When it comes to running on top of the computing world, the best 2-in-1 laptops lead the charge. Not only are they great laptops for typing, but they also double as touchscreen devices, allowing you to fold, convert, or even detach the screen to make them functional tablets.
Some 2-in-1 laptops are more tablets than laptops, and others are more portable than tablets, but the best ones do a great job of both. This makes them great for those who need the typing functionality of a laptop, but also enjoy a tablet to make lists, watch media, or shoot on the big screen. Predominant tablet users can enjoy non-touchscreen gaming in a great 2-in-1, and on 360-degree hinged models, there is always the intermediate mode option to enjoy, ideal for watching movies or streaming TV shows.
Microsoft
The best 2-in-1 laptops in 2020 incorporate the latest generations of graphics chips and processors, to improve performance in both laptop and tablet modes, whether typing or gaming, as well as faster storage and more efficient displays. This helps improve battery life, reduce weight, and provide more room for better keyboards.
More modern convertible laptops have also begun to deviate from what had become a fairly routine aesthetic of a silver MacBook-like chassis, offering something a little different for those who like to have their electronics stand out from the crowd. The use of more premium materials in its design is also proliferating through affordable devices, making it not only a more comfortable experience when used, but also looks cleaner.
The best 2-in-1 laptop overall
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
- CPU: 10th generation dual core Intel i3, or quad core 10th-gen Core i5 or i7
- Monitor: 12 inches, 2,736 x 1,824
- Battery duration: Up to 10.5 hours
The flagship of Microsoft’s Surface line in early 2020, Surface Pro 7 evolved what was already a classic design into something a little more modern and a little more capable. They’re not the most futuristic-looking devices, with somewhat thick bezels, but that makes it easier to grip in tablet mode, and the overall design of the Pro 7 is excellent, both in build quality and component choice.
Under the hood, you’ll find up to a tenth-generation quad-core Intel Ice Lake processor, with eleventh-generation Iris Plus graphics. Not only is it a capable and efficient processor, but it’s also an impressively capable GPU, making it a device you can easily work and play on. Older Esports titles and AAA games will work perfectly on this device, and thanks to its highly pixel-dense display, you can expect your games and work to look fantastic, too.
This generation finally added a USB-C port, so along with the more typical headphone and USB-A ports, you’ll find plenty of accessories you can add to this without breaking an adapter.
As with the Surface Go 2, you’ll want to buy the Keyboard Case to give this convertible laptop the full functionality of the laptop, but by doing it extra, the Surface Pro stays extremely light when in tablet mode, at just 1.7 pounds.
The best 2 in 1 laptop for writing
HP Specter x360 13
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7 10th Gen Quad Core
- Monitor: 13.3 inches, 1,920 x 1,080
- Battery duration: Up to 17 hours
The HP Specter x360 has redefined the look and feel of modern 2-in-1 laptops in recent years, not just showing off a gorgeous “gem cut” aesthetic with sharp, angular corners rather than the rounded protrusions of its contemporary, but in its combination of high-end CPUs, with a slim and lightweight chassis.
The 2020 version of this now iconic convertible laptop only builds on the legacy of its predecessors. With an extremely powerful 10th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU at its heart, this laptop offers massive CPU performance paired with a surprisingly capable 11th Gen Intel graphics processor that is more than capable of entry-level gaming.
This model retains the 1080p screen of its predecessors, which at 13 inches is more than enough detail for sharp images, and with its great color accuracy, movies and games look great. There is a 4K OLED option if you want, but that will really affect battery life and go to waste on this screen size.
Battery life has been shortened a bit compared to previous generations, and HP claims it can last up to 17 hours on a single charge. That’s bullish, as you’d expect from the official specs, but most seem to manage 10 hours of mixed use and up to 15 hours on some long media viewing hours, making it an amazing 2-in-1 for watching movies or programs on a long trip if you don’t have access to the power grid.
The best cheap 2 in 1 laptop
Microsoft Surface Go 2
- CPU: Intel Core Pentium 4425Y Dual Core or Core m3-8100y
- Monitor: 10.5 inches, 1,920 x 1,080
- Battery duration: Up to 10 hours
Microsoft updated its entry-level Surface device in 2020, upgrading it to something that feels more like the premium Surface line, belying its affordable price. While the Surface Go 2 doesn’t have the hardware to match some of the most expensive devices on this list in terms of performance and input, it is a fantastic tablet that easily hits industry giants like the iPad, while still providing an economical solution. way to get the best of the touch screen and the world of laptops.
By trimming the bezels and tweaking the overall design of the Surface Go 2, Microsoft has built a device that is way more than what its starting price suggests. The more expensive Core M3 version is more expensive, but offers much better performance than its predecessor, and makes the Surface Go a true competitor to iPad Pro tastes in terms of capacity, despite being much more affordable.
To make it more of a convertible laptop than just a tablet, you’ll want to go for the additional Type Cover accessory that adds a touchpad and keyboard to the design. However, it can be easily removed when you want to use the Go 2 as a tablet, weighing in at just 1.2 pounds in that mode.
However, whatever mode you’re in, you’ll be able to enjoy the improved battery life of the Surface Go 2, allowing you to use it as an all-day working device, where its predecessor would need a recharge on time. of lunch.
The Surface Go 2 comes equipped with a USB-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a MicroSD card slot, and a Sim card slot if you opt for the LTE model, making sure you have high-speed connectivity no matter where you are. find. Let’s go.
It comes equipped with Windows 10 S as standard, which has some restrictions on the software you want to install, only in Microsoft Store. But you can disable S mode quite easily, giving you the full Windows 10 experience at the touch of a finger.
The best premium 2-in-1 laptop
Microsoft Surface Book 3 15
- CPU: Quad-core fourth-generation Intel Core i7-1065G7
- Monitor: 15 inches, 3,000 x 2,000
- Battery duration: Up to 17.5 hours
The Surface Book 3 is priced higher, but its hardware leaves no doubt that it’s a premium 2-in-1 laptop to match. The 15-inch version is built on a powerful 10th generation Intel Core i7-1065G7 CPU, with up to 32GB of high-speed DDR4 memory and up to 2TB of PCIExpress storage. Better yet, it also includes an Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q graphics chip, making it not only a powerful laptop for general processing tasks, but a capable gaming machine as well, a real rarity in laptops 2 in 1.
All that capable hardware powers a beautiful 3,000 x 2,000 screen in a 3: 2 aspect ratio, ideal for navigating vertical web pages, reading long documents, and opening additional tracks in audio and video editing.
Despite this impressive assortment of specs, the Surface Book 3 doesn’t shy away from its predecessor’s real selling point: great battery life. Lasting up to 17 hours on a single charge, this laptop is one of the class leaders in this regard, taking you a full work day and more. It’s not as much as the Surface Book 2, which remains a standout among its contemporaries and more modern competition, but the Surface Book 3 doesn’t disappoint.
However versatile this laptop is, it is almost as good as a tablet as it contains much of its heavy hardware at the base of the keyboard. While that doesn’t make it the most manageable laptop at just over four pounds, tablet mode sees it by completely unplugging the keyboard, reducing the weight to 1.8 pounds much more manageable. Just know that the disconnect leaves most of the main battery on the bottom, reducing battery life in tablet mode to just a few hours.
Despite that drawback, Surface Book 3 can do just about everything, and most of what it does works very well. There are some of its facets where other 2-in-1s might be a little better, but few can keep up with their overall quality and capabilities. Even at its higher than average price.
The best AMD 2 in 1 laptop
HP Envy x360 13
CPU: Quad Core AMD Ryzen 4300, hexacore Ryzen 4500U or octacore Ryzen 4700U
Monitor: 13.3 inches, 1,920 x 1,080
Battery duration: Up to 14 hours
AMD laptops were purely a budget option just a couple of years ago, but in 2020 they are worth considering. The latest-generation Ryzen 4000 APUs with Zen 2 technology are very fast and highly efficient, leading to excellent performance on up to eight cores and decent battery life. Arguably the best example of this is on the HP Envy 360 13 2 in 1 laptop.
A discreet, though not unattractive, aluminum device, the HP Envy 360 13 offers the same hardware options as its larger 15-inch cousin, including a variety of high-speed CPUs, 8GB of memory, integrated Vega graphics and up to one terabyte of PCIExpress Fast Storage. It also comes with a much more colorful and brighter display (up to 1,000 nits in some settings) that solves one of the biggest problems with the larger version.
Battery life isn’t class-leading, but at more than 10 hours with mixed use, there’s enough for a full workday and more, and Vega’s built-in graphics even allow entry-level gaming in your spare time. without changing devices. This is not a stealthy gaming PC, but considering the power you get with an actual drop below $ 1,000, it’s impressive what an AMD system can offer in 2020.
With an effective 360-degree hinge, this Envy laptop switches into tablet mode well enough, and at 2.7 pounds, it doesn’t feel too strong, though it’s noticeably heavier than the detachable 2-in-1s on this list, and more traditional, independent tablets.
When you turn it back into a tablet, it’s also a typewriter-capable machine, with a comfortable keyboard that fits snugly into the 13-inch frame and a responsive touchpad.
The HP Envy 13 isn’t just a great AMD 2-in-1 laptop, it’s a great 2-in-1 laptop, period. It helps redefine what a less than $ 1,000 laptop can be and points to a bright future for AMD and 2-in-1 laptops in the future.
