For most people, a laptop remains the best portable device for productivity. The physical keyboard is something tablets can’t match, although the latter is a better option for gaming or watching videos.
Wouldn’t it be great if there was one device that could do all of these and more? Depending on your needs, there might just be a solution among 2-in-1 laptops, which have grown rapidly in recent years.
There are two main form factors – a tablet with detachable keyboard and laptop with a 360° hinge. Both let you type and touch the screen, and there are devices running Windows, Android, iOS and Chrome OS these days.
However, a word of warning: you’ll be hard-pressed to find a device that excels as both a tablet and laptop. Some of the options in this list are also very expensive, so you may be able to buy both for the price of one 2-in-1. But the convenience of having everything in one place shouldn’t be overlooked, especially as these are products that can go everywhere with you.
There’s a range of options here, catering to many different price points. If you’re interested in a particular product, it’s worth clicking through to our full review of each to learn more about its strengths and weaknesses. Below the chart, you’ll also find in-depth buying advice on what to look for in a 2-in-1 laptop.
Best 2-in-1 laptops 2023
1. Microsoft Surface Pro 9 – Best Overall
Pros
Excellent design and display
Solid battery life
Great accessories
Impressive webcam
Cons
Poor performance on ARM models
Limited ports
Keyboard cover sold separately
Price When Reviewed:
From £1,099
The Surface Pro 9 retains its crown as the best 2-in-1 you can buy, but only if you get the Intel version.
That adds just 12th-gen Intel CPUs to 2021’s Surface Pro 8, but that device was already excellent. Solid performance combines with the existing premium design and 120Hz display for a great all-round experience.
Video calling and battery life are other key strengths, but they’re actually even better on the new ARM-based model. The SQ3 chip it uses is based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, but this can’t compete with Intel on performance and app compatibility, both of which still hold it back.
5G is exclusive to the ARM version, but it’s simply not worth taking the risk for most people. Poor ports and a high price tag remain regardless of the model you choose, but the Intel version still provides the best all-round tablet experience.
When you add the keyboard cover (sold separately), it becomes a convincing laptop replacement.
Read our full
Microsoft Surface Pro 9 review
2. Apple iPad Pro (12.9in 2022) – Best iPad
Pros
Superb performance
Stunning display
Great cameras and battery life
Cons
Expensive accessories
iPadOS doesn’t make full use of M1 chip
The 2022 iPad Pro doesn’t change much compared to the 2021 version, but it’s the closest Apple has ever go to a laptop replacement.
This 12.9in model is equipped with the company’s latest M2 chip, stretching its lead in terms of performance. You won’t find any tablet as capable, although few apps push it even close to its potential.
To make the most of the device, you’ll want to pay extra for the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil, but they offer a superb typing and navigation experience that beats even the Surface Pro. It’s also worth highlighting that 120Hz display, which now has mini-LED tech for an even better viewing experience.
However, the single biggest reason not to buy the iPad Pro is its software. iPadOS simply cannot rival macOS or Windows in terms of functionality.
With a device this expensive, it’s enough to make you think twice.
3. Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 – Best Convertible
Pros
Solid performance
Great battery life
5G & S-Pen support
Cons
Relatively expensive
Dim display
Price When Reviewed:
From £1,124 (non 5G) | £1,349 (13in with 5G)
Samsung’s Galaxy Book Pro 360 is the pick of the bunch when it comes to 2-in-1 devices. The fusion of great design with powerful internals and attractive screen make it the convertible to beat, especially as it’s priced in line with other premium laptops.
A combination of 11th-gen Intel chips and Iris Xe integrated graphics deliver solid all-round performance, even if there’s no discrete GPU. Battery life is also excellent, rivalling some of the longest-lasting laptops you can buy. Elsewhere, the display provides a rich, vivid viewing experience, even with the resolution capped at 1920×1080.
However, the 360-degree hinge is the big selling point here. It can be adjusted to any angle from regular laptop to tablet, alongside an S-Pen that magnetically attaches to the back of the display.
There’s also the option for 5G support, but the competitively-priced 4G model will offer everything most people are looking for in a 2-in-1 laptop. This remains a great option, but it’s also worth considering the newer Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360, even if not much has changed.
Read our full
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 (2021) review
4. Huawei MateBook E (2022) – Best Value for Money
Pros
Impressive OLED display
Great cameras
Keyboard case included
Decent i5 performance
Cons
Poor battery life
Frustrating fingerprint sensor
Only one port
Price When Reviewed:
£999.99
Huawei has dabbled in 2-in-1 devices in the past, but the latest MateBook E is its best effort yet.
The device isn’t dissimilar to the Surface Pro 8 in design – high praise considering it’s significantly more affordable. However, that entry-level model has just an 11th-gen Core i3 model under the hood – most people will probably want to step up to i5, where you’ll find solid all-round performance.
A 12.6in display is slightly smaller than some rivals and only 60Hz, but opting for OLED makes up for it. Huawei has maintained slim bezels around the edge of the display, which house a solid webcam.
There’s also an impressive webcam for video calls, but no Windows Hello face unlock. That means you’ll need to rely on an underwhelming fingerprint sensor built into the power button. There’s also only one USB-C port.
The included keyboard cover (with built-in stand) and stylus sold separately are both superb, but battery life is another key weakness.
There may be one too many compromises here for most people, but it remains a compelling option and very good value for money.
You’ll find Performance on the entry-level Intel Core i4
Read our full
Huawei MateBook E (2022) review
5. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio – Most Versatile
Pros
3-in-1 functionality
Great performance
Excellent battery life
Price When Reviewed:
From £1,449 | Model reviewed £2,479
With the Surface Laptop Studio, Microsoft has solved one of the Surface Book’s key design drawbacks: needing to house many of its components under the screen.
Ditching the detachable display for a new flexible hinge design achieves this, although you’re now limited to just three fixed positions. But the Laptop Studio excels as a traditional laptop, while there are credible use cases for the other two modes – with the display pulled forward or laid flat.
The high-res 120Hz panel itself is a joy to use, while video calling features remain a highlight. The keyboard and trackpad take some getting used to, but deliver a convincing experience. With great battery life and solid performance (thanks to 11th-gen Intel CPUs and optional RTX 3050 Ti GPU), there’s a lot to like here.
But whether you buy the Surface Laptop Studio will likely come down to two things: whether the design works for you and if you can afford the high asking price. If your answer to both is yes, you won’t be disappointed. With no second-gen model expected until at least 2023, you don’t need to worry about this being out of date anytime soon.
Read our full
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio review
6. Asus ROG Flow Z13 – Best For Gaming
Pros
AAA gaming on a tablet
Excellent XG Mobile GPU performance
Impressive 120Hz display
Cons
Expensive
Too heavy for most people
Poor battery life
Price When Reviewed:
From £1,899.99
Gaming on a PC usually requires a permanent desktop or bulky laptop, but Asus has proven that doesn’t need to be the case.
The ROG Flow Z13 offers incredible power within a thin and light design, with a choice between top-spec Intel or AMD CPUs and a discrete RTX 3050 Ti graphics card. Performance drops slightly when running on battery power, but connecting the optional XG Mobile helps deliver desktop-level gaming.
Elsewhere, the large 13.4in Mini-LED display delivers an immersive gaming experience. You get a choice between Full HD or 4K, with both offering a silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rate.
A built-in kickstand and detachable keyboard (included in the price) makes the Flow Z13 impressively versatile, although you might be disappointed by the lack of ports. It’d also have been nice to see some better speakers too, but most gamers will be connecting headphones anyway.
But battery life is a key weakness, with less than 90 minutes of AAA gaming on a single charge. The situation is much better in general use, but at around five hours, it’s still worse than most rivals.
Ultimately, the Flow Z13’s high price tag will put people off. But it’s an exciting first step into the world of gaming 2-in-1s.
Read our full
Asus ROG Flow Z13 review
7. HP Chromebook x360 14c – Best 2-in-1 Chromebook
Pros
Decent performance
Excellent audio
Premium internals
Cons
Reflective display
Occasional glitches
Price When Reviewed:
£599.99
It’s not all about Windows devices and iPads where 2-in-1s are concerned though – there are plenty of options if you’re looking for a Chrome OS device.
HP’s Chromebook x360 is our top pick, combining super-fast performance with a great design and excellent keyboard & trackpad. The Full HD display is another highlight, even if it doesn’t get very bright, while the Bang & Olufsen speakers deliver an excellent audio experience.
Elsewhere, you also get a great port selection and impressive battery life, all for a price that won’t break the bank.
If you can look beyond poor outdoor visibility and some occasional bugs, the x360 14c could be a great option for you. Just make sure you’re content with the limitations of Chrome OS.
Read our full
HP Chromebook x360 14c review
8. Microsoft Surface Go 3 – Best Budget 2-in-1
Pros
Lightweight and portable
Solid Intel Core i3 performance
Great for video calls
Cons
Poor battery life
Dated design
Type Cover still costs extra
Price When Reviewed:
From £369 | Model reviewed £569
If you don’t have much money to spend, the Surface Go 3 is an excellent option. It’s one of the smallest devices to run a full version of Windows 11, making the OS more portable than ever.
There aren’t many upgrades here compared to the
Surface Go 2. In fact, the only change of note is the introduction of new processors, but impressive performance from the Intel Core i3 chip justifies this move. However, this is likely to take a significant hit on cheaper models.
The 10.5in touchscreen display is excellent, and the video calling experience is very good. But the Go 3 does suffer from poor battery life, while chunky bezels give the impression of an older device. You’ll also need to buy a Type Cover separately to make the most of it.
Nonetheless, if you want a solid tablet experience that avoids the limitations of Android and iOS, the Go 3 is a solid bet. With the Go 4 not expected to arrive until 2023, you don’t have to worry about it being out of date anytime.
Read our full
Microsoft Surface Go 3 review
9. Samsung Galaxy Book 2 360 – Premium but affordable
Price When Reviewed:
From £949
If you’d rather not pay the premium for Samsung’s ‘Pro’ branded convertibles, the regular Book 2 360 is nearly as good.
It still excels at the basics, with an excellent 13.3in OLED touchscreen, great performance from Intel’s 12th-gen CPUs and all-day battery life. You also get fast charging and a decent port selection, all within a device weighing only 1.16kg. Despite this, it remains impressively sturdy and durable.
However, it’s not all good news. The Book 2 360’s 720p webcam isn’t great, while a unreliable trackpad means you’ll soon want to connect a mouse. You’re also missing out on a discrete GPU, something several rivals offer.
But for under $1,000/£1,000, this is a great convertible laptop that will serve many people well. If you don’t absolutely need convertible functionality, it’s also worth considering the Galaxy Book 2 Pro.
Read our full
Samsung Galaxy Book 2 360 review
10. Asus ZenBook 17 Fold OLED – Best Foldable
Pros
Excellent foldable OLED screen
Incredibly versatile
Superb battery life
Great speakers
Cons
Extremely expensive
Heavy and bulky
Not enough ports
No discrete GPU
Price When Reviewed:
£3,299
The Zenbook 17 Fold OLED is a truly extraordinary device, but it’s not ready for the mainstream yet. A huge price tag is the main thing that counts against it, and the user experience is a little rough around the edges.
But that’s to be expected from a first-gen device that’s only the second ever folding tablet/laptop to ever come to market. The Zenbook 17 Fold’s hinge is impressively durable, and it enables a range of different form factors that simply aren’t possible on the other devices in this list.
You can use it as a huge 17.3in tablet, use the built-in kickstand for hands-free use or fold it in half for a unique scrolling experience. Then there’s the dedicated keyboard accessory, which can create a desktop replacement or attach over half the screen to create a convincing 12.5in laptop experience.
With great battery life and a super audio experience, Asus is onto something good with the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED. But it won’t tempt many people to ditch their traditional laptop or 2-in-1 yet.
Read our full
Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED review
FAQ
1.
Should I prioritise the tablet or laptop?
In 2-in-1 devices, compromise is inevitable. If you need to get work done, you should focus on it being a great laptop first and foremost. But if content consumption or online shopping are most important, take a tablet-first approach.
Which one is right for you depends hugely on what you want to do with it. Some of the devices in this article are even capable of more than two main positions, so that’s also worth bearing in mind.
2.
What to consider with a laptop-first design
A convertible laptop will usually have a non-removable screen which flips almost 360 degrees in order to change it into a tablet. This style (shown below) also means you can use it in other ‘modes’ such as ‘tent’ or ‘display’.
Lenovo’s Yoga range is possibly the best known convertible laptop and has been the inspiration for many rivals. Microsoft Surface Book is also laptop first but still has a removable screen so is a more advanced hybrid system. However, 2020’s Book 3 was the last entry in that product line. It’s been replaced by the Surface Laptop Studio, which has three fixed positions instead.
3.
What to consider with a tablet-first design
A convertible tablet is similar to a regular tablet but either has a keyboard which attaches magnetically or a case which creates a laptop-like experience. The keyboard may connect over Bluetooth in some cases.
Microsoft’s Surface Pro and Go are the most obvious, but there are plenty of other Windows options these days. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8 Series is another option, but Android still isn’t great for productivity. The limitations of iOS (or iPadOS, as it’s officially known) also hold back the iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard, but it’s a credible alternative.
4.
What specs should I look for?
Much of what you need to look for in a convertible laptop/tablet is the same as for a regular laptop and tablet.
You’ll want to get the best specifications for your money including the latest processor, plenty of memory and storage and a high-quality screen. Make sure you read our reviews to find out more about each device, including benchmark results.
The design, though, is going to be a big part of your buying decision and you need to choose a device which fits your needs best. A laptop-first design is likely to be bigger and heavier but is likely to offer longer battery life (there’s more space for a bigger battery).
This type should also provide a better typing experience and there’s normally more physical ports, including USBs and video outputs.
Although a convertible tablet might not have many physical ports (some still have full-size USB though), they are smaller and lighter than a hybrid laptop making them great for travelling. The trade-off is that using it as a laptop is often fiddly and awkward. Look for one with a clever design and proper keys. A trackpad is also great, even on touchscreens, albeit not a necessity.
