Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
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Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
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The best 2-in-1 laptops give you the utility of a traditional laptop plus the versatility of a tablet—one machine for homework, writing emails, drawing, reading, and so much more.
Our top pick is the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 (available at Best Buy for $1,399.99) . We love its touchscreen display, color gamut coverage, and price for the performance. But not all two-in-ones are created equal. From bright screens to portability, or a diverse selection of ports, it has something for everyone.
Pencil artists should appreciate the stylus' textured rubber tip the most.
Excellent stylus included
Responsive touchscreen display
Comfortable keyboard and trackpad
OK battery life
Performance could be better
Phenomenal HDR display
Excellent stylus included
Sleek form factor
Poor battery life
Fingerprint magnet
Sturdy, stylish chassis
Good performance
Good battery life
Mediocre display
Bloatware
Pressure-sensitive tablet mode
Quiet keyboard
Uncomfortable laptop mode
Chunky design
Poor heat management
Sturdy build
Comfortable keyboard
Stays cool
Dim display
Tinny audio
Mediocre battery life
Good battery life
Comfortable keyboard
Responsive touchscreen
Just okay performance
Terrible audio
Fabric-covered lid
We test laptops for their processing capability, graphics, battery life, and screen brightness.
At Reviewed, we use a series of standardized benchmark tests for laptops to measure their processing capability, graphics, battery life, and screen brightness. Those benchmarks include standard tests like Geekbench and 3DMark to gauge how well the laptop multitasks, runs games, and handles day-to-day computing.
To test battery life, we set up our laptops to continuously cycle through various websites at a brightness of 200 nits—around 60% brightness for many of these 2-in-1 models—until they run out of power, estimating how much work you can get done on a single charge. Our tech experts also personally use each laptop for an extended period of time, rating each on factors like build quality, price, portability, and design.
2-in-1 or convertible laptops tend to be more expensive than their traditional counterparts, so there aren’t a lot of great budget models in this space. When we look at 2-in-1 laptops, we analyze their performance for most everyday tasks and build quality that will last more than a year or two of use. Still, you’ll likely have to make some choices about what’s most important to you. You’ll need to consider:
The processor, graphics chip, RAM, and storage all affect your laptop’s capabilities. If you’re doing anything remotely taxing, a midrange chip like the Intel i5 is a solid choice. We’d also recommend at least 8GB of RAM. You could maybe get away with 4GB on a 2-in-1 Chromebook, but with the modern possibilities of extra tabs and browser extensions, even the Internet can take a lot of RAM.
For more intense work (or play) like photo/video editing or keeping up with new games, you’ll want a little more juice. Intel’s higher-end i7 processors make for noticeably faster video rendering, a dedicated graphics card will help you get the most out of AAA games.
No matter who you are, we recommend loading up on storage. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a heavy computer user, your photos, videos, and music can eat up a lot of space over time. You can definitely pay a lot for a high-end solid-state drive, but you can also just look for a 2-in-1 with an SD card slot and give yourself an option for affordable expansion later.
Most 2-in-1 laptops have a 360-degree hinge so that the keyboard cover can fold to prop up the screen, or even fold back all the way for tablet functionality. Other models have a separate keyboard/dock that detaches from the screen/tablet. Ultimately, the difference between the two is less important than build quality.
You want a laptop that can take a beating as it rides around in your bag all day. You also want one with a sturdy trackpad and keyboard. After all, a variety of inputs is your whole reason for seeking a 2-in-1 machine.
When looking at 2-in-1s, the screen size conversation feels a little different. The balance between having an easy-to-read screen vs. portability is always important, but when your computer doubles as a tablet, new factors come up. You need to consider what you can comfortably hold, as well as how much space you need to comfortably use your stylus.
Most screen sizes for 2-in-1s fall between 13 and 17 inches. It’s not uncommon to find thin bezels here that make 2-in-1s smaller than traditional laptops. Bear in mind that small laptops tend to be less powerful. In turn, if you do find a small, powerful 2-in-1, it’ll usually cost more than choosing one or the other.
Many modern laptops (especially tablets) feature components that are soldered onto the motherboard. That means that if you want more RAM or bigger storage later on, you’re out of luck. As you shop, either look for a laptop that allows you to swap out parts, or plan to spend more upfront to future-proof your purchase a little.
Joanna specializes in anything and everything gaming-related and loves nerding out over graphics cards, processors, and chip architecture. Previously she was a staff writer for Gizmodo, PC Gamer, and Maximum PC.
Michael Garrett Steele has been writing and editing professionally since 2013, and has been a part of Reviewed since 2020. An MFA in music composition, Garrett has lent audio expertise to everyone from Independence Community College to Bethesda Softworks, informing reviews of audio equipment and services. Garrett also covers tech, drawing on experience working everywhere from IT helpdesks to enterprise architecture sales. Steele has also become a go-to reviewer for minor plumbing fixtures since covering bidets for Reviewed in early 2020.
Adrien is a staff writer for Reviewed, mainly focused on reviewing laptops and other consumer tech. During his free time, he's usually wandering around Hyrule.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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