The best 2-in-1 laptop 2018: find the best convertible laptop for your needs | Computing

Once you’ve experienced computing on one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, you’ll never want to go back. You won’t even be able to look at your old normal, non-convertible laptop the same way. The best 2-in-1 laptops will come in every shape and size – and are even compelling Back to School 2018 options.

Rocking 8th-generation Coffee Lake processors, the best 2-in-1 laptops, like the Dell XPS 15 2-in-1, are among the best Windows 10 laptops you can buy today. We can’t wait to see what future 2-in-1 laptops will look like. 

These days, the top 2-in-1 laptops will mostly be convertible, which means the keyboard will swivel around the back, converting it into a tablet. There are a few, however, with detachable keyboards, like the fantastic Surface Book 2, whose high-resolution PixelSense display is held up by sheer magnetic force.

No matter how the tablet mode works, the best 2-in-1 laptops will work with a stylus – though they’re rarely included these days. Don’t worry – we’ve made sure to point out the pros and cons of each device listed here. 

Can't decide what type of laptop to get? Watch our buying guide below:

The Samsung Notebook 9 Pro can go head-to-head with the 15-inch MacBook Pro, and for a substantially lower cost. Though it’s limited to only one configuration, albeit across two different sizes, the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro is as powerful as it is pragmatic. Defined in part by its inclusion of the S-Pen, this heavy-hitting hybrid is every bit as capable as Microsoft’s Surface Book and without the need to recharge its stylus.

Read the full review: Samsung Notebook 9 Pro

• This product is only available in the US as of this writing. Australian and UK  readers: check out a fine alternative in the Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch).  

We never thought we’d be recommending a Chromebook as one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, but the Pixelbook is special. This fantastic device takes its platform and elevates it to levels we never predicted. Thanks to its beefy internals, and including full Android app integration, the Google Pixelbook tears down the barriers that stopped Windows and Mac users from trying Chrome OS. And, now that the Pixelbook may start supporting Windows 10, those barriers continue to get smaller. 

Read the full review: Google Pixelbook

• This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Lenovo Yoga 920 

We get it, the Pixelbook is enticing, but it’s also out of your price range. In that case, the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 is a choice alternative. Having introduced a touchscreen and convertible design to Google’s cloud-based Chrome OS, the Asus Chromebook Flip is made better by its compatibility with Android apps. That’s right, just like the Pixelbook, you can use the Asus Chromebook Flip for Google Play apps, albeit after installing an out-of-the-box update.

Read the full review: Asus Chromebook Flip

If you’ve been looking for one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, but you also kind of wanted something with enough horsepower to get some serious work done, you’re in luck. The Dell XPS 15, already one of the best laptops, has been transformed into one of the best 2-in-1 laptops – with discrete class Radeon RX Vega graphics to boot. What this means is that you can get a gorgeous convertible laptop, but you don’t have to give up any power. And, while that means that it’s a bit expensive and the fans can get obnoxious – it’s worth it in our book. 

Read the full review: Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 

We already loved the 13-inch Surface Book, so when we first heard that a 15-inch Surface Book 2 was on the way, our expectations shot into the sky. Microsoft’s second 2-in-1 laptop isn’t perfect, but it’s an impressive device held back by a handful of concessions. First, the Surface Book 2 features a cutting-edge 8th-generation Intel processor and Nvidia 10-series graphics for gamers and creative types alike. When you take that power and pair it with its nifty convertibility – it’s easy to see why it’s a winner.  

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13-inch)

While it doesn’t offer the same level of graphics performance, the Lenovo Yoga 920 is a much more affordable alternative to the Surface Book 2. For anyone who’s looking for value, rather than a detachable screen, the Lenovo Yoga 920 has a lot to offer. The design, for example, is less pronounced and has the subtlety of a more traditional Ultrabook. Meanwhile it’s thin and powerful at the same time. 

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 920

To be fair, we loved the 13-inch Surface Book already, so when we first caught word that a 15-inch Surface Book 2 was in the works, our expectations were amplified. In the end, Microsoft’s second 2-in-1 laptop isn’t perfect, but it is an impressive feat held back by a handful of (frankly necessary) concessions. For starters, this machine features cutting-edge 8th-generation Intel processors and Nvidia 10-series graphics for gamers and creative types alike. Pair that with its nifty convertibility, and we have ourselves a winner.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 (15-inch)

If you’re looking for one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, but you don’t want to spend a fortune, look no further than the Lenovo Flex 6 14. For less than $1,000 you’re getting specs that can get you through most everyday workloads easily and in a chassis that doesn’t just look great, but is rigid as well. It even supports the Lenovo Active Pen, though it’s not included. The only real drawbacks here are its tinny speakers and the lack of Thunderbolt 3, but even that’s not enough to hold it back from getting our recommendation, especially when you consider the price.

Read the full review: Lenovo Flex 6 14 

A beautiful 2-in-1 with a strikingly thin frame, the HP Spectre x360 now brandishes the sheer power that Intel’s 8th-generation Kaby Lake R processors allow. So, despite its slim chassis and weighing only 2.78 pounds (1.26kg), this version of the Hewlett-Packard flagship is ready not just to stream 4K video, but to run your favorite games at 720p using integrated graphics tech. And, if you’re a creative, it comes with the HP Pen, unlike some stylus-less hybrids. 

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360

For years, HP’s Spectre line of Ultrabooks and 2-in-1s has been all about elegance and performance, and the 2018 HP Spectre x360 15 is no different. Packed with an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU, Nvidia MX 150 graphics and 16GB of RAM, you’re going to be able to do anything your work day throws at you – even up to some light gaming. However, the Spectre x360 is a bit heavy for a 2-in-1, so you likely won’t be using it in tablet mode very often, instead putting it in tent mode to watch some movies on its gorgeous 4K panel.

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 15 2018 

Gabe Carey and Bill Thomas have also contributed to this article

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