The Best 2-in-1 Laptops to Flip Between Work and Play
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Ever since touchscreens started becoming ubiquitous on laptops (Windows laptops, anyway), we’ve seen an explosion of so-called 2-in-1 machines that aim to bridge the gap between laptops and tablets. Clamshells are still the standard, but many of our favorite laptops today also happen to be 2-in-1s, thanks to their combination of power and flexibility. Whether you want a computer that can rotate its display or a tablet with a detachable keyboard, the following are the best 2-in-1 laptops we've tested.
We review dozens of laptops every year. Make sure you read our comprehensive guide on picking the best laptop for your needs, as well as our other computing buying guides, including the Best MacBooks, Best Cheap Laptops, and Best Gaming Laptops.
Updated December 2024: We've added the Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9, IdeaPad Flex 5i, ThinkBook Plus Gen 5, and Asus ProArt PZ13.
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What Is a 2-in-1 Laptop?
A 2-in-1 is a laptop that can go from a standard clamshell laptop configuration to a tablet setup, either with a rotating display or by detaching from the keyboard. Laptops with rotating displays—also called convertibles—use a 180-degree hinge that can position the screen flat, in “tent” mode, or flush against the underside of the laptop. The flexibility of positions makes them great for everything from signing documents to streaming TV shows and movies—all with the ability to go right back to a standard laptop orientation when it’s time to do some work.
Detachable 2-in-1s let you completely separate the screen from the keyboard, using a kickstand on the back of the display to keep it upright. This is a design popularized by Microsoft’s Surface lineup, which is still going strong more than a decade since its introduction. We’re even starting to see dual-screen laptops arrive to add even more flexibility (if you have the cash to spare).
Should You Buy a 2-in-1 Laptop?
The big draw of 2-in-1 laptops is that they can be used as both a laptop and a tablet. While in laptop mode, they’re generally comparable to any other clamshell laptop you’ll find. However, Windows and ChromeOS aren’t exactly the best touch-oriented operating systems out there, so you may find the touchscreen experience lacking.
If you already use a recent iPad or Android tablet regularly, you may not get as much out of a 2-in-1. However, the different “modes” you can use with a convertible 2-in-1 can make one well worth considering. Being able to quickly rotate the display to show something to a colleague on the other side of a table or comfortably sign a PDF can come in clutch.
Ultimately, both of our top picks on this list, the Lenovo Yoga 9i and HP Spectre x360 14, are already some of the best laptops you can buy. Consider their 2-in-1 capabilities to be a nice bonus on top of their stellar performance and features. If you’re aiming for the more budget range and already have a tablet, it’s worth considering whether you can save some cash by sticking with a traditional clamshell.
- Photograph: Best Buy; Getty Images
Best Overall 2-in-1 Laptop
Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 (14-Inch, 2024)The Lenovo Yoga 9i (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has been one of our favorite 2-in-1 laptops for a long while now, and it’s easy to see why. The 2024 model may look like its predecessor, but it got a great boost from Intel’s Core Ultra CPUs and a better webcam. It’s also thin and light compared to other convertibles with an excellent OLED touchscreen and fantastic sound quality, not to mention three USB-C ports and a single USB-A.
The only downside is the disappointing battery life, which clocked in at just under seven hours in our YouTube playback test. Still, the incredibly vivid and bright display combined with the soundbar on the hinge makes this a great pick if you use your laptop for a lot of media. When it was time to get to work, we found the keyboard very comfortable for long typing sessions.
Specs we recommend: Intel Core Ultra 7, 16 GB RAM, 1-TB SSD - Photograph: HP
Runner-Up
HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)If the Lenovo machine isn’t quite your style, the 2024 refresh of the HP Spectre x360 14 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is an extremely close runner-up, making it hard to rank one over the other. The design isn’t as wild as Spectres of years past, but that’s OK. HP has nailed a handsome look that fits in at the office without making it boring. The 14-inch screen is gorgeous, complementing excellent sound to make this a great media-consumption device after work hours.
We hit some snags in our testing with the haptic touchpad missing some taps and clicks, though it’s possible HP could fix that issue with driver updates. Otherwise, you get a powerful laptop with Intel’s Core Ultra processor adding a bit of AI power into the mix. Configurations can vary wildly in price, however, with up to 32 GB of RAM and 2 TB of storage.
Specs we recommend: Intel Core Ultra 7, 32 GB RAM, 2-TB SSD
- Photograph: Christopher Null
Best Detachable Laptop
Microsoft Surface Pro, Copilot+ PC (11th Edition, 2024)Detachable laptops aren’t as common as their convertible cousins, and the best of the few out there is Microsoft’s Surface Pro (6/10, WIRED Review). However, it’s a complicated recommendation because, while it does some things very well, it has some unfortunate downsides that will kneecap it for many people. If you love the design though, you might be willing to overlook its shortcomings.
The positives: The OLED display is downright amazing, battery life is awesome thanks to the new AI-infused Qualcomm Snapdragon X CPU, and Microsoft’s new Flex Keyboard feels great. The negatives: This thing is expensive if you want all of the bells and whistles, and the ARM CPU means you’ll run into compatibility issues that may leave some of your apps chugging or not working altogether. The good news is app compatibility is likely to get better over time, but there’s no escaping the price as long as Microsoft insists on selling the tablet and keyboard separately.
Specs we recommend: Snapdragon X Elite, 16 GB RAM, 512-GB SSD Best Dual-Screen 2-in-1 Laptop
Asus Zenbook Duo (2024)For road warriors who want to take their dual-screen setup on the go, the Asus Zenbook Duo (9/10, WIRED Recommends) could be your perfect match. At first glance, the laptop looks just like any ordinary 14-inch Asus laptop, but appearances can be deceiving. The keyboard is attached to the bottom chassis magnetically, and lifting it away reveals a second 14-inch screen.
The two screens give you much more real estate to work with while you’re on the road, allowing you to orient them side-by-side for two portrait displays or one on top of the other (with the help of a kickstand). Our testing found the laptop performs pretty well, though there were a few hiccups where the orientation would get stuck occasionally. Battery life, as you’d expect from a dual-screen laptop, isn’t stellar either. However, if you prize lots of screen space and have money to spare, the Asus Zenbook Duo is an excellent—and unique—machine.
Specs we recommend: Intel Core Ultra 9, 32 GB RAM, 1-TB SSD
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- Photograph: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster
Best 2-in-1 Chromebook
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is simply one of the best Chromebooks you can get right now. If you can get by without Windows and can work within the Chrome browser (with an Android app here and there), then the Spin 714 will save you a lot of money for a slick little 2-in-1. Despite what its $699 MSRP suggests, you get a premium-looking laptop with one of the best screens I’ve used on a Chromebook.
Performance on the Spin 714 is great, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 CPU has a little extra juice to boost Google’s latest AI features in ChromeOS. Unfortunately, as great as the screen is, this laptop is let down by its tinny speakers. It’s also a tad too heavy to use comfortably in tablet mode for long, but it’s a great performer if you don’t need access to any Windows-exclusive apps.
Specs we recommend: Intel Core Ultra 5, 8 GB RAM, 256-GB SSD - Photograph: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster
Best Ultra-Portable Chromebook
Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9 (11 Inch, MediaTek)The Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9 (8/10, WIRED recommends) is one of my favorite pieces of tech from 2024 for one reason: its size. This diminutive detachable laptop is only 11 inches, which sounds painful at first. But this isn’t a productivity machine. Rather, it’s better viewed as a companion you can take anywhere for light web browsing, writing, and watching videos.
The Duet Gen 9 is powered by a MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor that has enough oomph for light work while keeping the battery going for around 10 hours on a charge. The small keyboard and trackpad take some getting used to, but they’re also what helps this thing stay so portable. Finally, the included Lenovo Pen is great for sketching or signing documents, and it’s easily stashed away with a magnetic docking slot on the back of the display when not in use.
Specs we recommend: MediaTek Kompanio 838, 4 GB RAM, 64-GB SSD
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- Photograph: Lenovo
Best Budget 2-in-1 Chromebook
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook PlusIf you want to dip more into the budget range, we’re big fans of the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus (8/10, WIRED Recommends). While it usually goes for $500, you’ll frequently find it on sale for under $400. That’s excellent value if all you need is solid performance, a web browser, and the occasional Android app.
The Intel Core i3 CPU in the Flex 5i is powerful enough to handle the lightweight ChromeOS with 20 tabs open at a time, and its 14-inch screen is pretty good for such a budget laptop. Battery life is just OK at a little over seven hours in our testing, but you should be able to eke out a pretty solid workday in most situations. There’s also the matter of the rather small 128 GB of storage, but you can open that up with the included microSD card slot.
Specs we recommend: Intel Core i3-1315U, 8 GB RAM, 128-GB SSD - Photograph: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster
Best Budget 2-in-1 Windows Laptop
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5iBudget laptops in the Windows space are guaranteed to come with some compromises, but the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 (6/10, WIRED Review) holds up well for the price. The laptop is sturdy if a bit heavy when using it in tablet mode. The keyboard feels nice during extended typing sessions, and the 16:10 display is crisp though not the most vibrant. Powering the Flex 5i 14 is an Intel Core i5-1235U processor with 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of SSD storage. Those specs are respectable for the price, though they can struggle to keep up with heavier tasks. The included fingerprint sensor is great for quick logins, and there’s a nice selection of ports.
The one major snag with the IdeaPad Flex 5i is that it comes with Windows 11 in S mode, which prevents you from installing any apps that aren’t from the Microsoft Store. Thankfully you can turn that off and switch to Windows 11 Home without such restrictions.
Specs we recommend: Intel Core i5-1235U, 8 GB RAM, 512-GB SSD
- Photograph: Asus
Best Gaming Detachable Laptop
Asus ROG Flow Z13Did you know you can get decent gaming performance in a detachable? The Asus ROG Flow Z13 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) proves it. It definitely won’t rival the power of your desktop gaming rig but will suffice when you want to hop into League of Legends in between classes. The ability to detach from the keyboard makes this an excellent portable gaming screen when you have a controller handy. The GeForce RTX 4050 GPU isn’t built to blow the socks off of graphics-heavy games, but it holds up pretty well if you’re willing to turn down settings to push the 13-inch display. Unfortunately, this unique detachable is pretty expensive, and it gets even more stifling if you want to add an external GPU to your desk setup.
Specs we recommend: Intel Core i9, 16 GB RAM, 1-TB SSD, GeForce RTX 4050
Other 2-in-1 Laptops to Consider
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Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 for $2,465: If you want the most unique 2-in-1 you can buy, the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus (Gen 5) (6/10, WIRED Review) is it. This is a detachable laptop that carries the hardware for a full Windows laptop in its base and a full Android tablet in its display. You can switch between the two when the screen is attached, or detach it to go Android-only. The big downside is this is an expensive laptop.
Asus ProArt PZ13 for $1,100: Another detachable, the Asus ProArt PZ13 (6/10, WIRED recommends) veers toward mimicking Microsoft’s Surface Pro playbook but at a much more affordable price. For $1,100 you get a Copilot+ PC that can go up to around 19 hours on a single charge. Unfortunately, the performance leaves much to be desired, and its three-piece design is confounding. Still, it’s a nice alternative to the Surface Pro if you’re dead set on the style.
