Best 2-in-1 laptops in 2025: 6 tested and reviewed picks
The best 2-in-1 laptops in 2025 offer a versatile experience: They can flip between a traditional laptop layout, a tablet, and anything in between using a 360-degree hinge. For those who constantly change their environments, this form factor is perfect.
After over five years of reviewing laptops, I’ve tested my fair share of 2-in-1 laptops, so I know what boxes a laptop needs to tick to earn a spot as one of the best. Plus, I have a personal love for convertible laptops. My first work laptop was the convertible Lenovo Flex 5, and the Lenovo Yoga 9i has been my daily driver for the last three years.
If you’ve decided a 2-in-1 laptop is the best option for you, you’re likely looking for a laptop that can move with you throughout the day. Use it in traditional laptop mode to get your work done, flip it into tablet mode for drawing or graphic design tasks, and tent mode is perfect to end the night watching your favorite TV show or movie.
Every convertible laptop I’ve picked for this list is well-constructed, with sturdy hinges that’ll stand up to daily rotation. Beyond great build quality, the best 2-in-1 laptops feature a battery that’ll last all day, solid multi-tasking performance, and a gorgeous display. These 2-in-1 laptops are among the best laptops, period.
No matter what you’re searching for in a 2-in-1 laptop, we have an option that’ll fit the bill.
Click to view recent updates to this page
Update log
5/22/2025: Swapped the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition in for the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i as the best graphic design option and updated benchmark comparisons.
The Quick List
1. Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607)
Best overall
The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607) is quite the 2-in-1 gem, decked out with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, 32GB of RAM, and a gorgeous 16-inch, 2880 x 1800 OLED display. Plus, it has great battery life, powerful audio in tent mode, and gaming capabilities that may shock you.
▼ Read more below
2. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
Best budget
Looking for a 2-in-1 that doesn’t break the bank? The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus may be what you’re looking for. It’s a Chromebook with decent performance and a battery life that’ll last a whole work or school day. Add its great keyboard and it’s a great choice for the price.
▼ Read more below
3. Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition
Best for graphic design
The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is a visual stunner, with a gorgeous OLED display that covers a whopping 149.2% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. For graphic design users, this display can’t be beat. Team it up with the laptop’s excellent hinge speakers, a clicky keyboard, and decent performance, and you’ve got a well-rounded machine.
▼ Read more below
4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16
Best foldable
Looking for a foldable laptop? You’ve found the perfect choice with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16. With its sturdy chassis, 16.3-inch folding HDR OLED display at 2560 x 2024-pixel resolution, and solid performance, it’s probably the best foldable laptop you can buy today.
▼ Read more below
Best for travel
The LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 is the lightest 16-inch 2-in-1 in the world. It’s not only incredibly portable but it also features a gorgeous display, almost 11 hours of battery life, and strong performance.
▼ Read more below
6. MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo A2VM
Best business
The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo A2VM is the perfect laptop for business users, channeling nearly 17 hours of battery life in a machine lighter than three pounds, all with an excellent, sturdy 2-in-1 design that will not disappoint.
▼ Read more below
Sarah Chaney
Sarah Chaney is a freelance tech writer with a bachelor’s degree in English and five years of experience across multiple outlets, including Mashable, How-To Geek, MakeUseOf, Tom’s Guide, and of course, Laptop Mag. She has a special affinity for 2-in-1 laptops, after falling in love with the Lenovo Yoga 9i during testing and adopting it as her daily driver ever since. With dual-display convertibles entering the chat, she’s even more excited about the future of 2-in-1 laptops.
The best 2-in-1 laptops in 2025
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Through extensive hands-on testing and a series of thorough benchmarks, we decided that the products below are indeed the best 2-in-1 laptops of 2025.
Best 2-in-1 overall
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Why is it our top pick?
The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip is the 2-in-1 laptop we’d recommend to most people, simply because it’s priced well for what it delivers, which includes impressive performance, a full work day’s worth of battery life and then some, and a truly gorgeous OLED display.
Buy it if
✔️ You want stellar performance paired with excellent battery life: With a Geekbench 6 score of 10,987 and a battery that lasts nearly 14 hours, this convertible laptop is a powerful companion.
✔️ You love a snazzy display: This laptop’s 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED display is a treat for the eyes, with “lush, infinite contrast” and “vibrant colors.” Whether you’re simply browsing the web or streaming your latest obsession, this display won’t disappoint.
Don’t buy it if
✖️ You’re a keyboard enthusiast: In our review, we described this membrane keyboard as “mushy.” If a satisfyingly clicky typing experience is important to you, opt for a different 2-in-1.
✖️ Portability is a top priority for you: At 3.9 pounds, this laptop certainly isn’t heavy, but it’s not the lightest 2-in-1 laptop out there. So if you need the most lightweight travel laptop you can find, this might not be the best fit for you.
The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip is a “compelling combination” of specs and features, according to Laptop Mag’s Madeline Ricchiuto, making it our favorite 2-in-1 laptop to recommend for most people.
Inside, you’ll find an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor leading the pack, accompanied by 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics. For supporting multiple RAM-hungry browser tabs and even Photoshop and low-intensity games, this configuration is more than equipped.
For concrete proof of this convertible laptop’s performance abilities, let’s take a look at a few benchmarks. In our testing, the Vivobook 16 Flip delivered a great Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 10,987, completed the Handbrake conversion test in 7 minutes and 41 seconds, and maxed out at 85.8 degrees Fahrenheit, well below our comfort threshold of 95 degrees.
Despite impressive performance, this laptop promises healthy battery life. In our battery test, which involves continuous web surfing at 150 nits brightness, the Vivobook 16 Flip lasted a whopping 13 hours and 47 minutes, winning out easily over our previous overall pick: the HP Spectre x360 16 (11.07). That’s more than enough for a full work day, followed by a few hours of streaming or internet shopping.
And of course, for a 2-in-1 laptop, a stunning display is paramount — and this laptop doesn’t disappoint. The Vivobook 16 Flip sports a 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Whether you’re drawing, watching a TV show, or organizing your calendar, this laptop’s display will deliver vibrant colors and rich contrast.
As a bonus, you can even get some solid gaming performance out of this laptop. In our review, it handled Baldur’s Gate III at Medium, 1080p settings incredibly well, with stable frame rates and lush visuals. It’s not going to earn a spot as one of the best gaming laptops any time soon, but it’s an impressive feat for a convertible laptop.
See our full Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607) review.
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Best budget
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Why is it our top budget pick?
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus fits everything it can for the price it offers. You likely won’t find a better 2-in-1 laptop under $500. The performance and design take it make it more than “cheap.”
Buy it if
✔️ You want to spend as little as you need for the most you can get: With an Intel Core i3-1315U, the Chromebook forgoes the rather poor performing processors that you’d get stuck with at this price point for something with a bit more kick.
✔️ You want an elegant design: Affordable doesn’t mean cheap. The IdeaPad Flex 5i looks pretty slick with its blue aluminum hood. And it’s rather compact, at 0.8 inches thin and 3.6 pounds.
Don’t buy it if
✖️ You want a bright, colorful display: This is one of the biggest sacrifices you’ll need to make for a budget laptop. I wouldn’t watch your favorite content on this thing. Your phone likely has a better display.
✖️ You powerful performance: Yes, the IdeaPad Flex 5i offers decent performance, but that’s relative to the price. You won’t be video-editing or photo-editing on this thing without a little slowdown.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a 2-in-1 Chromebook that’ll save you a little more than a shiny penny and still provide a solid overall experience. It’s packed with an Intel Core i3-1315U processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of eMMC storage, and a 14-inch, 1920 x 1080 touchscreen display.
Mark Anthony Ramirez said, “The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i takes full advantage of Google’s AI-infused Chrome OS and delivers potent performance that will impress you,” in our review of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus.
For its performance, we tested it against the Geekbench 6 overall performance test where the IdeaPad Flex 5i scored 5,384, sliding past the 5,259 Chromebook average at the time. That’s decent enough to get you through most less-taxing tasks. And thanks to the Chromebook’s relatively light operating system, it won’t suffer the same slowdowns as a Windows laptop.
The IdeaPad Flex 5i is also quite portable, measuring 12.4 x 9.0 x 0.8 inches and weighing 3.57 pounds. It lands somewhere between the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (3.02 pounds) and the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (3.7 pounds). It also looks nice, featuring an aluminum storm grey colored lid — that’s not common for a cheap laptop.
Adding to that portability is its battery life. It lasted 9 hours and 43 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test, which consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits. It’s a bit shorter than the Chromebook average at the time (9:50). However, you’ll get more than a workday or school day’s worth of life out of this laptop. Close to 10 hours is still solid, especially for a laptop this affothat is rdable.
Unfortunately, you’ll need to sacrifice the display. The Flex 5i’s 14-inch, 1080p display covered a dismal 46.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and produced only 306 nits of brightness. This isn’t too far from what we expect from a laptop at this price point. Still, both scores landed well below the Chromebook average at the time.
Despite that, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is an excellent 2-in-1 laptop if you are on a budget.
See our full Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review.
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Best for graphic design
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Why is it our top pick for graphic design?
The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition boasts a color-rich, bright OLED display that simply makes graphic design tasks a breeze. Plus, its other premium features add even more value.
Buy it if
✔️ You don’t want to sacrifice battery life for a high-quality display: The Yoga 9i has a colorful display with stellar DCI-P3 color gamut coverage and max brightness, and yet it still has great battery life. It lasted almost 13 hours in our battery life test.
✔️ You want audio quality that matches the stunning display: Finding a laptop with a great display is already a tough enough feat, but finding one with fantastic speakers to match? That’s damn near impossible, but the Yoga 9i manages to do it.
Don’t buy it if
✖️ Top-notch performance is a must for you: The Yoga 9i is impressive in multiple ways, but a bit lacking in the performance department. Its Geekbench 6 score of 11,059 is still great for simple daily tasks, but it pales against competitors.
✖️ You’re picky about ports: This laptop has a decent array of ports, including three USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and an audio jack. However, if you’re looking for an HDMI port, an SD card reader, or another USB-A port, you’re out of luck.
With its gorgeous OLED display, good performance, and a plethora of other premium features, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is one of the best laptops for graphic design you’ll find with a nifty convertible form factor. Though it’s not a cheap 2-in-1 rig at $1,749 full price, you get a lot of value in exchange.
In our review of the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition, Rami Tabari notes, “Between its battery life and punchy keyboard, and its OLED display and strong speakers, this thing is sure to be one of the best laptops I review this year.”
This laptop’s best-selling feature is, without question, its 14-inch, 2880 x 1800-pixel OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. We were “drooling over the colors” in testing, which makes total sense, seeing as the laptop covered an impressive 149.2% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Then, the display also clocked 421 nits brightness, plenty for working indoors or in direct sunlight.
On top of its enticing display, the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition also packs one of Lenovo’s famously clicky, satisfying keyboards, a well-balanced soundbar that lives between the laptop’s hinges and produces stellar audio, and an all-aluminum chassis that’s cool to the touch and rounds out the premium experience.
The only feature that falters slightly is performance, notching a Geekbench 6 score of just 11,059. For everyday tasks, this is perfectly fine. However, if you plan on tackling more intense projects, like video editing, it may struggle to keep up with you. The Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition also lacks an HDMI port and more than one USB-A port, but this is easily remedied by adding one of the best USB-C hubs to your setup.
In exchange for average performance, this laptop is able to achieve a full workday of battery life and then some. In the Laptop Mag battery life test, which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits brightness, this laptop held on for 12 hours and 47 minutes. It’s not going to beat the laptops with the best battery life, but it’s impressive nonetheless, considering the laptop’s power-hungry OLED display and its thin-and-light chassis.
See our full Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition review.
Best foldable
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Why is it our top foldable pick?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 offers a massive foldable display that you can make as compact as a tablet with a simple flip. Top that with a gorgeous OLED screen and a sturdy design.
Buy it if
✔️ You want to enjoy a large display without a bulky keyboard in the way: Yes, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 does come with a keyboard, but it’s detachable, which means you get a 16.3-inch OLED display without the baggage.
✔️ You want to emulate the desktop experience: With a large display and a detachable keyboard, it’s easy to work at your desk without feeling like you need to be attached to the laptop itself. Its ThinkPad keyboard is quite nice, too.
Don’t buy it if
✖️ You want modern specs: Unfortunately, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold’s specs are quite old despite being a newer laptop. Don’t expect top of the line performance from this machine.
✖️ You want long battery life: You do get around 7 to 9 hours of battery life, depending on the mode you use. However, that doesn’t quite meet our current standards, where laptops average around 11-12 hours.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold model we reviewed is built with an Intel Core i7-1260U, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and a 16.3-inch OLED display at 2560 x 2024-pixel resolution. Of course, the main selling point of this device is that it’s foldable. If you’re unsure what that means, it essentially has the ability to act as a laptop with a keyboard magnetically attached to the deck, and if you remove the keyboard, you can extend it out into a single, full-sized tablet.
Madeline Ricchiuto said, “As a business machine, the ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 is perhaps positioned better than its competitors because its flexibility matches the current hybrid work environment better than a standard laptop might,” in our review of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold.
This means most people aren’t going to need this laptop, but for those that do, our reviewer claimed that it’s arguably the best foldable laptop available right now. It’s shockingly thin and light, coming in at just 2.9 pounds in tablet mode and 4.3-pounds with the keyboard and stand attached.
Its design allows for a compelling all-in-one use case. You can turn the laptop into a makeshift monitor and then detach the keyboard to emulate a quick desktop setup in no time at all. Considering it’s only 4.3 pounds, it can easily fit most bags and is perfect for on-the-go workers who prefer larger space for their projects.
It’s important to keep in mind, however, that its Intel Core i7-1260U is a couple of generations old now, so don’t expect the latest and greatest processing speeds. On the Geekbench 6 overall performance test, its multi-core score of 7,953 is decent but notably slower than other laptops on this list, like the Yoga 9i’s 9,954.
Its battery life also leaves a bit to be desired, coming in at 8 hours and 44 minutes in laptop mode and 7 hours and 22 minutes in tablet mode. Regardless, it has more than enough success in its execution to make for a great foldable.
See our full Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 Gen 1 review.
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Best for travel
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Why is it our top pick for travel?
The LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP) launched as the lightest 16-inch 2-in-1 laptop in the world. That offers you quite a lot of real estate while minimizing the burden it takes to move.
Buy it if
✔️ You are constantly on the go but don’t want a small laptop: At just 3.1 pounds and 0.5 inches thin, you can’t get much lighter and slimmer for a laptop that offers up a 16-inch OLED display.
✔️ You want high performance and battery life on the go: With the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and a near 11-hour battery life, you’ll get the most out of the LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 no matter where you are.
Don’t buy it if
✖️ You want something more affordable: While the LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 offers strong performance, it doesn’t seem that way when you consider the price tag. You can get more for less elsewhere.
✖️ You want a pleasant touchpad experience: The keyboard is decent, but it does feature low key travel. The worst part is that the touchpad will be quite mushy when you click on it.
What makes a laptop great for travel is its physical portability. The LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP) is the lightest 2-in-1 16-inch laptop ever. The Gram Pro 16 comes in at 14.1 x 10 x 0.51 inches and 3.08 pounds, which is tiny compared with the HP Spectre x360 16 (2024) (4.3 pounds, 14.1 x 9.7 x 0.8 inches) and the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 Gen 9 (4.7 pounds, 14.3 x 10 x 0.7 inches).
Sean Riley said, “It can rattle around in your laptop bag on a trip or commute and come out unscathed,” in our review of the LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1.
Adding to its portability is its battery life. The Gram Pro lasted 10 hours and 41 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test, which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits. That puts it in a tightly competitive spot with the HP Spectre (10:45), and it crushes the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i (9:51). So not only is the Gram slim and light, but it’ll also survive longer than your average workday.
The Gram Pro is built with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. On the Geekbench 6.3 overall performance test, the LG Gram Pro soared over the category average, which was a couple of thousand points lower at the time. It also hovered around the HP Spectre (12,370) and Yoga Pro 9i (12,141).
Its 16-inch, 2880 x 1800 Touch OLED display is absolutely stunning to behold, managing an 133.5% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut and a brightness of 392 nits. Its combination of brightness, color, and high resolution should be fantastic for artists who need to go in-depth with accuracy.
The keyboard is pleasantly bouncy despite its low key travel. The touchpad is also quite responsive. Unfortunately, the touchpad is quite mushy, so if you choose the Gram Pro 16, you might want to check out the best wireless mouse page.
Ports are also very important on a laptop for travel. The last thing you want is to be carrying a dongle or worse yet, forgetting to pack it, so make sure these ports suit your needs. The LG Gram Pro comes with two USB Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, two USB Type-A ports, and a headphone jack. Unfortunately, if you need an SD or microSD card slot, you’ll need a USB Type-C hub.
See our LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP) review.
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Best business
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Why is it our top business pick?
The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo A2VM features modern processors, tons of storage, high RAM, and long-lasting battery life in a lightweight machine perfect for business users.
Buy it if
✔️ You want battery life that can truly last: The Summit 13 yields nearly 17 hours of battery life, which is far above our expectations for a long-lasting laptop.
✔️ You want a sturdy 2-in-1: It’s important that a 2-in-1 doesn’t feel flimsy at its hinges, as those need to be strong in order to make its core features usable without making you uncomfortable.
Don’t buy it if
✖️ You want a battery speaker system: Unfortunately, the Summit 13’s audio leaves a lot to be desired, as it’s low and muddy.
✖️ You want a large keyboard: This is a 13.3-inch laptop and its keyboard is notably cramped, which should be fine for most people, but if you’re sensitive to tight keyboards, this won’t be for you.
The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo A2VM is among the first batch of laptops that have earned our prestigious Editor’s Choice badge in 2025, and it has shot its way up to the top as one of the best business laptops we’ve tested.
The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo is built with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics, 32GB of RAM, 2TB of SSD storage, and a 60Hz, 1,920 x 1,200-pixel resolution IPS touchscreen. Even while its display may seem underpowered on paper, it boasts solid color depth and decent brightness.
The MSI Summit scored 10,895 on the Geekbench 6 overall performance test, which is pretty solid, but you can definitely find better performance in competitors like the Asus Zenbook S 16 (13,282) or HP EliteBook Ultra G1q (12,717)
Its display performed solidly in our color tests, reproducing 85% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which is about better than what we’d expect out of a business laptop. The MSI Summit was similarly decent in our brightness tests, as it managed an average of 366 nits, which is fine enough for most. We do think it might be a bit too dim for usage while outdoors, especially if it’s a sunny day, but it will be more than enough for a majority of indoor settings.
Unfortunately, we were pretty let down by its speaker system, as it’s underwhelming in both volume and quality, delivering audio that delivers an uneven sound.
The best part of the MSI Summit is its staggering battery life, lasting 16 hours and 52 minutes in Laptop Mag’s test which involves continuous web browsing over wifi at 150 nits of brightness. We typically recommend laptops with more than 10 hours of battery life, and this absolutely crushes that metric.
You won’t regret your purchase of the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo if you’re a business user. With its incredible battery life, solid performance, sturdy hinges, and satisfying keyboard, this is a great laptop.
See our full MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo review.
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Benchmark comparisons
Click to view chart data in table format
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Asus Vivobook 16 Flip |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus |
Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition |
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 |
LG Gram Pro 16 |
MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo A2VM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Geekbench 6 (Higher is better) |
10,987 |
5,384 |
11,059 |
7,953 |
11,897 |
10,895 |
|
Handbrake time ((MM.SS), lower is better) |
7.41 |
Row 1 – Cell 2 |
6.26 |
11.45 |
8.52 |
9.1 |
|
Battery life – Web surfing (HH.MM) |
13.47 |
9.5 |
12.47 |
8.44 |
10.41 |
16.52 |
|
SSD transfer speeds (MBps, higher is better) |
1,756 |
Row 3 – Cell 2 |
1,448 |
1,332 |
1,810 |
1,669 |
|
DCI-P3 Color Gamut (Higher is better) |
84.4 |
46.5 |
149.2 |
93.1 |
133.5 |
85 |
|
Display Brightness (Nits, higher is better) |
356 |
306 |
421 |
466 |
392 |
366 |
|
Hottest temperature (95 degree comfort threshold) |
85.8 |
89.5 |
88.3 |
101.7 |
115.7 |
101.5 |
Recently reviewed 2-in-1 laptops
Not every laptop we review can make it onto our best 2-in-1 laptop buying guide, but just because they came up short of the guide doesn’t mean they aren’t worth checking out. Here’s a look at some of our recent reviews that may still be a fit for you despite not making our buying guide, either for a minor fault or simply because it isn’t a convertible laptop.
How to find the best 2-in-1 laptops
Finding the perfect 2-in-1 for you differs from a traditional laptop. After all, these are meant to be portable and must fulfill their name appropriately.
Display: You need something bright and sharp
While 2-in-1s aren’t exclusively reserved for artists and designers, it’s often used by them to make a quick and easy transformation from a traditional laptop to a tablet for illustrating. As a result, you absolutely need a display that can accommodate your creative endeavors, and if it’s too dim to be taken on-the-go or too lackluster to accurately present color, you will absolutely be disappointed.
OLED is a great start if you’re in need of a quality 2-in-1, but IPS displays can also feature excellent color in some cases. 80% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut should be your minimum if you’re an artist, but if you can get closer to 100% or even go beyond, the better off you’ll be.
We also recommend higher resolutions to let you get into the nitty gritty when illustrating, as it will present crisper detail for artists and designers. 2K should be your floor, but the higher, the better.
Design: Sturdy portability is a necessity
2-in-1 laptops are inherently all about flexibility, as their hinges support up to 360-degree angles. You don’t want hinges that creak and a lid that feels like it’ll snap off every time you lift it. Sturdiness is a necessity, and we’ve found that the best 2-in-1 laptops can support themselves in any position and require conscious force to move about. An aluminum chassis is a great start, but you’ll want to read our reviews and see which ones feel the best in practice.
And since 2-in-1 laptops are frequently moved around quite a bit, we recommend something light. Anything around 4 pounds and under is recommended, but some can be a little heavier, depending on the size.
Battery life: Long-lasting is vital for being on-the-go
Battery life is another key component of any good 2-in-1 laptop. If you plan to take the notebook to class, work, or spend a whole day illustrating in a park, don’t count on there being an outlet! Consider a laptop with at least 11-12 hours of battery life, which should be enough to get you through most of the day without worry. In any case, the longer, the better.
FAQs
What does “2-in-1 laptop” mean?
It can mean different things for different laptops, but the core design philosophy implies that the product can transform from a laptop into a tablet. They’re also all touchscreen laptops (because it would defeat the purpose otherwise).
Now, that can take many forms. The most common one is a traditional laptop with a 360-degree hinge. But there are also detachable laptops, which feature a removable keyboard. There are dual-display laptops, which feature a discrete Bluetooth keyboard. Then there are foldable laptops, which feature a display that can fold in two and also may feature a discrete keyboard.
Do all 2-in-1 laptops fold the same?
No, and this is actually super important to research. Some 2-in-1 laptops are well-crafted with sturdy hinges and magnetic folds that snap in place when put in tablet mode. However, I’ve also reviewed laptops with sloppy hinges and no magnetic backing. It’s important to take a look at the Design sections in Laptop Mag‘s reviews.
Additionally, there are foldable and detachable laptops. The former features a screen that folds in half, and the latter features a traditional tablet design with a detachable keyboard. Again, read that Design section to ensure you’re getting what you need.
Do 2-in-1 laptops break easily?
Ideally, 2-in-1 laptops should not break easily. 2-in-1 laptops often feature the strongest hinges in comparison to traditional laptops, as they’re designed to support their own weight when configured in various positions.
Whether you’re in tablet mode or tabletop mode, it should be able to hold its own weight. If we review 2-in-1 with weak hinges, it’s unlikely that we’d recommend it to begin with, as sturdy hinges is a necessary baseline requirement for a solid 2-in-1 laptop.
Are 2-in-1 laptops good for drawing?
It depends. 2-in-1 laptops are used for business, or casual use, and then some with a very specific focus on catering to artists.
Some are designed for illustrating, but you want to ensure that’s one of its intended use cases. You’ll also want to make sure it’s compatible with a pen.
Are 2-in-1 laptops good for gaming?
No, 2-in-1 laptops are not generally good for gaming. The crossover between gaming laptops and 2-in-1 laptops is pretty much non-existent, but 2-in-1 laptops with discrete GPUs do exist, like the Asus ROG Flow X16. However, these are pretty rare.
Integrated graphics have gotten significantly better over the years. If you’re using a laptop with a modern Lunar or Arrow Lake processor or even one of AMD’s latest AI chips, you’ll likely get some decent performance for casual gaming, but don’t expect too much. The gaming-focused Asus ROG Flow Z13 (2025) is one of the only examples of a gaming 2-in-1 laptop with integrated graphics that we recommend.
Is a convertible laptop the same as a 2-in-1 laptop?
Generally speaking, the terms “convertible” and “2-in-1” are used interchangeably to describe a device that can be used as a traditional laptop and folded into a tablet.
However, more specifically, a convertible laptop typically involves a built-in keyboard. According to IT company CDW, the term “hybrid laptop” describes a laptop with a keyboard that can be removed, like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold.
That said, any laptop with a 360-degree hinge that can fully fold backwards is typically lumped into the same broad category, whether it’s technically a convertible or hybrid laptop.
How we test the best 2-in-1 laptops
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We put 2-in-1 laptops through extensive benchmark testing — both synthetic and real-world — before they end up in the hands of our reviewers. We evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers and heat management.
In our benchmark testing, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and sRGB color gamut of the laptop’s display. For performance testing, we run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 5.4 and 6.3 and 3DMark professional graphics tests.
To determine real-world performance, we task the laptop to convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution and to duplicate a 4.97GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics test is the Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm benchmark with high settings at 1080p resolution. Gaming laptops go through an entire library of games at high settings to see how their discrete GPUs keep up.
We also run heat tests by playing a 15-minute full-screen video and measuring temperatures in different areas of the laptop. Last but not least, our battery test consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. For MacBooks and premium Windows 11 laptops, a runtime of over 9 hours is considered a good result, whereas gaming laptops and workstations that can stay powered for longer than 5 hours deserve praise.
These tests are complemented with extensive hands-on testing from our reviewers who critique everything from the laptop’s materials to the feel of its touchpad. For 2-in-1 laptops in particular, it needs a strong hinge and practical design to support its own weight. It’s important that every part of the design feels sturdy so that no matter what position a user bends the hinge, it won’t collapse.
Why Trust Laptop Mag
Laptop Mag reviews over one hundred different laptops every year, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games. We’re not just experts in the laptop field, as we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest in gaming.
We are 100% independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades, and we continue to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.
Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.
Our editorial trustworthiness is enforced by one of the world’s largest technology publishers, Future Publishing. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector — and we’re the group’s specialist for all things mobile tech.
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