The best 2-in-1 laptop 2018: find the best convertible laptop for your needs

Once you’ve experienced the best 2-in-1 laptops for yourself, you’ll never go back. It would even be difficult to go back to a normal, old non-convertible laptop. The best 2-in-1 laptops will come in every shape and size – even offering premium performance.

Rocking 8th-generation Coffee Lake processors, the best 2-in-1 laptops, like the Dell XPS 15 2-in-1, are among the best Windows 10 laptops you can buy today. We can’t wait to see what future 2-in-1 laptops will look like.

In 2018, the best 2-in-1 laptops will mostly be convertible, meaning the keyboard swivels around the back, so you can use it as a tablet. There are a few, however, that are detachable, like the sublime Surface Book 2, whose high-resolution PixelSense display is held up by pure magnetic force. 

No matter how the tablet mode works, the best 2-in-1 laptops will work with a stylus – though they’re rarely included these days. Don’t worry – we’ve made sure to point out the pros and cons of each device listed here. 

The Samsung Notebook 9 Pro can go head-to-head with the 15-inch MacBook Pro, and for a substantially lower cost. Though it’s limited to only one configuration, albeit across two different sizes, the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro is as powerful as it is pragmatic. Defined in part by its inclusion of the S-Pen, this heavy-hitting hybrid is every bit as capable as Microsoft’s Surface Book and without the need to recharge its stylus.

Read the full review: Samsung Notebook 9 Pro

• This product is only available in the US as of this writing. Australian and UK  readers: check out a fine alternative in the Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch).  

We never thought we’d be recommending a Chromebook as one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, but the Pixelbook is special. This fantastic device takes its platform and elevates it to levels we never predicted. Thanks to its beefy internals, and including full Android app integration, the Google Pixelbook tears down the barriers that stopped Windows and Mac users from trying Chrome OS. And, now that the Pixelbook may start supporting Windows 10, those barriers continue to get smaller. 

Read the full review: Google Pixelbook

• This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Lenovo Yoga 920 

We get it, the Pixelbook is enticing, but it’s also out of your price range. In that case, the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 is a choice alternative. Having introduced a touchscreen and convertible design to Google’s cloud-based Chrome OS, the Asus Chromebook Flip is made better by its compatibility with Android apps. That’s right, just like the Pixelbook, you can use the Asus Chromebook Flip for Google Play apps, albeit after installing an out-of-the-box update.

Read the full review: Asus Chromebook Flip

If you’ve been in the market for one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, but you also kind of wanted to get one of the best gaming laptops instead, you’re in luck. The Dell XPS 15, already a fantastic laptop, has been transformed into a 2-in-1 – and was given discrete-class Radeon RX Vega graphics in the process. What this means is that you can get a beautiful convertible laptop, but you don’t have to give up any power. And, while that means that it’s a little expensive and the fans get a bit loud – it’s worth it in our book.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 

We already loved the 13-inch Surface Book, so when we first heard that a 15-inch Surface Book 2 was on the way, our expectations shot into the sky. Microsoft’s second 2-in-1 laptop isn’t perfect, but it’s an impressive device held back by a handful of concessions. First, the Surface Book 2 features a cutting-edge 8th-generation Intel processor and Nvidia 10-series graphics for gamers and creative types alike. When you take that power and pair it with its nifty convertibility – it’s easy to see why it’s a winner.  

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13-inch)

While it doesn’t offer the same level of graphics performance, the Lenovo Yoga 920 is a much more affordable alternative to the Surface Book 2. For anyone who’s looking for value, rather than a detachable screen, the Lenovo Yoga 920 has a lot to offer. The design, for example, is less pronounced and has the subtlety of a more traditional Ultrabook. Meanwhile it’s thin and powerful at the same time. 

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 920

To be fair, we loved the 13-inch Surface Book already, so when we first caught word that a 15-inch Surface Book 2 was in the works, our expectations were amplified. In the end, Microsoft’s second 2-in-1 laptop isn’t perfect, but it is an impressive feat held back by a handful of (frankly necessary) concessions. For starters, this machine features cutting-edge 8th-generation Intel processors and Nvidia 10-series graphics for gamers and creative types alike. Pair that with its nifty convertibility, and we have ourselves a winner.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 (15-inch)

If you’re looking for one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, but you don’t want to spend a fortune, look no further than the Lenovo Flex 6 14. For less than $1,000 you’re getting specs that can get you through most everyday workloads easily and in a chassis that doesn’t just look great, but is rigid as well. It even supports the Lenovo Active Pen, though it’s not included. The only real drawbacks here are its tinny speakers and the lack of Thunderbolt 3, but even that’s not enough to hold it back from getting our recommendation, especially when you consider the price.

Read the full review: Lenovo Flex 6 14 

A beautiful 2-in-1 with a strikingly thin frame, the HP Spectre x360 now brandishes the sheer power that Intel’s 8th-generation Kaby Lake R processors allow. So, despite its slim chassis and weighing only 2.78 pounds (1.26kg), this version of the Hewlett-Packard flagship is ready not just to stream 4K video, but to run your favorite games at 720p using integrated graphics tech. And, if you’re a creative, it comes with the HP Pen, unlike some stylus-less hybrids. 

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360

If you’re attracted to devices like the Microsoft Surface Pro, but you’re trying to save a couple bucks, you can’t do wrong with the Acer Switch 5. It features solid performance, stunningly long battery life and a removable keyboard – our favorite design for the best 2-in-1 laptops. And, the second you pair it with a pen, it becomes a fantastic device for sketching on. At this price point, you’re not getting the latest Coffee Lake processors or the richest audio experience, but it doesn’t matter. For everything the Acer Switch 5 does right, it’s certainly one of the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy today.

Read the full review: Acer Switch 5 

Gabe Carey and Bill Thomas have also contributed to this article

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