough in our gaming tests.

We played Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm at 1080p and achieved an average of 35 frames per second. While this is a bit below the category average of 42 fps, it surpasses the Yoga 7i (26 fps) and Zenbook 14 (31 fps). However, the Envy x360 (42 fps) did far better with its AMD chip.

On the 3DMark FireStrike synthetic graphics benchmark, the Yoga 9i scored 8,468. This is better than the 7,013 category average and far surpasses the Yoga 7i (5,010) and Envy x360 (3,872). The Zenbook 14 (8,064) wasn’t too far behind, though.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9): Battery life

The Yoga 9i could’ve been on par with the last-generation model if it had knocked the battery tests out of the park, but unfortunately, that isn’t the case. On the Laptop Mag battery life test, which involves continuous web browsing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits, the Yoga 9i lasted 7 hours and 24 minutes.

We typically recommend 10 hours of battery life in a laptop, but 8 hours is a bare minimum before we dock massive points. Not only is 7 hours and 24 minutes insufficient for a full workday away from an outlet, but it’s far shorter than the 9-hour and 31-minute category average. The Yoga 7i (12:57) absolutely demolishes it, while the Zenbook 14 (15:52) more than doubles its battery life. The Envy x360 (9:17) isn’t fantastic, yet it’s nearly two hours ahead.

Since the previous generation of the Yoga 9i launched, we’ve seen battery life hit new highs while exceeding performance expectations. However, Lenovo has seemingly gone backward here, as last year’s model lasted 10 hours and 10 minutes before running out of juice. That’s a nearly three-hour difference, and it’s the sole reason why the Yoga 9i (Gen 9) is worse than last year's model.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9): Webcam

The Yoga 9i’s 2,560 x 1,440-pixel webcam is crisp on paper, but it doesn’t look great. I snapped a photo of myself, and the light from my lamp came across as overexposed, while the details on my face were a bit fuzzy. The pink hue of my walls maintained its vibrancy at the very least, so you should be okay using this for basic conferencing, but if you need anything more, we’d recommend one of the best webcams.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9): Heat

The Yoga 9i remained nice and cool throughout our tests and didn’t exceed our 95-degree comfort threshold. The 79-degree Fahrenheit touchpad, 94-degree G/H keys, and 82-degree underside were all more than comfortable enough for long reading and writing sessions. Its hottest point hit 95 degrees at the upper part of the underside, near the hinge, but even that isn’t too bad.

Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9): Software and warranty

Installed with Windows 11 and Lenovo’s own collection of built-in software, you should have no trouble finding the available software. This includes Lenovo Vantage, which offers device settings, system updates, hardware scans, security assistance, software, and key information like the serial number and more.

The Yoga 9i comes with a one-year limited warranty. You can see how Lenovo did in our Tech Support Showdown special report.

Bottom line

I wouldn’t go as far as to say the latest Lenovo Yoga 9i is a disappointment, but in a world where every other laptop is taking huge leaps forward in battery life, it’s a shame that the successor to my most beloved laptop took several steps backward in this category.

It features the same incredible OLED panel, a sturdy and lightweight aluminum chassis that’s even more lithe, fantastic Intel performance from the latest Meteor Lake processors, and powerful speakers alongside a satisfying keyboard. But seven hours of battery life is rough. For more than double the battery life at an even lower price, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a great alternative. Otherwise, the Lenovo Yoga 9i is still fantastic, and there are plenty of reasons to invest.

Is the Asus ProArt PX13 the new king of creator laptops, a category normally ruled by MacBooks? 

The ProArt PX13  has a lot going for it, including the performance to compete with the likes of Apple and Lenovo. From a sleek, matte black design to a sharp OLED display and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, the ProArt PX13 is made with creatives in mind. 

The ProArt PX13 also has a potentially game changing advantage: a new AI CPU from AMD. This tiny but mighty 13-inch powerhouse is one of the first laptops to feature an AMD Ryzen AI 300 series CPU, which boasts some of the best AI performance on the market. The question is whether the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 outperforms Intel and Qualcomm’s AI CPUs.

I spent several days using the Asus ProArt PX13 for everything from web browsing to gaming and AI tasks. Here’s an in-depth look at my experience with this slick creator laptop and how it compares to its rivals.

Asus ProArt PX13: Specs (as reviewed)

Asus ProArt PX13: Price and configurations

The Asus ProArt PX13 comes in two configurations. The base model, which we reviewed, costs $1,699 and includes an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 laptop GPU, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and a 13.3-inch 2800x1800 OLED touch display. 

There is another configuration available directly from Asus that costs $300 more and includes all the same specs with a more powerful GPU, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, which has 8GB of VRAM (slightly higher than the 6GB included in the RTX 4050).

Asus ProArt PX13: Design

 The Asus ProArt PX13 is one of my favorite laptop designs of the year. It’s matte black and minimalistic, but with some creative details that help it stand out. For example, the hinges have a glossy textured design that matches a thin border around the outer edge of the display. The chassis is thin but squared off around the edges, so it feels high-end with a bit of an industrial edge.  

I also noticed the PX13's wealth of vents. They’re located along the sides, rear edge, and underside of the keyboard deck. The speakers are also on the bottom of the keyboard deck in the front left and right corners. 

The ProArt PX13 is a 2-in-1 laptop, so you can flip the display around and use it in tablet mode. The smaller 13-inch display is especially nice in tablet mode since you can comfortably use it in either portrait or landscape mode. If you plan to use it for drawing in tablet mode, you can pair it with an Asus Pen or another Bluetooth stylus. 

Asus ProArt PX13: Ports

The ProArt PX13 has all the ports most creatives need. On the left side, there is a DC charging port, an HDMI port, a USB Type-C port, and a headphone jack. On the right side, there is a USB Type-C port, a USB Type-A port, and a microSD card slot. 

That was enough ports for me, but a single USB Type-A port could be an issue if you have a lot of accessories to connect, like an external hard drive or a wired mouse. If that’s the case, you can always expand your port selection with a USB Type-C hub or a docking station. 

Asus ProArt PX13: Display

The Asus ProArt PX13 features a bright, responsive 2800x1800 OLED touch display. It looks good, but it could have done better on our display tests. It only reproduced 80 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut, falling behind the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 Gen 9 (105.7 percent) and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (155 percent), two other AI laptops geared toward creators. 

Color gamut is particularly important to note since the ProArt PX13 is designed for art, design, and content creation, as its name suggests. So, I was expecting it to score higher on the color gamut test. 

The PX13 averaged 350 nits of brightness, which is also a lower score than the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 Gen 9 (373 nits) and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (464 nits). 

It’s worth noting that the ProArt PX13 is designed for creatives, which makes it a top rival for MacBook Pro. However, we are unable to compare it to the MacBook Pro in this review due to changes in a few of our benchmark tests, including PugetBench for Adobe Creative Cloud and Geekbench ML, which was not one of Laptop Mag’s standard tests at the time we reviewed the MacBook Pro M3. 

Asus ProArt PX13: Keyboard and touchpad

The ProArt PX13 is a compact laptop, but the keyboard and touchpad don’t feel cramped. The keys are large and well-spaced and feature moderate key travel and tactile feedback. It makes for a fast and comfy typing experience I thoroughly enjoyed. 

On the Monkeytype typing test, I scored 104 words per minute with 98 percent accuracy on the PX13, which is way above my laptop average of 90 words per minute with 97 percent accuracy. It’s just shy of what I scored on the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x, which currently holds the record for my fastest typing score (105 words per minute with 100 percent accuracy). 

The touchpad on the PX13 has a matte finish and offers quiet, tactile feedback. It has a unique “DialPad” built-in that acts as a precision control wheel for use in apps like Adobe Photoshop or Premiere Pro. 

You can also use the DialPad to quickly adjust screen brightness or volume directly from the touchpad. You can turn the DialPad on or off by tapping and sliding your finger diagonally from the top right corner of the touchpad (a small white LED will turn on or off to indicate when the DialPad is active). The Asus Dial and Control Panel app allows you to customize DialPad functions for different apps, much like setting up custom keybinds.

Asus ProArt PX13: Audio

The speakers on the ProArt PX13 get reasonably loud, but they’re bottom-firing, so they can easily get muffled if the laptop is sitting on your lap or a desk mat. I had to turn the volume up to around 60 percent to hear dialogue in episodes of Survivor clearly. 

Luckily, there is a solution to the speakers getting muffled. Since the ProArt PX13 is a 2-in-1, you can flip the display around so the bottom of the keyboard deck is facing upward and the display is tilted at a good viewing angle. Now the speakers are effectively top-firing, making for a good movie-watching setup. You can also use this trick for gaming, assuming you have a Bluetooth controller available. 

The ProArt PX13’s speakers have a fairly balanced sound profile with music, although the bass could be stronger. The indie rock tone of “Doing It Again Baby” by Girl In Red sounded punchy on the ProArt PX13 with crisp guitar notes and vocals. Similarly, the smooth mids and highs in “Softcore” by The Neighbourhood sounded good, but the bass could have been deeper.  

Asus ProArt PX13: Gaming and graphics

The Asus ProArt PX13 features an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 laptop GPU, so I had high expectations for its gaming performance. It didn’t let me down. It may not be a gaming laptop, but it can deliver fairly strong gaming performance. 

The PX13 scored 18,634 on the 3DMark Fire Strike graphics benchmark and averaged 115 frames per second in Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm. That’s slightly lower than what the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i scored but far exceeds the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x’s performance. 

I ran the Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla benchmark test, which the PX13 handled fairly well. On Ultra High graphics, it averaged 36 fps with a max of 75 fps. The PX13 did better on the High graphics preset, averaging 44 fps with a max of 87 fps. That was spot on with the average frame rate I got during actual gameplay in Valhalla, as well. 

I also played some Enshrouded and Hades on the PX13, both of which ran great. I averaged a full 60 fps in both games and didn’t experience any lag or graphics issues. Both looked vibrant and colorful on the PX13’s OLED display.  

Asus ProArt PX13: Performance

As its name suggests, the ProArt PX13 is designed for creators with apps like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro in mind. Creative apps can be resource-intensive, so you need strong performance benchmark scores to ensure a laptop can keep up. The ProArt PX13 showed impressive performance across the board. 

It scored 2,847 in the Geekbench 6 single-core test and 15,203 in the multi-core test, far exceeding the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 Gen 9 and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x’s scores. The PX13 also had the best HandBrake time and the highest PugetBench Photoshop benchmark score. This one is important to note since it tests performance in one of the top creative apps in the world. Both Lenovo laptops scored fairly well, but neither could match the ProArt PX13’s score of 7,948. 

During my week of testing, the ProArt PX13 ran fast and smoothly, handling everything from web browsing to gaming without any issues. The PX13 launches apps and games quickly, loads video content fast, and multi-tasks well. It offers plenty of performance for everyday tasks, including running creative apps like Adobe Photoshop. 

Asus ProArt PX13: AI Performance

Like most new laptops launched in the past six months, the Asus ProArt PX13 is an AI PC which means it has a CPU that has a built-in neural processing unit. It’s powered by the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, one of AMD’s recently debuted AI chips. 

So, how does this AMD-powered AI PC compare with its Intel and Snapdragon competitors? We ran a couple of benchmark tests that measure AI performance to find out. The ProArt PX13 had the highest score on the Geekbench ML CPU test, with a score of 3,587, far above the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 Gen 9 and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x. 

However, the Yoga Pro 9i 16 Gen 9 took the lead in the Geekbench ML GPU test with a score of 11,228, a few hundred points higher than the PX13’s score of 10,914. 

To put these scores into context, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 Gen 9 is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is equipped with the Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 CPU with integrated Qualcomm Adreno graphics. 

That’s why the Yoga Slim 7x scored so much lower on the GPU test compared to the Yoga Pro 9i and the ProArt PX13 – it only includes integrated graphics, while its two competitors have dedicated GPUs. 

The CPU scores are the most important to pay attention to because the ProArt PX13 and the Yoga Pro 9i have the same GPU, which is why their GPU scores are so similar. 

The CPU scores show that the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 delivers the best AI performance, followed by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 and, finally, the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H. A much larger gap shows between the AMD and Qualcomm chips than between Qualcomm and Intel in our benchmark results. So, if AI performance is your top priority, these test results indicate that a Ryzen AI 300 series CPU offers the best performance.  

The ProArt PX13 uses its NPU to run on-device AI features with Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant and some preloaded apps from Asus. The ProArt Creator Hub app includes the MuseTree image generator and StoryCube, a tool that uses AI to help you organize your photos and videos by identifying faces, locations, and activities. You can also generate images locally with the Image Creator tool in Microsoft Paint or through prompts to Microsoft Copilot. 

Asus ProArt PX13: Battery life

The Asus ProArt PX13 could have done better on our battery life test, but it could have done worse, too. It lasted 9 hours and 49 minutes, which falls about an hour short of the premium laptop average (10:39). That’s only a couple of minutes behind the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 Gen 9, though, and just barely long enough to get through a typical work day. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x far outpaced both rivals with a time of 14 hours and 13 minutes. 

Asus ProArt PX13: Webcam

The built-in webcam and microphone on the ProArt PX13 are reasonably good and definitely adequate for everyday video calls. The video quality could be better. It’s slightly grainy but not excessively so. The microphone is surprisingly good, though. It captured my voice loud and clear and even managed to filter out the background noise from my AC. 

There are buttons in the function row to mute your mic and disable the webcam, which I always appreciate for a bit of peace of mind whenever I’m not using my camera. 

If you happen to need a higher-quality webcam, you can always add an external webcam to your setup. 

Asus ProArt PX13: Heat

Any laptop designed for creative tasks like Photoshop or gaming needs to be able to dissipate heat well. The ProArt PX13 is up to the task but pushed the limits of our 95-degree comfort threshold in our heat tests. The touchpad peaked at 77.9 degrees, and the center of the keyboard deck reached 89.4 degrees. The highest temperature we recorded was 95.5 degrees along the rear edge of the underside of the keyboard deck. 

The ProArt PX13 stayed fairly cool in my tests but got warm while charging and gaming, as one would expect. It never got so hot that it became uncomfortable, though.

Asus ProArt PX13: Software and warranty