At some point while searching for a new laptop, you may be faced with a tough decision. Do you go for the ultrathin versatility of the 2-in-1 Windows laptop or do you stick with the proven performance of a laptop?
Let’s examine the choices a little more closely. A 2-in-1 is a laptop and tablet hybrid that scores top marks for portability. While it is designed primarily for easy mobility and operation, it also features decent performance levels. Microsoft’s Surface Pro is the leading product in this category and the popularity of these products are on the up.
On the other hand, laptops are a fully known quantity that continue to evolve performance-wise. These days, technological advancements have enabled the production of more compact internal components, resulting in laptops that are extremely powerful as well as thin and light.
This brings us right back to the original question. While it may be impossible to provide a blanket, one size fits all answer, a few carefully examined points can help you decide which one is perfect for you.
Portability vs Performance
If portability is at the top of your list of priorities when looking for a laptop, alongside the price point then your top choice will be one of the best budget 2 in 1 laptops. While it’s easy to find ultrathin and light modern laptops and ultrabooks these days, none can match the 2-in-1 in terms of portability.
This is predominantly down to the fact that keyboards in 2-in-1 laptops are extremely light, much lighter than what you can find on even the thinnest, lightest laptop. What’s more, you can even ditch the keyboard completely if you prefer that.
On the flip side, if you need your computer to perform some of the more difficult tasks, you probably should choose a laptop. Laptops are the more natural as well as proven choices for tasks that typically demand more power, like music production and video editing. In a nutshell, it boils down to this: if you or your work place emphasis on performance over portability, a laptop is a smart choice for you.
Laptops Are Best For Gaming
When it comes to gaming on the go, there’s only one winner, and it isn’t a 2-in-1 laptop. There’s the fact that many 2-in-1 computers can be connected to an eGPU such as the Razer Core, but this can only be done at a fixed location. Even the most hardcore of gamers will consider the idea of walking around with a Razer Core preposterous. Is it worth all the hassle? Our guess is no.
So, if you’re looking for a computer that lets you play games smoothly as well as conveniently, you should take your pick out of several excellent gaming laptops available in the market. If you’re looking for some inspiration, we recommend the Razer Blade. This gaming laptop ticks all the boxes in terms of performance and is also lightweight and compact.
Windows Ink and Digital Pen
More and more laptops and convertibles are beginning to feature screens that are touch responsive. Some are even compatible with Windows Ink by using a digital pen. But none of them can quite match up to the experience that a 2-in-1 offers.
Digital pens are sufficient for whatever productive task you need your laptop for, eliminating the need for keyboards completely. Whether you’re drawing or writing a document b hand, using a pen just feels so natural and even the lightest of keyboards can be made redundant.
There are quite a number of 2-in-1 personal laptops that offer the seamless experience of digital pens, but the Surface Pro sits at the top of that list. All things considered, 2-in-1’s have the edge for the use of digital pens.
Flexibility
It’s hard to find a device anywhere that offers more flexibility than a 2-in-1. Depending on your needs at any particular moment, a 2-in-1 can work as a tablet while moonlighting as a laptop. If you’re on the go and you need a laptop without the extra complication of a keyboard, the 2-in-1 is that device.
When you’re in the mood to unwind and just binge watch movies while lounging on your couch, a 2-in-1 sans keyboard will fit the tenor of the stage perfectly. Fit the keyboard back n and you’re good for any kind of productive task, either at home or the office.
A Laptop Offers More Ports
One drawback of the 2-in-1’s ultralight design is that it offers just the single USB port. So unless you can work with a single type A or type C USB port, you may have to stick with a laptop. The only available alternative is to work around it by using dongles.
Most 2-in-1’s offer a single USB port, which may severely limit your options, particularly if you require a lot of connections to external devices and screens. If you don’t mind the extra exertion however, simply connecting dongles and docks to your 2-in-1 device will effectively take care of the issue.
All things considered, there is no right choice between these two computers. A better way to decide is to consider which is the better option for you. In the end, it all boils down to what want to do with your device, what tasks or programs you expect it to run.