Table of ContentsBest Overall Convertible 2-in-1 LaptopBest Budget Convertible 2-in-1 LaptopBest Detachable 2-in-1 Windows TabletBest Budget Detachable 2-in-1 Windows TabletBest Convertible 2-in-1 for Remote WorkersBest Convertible 2-in-1 for CreatorsBest Convertible 2-in-1 for BusinessBest Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop for Enterprise Fleet DeploymentsBest Convertible 2-in-1 ChromebookBest Detachable 2-in-1 ChromebookPicking the Best Detachable Laptop: Two Devices in OneTech Specs: What to Look for in a 2-in-1 LaptopSo, Which 2-in-1 Laptop Should I Buy?

For our purposes, we break down 2-in-1 laptops into two kinds: the convertible laptop (a one-piece machine) and the detachable tablet (which splits in two).

The convertible laptop can transform from laptop to tablet and back again, with most systems featuring a hinge design that allows for rotating or folding the keyboard portion through 360 degrees, out of the way back behind the screen. This type of 2-in-1 is the best choice if you’re planning on using the keyboard a lot, as you’re guaranteed to always have it with you. (Typing the Great American Novel or even an ordinary business report on the hard, flat surface of a virtual onscreen keyboard is an experience you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy.)

(Credit: Molly Flores)

Because of the motion that a convertible laptop’s hinge enables, you can usually use these systems in a variety of modes. If you want to be able to share the display with everyone in a meeting, you can place the keyboard portion face down on the desk (called “stand” or “display” mode) and have the screen showing up front, kiosk-style. Or, you can prop it up on its leading edges (in the so-called “tent” or “A-frame” mode), which takes up less space than the other modes. For flexibility, it’s difficult to beat this kind of 2-in-1.

In a convertible machine, the battery and motherboard are usually located in the base (as in a traditional laptop), so it’s balanced for use on a lap or a tabletop. The stable bottom lid of the clamshell is also a better typing platform than the sometimes-flimsy panel of a detachable keyboard case. There’s also more room for batteries in a laptop form factor (the bottom half never goes away), which results in improved battery life.

The downsides to this style of laptop include a little extra weight from those batteries, as well as some extra thickness, as the hinge mechanisms are a little more complex than a normal laptop’s. Also, because the lower half is permanently attached, a convertible means that you’re always carrying the extra weight and bulk of the keyboard wherever you go.

Picking the Best Detachable Laptop: Two Devices in One

A detachable tablet 2-in-1 is essentially a slate with a keyboard case or keyboard dock. The dock option is a bit more stable than the keyboard case, but the general idea is the same: You can remove the keyboard portion of the tablet and leave it behind when you desire maximum portability. Microsoft’s various Surface detachables (the Surface Book, Pro, and Go families) are the vanguard models of this kind.

Windows 11-based slate tablets (and their detachable counterparts) tend to weigh less than 2 pounds on their own, and adding the keyboard case or dock can double the system’s total weight. A tablet with a well-designed keyboard dock attached is functionally indistinguishable from a clamshell laptop, and some detachable docks contain extra battery cells that can greatly extend the amount of time you’re able to work off-plug. Simpler keyboard cases usually lack niceties such as extra battery cells or USB ports, and most will be noticeably physically flexible. But if a keyboard is just an occasional need for you, chances are you won’t mind that much.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

The benefit of the keyboard case is that it is thinner and lighter overall than the usual lower half of a laptop or convertible. Detachable-hybrid tablets, however, tend to be top-heavy, because all of the system’s components and batteries, and hence their weight, are necessarily localized in the screen. You’ll want to examine your usage patterns to determine whether holding the PC in your hands and interacting with the touch screen is right for you.

Detaching the tablet and leaving the heft of the keyboard behind is optimal when, say, you’re actively presenting a slideshow on a big screen and using the tablet to draw notes on the slides in real-time. Reattaching the keyboard takes mere seconds, so you will be able to easily (and comfortably) change the slideshow’s content during your lunch hour if you need to change your talk’s focus for your afternoon session.

Tech Specs: What to Look for in a 2-in-1 Laptop

The rest of the specs (screen size, storage space, the processor used, and so on) for convertibles and detachable hybrids generally follow the same lines as more standard laptops and Windows tablets, which means you’ll have to pay more if you want additional speed, fancier features, or a thinner, flashier design.

For example, a system with a fanless Intel Core processor is likely to have excellent battery life and a wafer-thin body. These chips are generally what you will find in detachables. That said, you should expect that these systems will be somewhat less powerful than comparably sized laptops or convertible 2-in-1s, as these low-power mobile processors are designed for cool, quiet operation (which you’ll want for a system you’re using on your lap or holding in your hand) more so than for blazing speed.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

In contrast, a convertible 2-in-1 system is more likely to use a more powerful Intel Core i5 or Core i7 with a cooling fan and perhaps even a discrete graphics processor. It will likely be a thicker device, but you’ll have more power to do more demanding media-creation work or heavy multitasking. As with anything else when computer shopping, it’s all a game of trade-offs and compromises, and we’re here to help you decide which one is for you.

So, Which 2-in-1 Laptop Should I Buy?

Below are the top convertibles and detachable hybrids we’ve tested in recent months. We refresh the list often to include the newest products, so check back frequently. Don’t need the unique transformational capabilities you get from a 2-in-1? Check out our reviews of the best overall laptops, the top business notebooks, and our favorite ultraportables. Also, check out our guide to 15 top tips for saving on your next laptop purchase.