Best 2-in-1 laptop 2023: The finest detachable and convertible hybrid notebooks
Our definitive list of the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy in 2023, from budget options to luxurious delights
The best 2-in-1 laptops take everything that’s great about laptops and tablets and combine them into one neat package.
Advancements to low-powered mobile processors have helped lightweight, über-portable 2-in-1 designs flourish into a fantastic sub-category of laptops, with plenty of excellent offerings to choose from.
Indeed, there are so many great systems to sift through that you might find it daunting to try and pick one. Fear not: we’ve reviewed a wide range of 2-in-1 laptops and compiled a list documenting the very best of them.
Every 2-in-1 laptop on the list has undergone rigorous testing by one of our reviewers. These tests cover everything from battery life to CPU performance and the colour accuracy of a display. If you’re interested in a specific device’s test results, they can be found in our full review of the product, links to which are provided in each of the entries below.
Before jumping into the entries, you’ll find a handy buying guide that will arm you with all the information you require to decide whether a 2-in-1 laptop is right for you and help you select the best 2-in-1 laptop for your needs.
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Best 2-in-1 laptop: At a glance
- Best 2-in-1 detachable laptop: Microsoft Surface Pro 8
- Best-value 2-in-1 Chromebook: Acer Chromebook Spin 713
- Best cheap 2-in-1 laptop: Lenovo IdeaPad Duet
How to choose the best 2-in-1 laptop for you
What is a 2-in-1 laptop?
A 2-in-1 laptop is a device that can split or fold into tablet format at a moment’s notice. It’s a versatile and cost-effective way of getting the best of both worlds.
There are two main types of 2-in-1 laptop. Detachable or hybrid 2-in-1 laptops such as the Microsoft Surface Book 3 look like typical clamshell laptops, hinge and all, but can be detached from the keyboard to be used as a tablet. Tablets themselves can serve a similar purpose once connected to a detachable keyboard, which is why you’ll find some of the best tablets around on this list.
Convertibles such as the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 don’t allow you to detach the keyboard from the display but instead feature a hinge design capable of being rotated through 360 degrees. They’re sometimes referred to as reversible laptops due to their design, which enables them to be positioned in a few different ways. You can rotate the keyboard and place it face down to view the screen vertically, prop up the device on its edges to use it in what is often referred to as “tent” mode or simply use it as you would a standard laptop.
The style you choose will depend on what you intend on using the 2-in-1 laptop for. If you know you’re going to always need a keyboard with you, then a convertible 2-in-1 laptop is likely the better choice.
What can I do with a 2-in-1 laptop?
All sorts of things! If you’re not sure whether to spend your hard-earned money on a tablet or a conventional laptop, a 2-in-1 laptop is a perfect choice. You can doodle with a stylus, work or watch movies on the go and curl up in bed with it to watch the latest episode of your favourite Netflix show. They do have their limitations, however, which we’ll discuss in the disadvantages section below.
What are the advantages of 2-in-1 laptops?
Buying a 2-in-1 laptop rather than a laptop and tablet separately is generally going to save you a bit of cash, which is always nice.
Aside from that obvious economic benefit, the big selling point of 2-in-1 laptops is their flexibility. Being able to switch from laptop mode to tablet mode in seconds is useful in all manner of situations. Once you’ve finished working on an important document in laptop mode you can quickly detach or flip the keyboard and enjoy your favourite Disney Plus show in tablet mode. That’s just one example of how handy their transformative properties can be.
What are the disadvantages of 2-in-1 laptops?
2-in-1 laptops typically can’t match the processing power of standard laptops due to compromises made to ensure they remain slim and portable and don’t overheat. They also tend to have integrated graphics rather than discrete graphics chips. These factors mean a 2-in-1 laptop isn’t the best choice if you’re planning on running lots of demanding applications, such as video-editing software, or harbour hopes of playing the latest AAA gaming titles on your portable device.
What features do I need to look for when buying a 2-in-1 laptop?
There are a few key things to consider when making your 2-in-1 laptop purchase, both in terms of the device’s internal components and external appearance.
Processor: Some 2-in-1 laptops are so slim that they require fanless, low-powered mobile processors, which means they aren’t quite so performance-heavy as their regular laptop counterparts. That said, you’ll still find plenty of 2-in-1 laptops housing shiny new processors. Intel processors are the most widely used CPUs in the industry and you’ll find newer 2-in-1 laptops housing Intel’s latest 11th-gen Tiger Lake silicon. AMD is Intel’s main rival in the CPU space and 2-in-1s incorporating its Ryzen processors typically cost less than their Intel counterparts.
RAM: Like any laptop, the amount of RAM (random access memory) a 2-in-1 laptop has will affect its performance. Having more RAM is always of benefit, but will raise the price of your device. 8GB is a sweet spot in terms of cost and performance for most people.
Storage: When it comes to storage, it’s important to note both the type and amount on offer. A 2-in-1 laptop with SSD (solid state drive) storage is preferable to one with a mechanical hard disk or eMMC storage, as these are generally slower than SSDs.
With people relying more and more on cloud storage, the need for lots of storage space built into your 2-in-1 laptop isn’t quite as important as it used to be. However, if you plan on downloading lots of large applications and saving large files to your device you’ll want at least 256GB of SSD storage to avoid having to regularly delete stuff.
Display: Display quality is crucial – after all, you’ll be gawking at the screen the entire time you’re using it. A Full HD display with a decent contrast ratio and solid brightness is a must. Some 2-in-1 laptops now incorporate 4K UHD displays, which provide the best picture quality going but raise the price of a device significantly.
Size and weight: 2-in-1 laptops are generally designed to be carried around all day, so it’s best to get something light but sturdy. The size of the display obviously goes a long way to deciding how portable your 2-in-1 laptop is – if you want a big screen, be prepared to carry around a heavier device.
Keyboard and touchpad: A good keyboard and touchpad will separate a middling device from an excellent one. It’s also important to check whether the price includes a keyboard or stylus. Microsoft’s Surface devices, for instance, are typically sold without the Type Cover or pen accessories.
How we test 2-in-1 laptops
Testing 2-in-1 laptops isn’t much different from testing a regular laptop. The main consideration here is whether the stylus and keyboard is supplied as standard with the machine, and how well those accessories work. We always request a stylus and official keyboard with 2-in-1 laptops so we can use these machines as intended.
Aside from this, the testing procedure for 2-in-1 laptops is the same as it is with all the laptops we review.
We assess speed using a variety of software applications and games. We monitor thermal performance, test storage speed (recording sequential transfer speeds in MB/sec), and we use an X-Rite colorimeter to measure a laptop’s display for peak brightness, contrast ratio, backlight uniformity and colour capabilities.
Because battery life is crucial, we also test this for every machine that crosses our work bench, setting the screen brightness to a predetermined level and putting the laptop in flight mode to ensure a level playing field.
And, finally, we make sure we use every laptop for at least a part of our day-to-day work, where possible, so we can assess ergonomics and usability in real-world use.
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The best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy in 2023
1. Microsoft Surface Pro 9: The king of Windows 2-in-1 laptops
Price: From £1,099 | Buy now from Microsoft
It may not be a giant technological leap forward from the Surface Pro 8, but an upgrade to the CPU – either to a 12th Gen U-series Intel Core i5, Core i7 a Microsoft SQ3 chip – ensures even faster performance and helps make the Surface Pro 9 the most impressive Microsoft 2-in-1 to date.
It’s also a beautifully designed piece of kit. At just 9.3mm and 879g, it’s impressively thin and lightweight, with a clean, matte aluminium rear panel and slim black borders contributing to its supremely attractive appearance.
The Surface Pro Signature Keyboard – purchased separately – is pleasant to use thanks in part to smartly designed keys and a responsive touchpad. The 13in screen is also excellent, with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 2,880 x 1,920 resolution. Plus, users who expect to rely on their device for regular video conferencing will be delighted with the top-notch webcam and microphones, which produce high-quality images and audio.
If you’re after the best Surface Pro 2-in-1, look no further than the Surface Pro 9.
Read our Microsoft Surface Pro 9 review for more details
Key specs – Processor: Intel Core i5-1235U, Intel core i7-1255U or Microsoft SQ3; RAM: 8GB, 16GB or 32GB; Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB SSD; Screen resolution: 2,880 x 1,920; Weight: 879g (tablet), 1.14kg (with Signature Keyboard)
2. Acer Chromebook Spin 713: The best-value 2-in-1 Chromebook
Price: £699 | Buy now from Currys
Good-looking, versatile and with a brilliant display, the Acer Spin 713 is a 2-in-1 Chromebook that fully justifies its reasonable asking price. The metal chassis is sturdy and well put together, while the 13in display works superbly well across clamshell, tablet and tent modes thanks to its 3:2 aspect ratio.
The touchpad is near impossible to fault, picking up fast movements and gestures brilliantly well, and although the keyboard isn’t the best we’ve seen on a Chromebook at this kind of price, it isn’t far off. Image quality on the QHD+ display is superb, with the only downside being how reflective it is. With bright lights behind you, you’ll probably struggle to see what’s on the screen.
Performance-wise, the 11th Gen Intel Core i3 CPU backed by 8GB of RAM in the model we tested held up well, although a price-drop on the Core i5 model now makes it even better value. It will happily tackle the most demanding Web and Android applications or handle a dozen open Chrome tabs. It’s not just the best convertible Chromebook but one of the best Chromebooks, full stop.
Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 713 review for more details
Key specs – Processor: Intel Core i3; RAM: 8GB; Storage: 256GB eMMC; Screen resolution: 2,256 x 1,504; Weight: 1.45kg
3. Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360: The best 2-in-1 laptop with a big screen
Price: £1,399 | Buy now from Samsung
if you’re after a bright, vibrant and large touchscreen for annotations, along with a flexible 360-degree hinge, the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 is the 2-in-1 laptop for you.
Its 15.6in AMOLED display performed well in our tests, particularly when it came to colour accuracy and a high peak brightness. The only negative is a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080, which lags behind the competition and can give smaller icons a grainy appearance. Still, Samsung makes up for this with full-bodied speakers, a reliable touchpad, a robust hinge and a keyboard with just the right amount of travel.
Inside, there’s more than enough processing power for productivity tasks and even the occasional spot of gaming, although note that it gets warm to the touch when pushed. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 has an impressive battery life for a laptop so slim and light: 13hrs 15mins in our test. That’s only an hour behind the class-leading Apple MacBook Air M1.
The Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 is rucksack-friendly, packs a punch, is cost-effective and has a lot of screen real estate for notes or doodles – which makes it easy to overlook the small quibbles.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro 360 review for more details
Key specs – Processor: 12-core Intel Core i7-1260P; RAM: 16GB; Storage: 512GB; Screen resolution: 1,920 x 1,080; Weight: 1.41kg
4. Lenovo Yoga 9i (14in): The best 2-in-1 laptop for audio quality
Price: From £1,500 | Buy now from Lenovo
This 2-in-1 from Lenovo is a multi-talented laptop packing some serious power under the hood. The base model houses an 11th-generation Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and Full HD display, while the “Shadow Black” model we tested packs a 1TB SSD and comes with a leather lid cover. It may not be quite as attractive as the HP Spectre below, but the Yoga 9i feels very solid and isn’t too unwieldy at 1.34kg.
Performance-wise, the Yoga 9i achieved impressive scores in both our in-house 4K media benchmark test and the Geekbench 5 single- and multi-core tests. That’s to be expected given it’s packing 11th-gen silicon, but the Yoga 9i also remained cool when operating at full capacity and returned a very solid battery run-down test result of 11hrs 35mins.
The main issues preventing the Yoga 9i from being best in class relate to its touchpad and fingerprint scanner. Because the entire palm rest is made from one piece of tempered glass, it’s tricky to make out the boundaries of the trackpad, and locating the scanner can be a pain. The haptic action trackpad on the Shadow Black variant won’t be for everyone either, but other models offer more conventional touchpads.
Read our Lenovo Yoga 9i review for more details
Key specs – Processor: Quad-core Intel Core i7-1185G7; RAM: 8GB; Storage: 512GB SSD; Screen resolution: 1,920 x 1,080; Weight: 1.34kg
5. Asus Vivobook 13 Slate OLED: The best-value 2-in-1 laptop with an OLED display
Price: £550 | Buy now from Currys
Laptops with OLED displays used to make bank cards quiver with fear, but that’s no longer the case: Asus’ Vivobook 13 Slate proves that affordable 2-in-1 laptops can now benefit from the screen technology too. If you’re after a convertible for watching Netflix but don’t want to spend the earth, it should be your first port of call.
The OLED screen measures 13.3in and our in-depth tests showed it to be vibrant and with near-perfect contrast. We used it to watch a sci-fi epic and it conveyed the inky blackness of space brilliantly, while highlighting the neon of the spaceship’s interior. The only slight issue is the screen’s glossiness, but that’s easy to overlook if you’ll mainly be using it indoors. It’s a staggering display for the price.
Inside, the Vivobook 13 Slate OLED contains a budged-focused Intel Pentium Silver N6000, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of sluggish eMMC storage. As you’d expect from such a weak specification, its benchmark results didn’t set the world on fire. However, it’s still enough to handle everyday browsing and streaming. The battery life is similarly underwhelming at 7hrs 8mins, though.
All of that said, the Asus Vivobook 13 Slate OLED is a good-looking machine that’s tailor-made for whiling long commutes or binging a series on Disney+.
Read our Asus Vivobook 13 Slated OLED review for more details
Key specs – Processor: Intel Pentium Silver N6000; RAM: 4GB; Storage: 128GB eMMC; Screen resolution: 1,920 x 1,080; Weight: 780g
6. Apple M1 iPad Pro (2021): A superb laptop alternative with a stunning display
Price: From £699 (without keyboard) | Buy now from Currys
With every new iteration, Apple’s iPad Pro becomes more of a laptop alternative than a tablet, and the 2021 upgrade sees its biggest step forward yet thanks to the incorporation of the M1 chip. Apple’s new silicon helps the iPad Pro blow the 2020 model out of the water in terms of processing and graphical performance, and it outstripped the M1 MacBook Air in a number of our benchmark tests.
The 12.9in version also gets a new Liquid Retina XDR display that uses mini-LED technology, and the results are astounding. It’s the brightest display of any portable computer we’ve tested and its colour accuracy across both the Standard Dynamic Range and HDR10 is highly impressive. The 11in model doesn’t get the mini-LED treatment, so if you want the best tablet screen around, be prepared to raid the bank.
That brings us on to one of the iPad Pro’s few drawbacks: its price. Once you’ve factored in a keyboard – we recommend going for one of Apple’s official offerings – you’re looking at a spend of around £1,000 for the base 11in model and significantly more for the lowest-spec 12.9in version. That’s a lot to pay, but the iPad Pro is undoubtedly worth it – it’s the best tablet money can buy and an excellent 2-in-1 laptop when paired with a keyboard.
Read our Apple M1 iPad Pro review for more details
Key specs – Processor: Apple M1; RAM: 8GB on 128/256/512GB models, 16GB on 1TB and 2TB models; Storage: 128GB-2TB SSD; Screen resolution: 11in, 2,388 x 1,688; 12.9in, 2,732 x 2048; Weight: 11in, 466g; 12.9in, 682g
7. Lenovo IdeaPad Duet: The best budget 2-in-1 Chromebook
Price: £236 | Buy now from Amazon
The IdeaPad Duet is first and foremost a tablet, but it comes bundled with a rear cover that can function as a stand along with a magnetic clip-on keyboard that enables it to be used as a miniature laptop. Its housing is plastic yet reasonably robust, and the removable keyboard is surprisingly good, despite lying completely flat on the surface you place it on. The keyboard is understandably on the small side but is great to type on, with inputs feeling tight yet springy.
The display is highly impressive too, particularly by budget Chromebook standards, covering 99.6% of the sRGB colour gamut with decent accuracy. Its diminutive size makes it a little tricky to work with multiple windows open on the desktop, but for basic tasks it works brilliantly.
The main compromise you’ll be making with the Duet is in the performance department. The MediaTek processor works perfectly well when browsing the net, watching videos and writing documents, but struggles somewhat when running single-core heavy web-based apps.
Read our full Lenovo IdeaPad Duet review for more details
Key specs – Processor: MediaTek Helio P60T; RAM: 4GB; Storage: 64GB eMPC; Screen resolution: 1,920 x 1,080; Weight: 0.92kg
8. Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 (CX5500): The best big-screen Chromebook convertible
Price: £554 | Buy now from Amazon
With a large screen and a full-sized keyboard, this 15.6in convertible Chromebook makes a great everyday workhorse. It’s built around an 11th-gen Intel CPU and even the 8GB of RAM Core i3 version has enough power to run the most intensive web-based apps or keep a dozen or more Chrome browser tabs open without a pause. The Full HD screen doesn’t have the best brightness or richest colours but it’s fine for work, study and some light entertainment, and Asus’s audio system does a passable impression of surround sound.
What makes this 2-in-1 so great is that it’s so versatile. It’s just about small and light enough to be portable but the excellent full-sized keyboard and trackpad make it usable at your desk all day long. It works brilliantly sitting on your lap, or you can turn it into a tablet and make notes and sketches with the bundled stylus. Sure, it’s a bit heavy for handheld use, but put it in tent mode and it’s great for streaming video or games. Throw in surprisingly good battery life, and you’ve got the best big-screen Chromebook 2-in-1 around.
Read our full Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 (CX5500) review for more details
Key specs – Processor: Intel Core i3-1115G4; RAM: 8GB; Storage: 128GB SSD; Screen resolution: 1,920 x 1,080; Weight: 1.95kg
9. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus: The best 2-in-1 laptop running Android OS
Price: £799 | Buy now from Amazon
Samsung’s latest flagship tablet has more than enough muscle to double up as a laptop. The Qualcomm processor driving it provides the power to handle pretty much anything you throw at it, and its multi-core processing proved twice as fast as a 2016 MacBook Pro.
You’ll need to purchase the Book Cover keyboard separately to use it as a laptop, but with that connected, the S7 Plus offers a truly impressive desktop-like experience. This is in part down to DeX mode: an interface designed to work with both a mouse and keyboard that gives you the ability to open multiple windows at once, drag and drop, and right-click for context-sensitive options.
The Galaxy Tab S7 Plus’ display is top-notch, too, with the 12.4in AMOLED panel boasting a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2,800 x 1,753. Throw in 5G connectivity on the more expensive model and you’ve got a very capable 2-in-1 that’s great for everything from work tasks to streaming your favourite films on Netflix.
Read our Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus review for more details
Key specs – Processor: Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus; RAM: 6GB; Storage: 128GB; Screen resolution: 2,800 x 1,753; Weight: 575g
10. HP Chromebook X2 11: The best Chromebook detachable
Price: £479 | Buy now from Currys
The Chromebook X2 feels like the Chrome OS answer to Microsoft’s Surface Go 3. It’s a tablet that ships with a clip-on keyboard cover and a magnetic back cover that doubles as a kickstand, making it easy to use as a laptop or as a stand-alone slate. It’s a little larger and heavier than Microsoft’s pint-sized Surface Go 3, but that means a bigger 11in screen and keyboard. And while it’s also more expensive, the premium version gets you 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and the keyboard cover in the box.
In terms of speed, it uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7c chipset to deliver decent everyday performance, and it’s a big step up from the smaller Lenovo IdeaPad Duet. This, and an impressive QHD screen and eleven-hour battery life, make it a great choice for working on the move. In tablet mode, it’s also brilliant for Netflix binges or a session streaming games from Stadia or Xbox Games Pass Ultimate. We’d like a bit more body to the keyboard and more warmth and weight to the sound but, otherwise, the Chromebook X2 11 is a fantastically functional 2-in-1 device.
Key specs – Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c; RAM: 8GB; Storage: 128GB SSD; Screen resolution: 2,160 x 1,440; Weight: 1.03kg