The best 2-in-1 laptops in 2024: our top picks
Introduction
You do know that while shopping for a device that easily toggles between a laptop and a tablet, now may be the right time to pioneer the top 2-in-1 laptops currently at your disposal. With this in mind, versatile devices make good use of both tablets and laptops. They are adequate to fit various tasks, including browsing the web and engaging in professional-grade work. With the recent rapid strides taken in mobile computing, there are more options than ever available, each designed to deliver powerful performance furthered efficiency in energy use, along with portability.
Otherwise, my team and I test and review dozens of 2-in-1 laptops every year in an ongoing quest to find those that strike that sweet spot of style, power, and usability.
Chief among them is the tablet-first design of the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, augmented by state-of-the-art Snapdragon chips to make it one of the greatest devices on sale today. But slapping an OLED display on just ups the ante with its premium feel.
The great thing with devices like the Acer Spin 5 is that, even with previous model years, buyers will get a lot of value from it if they are out to get themselves something dependable and without much sting in their wallets; it even comes with its own stylus.
Those looking to splurge a little will likely enjoy the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8. Sleekly designed with an OLED screen and amazing sound system, this computer earns its place among the very best for power users looking for style combined with performance. The following are our recommended models and others that we recommend after our hands-on testing of the best currently available 2-in-1 laptops.
Quick Overview of 2-in-1 Laptops
Below, you'll find the best 2-in-1 laptops of the moment-a broad swath of devices for a raft of budgets and needs. If you're in a rush, skip straight ahead to each review for all of those juicy details.
Microsoft Surface Pro 11 – Best Overall
The new Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is quite a different beast, with its Snapdragon X chip for unrivaled power and efficiency. The Surface Pro 11 performs quite well, be it for work or for play, and more premium still if you pick the OLED display variant. Of course, the peripherals inflate the price, but this is as good a 2-in-1 out there, and so much more starting in the ₹ 90000 range.
Acer Spin 5 – Best Value
Acer Spin 5 is a decent performer that, with a 14-inch touchscreen and inbuilt stylus, is available for less than ₹82,000 if one goes for its older models. It should be good enough to get some work done because it does come with adequately long battery life, making it a workhorse.
Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 – Best Premium Option
The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 represents an exquisite and powerful 2-in-1, with a target on users who would not mind spending a bit more money to get maximum performance. Boasting an OLED panel by default and a soundbar, this device is way ahead of others as far as both design and performance are concerned and sells at ₹1,60,000.
Plus, adding a stylus and carrying sleeve just rounds this off as a premium offering for the most discerning customers.
Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED – Best for OLED Display
The Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED is one of the most value-for-money 2-in-1s available for nearly ₹1,00,000. It has a brilliant 2.8K display with an OLED screen. Powerful with an innovative LED number pad on the touchpad, the battery life may be decent, or the webcam could be not good enough. However, out-and-out performance is very good to make it a fantastic choice for users in hunt for something really stylish, ultraportable, and yet powerful. Acer Chromebook Spin 714: Best Chromebook
Acer Chromebook Spin 714 – Best Chromebook
On the other hand, serves scintillating battery life with favored performance and a receptive stylus for roughly ₹60,000. This is certainly not cheap for a Chromebook, but the power and features that it serves are quite worth the price, and it's still dramatically cheaper than some of the other premium 2-in-1s on this list.
Lenovo Yoga Book 9i: Best dual-screen option
For the lovers of innovation, Lenovo has something altogether different in feel and look: Yoga Book 9i with dual 13-inch OLED displays. It's available at about ₹1,70,000. This convertible makes way for users to work in several multitasking modes and further comes with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to lure those toward it who would otherwise go for more traditional laptops.
Detailed Reviews of 2-in-1 Laptops
Microsoft Surface Pro 11
Well, it seems the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is an absolute beast-the highest, most powerful iteration of the series, touting a powerful processor from Snapdragon X and a gorgeous OLED display at 13 inches. The following review is one of the best options if you want a portable Windows 11 device that functions very much like a laptop when it's attached with a keyboard. It's especially radiant on an OLED screen, and the battery life is long enough-over 12 hours in testing-to ensure it will see you through a full day's work.
Its keyboard is detached, and that usually tends to cost a bit extra. That said, the Surface Pro 11 still remains an excellent choice for those needing portability and power combined into one neat package.
Acer Spin 5
The Acer Spin 5 finds that ideal sweet spot in performance and value. Housing a 14-inch WQXGA display, this has been fitted with an Intel Core i7 processor and up to 16GB of RAM-all the expected features from a much more expensive machine. The included stylus is perfect for note-taking or even creative multitasking. As far as battery life goes, this laptop carries on equally well, running over 12 hours in our tests.
The front-facing speakers aren't great, and there is some bloatware, but those are minor complaints. Enjoyable as otherwise great device: You can find the Spin 5 for about ₹1,08,000, which pegs it as a great value; not to mention, year-older models tend to dip below ₹82,000.
Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8
The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 will be for a really high-end hardware setup. Sleek and rounded, it is easy to carry around. The screen is a 14-inch OLED touchscreen, with dynamic colors and sharp images. Also included is a carrying sleeve and a stylus, making it only much more desirable. The battery could be a bit better, reaching just a little over ten hours-suitable for almost every daily task. Coming in for close to ₹1,60,000, it's a smidge pricier than the competition, but with all that build quality and performance, it's worth every paisa you will be invested in.
Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED
If obtaining an OLED display is the highest priority, the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED is definitely worth considering.
Ultimately, if your work or leisure activities take in a lot of video watching, or you want to create more creative work, the colors on this 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen are fabulous. Arguably one of the best keyboards we have tried to date, and minimalist sleek professional design language overall. Priced at ₹1,00,000, this makes these a pretty sweet deal for what it brings; though that 9-hour battery life coupled with a subpar web camera could surely see an upgrade or two.
Acer Chromebook Spin 714
The Acer Spin 714 Chromebook is one of the best Chromebooks out there, packing an Intel Core i5 processor for power, with great battery life, and it even comes with a stylus.
That makes it a Chrome OS device best suited for any student or professional on the move, who only needs a light device to browse and perform general productivity tasks. Available at about ₹60,000, it is pricier than other Chromebooks. However, considering all the performances and versatility that come with this laptop, this Chromebook can be said to justify its pricing.
Lenovo Yoga Book 9i
In its essence, Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is a foldable dual-screen laptop; it manages to fit in two 13.3-inch OLED displays, perfect for heavy multitasking. This could be used like a laptop in several ways: one could use it like a traditional laptop or have the screens folded and stacked on top of each other. Further, it also comes with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Of course, at ₹1, 70,000 this is expensive, but to folk that require the flexibility of dual displays, it would be fairly unique.
Conclusion
It all depends on individual needs and budget, but the best 2-in-1 for one is the best. From ease of switching from portrait to landscape mode, 2-in-1 laptops have managed to gain momentum and become the ultimate machines for a quite big number of users. If a user is looking to get an all-rounded device concerning both performance and style, then he should consider the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 among his top contenders. Housing high-end spec lists, stunning designs, and long-lasting batteries, it is going to be a fantastic choice to have on hand for everyday usage.
On the other hand, the Acer Spin 5 manages to keep essential features intact without making one break the bank and hence has become one of the great value-for-money purchases. Spending a bit more opens up some of the best OLED screens, such as the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8, powered by Asus's Zenbook 14 Flip OLED, with some really powerful processors and a few innovative features that will make both pros and creatives happy.
If you want a seriously powerful Chromebook, then look no further than the Acer Chromebook Spin 714, which offers the highest echelons of performance in the Chrome OS ecosystem. Last but not least, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i stands in a class of its own for this uniquely paired, dual-screen experience, targeting multitaskers in need of more screen estate. Somewhere in between these lies a 2-in-1 variation to suit every whim and wallet, and finding your perfect device is easier than ever.
FAQs
1. What have been the most practiced uses for 2-in-1 laptops?
2-in-1 laptops are real examples of versatility and, hence, fit for those users who need to work both with a laptop and a tablet combined.
They do great in terms of tasks like web browsing, media streaming, and note-taking-supplemented with light creative work like drawing or sketching, where there would be use for a stylus.
Besides, some of these 2-in-1 laptops will be of great service for professionals because they use such devices during presentations or when working on the go. The touchscreen feature combined with a foldable keyboard or detachable makes devices quite adaptive and just perfect for students, business users, or creative professionals.
Be it sitting in the cozy environment of a coffee shop or catching up on emails from the comfort of your couch, the 2-in-1 laptop does things with unmatched versatility and ease.
2. Can 2 in 1 Laptops be used for gaming?
Although 2-in-1s are not designed as a special class for gaming, they might be capable of running casual play or less demanding titles.
This means games falling under casual gaming, older games, or other, more mobile-friendly names will use only some of the available resources, with a lot of these machines-especially those with newer Intel processors or even with AMD Ryzen chips-handling games without a problem. Integrated graphics, such as Intel Iris Xe, should give a pretty good game to games that don't need really intensive hardware.
However, most of them have no dedicated graphics cards, so these generally are not strong enough for high-end gaming or AAA titles. On models capable of handling higher RAM-fitting options-at least 16GB-and larger storage capacities, preferably SSD-the choice may fall to gamers who still want flexibility with a 2-in-1. If gaming is a priority, though, a better option would be a dedicated gaming laptop or desktop.
3. What's average for battery life with a 2-in-1?
When it comes to choosing between 2-in-1s, what really matters is battery life. The ratings of battery life vary greatly with models and their usage. Most of the recent 2-in-1 laptops give between 8 to 12 hours of operational battery life under standard usage, which covers browsing on the web, streaming, or working in documents. These days, some can manage more than 12 hours on one charge; one such example is the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, making it great to use all day.
Another unusually long one is the Acer Spin 5, having impressive longevity well over 12 hours on one charge. In fact, the more premium variants, like the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8, would have somewhat shorter battery life, at around 10 hours, because of increased performance specs with more features. They still offer ample power for a day of work or entertainment. The other important things a user should consider are the factors on which battery life depends: screen brightness, running apps, and processes on the device.
4. Are 2-in-1 laptops good to use professionally?
Of course, 2-in-1 laptops are ideal for professional usage, especially by people who want portability and flexibility in one unit. Actually, using one for multitasking works great, and working professionals often have to switch between tasks all day long. With the powerful processors, large amount of RAM, and crystal-clear screens on high-end models like the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 and Microsoft Surface Pro 11, even professional tasks will be handled with ease.
Their lightweight build and long battery life make them ideal for business travels, allowing users to get work done with just about anything, anywhere, and at any time with no concessions in performance. Moreover, the prospect of it being so easily convertible from a tablet into a laptop form opens wide a window of convenience in instant presentation, meeting, and collaborative work. Therefore, the moment one wants portability, versatility, and strong batteries, that's the time 2-in-1 laptops are sure worth investing in.
5. What do I pay attention to when buying a 2-in-1 laptop?
However, when buying a 2-in-1 laptop, here are a couple of things that one looks out for: First of all, there is performance-a reasonably powerful processor, say an Intel Core i5 or Core i7 or AMD Ryzen equivalent, while at least 8 GB of RAM will see you run applications with ease. Secondly, for storage, SSDs are preferred to HDDs simply because booting and access are relatively fast. In particular, such screen quality shouldn't be neglected if the laptop is going to be a media consumption device or an outpost of creative work.
OLEDs tend to showcase amazing colors with deep blacks, while LCDs are always cheaper. If you're going to use the device away from power sources, pay great attention to battery life. Look for at least 8 to 10 hours of battery life in models. In this respect, design and portability play an important role: make sure it is light and easy to switch modes with. Finally, consider "other features" you would want to be in need of, which may be related to some sort of built-in stylus or support of peripherals on top.
