The best 2-in-1 laptops will satisfy your inner desire to flip, transform and bend your device into flexible states, including tablet and tent mode.

If you want to use a stylus or your fingers for hand-written notes or drawings, then your best bet is to buy a 2-in-1 laptop with a touch screen. These convertible laptops give you more control than a touchpad when you're letting your creative juices flow. We've listed the best 2-in-1 laptops below, including bendback laptops with lids that flip 360 degrees and detachables, or tablets that attach to a keyboard.

We've included only the cream of the crop on this list, but upcoming devices threaten to dethrone today's best 2-in-1 laptops. For example, the new HP Spectre x360 15 and the Galaxy Book Flex α are two promising convertibles set to launch later this year. And while it might not be a true 2-in-1 laptop, Samsung's Galaxy Tab S7 could be a laptop replacement when paired with a detachable keyboard.

For the best balance between portability and usability, consider a 2-in-1 laptop featured on our best 13-inch laptops page. Smaller laptops and those on our best laptops under $500 page are great for kids and college students while these best 15-inch laptops provide lots of real estate for drawing or media viewing.

What are the best 2-in-1 laptops?

The best 2-in-1 laptop we've tested is the HP Envy x360 13. We can't get over its stunning chassis and surprisingly low price. Beyond the design, the Envy x360 13 offers a bright and colorful display, fast performance and mind-blowing battery life.

If the Envy x360 13 isn't for you, take a look at the Lenovo Yoga C940 or Dell XPS 13 2-in-1. These competing 2-in-1 laptops are direct rivals to the Spectre x360 and might be a better option for you depending on your needs and preferences. Business users should consider the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga, which is essentially a more flexible version of the X1 Carbon.

But laptops that convert into tablets aren't the only devices that fall under the "2-in-1" umbrella. Tablets with detachable keyboards are another option for those who want something more portable. If you're in that group, Microsoft has you covered with the Surface Go and Surface Pro 7. We're also in the process of reviewing the HP Envy x360 13, and without giving too much away, it'll find its place on this list.

The best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy today

HP Envy x360 13 Lenovo Yoga C940 Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019) HP Spectre x360 (Late 2019) Microsoft Surface Go 2 Acer Chromebook Spin 713 Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Lenovo Chromebook Duet Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga (4th Gen, 2019) Microsoft Surface Book 3 HP Elite Dragonfly Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 15

The HP Envy x360 13 is the best laptop for under $1,000, offering similar benefits to the Spectre at a lower price. (Image credit: Laptop Mag)

1. HP Envy x360 13 (2020) The best 2-in-1 laptop CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4500U | GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 13.3-inch, 1080p | Size: 12.1 x 7.7 x 0.7 inches | Weight: 2.9 pounds No price information Check Amazon Outstanding performance 1080p display is bright and vivid Stylish and compact aluminum design Long battery life No IR camera

The HP Envy x360 13 is the best laptop for under $1,000 and one of the best 2-in-1 laptops on the market. While it doesn't come with a stylus (neither does the Surface Pro), the Envy is a 2-in-1 so you can flip it into tent or tablet mode. What makes this such a fantastic value is its entirely aluminum design and Herculian AMD Ryzen processors.

In our testing, we found that an Envy x360 13 with a Ryzen 5 4500U CPU can outperform laptops with 10th Gen Intel chips. This specific Envy costs just $800 and can outmuscle laptops that cost well over $1,000, including the exorbitant MacBook Pro. Moreover, the Envy x360 13 has a bright, vivid 13.3-inch display and a comfortable keyboard.

There is very little we don't like about the Envy x360. If you can get over the lack of a Thunderbolt 3 port and IR camera, then it is the ultimate money-saving laptop.

See our HP Envy x360 13 (2020) review

Lenovo's Yoga C940 (14-inch) refines a proven formula, making it one of the best 2-in-1 laptops around. (Image credit: Laptop Mag)

With the Yoga C940, Lenovo took a proven formula and refined it. Subtle design improvements, longer battery life (up to 11:46) and refreshed 10th Gen Intel processors make the Yoga C940 a worthy successor to last year's excellent Yoga C930.

As you'd expect from a Yoga-series laptop, the C940 has a premium, ultra-portable chassis and a unique hinge that doubles as a soundbar speaker. As a 2-in-1, that hinge can rotate 360-degrees to convert the Yoga C940 into a proper tablet. When it comes to viewing content, the Yoga C940's 1080p and 4K displays are crisp, vibrant and bright -- just beware, the UHD display drains the battery.

For all the basics it gets right, my favorite things about the Yoga C940 are its extra features. Those include a webcam cover (no more need to buy tape), a slot for the included stylus and a fingerprint sensor.

See our Lenovo Yoga C940 (14-inch) review.

Another excellent option is the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2019), a convertible laptop that goes toe-to-toe with the Spectre x360.

The new XPS 13 2-in-1 is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops around right now. It’s ridiculously sleek, boasts strong performance thanks to its 10th Gen Intel Core processor, and it has a gorgeous 16:10 display, emitting over 500 nits of brightness.

On top of having a sequential hinge, it also features a variable torque that allows the lid to be lifted open without the machine wobbling or moving. Combine that with its 0.3~0.5-inch thin chassis, the XPS 13 2-in-1 is easily one of the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy.

Read our face-offs to see how the XPS 13 compares to the Spectre x360 13 and Yoga C940.

See our full Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 review.

HP's Spectre x360 13 is the best 2-in-1 laptop for its sleek design, fast performance and beautiful displays. (Image credit: Laptop Mag)

4. HP Spectre x360 (Late 2019) The best 2-in-1 laptop CPU: Core i5/Core i7 | GPU: Intel Iris Plus | RAM: 8GB/16GB | Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB | Display: 13.3-inch, 1080p or 4K | Size: 12.1 x 7.7 x 0.7 inches | Weight: 2.7 pounds Recommended Retailer $1,049.99 View at HP (US) Low Stock $1,499.77 View at Amazon Low Stock $1,499.77 View at Amazon Stunning, ultraportable design Epic battery life Bright, vivid display with thinner bezels Fast overall performance Shrill speakers at max volume

The Spectre x360 13 is the best 2-in-1 laptop ever. Updated with a 10th Gen CPU and a more modern design, the Spectre x360 13 is improved in almost every way over its excellent predecessor. Highlights of this laptop include a stunning design that flaunts faceted edges and chamfered corners. Those precision-cut details make the Spectre look more like jewelry than a gadget.

Along with that stunning design is a bright 1080p display, epic 13+ hour battery life, and fast overall performance. There is practically nothing the Spectre x360 13 doesn't do well, although the speakers could use some tuning.

We put the Spectre x360 13 up against some of our other favorite 2-in-1 laptops, including the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 and Lenovo Yoga C940, but neither of these fantastic competitors could dethrone the HP.

See our HP Spectre x360 13 (Late 2019) review

With the Microsoft Surface Go, you get a beautiful display and a premium chassis for $400, making this the best 2-in-1 laptop on a budget.

The Microsoft Surface Go 2 has a fantastic 10.5-inch display that punches above its $400 price. It's not only the pixel count that impressed is, but the Surface Go 2's display also has outstanding qualities: it's bright, vivid and crisp. On top of that, you get faster performance than the previous model thanks to the Core m3-8100Y CPU and 8GB of RAM.

The display is our favorite part of the Surface Go 2, but it's not the only thing this detachable 2-in-1 has going for it. At a lightweight 1.1 pounds, the Surface Go is easy to carry around your house or take on a trip. It also has a comfortable optional keyboard with a touchpad, and its Windows Hello support makes logging in a breeze. Best of all, the Surface Go 2 improves upon its predecessor by delivering more than 11 hours of battery life.

See our full Microsoft Surface Go 2 review.

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (Image credit: Laptop Mag)

6. Acer Chromebook Spin 713 The best 2-in-1 Chromebook CPU: Intel Core i5-10210U | GPU: Intel UHD | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB SSD | Display: 13.5-inch, 2256 x 1504 | Size: 11.8 x 9.3 x 0.7 inches | Weight: 3.0 pounds $629 View at Best Buy No price information Check Amazon Bright, colorful touch screen Exceptional battery life Speedy performance Versatile form factor Shallow keyboard

If you don't have the best impression of Acer, let the Chromebook Spin 713 change that for you. This Chromebook has almost everything you could ask for in a laptop and it costs only $629. You get a bright and colorful 13.5-inch touchscreen display, exceptional battery life of nearly 12 hours, and quick performance thanks to its Core i5 processor.

On top of that, the design is made out of aluminum and it's a 2-in-1 so you can flip the screen back and turn it into a tablet. At 0.7 inches thick and 3 pounds, the Spin 713 can be easily slipped into a backpack on your way to class or work. Yes, the keyboard is a bit shallow and the speaker could be better, but if you want a convertible Chromebook at a reasonable price you won't do better than the Chromebook Spin 713.

See our full Acer Chromebook Spin 713 review.

If you prefer a tablet over a clamshell, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is the best 2-in-1 detachable. (Image credit: Laptop Mag)

The Surface Pro 7 takes an excellent laptop in last year's Surface Pro 6 and gives it a power boost. While battery life takes a hit, the new 10th Gen CPUs provide outstanding performance.

The design hasn't changed at all, but the Surface Pro 7 now has a USB-C port for charging and connecting peripherals. Microsoft still sells the comfortable Alcantara-clad Type Cover and the super-responsive Surface Pen, which makes it easy to draw or take notes on this tablet's vivid and bright 12.3-inch display.

See our full Microsoft Surface Pro 7 review.

With everything the 13-inch model offers plus faster performance, the Spectre x360 15 is the best 15-inch 2-in-1 laptop.

8. Lenovo Chromebook Duet The cheapest 2-in-1 worth buying CPU: MediaTek Helio P60T | GPU: ARM G72 MP3 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB eMMC | Display: 10.1-inch, 1920 x 1200 | Size: 9.6 x 6.7 x 0.7 inches | Weight: 2 pounds $299 View at Best Buy $315.98 View at Amazon Lasts long on a charge Comes with keyboard/kickstand Colorful display Decent performance Cramped keyboard

It's by far the cheapest 2-in-1 device on this list, and easily the best value you can find. The Chromebook Duet has a 10.1-inch display and comes with a detachable keyboard. Yep, that's right, the Duet, unlike the Surface or iPad, comes with a keyboard. Why is that so incredible? Because it costs just $299 and we've seen it for as low as $249.

The appeal of this slate isn't only its price. The Duet has epic battery life of 12 hours and 46 minutes and its sleek design feels more premium than you'd expect from such an inexpensive gadget. You're probably worried about the Duet's performance. Well, it won't break any speed records, but we didn't have too much trouble using it for everyday tasks, like browsing the web or watching videos. The latter was especially great on the Duet because its 10-inch panel is surprisingly colorful.

See our full Lenovo Chromebook Duet.

Business users should buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga (4th Gen), the best 2-in-1 business laptop. (Image credit: Laptop Mag)

9. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga (4th Gen, 2019) The best business 2-in-1 laptop CPU: Intel Core i5/Core i7 | GPU: Intel UHD 620 | RAM: 8GB/16GB | Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB | Display: 14-inch, 1080p or 4K | Size: 12 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches | Weight: 3 pounds No price information Check Amazon Bright, vivid 1080p display Slim, durable aluminum chassis Best-in-class keyboard Long battery life No SD card reader

Lenovo took a chance with the ThinkPad X1 Yoga, the first metal ThinkPad, and it paid off. While we still love the signature matte-black carbon-fiber found on most ThinkPads, the aluminum and magnesium ThinkPad X1 Yoga is a gorgeous change of pace.

Not only does it have a slim design, but this convertible 2-in-1 flaunts a bright display and offers a best-in-class keyboard and long battery life. You also get loads of extra goodies, like a built-in stylus slot and webcam cover. There is simply no better business convertible than the ThinkPad X1 Yoga apart from HP's gorgeous new Elite Dragonfly.

See our full Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga (4th Gen, 2019) review.

Microsoft's Surface Book 3 is a minor update over the Surface Book 2 but it's still a great choice. (Image credit: Laptop Mag)

10. Microsoft Surface Book 3 The one to splurge on CPU: Intel Core i7-1065G7 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 15-inch, 3240 x 2160-pixel | Size: 13.5 x 9.9 x 0.9 inches | Weight: 4.2 pounds High-res display gets very bright Attractive looks and premium feel Comfortable keyboard No Thunderbolt 3 Thick and heavy

The 15-inch version of Microsoft's Surface Book 3 is a stunning technical achievement that packs a powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU into the base of a detachable 2-in-1.

With that kind of graphics muscle, you can edit 4K videos or create professional 3D animations while you are connected to the keyboard and then pop the screen off for some drawing or note-taking. The Surface Book 2 also features a brilliant PixelSense display, a powerful Intel 10th Gen Core i7 CPU and more than 11 hours of battery life in laptop mode.

See our full Microsoft Surface Book 3 review.

HP's Elite Dragonfly is new 2-in-1 business laptop with a gorgeous chassis and long battery life. (Image credit: Laptop Mag)

HP's Elite Dragonfly redefined what it means to be a business laptop. This stunning laptop has a breathtakingly gorgeous chassis that flaunts a unique dark-blue finish.

The design is as practical as it is attractive; The Elite Dragonfly has flexible hinges that convert the laptop into a tablet, and at 2.2 pounds, it's one of the most portable 13-inch laptops around.

You'll somehow need to take your eyes off the Elite Dragonfly's aluminum body to appreciate its bright and vivid 13.3-inch display. But the Elite Dragonfly's greatness doesn't stop there. The laptop also has a surprisingly comfortable keyboard, fast performance and a host of security features, including an IR camera, a fingerprint sensor and MIL-SPEC-810 rated durability.

See our full HP Elite Dragonfly review

(Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 15 sports the world's first QLED display, which means you'll get to feast your eyes on a color-rich, super-bright screen -- and you won't have to sacrifice too much battery power to get it. In fact, when we tested the gorgeous royal-blue Flex 15 in our lab, the laptop gave us a whopping 15 hours of battery life. Ah, we no longer have to imagine a world where we can spend all day on our 2-in-1 without having to worry about battery life; Samsung's made it possible.

Another draw of this amazing Samsung 2-in-1 is its built-in S pen as well as its touchpad, which has the ability to charge Qi-compatible devices. One downside of the laptop, though, is its shortened Shift key, which will take some time to get used to.

See our full Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 15 review.

How to choose the best 2-in-1 laptop for you

You first need to decide what type of 2-in-1 laptop is right for you. If you want a primary computing device for home and work, you should probably go with a laptop that can convert into a tablet, or what we call a bendback 2-in-1. These include the HP Spectre x360 13, Dell XPS 13 and Lenovo Yoga C940.

If you want something more portable or just need a nice display for content viewing, consider buying a tablet that converts into a tablet via a detachable keyboard. In this category are the Microsoft Surface devices and Apple's iPad Pro. Tablets are also great for artists or designers because they typically support a stylus input and aren't as unwieldy as convertible laptops.

Once you've made a choice between tablet or laptop, decide how much power you need. When it comes to specs, we recommend buying a laptop with an Intel U-series or H-series Core i5 CPU, at least 8GB of RAM (16GB is great) and a minimum of 256GB of storage. AMD is coming in hot with its 4000-series chips, so keep an eye out for those.

Battery life is another key component of any good 2-in-1 laptop. If you plan to take the notebook to class or the library, don't count on there being an outlet! Consider a laptop that gets at least 9 hours of battery life, which should be enough to get you through a couple of classes with enough juice for studies.

How we test laptops

We put 2-in-1 laptops through extensive benchmark testing — both synthetic and real-world — before they end up in the hands of our reviewers. We evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers and heat management.

In our benchmark testing, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and sRGB color gamut of the laptop's display. For performance testing, we run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 4.3 and 5.0 and 3DMark professional graphics tests.

To determine real-world performance, we task the laptop to convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution and to duplicate a 4.97GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics test is the Dirt 3 benchmark with medium settings at 1080p resolution. Gaming laptops go through an entire library of games at high settings to see how their discrete GPUs keep up.

We also run heat tests by playing a 15-minute full-screen video and measuring temperatures in different areas of the laptop. Last but not least, our battery test consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. For MacBooks and premium Windows 10 laptops, a runtime of over 9 hours is considered a good result whereas gaming laptops and workstations that can stay powered for longer than 5 hours deserve praise.

These tests are complemented with extensive hands-on testing from our reviewers who critique everything from the laptop's materials to the feel of its touchpad.