The 8 Best 2 in 1 Laptop Tablets Tested by Experts
The 8 Best 2-in-1 Laptop Tablets, Tested by Experts Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Best Products > Computer & Laptops
Incredible flexibility Spectacular high-resolution OLED display Excellent as a drawing tablet Beautiful design Poor performance for such an expensive device Potential durability issues Bluetooth keyboard is cramped and confusing Extremely expensive Mono speaker audio Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold Review: Foldable, Flawed, and Fantastic The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold is the world's first commercially available folding screen PC laptop, and there truly is nothing like it out there. However, it’s very much an experimental first-generation device with some major flaws to be aware of. The folding mechanism is extremely smooth, and the screen is magnificent in all its high-resolution OLED glory. It looks spectacular when folded, with its cleverly designed integrated leather cover. The included Lenovo Mode Pen stylus is also excellent and pairs well with the incredibly versatile nature of the X1 Fold. However, the Bluetooth keyboard is deeply flawed, and the laptop is badly underpowered. It’s also extremely expensive at $2,750, making it an impractical choice for most people. There’s no doubt the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold is an amazing device that represents a major technological leap forward, but it’s highly expensive and severely flawed. It’s very exciting and fun to use, but only those familiar with the issues that confront early adopters of any new tech should consider it as a viable option. With some refinement, future versions of this device will no doubt be impressive and have widespread appeal, but for now foldables remain the province of the adventurous and wealthy. "There are a staggering array of ways to use this device, from a traditional tablet and drawing pad, to a foldable double-sided e-book, to a purely touchscreen laptop." — Andy Zahn, Product Tester
The 8 Best 2-in-1 Laptop Tablets of 2022
Why choose between a laptop and tablet when you can have both?
By David Beren David Beren Writer Nova Southeastern University David Beren is a former tech and commerce writer for Lifewire with 10+ years' experience. He has written and managed content for companies like T-Mobile, Sprint, and TracFone Wireless and contributor for sites like WebGeekStuff and MakeTechEasier. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 5, 2021 02:45PM EDT We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Tweet Share Email Computer & Laptops Audio Camera & Video Car Audio & Accessories Computer & Laptops Computer Components Gaming Gifts Networking Phones & Accessories Smart Home Software Tablets Toys & Games TVs Wearables As standalone devices, laptops and tablets have their own share of strengths. While the former is great for content creation and productivity-centric work, the latter is more suited to things like media consumption and lightweight computing. But why get two devices, when you can instead go for a 2-in-1 and enjoy the benefits of both? Also known as convertibles (or hybrids), these 2-in-1 laptop/tablets feature touchscreen displays and often come with quirky design elements (e.g. 360-degree folding lids, detachable keyboards) that allow them to go from laptop to tablet (and vice-versa) as needed. While that’s surely interesting, choosing a convertible PC can be a lot of work since there are hundreds of options in the market. To help you out, we’ve shortlisted some of the best 2-in-1 laptop tablets available out there. Read all about them, and make an informed decision. Also, be sure to check out our constantly updated guide to the best laptop deals happening right now, for great machines at steep discounts. The Rundown Best Overall: Microsoft Surface Pro 7 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Portable: Microsoft Surface Go 2 at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Buisness: Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable at Lenovo Jump to Review Best Splurge: Microsoft Surface Book 3 at Amazon Jump to Review Most Versatile: Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold at Best Buy Jump to Review Best Value: Lenovo Yoga C740 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Chrome OS: Google Pixelbook at Amazon Jump to Review Best ThinkPad: Lenovo 20QA000EUS at Lenovo Jump to ReviewBest Overall: Microsoft Surface Pro 7
4 Lifewire / Jonno Hill View On Amazon View On Best Buy View On Microsoft What We Like Wonderfully portable Great performance USB-C port What We Don't Like No Thunderbolt 3 Type Cover not included Middling battery life Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Review: Solid Performance Refresh, But No Big Changes When it comes to 2-in-1 laptop tablets, it doesn’t get much better than the Microsoft Surface Pro 7. The Surface Pro 7, much like previous models, is a versatile, light, and well-built Windows 10 tablet that becomes so much more when you buy the Surface Pro Type Cover, an attachable keyboard that basically turns this tablet into a laptop. The Pro 7 has a 12.3-inch screen that is bright and vivid (2,736 x 1,824 pixels). The Surface Pro 7 comes in a wide variety of configurations. You can choose either 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB of RAM to help you speed through all your work and play, choose an Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 processor depending on your power needs, and choose 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage depending on how many photos, videos, etc. you need on your computer. The cheapest configuration will run you $599, while the most expensive version you can buy runs $1,899. It’s a tad expensive overall, but generally worth it if you want the best 2-in-1 laptop tablet on the market. Our tester said, "If you were in the market for a Surface Pro 6, but held off on your purchase, the Pro 7 will be an easy, logical recommendation without any real asterisks attached." "The Surface Pro 7 transitions effortlessly from productivity to creativity to entertainment in a way that’s hard to replicate on any other device." — Jonno Hill, Product TesterBest Portable: Microsoft Surface Go 2
Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy What We Like Lightweight yet durable chassis Enterprise-grade security What We Don't Like Can't handle heavy computing tasks Weighing just 1.2 lbs (excluding Type Cover), Microsoft's Surface Go 2 is portable enough to be tossed in a handbag and carried anywhere. The compact 2-in-1 laptop tablet sports a 10.5-inch "PixelSense" display with a resolution of 1920x1280 pixels. The panel also features ten-point multitouch input, and its 3:2 aspect ratio is perfect for productivity-focused tasks. Our recommended configuration includes Intel's Pentium Gold 4425Y CPU, paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage. For connectivity and I/O, the Surface Go 2 features Wi-Fi 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.0, a USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm audio port, a Surface Connect port, and a MicroSDXC card reader. You also get two cameras - an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera - with both capable of recording Full-HD videos. Among other features are dual studio microphones, 2-watt stereo speakers (with Dolby Audio), and an IR camera (used for facial authentication via Windows Hello). Microsoft Surface Go 2 runs Windows 10 Home (in S Mode) out of the box.Best for Buisness: Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable
3.8 Lifewire / Matthew S. Smith View On Lenovo What We Like Rugged, durable exterior Outstanding keyboard Strong graphics performance for the category Great 5MP webcam What We Don't Like Unattractive design Display resolution barely exceeds 1080p Mediocre battery life Price is hard to justify Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Review: Good 2-in-1, Great Keyboard Looking for a Windows 2-in-1 that’s all about productivity? Lenovo’s Thinkpad X12 Detachable could be for you. This durable, reliable pick comes bundled with an outstanding magnetic keyboard cover that beats even Microsoft’s excellent Type Cover. It also has a spacious touchpad and the classic Thinkpad Trackpoint. A range of Intel Core processors power the X12 Detachable line-up, but the star of the show is Intel’s Iris Xe graphics. Included in Core i5 and i7 models, the Iris Xe graphics provides performance on par with an entry-level discrete GPU like Nvidia’s GeForce MX350. This is great for 3D games and productivity apps that can use GPU horsepower to enhance performance. The X12 Detachable isn’t much to look at and its 1920x1280 display isn’t as sharp as the competition. Windows is also a burden compared to Android and iOS, both of which are better optimized for touchscreens. These downsides will disappoint shoppers looking for a 2-in-1 that’s great to use as a tablet. "The Thinkpad X12 Detachable has an impressive 5-megapixel webcam that can record at 1080p resolution. " — Matthew Smith, Product TesterBest Splurge: Microsoft Surface Book 3
Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Best Buy View On B&H Photo Video What We Like Top-of-the-line performance Ideal for content creation What We Don't Like Expensive The Microsoft's Surface Book 3 is every bit worth its sky-high asking price. Although the premium 2-in-1 laptop tablet comes in two screen sizes - 13.5-inch and 15-inch - we suggest going for the smaller variant as it's more portable. In terms of hardware, our recommended configuration packs in Intel's tenth-generation Core i7 CPU, 32GB of LPDDR4x RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Then you have NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 1650 GPU (with 4GB of GDDR5 memory), which ensures that the Surface Book 3 can power through even the most demanding of games and applications without any issues. The 13.5-inch "PixelSense" touch-enabled display boasts a resolution of 3000x2000 pixels and a 3:2 aspect ratio, with a variety of optional accessories (e.g. Surface Dial) further enhancing its functionality. Connectivity and I/O options include Wi-Fi 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.0, two USB Type-A ports, a USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm audio port, two Surface Connect ports, and a full-size SDXC card reader. Among other noteworthy features are two cameras - an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera - both with Full-HD video capture, an IR camera (used for facial authentication via Windows Hello), dual far-field studio microphones, and front-facing stereo speakers.Most Versatile: Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold
3.7 Andy Zahn / Lifewire View On Best Buy View On Lenovo Cutting edge tech in a first of its kind deviceIncredible flexibility Spectacular high-resolution OLED display Excellent as a drawing tablet Beautiful design Poor performance for such an expensive device Potential durability issues Bluetooth keyboard is cramped and confusing Extremely expensive Mono speaker audio Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold Review: Foldable, Flawed, and Fantastic The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold is the world's first commercially available folding screen PC laptop, and there truly is nothing like it out there. However, it’s very much an experimental first-generation device with some major flaws to be aware of. The folding mechanism is extremely smooth, and the screen is magnificent in all its high-resolution OLED glory. It looks spectacular when folded, with its cleverly designed integrated leather cover. The included Lenovo Mode Pen stylus is also excellent and pairs well with the incredibly versatile nature of the X1 Fold. However, the Bluetooth keyboard is deeply flawed, and the laptop is badly underpowered. It’s also extremely expensive at $2,750, making it an impractical choice for most people. There’s no doubt the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Fold is an amazing device that represents a major technological leap forward, but it’s highly expensive and severely flawed. It’s very exciting and fun to use, but only those familiar with the issues that confront early adopters of any new tech should consider it as a viable option. With some refinement, future versions of this device will no doubt be impressive and have widespread appeal, but for now foldables remain the province of the adventurous and wealthy. "There are a staggering array of ways to use this device, from a traditional tablet and drawing pad, to a foldable double-sided e-book, to a purely touchscreen laptop." — Andy Zahn, Product Tester