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

Once you’ve experienced the best 2-in-1 laptops for yourself, you’ll never go back. It would even be difficult to go back to a normal, old non-convertible laptop. And, judging by a recent patent filed by Microsoft, smartphones may be following in the footsteps of these versatile machines with their flexible hinges.

The best 2-in-1 laptops will come in every shape and size – even offering premium performance. 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.

Most of the best 2-in-1 laptops you’ll find today are convertible – the keyboard swiveling around the back, so you can use it as a tablet. There are a few, though, that are detachable, liek the sublime Surface Book 2, whose high-resolution PixelSense display is held up by pure magnetic force. No matter how the tablet mode works, the best 2-in-1 laptops will work with a stylus – though they’re seldomly included. Don’t worry, however, we made sure to point out the pros and cons of each device listed here.

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 in the market for one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, but you also kind of wanted to get one of the best gaming laptops instead, you’re in luck. The Dell XPS 15, already a fantastic laptop, has been transformed into a 2-in-1 – and was given discrete-class Radeon RX Vega graphics in the process. What this means is that you can get a beautiful convertible laptop, but you don’t have to give up any power. And, while that means that it’s a little expensive and the fans get a bit loud – 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)

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

Heavily inspired by the seminal Apple MacBook, the Asus Zenbook Flip S brings an attention to detail that’s often lost with Windows laptops. Thinner and lighter than most of the best 2-in-1 laptops, this gorgeous device brings the power of an Intel Core i7 CPU in a package you won’t be afraid to bring out in public. And, because it’s rocking a 1080p display with a powerful processor, you don’t have to worry about running out of juice – it’ll last through all but the longest plane rides.

Read the full review: Asus ZenBook Flip S

While other laptop makers are adding discrete graphics and increasing their screen sizes, Samsung has decided it’s best to lay low with the Samsung Notebook 7 Spin this year. It works, but seemingly unintentionally so. Because it scraps the Nvidia chip, the 13-inch Samsung Notebook 7 Spin can be used for up to 7 hours at a time without charge. It also has a better keyboard than you would expect, although we are disappointed in the lack of a bundled stylus.

Read the full review: Samsung Notebook 7 Spin