Bigger on the inside: The best 2-in-1 laptops of 2024

Need a laptop that gives you extra screen space or more portability? You can have it all.

some of the best 2-in-1 laptops

by Chris Duffill |
Updated on

There’s no doubt that some of the best laptops really can give full-size desktop machines a run for their money. But there’s a new breed of machine that seems to defy the laws of physics by being bigger on the inside. The moment you lift the lid on the best 2-in-1 laptops you’ll realise their Tardis-like power: Bigger on the inside thanks to two screens for a massive amount of workspace, or features that transform the laptop into a tablet. However, it’s not all about twin displays and touchscreens. As with all laptops, you’ll still need to make sure the rest of the spec is capable of delivering what you need.

While the market for 2-in-1 laptops is still quite niche, there’s still enough choice out there to overwhelm you with options. That’s where our expert recommendations come in. Our approach is to balance performance with price, but with this type of machine, we think that you’ll need to be looking for more power across the board than with typical laptops that cost less than £1000. And that’s simply because a dual-purpose laptop is just that – a creative user and someone using it for general tasks are both likely to put all that dual functionality to the test with media and more, which will put more strain on the graphics card (GPU) and the rest of the spec depending on the applications you’re running.

Best 2-in-1 laptops of 2024 at a glance

• Best overall: Asus Zenbook Duo OLED laptop - View at Scan
• Best budget: Dell Inspiron 14 7430 2-in-1 Laptop - View at Amazon
• Best for designers: ASUS ZenBook Duo UX482EAR 14.0-inch Dualscreen Laptop - View at Amazon
• Best OLED: HP Spectre x360 2 in 1 Laptop PC 14-ea0008sa - View at Amazon
• Best for office work: HP ENVY x360 15-fe0550sa 15.6-inch 2-in-1 Laptop - View at Currys
• Best for entertainment: ASUS ROG Flow X13 GZ301VV 13.4-inch 2-in-1 Gaming Laptop - View at Amazon
• Best Chromebook: ACER Spin 714 14-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook - View at Currys
• Best tablet: Microsoft Surface Pro 9 13 Inch 2-in-1 Tablet PC - View at Amazon
• Best large screen: Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 Laptop (2024) - View at Amazon
• Best lightweight: LENOVO Yoga 7i 14-inch 2 in 1 Laptop - View at Currys

After all, for creative users looking for a laptop for graphic design and so on, what use are two screens for something as resource-hungry as Photoshop if your GPU and CPU groan under the strain? We generally recommend a minimum of an Intel i7 or Ryzen 7-based CPU and a dedicated Nvidia or GPU. The same goes for RAM, as only a minimum of 16GB is going to be capable of running the sort of apps that deserve the dual-screen treatment.

Non-creative laptop users like office workers and home users who need two screens for video conferencing on one and writing documents on the other, or a touchscreen laptop that becomes a portable tablet, will get away with a slightly more average spec, with an Intel i5 or Ryzen 5 CPU and perhaps 8GB of RAM. But, with 2-in-1 laptops the GPU is always going to be the most important, as it’ll need to be able to deliver media and more to both screens at once.

The benefit of spending a little more on a better 2-in-1 laptop spec is future-proofing, leading to a much longer lifespan. That includes the build quality, which needs to be that little bit more durable with a dual-screen model as they’re often still slim, portable and lightweight, yet pack so much more into them. Checking the overall robustness is essential.

Some laptops get reviewed alongside big marketing claims over tough builds and performance, but we always take those with a pinch of salt when we’re finding the best tech. Our run-down of the best 2-in-1 laptops will suit a range of needs and budgets too, so get ready to expand your laptop universe and enter a new dimension of cutting-edge screens and computing power.

Best 2-in-1 laptops of 2024

Please note: All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.

Best overall

Expert rating:
5.0
ASUS

In our review of the Asus Zenbook Duo laptop, we thought it was an exceptional machine that absolutely nailed the concept of a dual-screen model. Not only does this have two vibrant OLED displays, the keyboard can be removed from its magnetic dock allowing you to type comfortably while looking at the two screens. Plus, the integrated stand means you can easily see both at once. They’re both touchscreens as well, so although you can’t fold it a full 360 degrees for a hybrid tablet experience, it’s just another intuitive way of using it. 

Aside from the sturdy yet slim and refined build, there’s a powerful Intel i9 processor inside, along with a generous 32GB of RAM and a massive 2TB SSD for more storage than the average laptop. Our reviewer found that it was adept at everything that was thrown at it, but those dual displays really do lend themselves to creative design work, media and multitasking.  There’s even above-average sound here too, thanks to Dolby Atmos and Harman Kardon speakers. Using those two screens at once will, of course, impact the 6-hour battery life quite significantly, but it’s a small price to pay for such a capable 2-in-1 laptop.

Pros

  • Highly practical and usable dual OLED touchscreen displays with integrated stand
  • Lots of raw computing power and fast storage for more advanced tasks and apps
  • A premium look and feel with solid build quality

Cons

  • Using two screens at once will impact the battery life
  • Performance
    5.0
  • Build
    5.0
  • Battery
    4.0
  • Features
    5.0
  • Value
    4.5
CPUIntel Core Ultra 9 Processor 185H 2500Mhz, 16 cores, 22 Threads
GPUIntel Arc Graphics
RAM32GB
Storage2TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD
DisplayTwo 14.0-inch touchscreens, 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED 16:10 aspect ratio, 400nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, DisplayHDR
Battery life75WHrs (around 6 hours under average use with one screen)
Dimensions31.3 x 21.7 x 1.46 ~ 1.99 cm
Weight1.66kg (with keyboard)

Best budget

Expert rating:
4.0

Getting your hands on any 2-in-1 laptop for well under £900 can be a bit of a challenge, but Dell has used its considerable know-how to put together this Inspiron 14 7430 2-in-1 Laptop. As you’d expect from this brand, the build and design are reassuringly solid, but it’s the fantastic 14-inch touchscreen and Intel Core i7 CPU with a generous 16GB of RAM that blow us away – especially when you consider the price. If you are on a little more of a budget, you could opt for the slightly less powerful  Dell Inspiron 14 7430 2-in-1 Laptop which has half as much RAM and a Core i5 CPU. 

But, of course, it’s the 2-in-1 functionality that takes this laptop to another level, as it’ll fold 360 degrees for full touchscreen tablet mode, and stand or tent modes in between. We also really appreciate a good backlit keyboard for those times when you need to carry on working in low light, and the fingerprint reader for enhanced security. Dell’s ComfortView screen tech is another welcome feature for anyone burning the midnight oil, with its low blue light feature. Despite a 7-hour battery life (at best), we think this laptop is an excellent budget option. It will suit anyone who needs to do general computing tasks and office work while also providing enough power for light gaming and streaming video.

Pros

  • The Intel i7 processor is a surprisingly powerful option for the price
  • 2-in-1 design allows it to be fully folded into a tablet
  • Bright 14-inch touchscreen display is good for work or leisure use

Cons

  • Limited battery life under heavy use
  • Performance
    4.0
  • Build
    4.0
  • Battery
    3.5
  • Features
    4.0
  • Value
    5.0
CPU13th Generation Intel Core i7-1355U
GPUIntel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (96EU)
RAM16GB
Storage512GB SSD
Display14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200), Touchscreen
Battery lifeApproximately 7 hours
Dimensions313.9 x 226.6 x 18.5 mm
Weight1.55kg

Best for designers

Expert rating:
4.5

We love the innovative design of the ASUS Zenbook Duo UX482EAR laptop. Unlike the larger (and more expensive) full-size dual-screen OLED version, this one stands out for its exceptional but understated  2-in-1 functionality. The slim secondary display just above the keyboard is perfect for those who love tweaking and adjusting photos or doing graphic design. It’s just the right size for docking those tools and colour palette panels while keeping them within easy reach. This dual touchscreen design allows for a lot of usability too, depending on the work you’re doing. We do, though, think that, despite the seven-degree tilt, that horizontal smaller screen might take some getting used to. 

The ASUS Zenbook Duo's design is equally impressive, boasting a robust yet lightweight chassis with a premium feel. It's not just about looks, though. The Zenbook Duo's Intel i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM ensure that multitasking is smoother and more seamless than ever.  The inclusion of the ASUS Pen adds another layer of depth to in-depth image editing. This isn’t just a well-designed piece of laptop tech – it's designed to deliver real benefits to creatives, including great colour accuracy, making it our top choice for design and media professionals.

Pros

  • The extra lower screen boosts productivity and multitasking, especially for creatives
  • A great combination of RAM with a high-performance CPU for demanding tasks
  • Long battery life of up to 17 hours

Cons

  • The smaller mostly horizontal screen may take some getting used to
  • Performance
    4.5
  • Build
    4.5
  • Battery
    5.0
  • Features
    4.0
  • Value
    4.5
CPUIntel Core i7-1195G7 (3.0 GHz, up to 4.8 GHz, 4 cores)
GPUIntel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM16GB LPDDR4X
Storage1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD
Display14.0-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080), 100% sRGB, PANTONE Validated, Touchscreen
Battery lifeUp to 17 hours
Dimensions324 x 222 x 16.9 – 17.3 mm
Weight1.62 kg

Best for OLED

Expert rating:
4.0

There’s no doubt that OLED screens look fantastic with black and contrast levels that are second to none. That’s why we love this 2-in-1 laptop from HP. It’s also something of a rarity as the 13.5-inch display makes this one of the best most compact and tablet-like OLED laptops here. And while that smaller size makes this a super-portable machine, it doesn’t skimp on power. Inside there’s an Intel Core i7 processor running Windows 11. That’s well above average for a tablet laptop and means you can run pretty much anything you want to on it. 16GB of RAM is well-suited for this spec, too.

We would have liked to have seen a 1TB SSD inside, but we get 512GB instead – not a showstopper by any means as it should be more than enough for the average user. Finally, it’s that gorgeous OLED display that makes this really special. Fold this laptop into tablet mode, or tent mode for a quick and easy angled display, and use the included pen to create or write directly onto the screen. One brilliant extra is the Adaptive Colour feature that compensates for the light in your environment, ensuring it always looks its best. A stunning and powerful 2-in-1.

Pros

  • The OLED touchscreen display is a thing of beauty
  • Sleek, lightweight design despite some seriously good hardware inside
  • Includes stylus for creative projects and handwriting

Cons

  • Creative users may want to invest in an external SSD for more storage
  • Performance
    4.5
  • Build
    4.5
  • Battery
    3.5
  • Features
    4.0
  • Value
    4.5
CPUIntel Core i7-1165G7
GPUIntel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM16GB
Storage512GB SSD
Display13.5-inch 3K2K (3000 x 2000) OLED touchscreen
Battery lifeApproximately 7 hours
Dimensions298 x 220 x 16.9 mm
Weight1.34kg

Best for office work

Expert rating:
4.0

Sometimes lugging around a larger, heavier laptop for your work meetings is the last thing you need when you need to stay mobile. And that’s just as true if you’re working from home – when you want to escape your desk, you could just pick up this HP ENVY 2-in-1 laptop. The standout feature for us is the 15.6-inch display – that’s plenty of room for more detailed work like spreadsheets. The CPU isn’t as fast as some others here, but the Intel Core i5 is more than up to the task when it comes to office work and general computing.

The storage is a 512GB SSD, which should be more than enough for a large collection of office applications and your important projects and files. The 8GB of RAM is at the lower end but is perfect for a general-purpose office machine. Also, we’re impressed with the 15-hour battery life here – giving you plenty of flexibility when out and about. But, of course, the true star is the laptop’s ability to fold into a touchscreen tablet when you need to. At 1.78kg it’s also light enough to carry for longer periods. A great, capable 2-in-1 laptop.

Pros

  • The dual modes allow all office workers ultimate flexibility when on the move
  • Long battery life of 15 hours will last you the working day and more
  • A decent amount of SSD storage

Cons

  • You'll find more RAM in other models
  • Performance
    4.0
  • Build
    4.0
  • Battery
    4.5
  • Features
    4.0
  • Value
    4.0
CPUIntel Core i5-1240P
GPUIntel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM8 GB DDR4
Storage512GB SSD
Display15.6-inch Full HD, touchscreen
Battery lifeUp to 15 hours
Dimensions357 x 230 x 19.6 mm
Weight1.79kg

Best for entertainment

Expert rating:
4.5

ASUS Republic Of Gamers (ROG) gear is at the top of many gamer’s wishlists. Not only does this laptop look the part, but it's built to last and houses some of the most powerful hardware for sheer performance that we’ve seen. The CPU is a blisteringly fast Intel i9 with 14 cores. Twinned with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card and the 13.5-inch 165Hz IPS screen, this laptop will eat games and media for breakfast. 1TB of SSD storage is excellent, but 16GB of RAM is really the only surprising nitpick here. For the money, we think it could have had 32GB, but that doesn’t detract from what is already a star performer.

But what makes it a 2-in-1 laptop? Well, the keyboard can be removed from the magnetic dock and the whole laptop becomes a super-powerful touchscreen tablet with a built-in kickstand. Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support and an ASUS Smart Amp deliver above-standard audio too. For anyone who wants to take top-tier gaming with them and have the flexibility to use it in tablet form for tasks, browsing or watching movies in comfort, this is it.

Pros

  • The 165Hz touchscreen display provides super-slick gaming and movies
  • A seriously powerful GPU to rival some desktops
  • Lightweight and portable design for such a powerful rig

Cons

  • We wish it had 32GB of RAM, ideally
  • Performance
    5.0
  • Build
    4.5
  • Battery
    4.0
  • Features
    4.5
  • Value
    4.5
CPUIntel Core i9-13900H
GPUNVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
RAM16GB LPDDR5
Storage1TB PCIe SSD
Display13.4-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600), 165Hz, 500 nits, touchscreen
Battery lifeApproximately 10 hours
Dimensions299 x 212 x 16.7 mm
Weight1.3kg

Best Chromebook

Expert rating:
3.5

When is a laptop not a laptop? Well, when it’s designed for lighter computing tasks and running ChromeOS. Although it certainly qualifies as a lightweight machine at only 1.37kg, it’s not our pick for the best lightweight 2-in-1 simply because it runs on ChromeOS, which may not appeal to those using Windows – especially when connecting to office networks. But, if you’re in the market for an affordable 2-in-1 that uses Google's super-lightweight operating system, this is a fantastic option. Yes, you’ll find cheaper Chromebooks, but not this powerful. Behind that 14-inch display lies an Intel Core i5 and a 512GB SSD for storage, putting this leagues ahead of your typical Chromebook.

8GB of RAM is also good for a machine like this, and the overall spec adds up to a laptop/tablet that is ideal for lighter everyday browsing, documents, emails, YouTube and so on.  The battery life is a decent ten hours too, and the full-HD touchscreen comes with a stylus for fingerprint-free use. It’s a powerful little Chromebook with more to offer than you’d expect.

Pros

  • The high-resolution IPS touchscreen is a good, practical size
  • The Intel Core i5 CPU is a welcome upgrade over many Chromebooks
  • Long battery life of up to 10 hours means this is highly portable

Cons

  • Windows users may not take to ChromeOS
  • Performance
    3.5
  • Build
    4.5
  • Battery
    4.5
  • Features
    3.5
  • Value
    5.0
CPUIntel Core i5-1235U
GPUIntegrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM8 GB LPDDR4X
Storage512 GB SSD
Display14-inch Full HD (1920 x 1200) IPS touchscreen
Battery lifeUp to 10 hours
Dimensions311.2 x 223.8 x 16.9 mm
Weight1.42kg

Best tablet

Expert rating:
4.5
Microsoft

If there’s one thing that our pick of the best 2-in-1 laptops isn’t short of it’s computers that look like tablets. But, this Surface Pro 9 from Microsoft is described as a ‘tablet PC’ which, to us, really means that it’s a laptop that’s been designed from the ground up to be used as a tablet first and a laptop second. And there’s been no holding back on the internals, either. The Surface Pro 9 is going to blow many ordinary laptops out of the water thanks to its serious specs – starting with the Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM. The tablet section also has a stand and a magnetically docked keyboard for the ultimate in flexibility, removing the need for folding hinges as seen in others here.

Although this model can be found with a preferable 512GB of SSD storage, it’s a little hard to find. This one only has a 256GB version, which we think is fine for a tablet but underwhelming for something that has laptop performance running Windows 11. That said, it does have USB-C which means you can connect other storage devices if you need to. It also comes with a pen stylus – the Surface Slim Pen 2 which provides tactile feedback for sketching and more. We love the 15.5-hour battery life too, making this a super-portable tablet with laptop-level power when you need it.

Pros

  • The overall spec is powerful thanks to the Intel Core i7 CPU and 1TB of SSD storage
  • Lightweight, flexible and highly portable design
  • The long battery life of 15.5 hours exceeds that of most normal laptops

Cons

  • Limited storage capacity of 256GB SSD - although you could add more via USB-C drives
  • Performance
    4.5
  • Build
    5.0
  • Battery
    4.5
  • Features
    4.5
  • Value
    4.5
CPUIntel Core i7
GPUIntegrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM16GB
Storage1TB PCIe SSD256GB SSD
Display13-inch PixelSense Flow Display
Battery lifeUp to 15.5 hours
Dimensions287 x 208 x 9.3 mm
Weight0.88 kg

Best large screen

Expert rating:
4.5
Samsung

For us, what makes the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro better than much of the competition is its 16-inch screen. Yes, it converts between laptop and tablet formats thanks to the 360-degree hinge, but however you use it, it’s the combination of the latest AI-powered Intel Core Ultra processor and that beautiful AMOLED touchscreen that does it for us. It’s a 120Hz screen running 3K resolution for smooth and detailed visuals. Elsewhere you’ll find a generous 512GB SSD for storing plenty of apps and files (which we wish was a 1TB drive, given the price tag – although there is a MicroSD slot to let you add more if you need it) and a brilliant 16GB of RAM. Combined, those make for a really powerful machine – possibly one of the most capable here.

Samsung also includes its S Pen which gives a lot of accuracy and finesse when using the Book4 as an art tablet. We’re also happy to see the kind of range of port connectivity that you’d expect on a regular laptop, including Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, and a HDMI output for attaching to a secondary display. It’s also excellent in the sound department, with Dolby Atmos, plus the 21-hour battery life is one of the best out there. A large and vibrant screen on a very portable 2-in-1.

Pros

  • The 16-inch high-resolution 3K AMOLED display has beautiful detail and vibrancy
  • Long battery life of up to 21 hours - one of the longest we've seen
  • An incredibly solid and classy-looking build from Samsung

Cons

  • We wish it had 1TB of storage space considering the rest of the spec
  • Performance
    4.5
  • Build
    5.0
  • Battery
    5.0
  • Features
    4.5
  • Value
    4.0
CPUIntel Core Ultra 7 155H
GPUIntel Arc Graphics (8 cores)
RAM16GB LPDDR5x
Storage512GB SSD
Display16.0-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) AMOLED
Battery lifeUp to 21 hours
Dimensions355.4 x 228.8 x 12.9 mm
Weight1.66kg

Best lightweight

Expert rating:
4.0

If you want all the agility of a tablet fused into a truly flexible lightweight laptop, the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga is the one for you. What really takes this to the next level is the specification – quite how Lenovo has jammed an Intel Core i7 CPU, touchscreen, 16GB of RAM, fingerprint reader and more into this super-thin chassis is impressive. At just 1.43kg and under 1.6cm thick, we think it really does qualify as a fully capable laptop in something that is more tablet-like in terms of portability.

But, what makes the Yoga so aptly named is its amazing flexibility. It can quickly and easily transform from a standard laptop form into a tablet and also a tent format for when you need to sit back and watch. There’s even a slot with an included pen which works with the screen for handwriting, so we think this really is the perfect lightweight laptop with a multitude of uses. We do wish, though, that the SSD had more storage capacity as it’s a standard 256GB. But, given that this laptop is probably best used for everything other than media production, you’re not likely to fill it up any time soon. Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad 7i Yoga is a slimline, super-light computing tool for every occasion.

Pros

  • A highly flexible hybrid laptop-tablet design
  • A long battery life of up to 12 hours is good compared to many
  • Lightweight and portable at 1.4kg – that's a lot of power for a small package

Cons

  • We wish it had more storage space
  • Performance
    3.5
  • Build
    4.5
  • Battery
    4.5
  • Features
    4.5
  • Value
    4.0
CPUIntel Core i5-1135G7
GPUIntel UHD Graphics
RAM8GB
Storage256GB SSD
Display14-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS Touchscreen
Battery lifeUp to 12 hours
Dimensions15.68 x 320.4 x 214.6 mm (H x W x D)
Weight1.43kg

How to choose the best 2-in-1 laptop for you

Although it’s always a good idea with any computer to get the best spec you can afford, it’s a little bit more crucial to look after the basics with a 2-in-1 model.

Before you spend anything, you’ll need to consider what you’ll need to achieve with your dual-screen laptop. Yes, everyone will always need to do general everyday computing tasks like documents, emails and web surfing; but, after that, you’ll need to look at specific hardware to get the right performance for you. Here are some examples:

Designers and creatives

For us, the best option for any creative is a dual-screen laptop. The benefits of two screens is clear, but under the hood, you’ll also need a modern graphics card like an Intel Iris Xe or better so that any software you’re running can make full use of those two screens. CPU and RAM are also top considerations for similar reasons, as not having enough of either could bottleneck your system’s performance. When choosing a laptop for photo editing and other intensive work, we recommend at least an Intel i7 or Ryzen 7 with a minimum of 16GB of RAM

Office workers

Depending on the nature of your work, you may need to fold up your laptop and turn it into a tablet to take your projects around the workplace with you. Some 2-in-1 laptops that transform into tablets have detachable keyboards, others have keyboards that fold back a full 360 degrees. Unless you’re in a creative role, we recommend looking after the CPU, RAM and storage as top priorities. An i5 or Ryzen 5 should be enough for normal office applications, and 16GB of RAM will ensure you can run a range of applications at once if you’re a light multitasker. Having enough storage is essential with any tablet/laptop, especially if you go for the more compact type as they often come with minimal SSD drives. If you have a lot of work projects you’ll need to take them all with you without the hassle of plugging drives into USB ports, so we recommend 500GB at an absolute minimum; with 1TB normally being enough for office workers or those using a laptop for working from home.

Media and entertainment

Much the same as the creatives category above, those who primarily use their laptop for media and entertainment want things to run smoothly – especially if they run games at the same time as other media apps. So, CPU, GPU and RAM should be of a similarly high spec – particularly the GPU. An Nvidia RTX 4060 is a great option that will suit gamers very well, and the CPU should really be something like an i7 or Ryzen 7 or greater. But, we think that the 2-in-1 laptop of choice for entertainment will be the dual-screen variety with advanced speaker systems for better sound. And if you want or need more audio power, investing in one of the best laptop speakers can take things to the next level. Having a movie open on one screen and being able to search IMDB or message friends on the other is just one fantastic perk here for entertainment fans.

Power users and multitaskers

Those who don’t need seriously powerful graphics for creative or media use, but who do need to run several professional resource-hungry applications all at once, will need to look after their core spec. We think that this category of user could benefit from a laptop-tablet model if they’re on the move as they work. But, equally, a dual-screen laptop could be best depending on the kind of tasks they’re doing. Either way, if you’re using particularly heavy-duty pro software that needs to perform complex processes, your CPU should really be an i9 or Ryzen 9. You’ll also need 16GB of RAM at a minimum – more if your specific software requires it.

Asus Zenbook Duo OLED laptop
A 2-IN-1 LAPTOP LIKE THIS ONE FROM ASUS CAN REVOLUTIONISE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY ©Chris Duffill/What's The Best

Top tip: Look after your new laptop

If 2-in-1 laptops weren’t so high-tech they might be twice as thick and possibly tank-like in terms of robustness. But, we all want slimmer, lighter tech – so all of the major laptop brands have poured money into fitting compact components into chassis not that much larger than the average laptop. And that means two things: lightweight portability and, unfortunately, breakability.

That’s why our picks of the best are from excellent brands known for their sturdy and reliable builds. So, protect that new laptop with a great laptop backpack or protective case – you’ll thank us later. Also, invest just a few pounds in a laptop cleaning kit – especially important if you have a touchscreen model. After all, a dual-screen machine or OLED touchscreen is a thing of beauty, so why not keep those fingerprints and dust at bay with a little bit of essential laptop maintenance?

FAQs

What is a 2-in-1 laptop?

A 2-in-1 laptop is any laptop with more than one functional form. In other words, its dual function is more than just what it can do with software. For instance, a laptop with two screens like the Asus Zenbook Duo OLED laptop above adds a full-size second display, removing the need for a separate monitor. And, a laptop that folds into a touchscreen tablet gives more portability and usability than a regular laptop, replacing the need to buy both separately.

Is it a good idea to buy a 2-in-1 laptop?

This all comes down to your needs. If you often find yourself lugging two or more devices around – like a tablet and a laptop, or a laptop and a separate monitor – you could benefit from a 2-in-1 model instead. Portability aside, a 2-in-1 laptop can actually improve productivity, as your workflow is enhanced by those features. Having two screens for multitasking is a clear win, as is being able to take your laptop with you in tablet format if you need to be more mobile.

Of course, if you think that having two separate devices is a benefit in itself (and you have the cash) there’s no reason why you can’t go for a great laptop deal and save enough money to buy a tablet to go with it.

Is it better to have a laptop or a tablet?

Although this is a great question, we think that the whole point of a 2-in-1 laptop removes the need to choose between the two. A typical Windows laptop is best when you need to use a decent keyboard and want more computing power, as those are often missing from a typical tablet. A touchscreen tablet is best for sheer portability and ease of use, but only the most expensive ones can compete with the average laptop in terms of power. A laptop also has more ports and expandability if you want more storage space for instance. So, all that said, if you’re torn between buying a laptop or a tablet, why not get both? That’s the beauty of a 2-in-1 laptop.

Chris Duffillis a Senior Tech Writer and Reviewer for What's The Best. His background includes writing, editorial, marketing, design, video production and photography.

He specialises in home entertainment and audiovisual tech, including speakers, amplifiers, turntables, streaming media players, and TVs. He is also one of our resident experts in computing (PCs, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches), DSLR photography and all kinds of digital cameras. He also writes about retro gaming, game consoles and various electronic gadgets. If it plugs in, lights up or makes a noise, he’ll write about it.

Subscribe to the What’s The BestNewsletterto keep up to date with more of the latest reviews and recommendations from the rest of the What’s The Best team.

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us