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We've combed through our own reviews of 2-in-1 laptops along with the review ratings from major reputable sites and consumer feedback to determine our listing of the very best models you can buy.
All choices are independently made based on our combined 60+ years of reviewing experience and are not based on commercial relationships. Read more detail on our methodology below.
Dell's XPS 13 2-in-1 sits atop our recommendations for the best 2-in-1 laptop you can buy, and it's been there for some time. That's because it matches up a superb and very light design with the latest processors, meaning that it's also very powerful. Dell's battery management is also very good for an ultraportable, and being able to charge over USB C is super handy. That thin size does come with some port compromises, and it's not a graphics powerhouse, but if you need a 2-in-1 laptop for on-the-go work, this is the one to buy.
HP's Spectre x360 line runs neck and neck with Dell in the 2-in-1 stakes, and in some ways overtakes it in design and battery life depending on your model choices. The Spectre x360's design certainly stands out, and its nearly bezel-free screen is a delight. Less of a delight is HP's suite of preinstalled apps, which are just a pain to ferret out of your system.
Microsoft's Surface Pro range has long been the star of its Surface range, bringing with it a design that has stood the test of time and optional keyboard and Surface Pen accessories to cover just about every need. We do still think the keyboard should be a standard inclusion, but if you're after a workhorse 2-in-1, it's hard to overlook the Surface Pro 7.
Apple's been touting the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement for some years now, but the shift to using its own M1 processors within the new iPad Pro models makes it much more of a reality. The M1 is superb for running apps but also very good for battery conservation. Its onboard Liquid Retina XDR display is simply gorgeous, and a superb match for those doing photo or video work. Combine that with the Apple Magic Keyboard and you've got yourself a very capable, very lightweight combination tablet and laptop system. There are some caveats here, however. Multitasking on iPadOS still isn't superb, and you're left with just the one USB C port for both power and peripherals. Apple also charges a lot for the iPad Pro 12.9 M1, especially if you want the higher storage models.
The regular Surface Pro 7 brings plenty of power, but if you want something lighter in the bag and easier to carry around, the cheaper Surface Go 2 is worth considering as well. It's a smaller system with its own accessories – all of which, in classic Surface style are sold separately – with options for embedded LTE connectivity for absolute connectivity on the go.
Google's Chromebook platform isn't one that you probably think of when pondering which 2-in-1 to buy, but Lenovo's Chromebook Duet stands out in several ways. It has excellent battery life, the security of ChromeOS and an included keyboard, all for an exceptionally low price. Its lower power processor enables that great battery life, but it does mean that this is a system best suited for lighter tasks like simple Google Docs work more than heavy duty tasks.
Amazon prices last updated on 8 December, 2023 at 02:02 pmeBay prices last updated on 8 December, 2023 at 12:16 pm
How did we pick this list?
31 2-in-1 laptops considered
9 Brands compared
6 Best 2-in-1s ranked
We've compared our own reviews, feedback from everyday consumers and professional technology writers to compare the best 2-in-1 devices.
Our editorial team has a combined 60+ years of experience writing about tech and reviewing the latest devices.
The 2-in-1 laptops on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not based on commercial relationships.
Why you can trust our picks
If you just want a laptop, there's no shortage of those at eminently affordable prices, but 2-in-1 buyers are looking for devices that can fill particular needs that an ordinary everyday notebook simply can't cover.
In coming up with our list of the six best 2-in-1 devices, we've considered the key factors that you should look for in any laptop as well as the specific features that 2-in-1 devices offer and how they compare across a number of different approaches. Here's what we've weighed up when making our choices, and they're factors you should consider when picking the best 2-in-1 for your needs:
Convertible or Hybrid Tablet/Slate: One of the key considerations to make when assessing a 2-in-1 is whether you want a traditional fixed laptop with a flipping hinge array or a tablet with a clip-on keyboard. Microsoft's Surface Line is mostly an example of the latter, while Dell's XPS 13 2-in-1 is an example of the latter.
Core power: There's sometimes a trade-off with 2-in-1s between processing power and battery life because their thin and light designs are sometimes accompanied by lower-power processors to maximise battery life. You can often configure around that if you do need a more powerful machine, but it's a balancing act of power, price and battery life
Size: While a key part of the appeal of a 2-in-1 is the combination of light weight and portable productivity, there's a range of sizes when it comes to displays to take into consideration. This isn't just a question of how much screen space you get either because a much smaller 2-in-1 or slate will also have to accommodate a smaller keyboard, which can be a cramped experience
Battery life: Every manufacturer will claim amazing battery life with figures that can go "up to" several days of run time. "Up to" of course means that they can run for much less time, especially if you're going to need them to run more intensive tasks
Upgrade options: The nature of building 2-in-1 devices often means that they're harder to upgrade down the line with more storage and memory than a traditional laptop, although it's not unheard of.
We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. However, Finder may receive compensation when you click some links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners and why you can trust our guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 2-in-1 laptop has the power of a laptop and the portability of a tablet. It is more versatile and has a more powerful processing system. A 2-in-1 laptop is great for gaming, office work and general use, but it's more expensive. A tablet has a smaller screen size, weaker processing power and shorter battery life, and it is cheaper. This is more suited for casual use, like streaming videos and surfing the web.
As it combines all the benefits of a laptop and tablet, a 2-in-1 laptop is pricier.
2-in-1 laptops with great RAM speed, high-quality graphic cards and decent processing power are suitable for gaming. However, they can be more expensive than normal gaming laptops.
A multi-award winning journalist, Alex has written about consumer technology for over 20 years. He has written and edited for virtually every Australian tech publication including Gizmodo, CNET, PC Magazine, Kotaku and more. He has also been the Editor of Gizmodo Australia, PC Mag Australia, CNET.com.au and the Tech and Telco section at Finder. Alex has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New England and a serious passion for retro gaming.
Apple’s most radical physical redesign of the MacBook Air in years is complemented with the power of its M2 chip, making it an excellent-value laptop.
Apple’s M2 processor is iteratively more impressive than the M1, but Apple’s insistence on sticking with an older design while refreshing the MacBook Air makes the 13-inch MacBook Pro a hard notebook to get excited about.
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