Friday, September 3, 2021

The best 2-in-1 laptop 2021: find the best convertible laptop for your needs

The best 2-in-1 laptops have forever changed the way we see and use portables. Although there are still notebooks out there in their traditional laptop form – MacBooks and gaming laptops are the prime culprits, these hybrids are bringing a lot more functionality to laptops, making them more versatile especially to the right users.

Touting both the traditional clamshell and tablet forms, usually alongside the tent and stand modes, 2-in-1 laptops allow you to go from being productive or being creative to streaming your favorite shows or reading an ebook in one fell swoop. Since many of them are fitted with robust internals, they’re great for professionals needing a powerful machine. And, because they are several devices in one, you’re potentially saving money. This means that they could be an excellent option for students as well.

The best 2-in-1 laptops will let you effortlessly go from work to play, whether you’re a student in college or in a creative profession. With HP, Lenovo and Dell laptops sitting at the top of the pile, here are our top picks. Be sure to check out our included price comparison tool so you can also score the best deal available.

The HP Elite Dragonfly G2 at an angle against a white background

The HP Elite Dragonfly G2 is a great business laptop with a stunning design, great battery life and very good performance. (Image credit: HP)

1. HP Elite Dragonfly G2

One of the best laptops we’ve tested

CPU: 11th-generation Intel Core i3 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: 8GB - 32GB | Screen: 13.3-inch diagonal BrightView LED FHD, 400 nits – 13.3-inch diagonal BrightView LED 4K UHD HDR-400 550 nits | Storage: up to 2TB SSD

Great design
Comfortable keyboard
Excellent screen
Expensive
USB-C ports on only one side

HP’s impressive business laptop is back with its smart design, great battery life, and 2-in-1 prowess. The HP Elite Dragonfly was among the best HP laptops, and it’s successor is following in its footsteps. Of course, being a follow-up, it’s more powerful now than its predecessor. Now, the line is touting 11th-gen Intel Core chips, Intel Iris Xe graphics, and now a 4K display, upgrading from its previous Full HD models.

Of course, there’s a whole lot more to love here. It might just be as close to being the perfect business laptop as any manufacturer can get, but it’s also stylish enough to appeal to the more casual users. That is, if they can afford it – as this laptop is as expensive as it’s always been. However, as it is meant for professionals, it’s definitely worth the investment. Plus, that 2-in-1 form factor, touchscreen functionality and included stylus makes it a better value than its rivals.

Read the full review: HP Elite Dragonfly G2 

The HP Spectre x360 (2021) from the front against a white background

The HP Spectre x360 (2021) is a brilliant update on an already excellent laptop. (Image credit: HP)

2. HP Spectre x360 (2021)

A brilliant update

CPU: 11th-gen Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 – Iris Xe | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3" diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080) OLED touch – 13.3" diagonal, 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) OLED touch | Storage: 256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD – 2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD

Gorgeous design
Excellent battery life
Great performance for day-to-day work
Fans can get noisy
Pricey

The HP Spectre x360 is among the best laptops in the world, and the latest addition in this flagship line doesn’t fall far from the tree. The HP Spectre x360 (2021) continues the tradition of pairing elegance and premium design with the latest in specs for a 2-in-1 laptop that’s as much substance as it is style. This gorgeous Windows laptop comes with the new 11th-gen Intel CPU, latest integrated Intel graphics, and enough battery life – almost hitting the 13 hour mark – to get you through a long day at work. That’s while being slightly more affordable than its rivals like the Dell XPS 2-in-1.

Don’t get us wrong; you won’t likely find it in a budget laptops list anytime soon. However, it is very affordable considering its build, power and features. Just bear in mind that it tends to be bulky in tablet mode and can get loud.

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 (2021)

The Lenovo Yoga 9i partially closed against a white background

The Lenovo Yoga 9i is a stylish 2-in-1 with phenomenal battery life to keep you going. (Image credit: Lenovo)

3. Lenovo Yoga 9i

Powerful, stylish 2-in-1 that can go the distance

CPU : 11th Generation Intel Core i3 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: up to 16 GB LPDDR4X | Screen: 14.0" FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, glossy with Dolby Vision – 14.0" UHD (3840 x 2160) IPS, glossy, touchscreen, HDR 400 | Storage: up to 1 TB PCIe SSD

Outstanding battery life
Garaged stylus
Expensive

If you want a high-performance 2-in-1 laptop that will keep going long after its rivals have given up, the Intel Evo-certified Lenovo Yoga 9i is the best 2-in-1 laptop for you. The price of entry here isn’t what you would categorize as cheap, but given the power, battery life, and premium features, it’s actually quite reasonably priced. This means that you’re getting a lot of value for paying just a bit more. Among those noteworthy features are the rechargeable Lenovo Active Pen, its reasonably-quick pen charging dock built-in on the laptop, and its great sound.

Of course, its performance is phenomenal. It’s capable of handling just about anything you can throw at it thanks to the 11th-gen Intel Core processors and the Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics powering it. Its display’s 16:9 aspect ratio may be a bit of an acquired taste and give you less room to work with, but it’s not a big deal-breaker.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 9i

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook from the back with its stand sticking out against a white background

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook is the perfect balance between a tablet and Chromebook, all while keeping the price low. (Image credit: Lenovo)

4. Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook

Everything that netbooks should have been

CPU: MediaTek Helio P60T Processor | Graphics: ARM G72 MP3 800GHz | RAM: 4 GB LPDDR4X | Screen: 10.1" FHD (1920 x 1200) IPS, glossy, touchscreen, 400 nits | Storage: Storage: 64 GB eMMC

Lightweight and portable
Long battery life
Very affordable
Tiny keyboard and finicky trackpad
Charger and headphones share a single port

Is it a Chromebook or is it a tablet? Well, luckily, you won’t have to decide. True to its name, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook delivers two form factors in one while keeping the price unbelievably low. In fact, if you’re looking for a budget option, this is the best 2-in-1 laptop for you. This Chromebook utilizes the versatility of the Chrome OS while you back much less than many of the top Windows tablets out there. 

Of course, true to its Chromebook nature, its battery packs an incredibly long life of almost 22 hours – you could pull an all-nighter, work through the day and mid-afternoon, and you’ll still pass out before it runs out of juice. For this price, sacrifices have to be made, naturally – the keyboard is tiny, the trackpad isn’t as reliable, and the charger and headphones share one port. However, if budget is your top priority, this has to be your top choice.

Read the full review: Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook 

Two Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2020), one in stand mode, the other in laptop mode, against a white background

Beautifully designed, the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2020) boasts processing power that delivers a brilliant Windows environment. (Image credit: Dell)

5. Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2020)

One of the best Windows laptops around

CPU: 10th Generation Intel Core i3 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus | RAM: up to 16GB 4267MHz LPDDR4x | Screen: 13.4-in. touch display | Storage: up to 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD

Great display
Fantastic battery life
Expensive

The Dell XPS line has been upping the ante in the world of portables since its launch, and that hasn’t changed years later. It has now penetrated the premium game, forcing its budget-conscious fans to look for cheaper alternatives, but that higher price tag is more than justified considering this laptop’s build, features, and prowess. The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2020) remains to be among the best laptops right now, touting more versatility thanks to its hybrid design. We love this laptop so much, we’d get it just for the pleasure of using it. But, if that price is holding you back, let us assure you: this is worth paying extra for.

Its absolutely stellar battery life, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, plenty of storage, and quiet operation are among the most noteworthy features here. As is its bright and vibrant display that’s just a pleasure to use in tablet mode as it is in traditional laptop mode. 

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2020) 

The Acer Spin 5 (2020) in its different modes against a white background

Providing great performance, excellent battery life, and a 3:2 HD IPS display, the Acer Spin 5 (2020) is an excellent laptop. (Image credit: Acer)

6. Acer Spin 5 (2020)

A fantastic 2-in-1 laptop

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.5" (2256 x 1504) 3:2 touchscreen display | Storage: 256GB – 512GB SSD

Fantastic battery life
3:2 display perfect for note-taking
Feature rich stylus included
3:2 display not ideal for 16:9 video
Bloatware includes desktop pop-up ads

A great feature set definitely adds a lot of value, and if you’re looking for the best 2-in-1 laptops, that’s one thing to keep an eye out for. It’s that kind of feature set combined with its affordability that makes the Acer Spin 5 (2020) a terrific candidate. This 2-in-1 laptop isn’t just versatile due to its form factors and fantastic battery life. It also comes with a 3:2 display and a feature-rich stylus that together give it that extra advantage for students and professionals over its rivals: an easy and seamless note-taking experience. If you’re one of those folks who have a contempt for typing up notes in class, this old-school approach might just seal the deal.

Of course, that just-under-12-hours battery life is a bonus, and the fast stylus charging that gives you about 90 minutes of use for 15 or 20 seconds of charging is a boon. Finally, that stellar performance is impressive considering its affordable price. 

Read the full review: Acer Spin 5 (2020)

The Lenovo ThinkBook 14S Yoga at an angle against a white background

A solid and affordable convertible laptop, the Lenovo ThinkBook 14S Yoga boasts some great features and excellent performance. (Image credit: Lenovo)

7. Lenovo ThinkBook 14S Yoga

An excellent 2-in-1

CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: up to 24 GB DDR4 3200MHz | Screen: 14.0” FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, glossy, touchscreen, 300 nits | Storage: up to 1TB PCIe SSD

Great performance
Garaged stylus 
Battery life is just OK

Lenovo’s latest release, the ThinkBook 14S Yoga, is a solid and affordable convertible that comes with some great features and terrific performance. Even though admittedly, it isn’t perfect, there’s a lot to love here, starting with its great price-to-performance ratio. You’ll appreciate the specs behind that power – that 11th-gen Intel Core chip and Intel Iris Xe graphics inside will ensure that it’ll see you through even arduous tasks. And, although that coveted 2-in-1 design may come standard on every hybrid, for example, its garaged pen is not, making it a boon to those who tend to lose small peripherals. Plus, its webcam shutter is there to protect your privacy.

Sadly, that battery life is no match to the competition. It falls just shy of the nine hour mark, which means that you should take your charger with you if you’re clocking in a full work or school day. Still, for the price you’re paying, this is among the best 2-in-1 laptops out there.

Read the full review: Lenovo Thinkpad 14S Yoga

The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable with its keyboard disengaged against a white background

The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable is a respectably powerful hybrid business laptop.  (Image credit: Lenovo)

8. Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable

Putting the Microsoft Surface Pro on notice

CPU: 11th Generation Intel Core i3 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 12.3" FHD+ (1920 x 1280) IPS, anti-reflective touchscreen, 400 nits | Storage: 256GB – 1TB PCIe SSD

Lightweight
Good performance
Excellent battery life
Limited Ports
Terrible Speakers

Business laptops are a dime a dozen, but once in a while, you get one that’s just a little more special than the others. As far as such portables go, the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable is a more versatile option. It boasts a detachable, portfolio-style keyboard that allows its users to seamlessly go from full traditional laptop to that more convenient tablet mode in seconds, minus the bulk. Don’t worry, though. As it is still a business laptop, it still boasts a host of excellent business-centric features, like robust security features that matter a lot to business customers and surprisingly long battery life of around 10 hours per full charge (that’s considerable for business laptops).

Of course, there’s plenty of power behind all that as well, with 11th-gen Intel Core chips and Intel’s integrated graphics. Although if you’re looking for a business laptop with more robust graphics, you should consider other options as there’s no way to configure it with discrete graphics. 

Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable

HP Envy x360 15 (2021) at an angle against a white background

The HP Envy x360 15 (2021) delivers a powerful performance. (Image credit: HP)

9. HP Envy x360 15 (2021)

Powerful performance if not the most comfortable

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 – 7 / 11th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: AMD Radeon / Intel Iris Xe Graphics | RAM: 8GB - 16GB | Screen: 15.6" diagonal 4K UHD, UWVA, BrightView, AMOLED – 15.6" diagonal FHD, IPS, micro-edge, WLED-backlit | Storage: up to 256 GB Intel SSD + 16 GB Intel Optane memory

Best-in-class performance
Exceptional battery life
Fantastic price
Tablet mode a bit unwieldy
No docked stylus

The  HP Envy x360 15 (2021) is nearly in a class in its own right, a 2-in-1 laptop that combines impressive CPU and GPU power with an elegant yet robust design, a stunning display, and outstanding battery life – all for an incredible price. In fact, if you don’t want to spend a fortune, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better value for a 2-in-1. Especially when you’re already getting best-in-class performance. Its huge collection of ports make it an even better value. If you have a few peripherals in your arsenal, you won’t find its connectivity options lacking.

It’s not the most comfortable to use as a tablet, however. Because it’s on the heavier side, it doesn’t offer the best tablet mode experience. However, the positives far outweigh these points for us, especially because even the most premium contenders on this list aren’t perfect, so it’s easy to forgive this laptop for that.

Read the full review: HP Envy x360 15 (2021)

The Microsoft Surface Book 3 with its keyboard detached against a white background

An extremely premium piece of kit, the Microsoft Surface Book 3 is one of the best displays and keyboards we've seen on a laptop.  (Image credit: Microsoft)

10. Microsoft Surface Book 3

An extremely premium piece of kit

CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G7 – i7-1065G7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with Max-Q Design | RAM: 8GB – 32GB 3733Mhz LPDDR4x | Screen: 13.5-inch 3000 x 2000 (267 PPI) – 15-inch 3240 x 2160 (260 PPI) PixelSense Display | Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB PCIe SSD

Beautiful design
Comfortable keyboard
Gorgeous screen
Weak U-series processor
Tiny trackpad
Lackluster speakers

In many ways, the Surface Book 3 is an example of just how far the best laptops have come in just a few short years. It has an extremely premium piece of kit, starting with its display, which is one of the best displays we’ve used in a laptop. That PixelSense display looks amazing and vibrant, with a 3:2 aspect ratio is a godsend for working. Other features worth mentioning here are a keyboard that will put the MacBook Pro’s new Magic Keyboards to shame, and a hybrid design with a removable screen. 

This follow-up to the outstanding Surface Book 2 is truly one of the best 2-in-1 laptops 2021 has to offer. Unfortunately, it’s somewhat held back by a weaker processor (next to its rivals), lacklust speakers and a high price tag. Also, you’ll have to take that charger with you everywhere. Still, it’s an excellent portable, if you’ve got the money for it.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 3



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