Whereas the joy round 2-in-1 programs has cooled a bit over time, they’re nonetheless helpful options for anybody who needs a tool that may act as each a pill and a conventional laptop computer. In pill mode, they’re useful for jotting down notes and drawing photos, and of their full laptop computer configurations, they’ll allow you to handle e-mail and write as you’d with a conventional pocket book. Whether or not you’re a scholar, artistic or simply need a extra versatile setup, a 2-in-1 resolution offers you the perfect of each worlds with out having to hold a number of gadgets.
We have examined and reviewed a number of the high 2-in-1 choices on the market from manufacturers like HP, Microsoft, Samsung and Apple. Whether or not you’re in search of a Home windows PC that may often act like a pill, or conventional slates that may be empowered with keyboard equipment, we’ve rounded up the perfect fashions to contemplate.
Elements to contemplate earlier than shopping for a 2-in-1 laptop computer
While you’re purchasing for a 2-in-1 system, there are some primary standards to bear in mind. First off, contemplate the kind of machine you’re in search of. Would you like one thing that may seem like a conventional Home windows laptop computer, but additionally has a display that may twist into completely different orientations? (We frequently name these convertibles.) Or would you like a standalone pill that works with a separate keyboard attachment? Pill setups are sometimes lighter, however they’re typically tougher to make use of in your lap since they depend on kickstands or awkward circumstances.
Additionally, whereas some 2-in-1s provide built-in LTE or 5G connectivity, not everybody will wish to pay the premium for it. An built-in mobile radio makes checking emails or replying to messages on the go much more handy. But it surely additionally typically prices extra — and that’s on high of what you’ll pay for information. And as for 5G, you’ll be able to maintain off on it until you reside inside vary of a mmWave beacon. Protection continues to be spotty and current nationwide networks use the slower sub-6 know-how that’s barely quicker than LTE. For now, tethering a PC to your telephone continues to be one of the best ways to get on-line.
On the subject of pill keyboards, you’ll additionally should make peace with the truth that they’ll by no means really feel as responsive as full-fledged laptop computer choices. Their keys are shallower, and their layouts are sometimes a bit completely different than typical PCs. Once more, there’s a price for portability.
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Typically, getting a third-party pill keyboard may be simply pretty much as good, they usually’re typically cheaper than first-party choices. Should you’re wanting to avoid wasting cash, Logitech’s Slim Folio is an reasonably priced possibility for iPads, and if you happen to don’t want your keyboard to connect to your pill, Logitech’s K780 Multi-Device wireless keyboard can also be a very good choose.
Whereas we’ve sometimes made certain to incorporate a funds 2-in-1 in earlier years, this time there isn’t an awesome alternative. We’d often choose a Floor Go, however the newest mannequin continues to be too costly. Different options, like cheaper Android tablets, are underpowered and don’t provide an awesome multitasking interface. If you’d like one thing round $500 that’s skinny, light-weight and long-lasting, you’re higher off this yr taking a look at a conventional laptop computer (like these on our best budget PCs list). Alternatively, you would possibly contemplate one among our high picks for the best Chromebooks, both as a back-to-school possibility or for primary duties.
Greatest 2-in-1 laptops
Show: 14-inch OLED touchscreen | CPU: Intel Core Extremely 5 125H | Weight: 3.19 kilos | RAM: As much as 32GB | Storage: As much as 2TB
Learn our full HP Spectre x360 14 review
HP’s new Spectre x360 14 is our new high choose if you’d like a laptop computer that may often flip right into a pill. It’s a gorgeous pocket book that may rotate its display into quite a lot of orientations: a tent mode for propping it up in mattress or on a desk and a pill mode with the keyboard tucked away neatly behind the lid. Whereas it wouldn’t fully substitute one thing like an iPad, the x360’s rotating hinge makes it extra versatile than a traditional pocket book. It’s excellent for diving right into a prolonged article or PDF or utilizing the bundled stylus to jot down some notes. Should you’re in search of a strong again to highschool possibility with the Home windows working system and contact show, it’s an awesome alternative.
The Spectre x360 14 can also be a strong laptop computer in its personal proper, with a superb keyboard, an extra-large touchpad and a number of the finest PC industrial design in the marketplace. And with a 512GB SSD (configurable as much as 2TB), there’s loads of room to retailer all your information and pictures. It even boasts two Thunderbolt 4 ports with USB-C connectivity so you’ll be able to join a number of gadgets.
- Versatile convertible display
- OLED show is extremely vibrant
- Stable CPU improve
- Begins with 16GB RAM
- Glorious keyboard
- Loads of ports
- HP’s design hasn’t modified in years
- Haptic touchpad is a bit finicky
- Common battery life
Nathan Ingraham for Engadget
Show: 11- or 13-inch 120Hz tandem OLED XDR touchscreen | CPU: Apple M5 | Weight: Beginning at 0.98 kilos | RAM: As much as 16GB | Storage: As much as 2TB
Learn our full Apple iPad Pro (M5) review
In numerous methods, the iPad Professional M5 is overkill for many. It has Apple’s latest M5 chip and the most effective screens you will get — a Tandem OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh price, to not point out help for each contact and stylus enter. It’s additionally obtainable in two sizes (11 and 13 inches), so that you get some management over how moveable you want it to be. Should you actually need a pill that may substitute a laptop computer, that is pretty much as good because it will get, notably on this facet of the Apple vs. Android/Home windows divide.
This technology of the iPad Professional can also be shockingly skinny and light-weight, so it’ll mainly disappear into your bag with out including a ton of heft. In the meantime, Apple’s Magic Keyboard is sleeker than earlier than whereas additionally that includes a bigger trackpad and a really useful row of operate keys. The one actual draw back is value, with the smaller, 11-inch mannequin beginning at $999, and the 13-inch mannequin beginning at $1,299. And that’s earlier than you think about the price of issues like extra storage or equipment. However if you happen to’ve acquired the money and need a top-of-the-line pill, it’s arduous to go unsuitable with the iPad Professional M5.
Alternatively, if you happen to recognize what the iPad Professional can do however don’t wish to shell out fairly that a lot cash, the iPad Air is a extra reasonably priced possibility. We contemplate it to be the perfect iPad for most individuals. Its display isn’t as good and it’s not fairly as svelte. However its M3 chip is greater than sufficient energy for many, and Apple improved its Magic Keyboard accent just lately. Critically, it additionally prices practically half the worth with the 11 and 13-inch fashions beginning at $599 and $799, respectively. — Nathan Ingraham, Deputy Editor
- M5 chip is a big replace for some GPU-powered duties
- Probably the perfect display I’ve ever seen
- Extraordinarily skinny and light-weight
- First iPad with quick charging
- iPadOS 26 is a serious enchancment
- Prohibitively costly
- Equipment just like the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Professional make it price much more
SAMSUNG
Show: 12.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X touchscreen | CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Weight: 1.3 kilos | RAM: As much as 12GB | Storage: As much as 512GB
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra review
Whereas Home windows is healthier than iPadOS and Android for productiveness, it lags with regards to apps particularly designed for touchscreens. If you’d like a pill that has all of the apps you need, and solely want it to sometimes double as a laptop computer, the Galaxy Tab S9+ is a strong possibility. You’ll take pleasure in watching films and enjoying video games on its beautiful 12.4-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, and Samsung consists of the S Pen, which is nice for sketching and taking notes. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and 12GB of RAM (4GB greater than the final mannequin) hold issues operating easily, too.
Samsung dramatically improved its keyboard case a number of years in the past for the S7+, making the Tab a fair higher laptop computer substitute. You could possibly sort for hours on this factor and never hate your self (or Samsung). The battery life can also be wonderful, so that you gained’t want to fret about staying near an outlet. The primary caveat is that Android isn’t nice as a desktop OS. And whereas Samsung’s DeX mode provides a considerably workable resolution, it has loads of quirks. Equally, by selecting a 2-in-1 that’s primarily a pill, you do forgo a wealth of connectivity choices that you just’d in any other case get with a laptop computer.
- Lovely display
- Nice audio system
- Highly effective {hardware}
- S Pen is extraordinarily responsive
- Dex mode is a surprisingly highly effective multitasking interface
Picture by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget
Show: 13-inch OLED touchscreen | CPU: Snapdragon X Plus/X Elite | Weight: 1.97 kilos | RAM: As much as 32GB | Storage: As much as 1TB
Learn our full Microsoft Surface Pro Copilot+ review
The Surface Pro is every part we’ve needed the Floor pill line to be for years. It’s extremely quick and environment friendly, due to Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X Elite and Plus chips. Its neural processing unit (NPU) additionally allows doubtlessly highly effective AI options, although the present crop gained’t be helpful to everybody. We’re additionally nonetheless ready to see Microsoft’s controversial Recall characteristic in motion, which has been delayed to handle its many safety issues.
The brand new OLED display possibility seems great: It makes colours pop off the display and in addition ensures inky darkish black ranges. Coupled along with surprisingly highly effective audio system, the Floor Professional is a strong possibility for watching video on the go. Its versatility is without doubt one of the many causes the Floor Professional made it onto our listing. Pair that with its portability due to its small type issue, and you’ve got a superb choose.
When it’s paired along with the brand new Floor Professional Flex keyboard ($350), you’ll be able to sort and mouse across the Floor fully wirelessly, which opens up completely new methods of utilizing it. So long as there’s a small desk close by, or someplace to prop up the pill, you’ll be able to work with only a skinny and light-weight keyboard in your lap. Should you’re in search of a enterprise laptop computer that’s light-weight and doesn’t have an enormous display dimension that may weigh you down, the Floor Professional is one you must contemplate. It’s additionally good to see Microsoft pack in 16GB of RAM with the bottom Floor Professional mannequin.
Whereas we’d nonetheless prefer to see the corporate bundle in a keyboard and refine its kickstand, the Floor Professional stays one of the vital modern PCs obtainable right now.
- Snapdragon X Elite and Plus chips are splendidly quick
- Stable battery life
- Glorious OLED display possibility
- NPU permits for highly effective AI options
- Flex keyboard makes it extra versatile
- Stable AI options
- All keyboards offered individually
- Nonetheless arduous to make use of in your lap
- Will get costly rapidly
Latest updates
October 2025: Up to date to incorporate the most recent iPad Professional.
February 2025: We’ve retitled this information to “Greatest 2-in-1 laptops and tablets” to be extra correct, and we’ve additionally up to date the introduction and “Elements to contemplate” part to seek advice from convertible laptops and removable pill choices.
June 2024: We up to date our high picks to incorporate the Microsoft Floor Professional Copilot+ version.
Nathan Ingraham contributed to this report.
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