The best 2-in-1 laptops are a mix of power and portability. Some combine the versatility of tablets with the utility of a laptop, while other 2-in-1 laptops double as both computer and tablet.
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But what are these models like in real life? Here’s your answer: they’re amazing! You can transform them into any configuration you want—to type faster or do work on the go, or even just for fun.
Convertible laptops work as both tablets and traditional computers. In tablet mode you can flip the keyboard all the way around (360°) and even put it in tent mode, so it’s easier than ever to find what fits your needs best.
If you need to find a detachable laptop that suits your specific needs, I’ve put together my top 3 picks and a list to help make it easier for you!
The Envy 13 takes gaming or streaming movies to a whole new level with its incredible IPS display.
Not only are you getting wide viewing angles, but also a display resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels for a sharp display.
RAM capacity of 16 GB is the optimum size nowadays.
Most high-end laptops come with a similar capacity, making this laptop as future-proof as can be without breaking the bank.
Having a large storage capacity is always welcomed. The Envy 13 comes with 512 GB of the SSD storage.
So, not only are you getting large capacity, but also a reliable SSD storage that’s known for its high transfer rate.
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HP is a brand that needs no introduction, and the Envy 13 is one of their finest works. The laptop is a powerhouse, no matter what you throw at it. It can handle gaming, day-to-day usage, streaming movies, and everything in between.
The laptop has a modern design with a micro-edge display with super thin bezels and the largest screen space possible. Even though it’s 13.3 inches in size, it’s still quite portable, weighing just 2.82 lbs and being 0.57 inches thick.
Allow me to tell you a thing or two about this laptop’s performance. The Intel Core i7-8565 processor is outstandingly powerful, and it’ll run smoothly no matter what. What’s more, it boasts NVIDIA’s GeForce MX250 GPU that can handle gaming, designing, and any graphics-intensive tasks.
Last but not least, this laptop has an astonishing battery life of over 12 hours so that you can use it for an entire workday on one charge!
The 12.3-inch PixelSense display offers an incredible resolution of 2736 x 1824 pixels.
You’re guaranteed a high-quality display with vivid colors and sharp text at all times.
Regarding RAM capacity, the laptop has three configurations: 4, 8, and 16 GB.
When it comes to RAM, the larger, the better. 8 or 16 GB should do you just fine. However, I wouldn’t really recommend the 4 GB configuration.
The Surface Pro 7 comes with various storage configurations, starting at 128 GB up to 1 TB.
For general day-to-day uses, a capacity of 256 or 512 GB should be perfect. However, for gaming and more demanding usage, you should opt for the 1 TB configuration.
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The Microsoft Surface series is the most popular series of 2-in-1 laptops, and it totally deserves the reputation! The Surface Pro 7 is the most powerful laptop so far, and it comes in different configurations, so you’re guaranteed to find one that fits your needs.
Let’s start with the laptop’s looks and feel. It’s only 0.33 inches in height and 1.74 lbs in weight, providing it with excellent portability, despite its relatively larger size of 12.3 inches.
As you can see in the specifications table, the laptop comes with three different processor configurations: Intel i3, i5, and i7. Both the i5 or i7 options are excellent and powerful enough for most tasks. If budget isn’t an issue, opt for the i7 model.
If you’re looking for a detachable laptop that’ll last all day, you’re in luck! The Surface Pro 7 lasts up to 10.5 hours on a single charge, providing you with as much productivity as you need.
However, before purchasing this laptop, keep in mind that the keyboard isn’t included; you’ll have to order it separately, which is a letdown.
The 14-inch display is incredibly immersive that you’ll feel like you’re in the picture rather than watching from afar.
Besides, the IPS display with 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution ensures a crisp, vibrant image.
At this laptop’s price, I’d expect a RAM capacity of 8 GB at most, so you can imagine how pleasantly surprised I was to see the 12 GB one.
Such capacity will allow you to multitask like never before, and your laptop won’t have a single hiccup.
With 256 GB of SSD storage, you can store anything you can think of.
From personal pictures and songs to productivity apps and games, you name it, and your laptop can handle it.
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Most 2-in-1 laptops are small in size, around 12 inches, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. If you prefer large screens, the Lenovo Flex 14 should spark your interest.
With a 360-degree hinge, you can set your laptop anyway you’d like; you can even fold it completely, so it’s like a tablet. The laptop’s thin design makes for a decent sized tablet that’s not too bulky. However, it’s a little on the heavier side, weighing 3.5 lbs, but that’s justifiable.
The AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor is incredibly powerful. Pairing such a processor with Radeon Vega 8 GPU will provide you with smooth, reliable performance that’s usually found in high-end laptops.
The Flex 14’s battery life is average; it can last up to 8 hours, so you’ll probably have to recharge it throughout the day. However, this laptop wasn’t trying to be portable in the first place, so it’s not a big deal.
This laptop’s display resolution is slightly higher than the regular 1080p, with a pixel resolution of 1920 x 1280.
You’re guaranteed a crisp, beautiful display, especially considering that it’s a PixelSense one.
The Surface Go 2 comes with two RAM configurations: 4 and 8 GB.
As always, I recommend going for the larger capacity because the RAM could really make or break your laptop.
Keeping the versatility theme going, the Surface Go 2 has two storage capacity configurations possible: 64 or 128 GB, both SSD.
The former model might be limiting if you’ll be installing many apps, so I recommend going for the 128 GB one.
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Who said you have to pay a fortune to enjoy a laptop with incredible specifications? Certainly not Microsoft, considering their Surface Go 2 offers unbelievable value for the money.
This laptop’s design isn’t all that different from the Surface Pro 7, but this one takes the cake when it comes to portability. Weighing just 1.2 lbs, you can carry it in a backpack or a handbag, and you won’t even feel it there.
If you’re a tech-person and really picky about your processor, the Surface Go 2 offers two processor configurations for you to choose from: Intel Core M3-8100Y or Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y. Without going into too much detail, if you’re unsure which one to go for, I recommend the former.
With a battery life of up to 10 hours, your laptop will likely last an entire day. However, you might need to lower the settings a tad to extend the battery life further.
Unfortunately, this one shares the same disadvantage as the previous Surface laptop: it doesn’t come with a keyboard.
Having a 2K display is always a bonus, whether in a laptop, a monitor, or any device.
This IPS display has a pixel resolution of 2256 x 1504, in addition to the fact that it’s LED-backlit; you’re guaranteed a high-quality, sharp display.
The Spin 13 has a RAM capacity of 8 GB, which is more than enough to run Chrome OS.
Additionally, if you’re a multitasker, this laptop makes switching between apps a breeze.
The laptop’s 128 GB of SSD storage is more than enough for an average user.
It can store as many apps as you like from the Google Play Store as well as some personal data, and you’ll still have capacity left to spare.
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Having a Chromebook is a great choice for those who strictly use their laptop for work. It efficiently runs all Google’s apps as well as the Google Play Store. If that seems like what you’re seeking, there’s no better option than the Acer Chromebook Spin13.
Being 13.5 inches in size, this one is on the larger side of 2-in-1 detachable laptops, providing you with an immersive experience for the most productivity possible.
The Spin 13 boasts an Intel Core i5-8250U, which is more than enough to run Chrome OS. Compared to Windows or macOS, Chrome OS is a lot lighter and less demanding, making an i5 processor perfect for the job.
What’s more, the laptop can last up to 10 hours on one charge. That should be more than enough for a full day of work.
Pros
Backlit keyboard
Google Play Store
Comes with Acer Stylus Pen
Excellent display resolution
Cons
Chrome OS needs internet connections for most features
The 12.3-inch PixelSense display is beautiful, to say the least.
With a resolution of 2736 x 1824 pixels, you’ll enjoy a crisp display with sharp details.
There’s really nothing to complain about when you get a laptop with 8 GB of RAM; it’s more than enough.
The Surface Pro 6 comes with 128 GB of SSD storage. It’s completely satisfactory for storing apps, games, and personal data, too!
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If you’re looking for portability without having to sacrifice having a large, immersive display, you need to take a look at the Microsoft Surface Pro 6.
You must be familiar with the Surface series’ design by now; it’s sleek and modern but has thick bezels. Additionally, for a 12.3-inch laptop, the Surface Pro 6 is considered lightweight at just 1.7 lbs. It’s also pretty thin at just 0.33 inches in height, providing it with portability like no other.
The Intel Core i5 processor is quite powerful; it can easily handle any task and even some games if you slightly lower the settings. For a GPU, the Surface Pro 6 boasts the Intel UHD Graphics 620, further ensuring the laptop’s ability to handle games.
What I love most about this laptop is its incredible battery life of up to 13.5 hours! Not only will it last through the majority of your day, but it’ll also have some charge left for a second day. It doesn’t get much better than this for 2-in-1 laptops.
Having a 3840 x 2160 pixel resolution on a 12.5-inch screen is a blessing to your eyes.
It also uses IPS technology to enhance the color production and viewing angles further.
With 8 GB of RAM, you can run any application without facing any glitches or freezes.
The XPS 12 comes with two storage configurations: 128 and 256 GB.
I recommend going with the latter to avoid any inconvenience.
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Who doesn’t love a beautiful 4K display? You don’t have to be a photographer or a designer to enjoy the Dell XPS 12’s display that offers vivid, beautiful colors and modern design.
The laptop attaches to the keyboard with magnets, making attaching and detaching it a breeze. Besides, it only weighs 2.8 lbs despite being 12.5 inches in size, so you can easily carry it around.
Boasting an Intel Core M5 processor, the XPS 12 is a powerhouse of a laptop. It also comes with Intel HD Graphics 515 GPU to handle graphics-intensive tasks like drawing, designing, or gaming.
Sadly, when it comes to battery life, this laptop falls a step behind its counterparts. It lasts 4.5 hours on average, which is a little disappointing but understandable considering its high-resolution display.
The 12-inch screen uses IPS technology for producing vivid colors. Also, it’s WLED-backlit with a display resolution of 1920 x 1280 pixels.
You know by now how capable a RAM capacity of 8 GB can be.
In other words, this laptop can handle and run multiple apps simultaneously and smoothly.
The Spectre X2’s storage capacity is 128 GB SSD. It’s large enough for an average user, as well as reliable, with a high transfer rate to eliminate slowness or freezes.
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If you’re bound by a budget, having a 2-in-1 laptop could be a lifesaver. The HP Spectre X2 is a great budget choice; it saves you the bother of having to buy a tablet for working on the go. You can just detach the laptop from the keyboard, and you end up with a tablet!
The 12-inch laptop has a slim design with a height of just 0.31 inches, so you can easily slip it into a bag without it taking up too much space.
The Spectre X2 comes with an Intel Core M7-6Y75, known for being powerful and efficient. It also boasts an Intel HD Graphics 515 GPU. Both the processor and coprocessor work together to provide you with the most seamless performance, even if you’re running highly demanding apps.
Its battery life is on the average side; it can last up to 10 hours, but it’s quite satisfactory.
2-in-1 laptops are like no other. They provide you with two devices in one that you can switch between depending on your situation for unmatchable convenience. Picking the right one for your needs can be tricky. You need to know how to choose a detachable laptop, so here’s everything you need to know before committing to a purchase.
Size
Detachable laptops don’t offer the most versatile range of sizes, which is understandable. Tablets don’t really get much bigger than 10-12 inches; thus, 2-in-1 laptops shouldn’t either, or they’ll lose their portability.
As you’ve seen, most options on the list are around 12 inches in size, which is optimum. It’s large enough to provide you with a comfortable display without being too bulky or too heavy.
Storage
It goes without saying that larger storage capacities are always better. However, large capacities come at a price. As long as your budget allows, try going for a capacity that’s at least 128 GB or 256 GB.
However, storage isn’t a deal-breaker because you can always use an external disk.
Resolution
A screen’s resolution alone isn’t enough to tell whether the display is good or not; you need to consider the size, too.
Because 2-in-1 laptops are on the smaller side, any resolution that’s around 1920 x 1080 or higher should be more than enough to provide you with a beautiful, high-quality display.
However, if you want to take it a step further, you can opt for a 2K display or even a 4K one, but I recommend going for that on larger screens (like 14 inches), so you wouldn’t have to scale up the display to read text documents.
RAM
Choosing the perfect RAM capacity heavily depends on your usage. For example, if you’re a programmer, designer, or gamer, there’s no doubt that you’ll need a 16 GB capacity to handle all the apps you’ll be running simultaneously.
On the other hand, if you’re an average user who mostly surfs the web, checks email, and plays light games casually, 8 GB might be the best set up for your needs.
You can also go for an even lower capacity of 4 GB if your usage is light and only includes checking social media websites and the news.
Operating System
Most detachable laptops run on Windows 10 because Apple hasn’t made any 2-in-1 laptops yet, so macOS is out of the equation. However, as you’ve seen on the Acer Spin 13, there’s also Chrome OS that some people prefer.
Chrome OS is quite limiting, so only opt for it if you know exactly what it can and can’t do. It uses Google Play Store to download apps and games, which is not nearly as versatile as Windows.
I recommend going for Windows unless you only care about Google productivity apps like Docs, Sheets, Calendar, and similar.
Battery Life
A laptop’s battery life could make or break it. What good is a portable laptop if it has to stay plugged in most of the time?
Opt for a laptop with a battery life that’s around 10 hours or longer. Of course, the longer the battery life, the better.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re wondering about these types of laptops our article “What is a 2-in-1 laptop?” provides a complete overview of 2-in-1 laptops / detachable laptops just in case you needed an explanation.
What Is the Best 2-in-1 Laptop to Buy?
The overall best 2-in-1 laptop is the HP Envy 13. It has 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of SSD storage, and a powerful Intel i7 processor. That’s not all; it also has a 4K display with IPS technology and small bezels that look and feel premium.
What to Look for in a 2-in-1 Detachable Laptop?
To put it simply, you need 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, a powerful processor, and a decent display with a resolution no less than 1080p. Such specs ensure the best performance possible without being too expensive.
Is a Detachable Laptop the Same as a 2-in-1 Laptop?
Mostly, yes. However, some would describe laptops with 360-degree hinges as 2-in-1 laptops, so they’re not exactly interchangeable. Detachable laptops can be separated entirely from the keyboard while 2-in-1 ones might be detachable or with a flexible hinge.
Should I Get a 2-in-1 or a Traditional Laptop?
That depends on what you’re expecting from your laptop. 2-in-1 laptops are incredibly portable, but not everyone seeks portability. I’d say if you won’t really use the touchscreen display and portability isn’t a priority, a traditional laptop should do you just well.
Conclusion
Picking the best detachable laptop isn’t as easy as it seems. However, after looking through this article, you should have a general idea of what features your next detachable laptop must have – maybe you’ve even settled on a laptop already! Either way, here’s a quick recap of my top picks.
My top pick is, without a doubt, the HP Envy 13. It offers high-end specs from a powerful processor, large RAM, and storage capacities to high-quality display and extended battery life.
However, if it didn’t really spark your interest, maybe you’ll love the Microsoft Surface Pro 7. It offers multiple configurations so that you can pick whichever best suits your usage.
