We spent 100+ hours finding the best 2-in-1 laptops in 2026 — here are our top picks
Want a great laptop that transforms into a tablet and more? These are the best 2-in-1 laptops we recommend
You're wondering what the best 2-in-1 laptop is, and that means you're interested in a versatile machine that doubles as a tablet, and these days, even a dual-screen notebook! Smart choice, as these laptops are more capable than ever today.
From Windows tablets with detachable keyboards to laptops with complete 360-degree flexibility boasting OLED touchscreens, my team of laptop experts and I have gone hands-on and tested the latest 2-in-1s from all the major players. And yes, even machines with a whole extra display — which are excitingly becoming mainstream.
In fact, that's why our top choice right now is the Asus Zenbook Duo (2026), sending these machines to new heights by really doubling down on the "two" in 2-in-1 thanks to its amazing dual-screen design. But there are plenty of different kinds of 2-in-1s to suit different needs. So, if you're looking to add a whole new dimension to your next laptop, our list of the best 2-in-1 laptops will point you in the right direction.

Darragh here, Buying Guide Editor at Tom's Guide, and I'm always amazed by how well a simple laptop can transform into a versatile tablet or a full-blown dual-screen machine these days. After years of testing the latest laptops, it's clear that 2-in-1 laptops are more mainstream than ever, and this guide will help you pick the machine that suits your needs
Amazon Prime Day is a fantastic time to grab discounts on many 2-in-1 laptops, so if you're looking to save on your next machine, we here at Tom's Guide will show you the deals worth shopping for (and just the 2-in-1s to pick up). Jump on down to how to find the best deals to find the biggest savings.
The best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy right now
Why you can trust Tom's Guide
The best 2-in-1 laptop overall
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Who is this for?
The Zenbook Duo is for those who love the multi-monitor setup they have at home and want something similar on the go. This is an eye-catching system that thinks outside the box for what a 2-in-1 laptop really is.
Why is it the best 2-in-1 laptop overall?
Now in the third generation of this new dual-screen construction, Asus has focused on the fundamentals and delivered a tasty redesign of the system that adds a new layer of premium feeling to it, while bringing those dual 3K OLED touch displays far closer together, too. On top of that, the jump to Intel Panther Lake has breathed new life into this machine for both performance and power efficiency.
What do we like?
👍 Intel Core Ultra Series 3 is a breakthrough: One of my ongoing gripes with past Zenbook Duos has always been the silicon not quite matching up to the task of running two high-res panels smoothly under pressure. Intel Core Ultra X9 388H is a huge step forward with a mighty integrated GPU and souped-up CPU cores that eat any task in its way for lunch without missing a step.
👍 Impressive battery life: Not only does that Core Ultra chip perform much better, but it’s also super power efficient — giving us an extra two hours of stamina over last year’s Zenbook Duo on one charge (11:13 in dual-screen mode).
👍 Thoughtful redesign: That design overhaul isn’t just an aesthetic update. With a hinge that folds in on itself for a near-seamless dual-screen experience, a stronger hinge, better keyboard deck and improved speakers, you’re onto a winner here that really shows off those updated OLED panels.
What don’t we like?
👎 Expensive starting at $2,099: That is a sizable price increase from last year’s Duo, and that makes for a pretty expensive all-around system. It does absolutely earn that price tag in what it can do, which doesn’t take away from the sheer number.
👎 Underwhelming port array: You don't get a ton of ports on this machine, as you're limited to a pair of Thunderbolt ports, a USB-A port, an HDMI out and a headphone jack. That's enough to get by, but it would have been nice to see useful additions like an SD card reader and additional USB-A or USB-C ports.
Bottom line
The 2026 Asus Zenbook Duo is a real renaissance moment for the system — a huge design overhaul, big display upgrades and a significant chip bump on the inside make this a truly generational leap. It’s dual-screen multitasking in any orientation that works best for you, with great ergonomics, zippy speeds and mighty power efficiency.
- Read our full Asus Zenbook Duo (2026) review
The best value 2-in-1 laptop
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Who is this for?
The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 Gen 10 is for anyone who wants a surprisingly premium convertible without the premium price tag, offering a sturdy full-aluminum chassis and a $439 price tag that’s genuinely affordable for students, professionals or anyone who just wants a good deal. Even if you’re used to seeing Chromebooks as basic or plasticky, that's not the case with this premium-styled machine.
Why is it the best value 2-in-1 laptop?
As a versatile machine, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 Gen 10 switches smoothly between laptop, tablet and tent modes, making it flexible enough for presentations, note-taking or streaming on the go. Even at its sub-$500 cost, there's a sturdy convertible hinge and an all-aluminum chassis that make it feel several price brackets higher than it is. Throw in its everyday performance and amazing keyboard, and there's a lot to love here.
What do we like?
👍 Value for money: At $439, the Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 delivers a price-to-performance ratio that’s hard to beat, giving you a premium feel and practical features at a bargain (and even better with an inevitable discount).
👍 Keyboard is on point: With a premium, all-aluminum chassis and a top-tier keyboard, this Lenovo 2-in-1 feels durable and enjoyable to use for hours on end.
👍 Impressive mid-range performance: For web browsing, multitasking and daily office work, you may be surprised by the Intel Core 3 chip's impressive performance (for that price, no less). It feels built for actual work, not just classroom basics.
What don’t we like?
👎 Battery stops short: Battery life is just fine for most value buyers, clocking in at 8 hours and 32 minutes on our web surfing test. That’s enough for a full day of classes or meetings, but it falls behind the competition.
👎 That's one dim display: While the Gen 10's IPS panel does a decent job for basic tasks, its brightness and color coverage are on the dim and flat side of visuals.
Bottom line
If you want a 2-in-1 that truly delivers on value — solid build, flexible modes and genuine usability for under $450 — the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 Gen 10 is an easy recommendation. As our reviewer puts it, there’s plenty to appreciate here even if you’re not usually a Chromebook fan, making this a win for anyone who wants to get the most practical 2-in-1 experience for their money.
- Read our full Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 Gen 10 review
The best premium 2-in-1 laptop
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Who is this for?
The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is for anyone after a premium, gorgeous-looking 2-in-1 laptop with an amazingly clear OLED touchscreen panel and a fantastic keyboard. Whether it's for work or even casual play (and streaming shows with that display), this laptop nails the landing.
Why is it the best premium 2-in-1 laptop?
When it comes to form and function, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is the cream of the crop. Its 14-inch 2.8k OLED touchscreen with a 120Hz offers up superb visuals, and the 360-degree hinge means you can use this sleek laptop the way you want. Plus, the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V CPU is powerful enough to breeze through multitasking and even play the latest PC games (at low settings).
What do we like?
👍 Visual stunner: That CNC-milled aluminum body with chromed, rounded edges has a real fashionably utilitarian aesthetic to it. Plus, when you open it up, that uber-vivid, bright OLED panel is a true marvel to work on.
👍 Strong performance: The Intel Core Ultra 9 258V makes some solid gains in performance, thanks to some turbocharged single and multi-threaded performance across stuff like 20+ Chrome tabs. But the real winner here is keeping it all power efficient with a battery life lasting over 12 hours in our testing.
👍 Ergonomics matter: In a lot of 2-in-1 laptops, the keyboard gets compromised. Lenovo's board here is amongst the best I’ve typed on, with a nice tactile feel to every key press and mouse click. Plus, the latency-free multi-touch makes zipping across Windows a breeze on that 360-degree hinge.
What don’t we like?
👎 Prepare to pay: With the Yoga 9i Aura Edition, you can tell Lenovo's design team threw everything and the kitchen sink at it in terms of premium-ness and attention to detail. That comes with a higher price tag than a lot of 2-in-1 competition.
Bottom line
The Lenovo Yoga 9i Aura Edition is a straight shot at the laptop crowd who's looking for the sweet spot between form and function — an upmarket laptop that nails productivity and casual play. That comes with a slightly hefty price tag, but for what you get, you will not be disappointed. It's a premium 2-in-1 through and through, and it'll stick with you for years to come.
- Read our full Lenovo Yoga 9i Aura Edition review
The best 2-in-1 laptop for creators
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Who is this for?
As you might expect from being associated with GoPro (the world-famous action camera brand), the Asus ProArt GoPro Edition (PX13) is an incredibly impressive 2-in-1 that's fit for creatives in need of all the performance they can get for 4K video edits, advanced animation and zippy RAW Photoshop edits — all while on the move.
Why is it the best 2-in-1 for creators?
Video editors, 3D artists and all kinds of creatives need the right kind of power through 4K edits and animation, and the ProArt GoPro Edition (PX13) delivers this in spades despite its premium, compact design. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip with its integrated Radeon 8060S graphics is outstanding for portability, blazing through apps like Photoshop, Premiere Pro and more. Plus, its gorgeous OLED panel and creator-centric ergonomics all cater to the finer details creatives want.
What do we like?
👍 Mesmerizing OLED touchscreen: Yes, it may only be 60Hz, but that doesn’t stop this 3K OLED touchscreen from being an absolute stunner. It’s color-calibrated to ensure a perfect representation of your creative work, and with a 113.1% sRGB and 88.8% DCI-P3 color gamut, the vividness is truly mesmerizing.
👍 Power-packed for creativity: Fitting an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 CPU with its Radeon 8060S integrated graphics into this machine was a smart move on Asus' part. Expect to handle 4K video edits in Premiere Pro with After Effects graphics and more with ease, and that's also thanks to its bonkers 128GB of DDR5X RAM.
👍 Beautiful OLED: Boasting a 13-inch 3K OLED touchscreen, this PX13 offers up colors that pop, deep blacks and plenty of accuracy — exactly what creators need. Just a shame it has a 60Hz refresh rate, and it's overall brightness is a tad dim (usual with OLED displays).
What don’t we like?
👎 Only microSD: Despite being creator-focused, the ProArt GoPro Edition (PX13) has no full-sized SD card slot, just a microSD. That makes sense, considering many GoPro cameras use this, but other cameras (which pro creatives have) rely on a regular SD card slot for transferring files.
👎 Stay clear of its AI app: While this 2-in-1 comes with access to Asus' AI-focused apps like StoryCube and MuseTree, these are nothing to write home about. They can be unreliable and uninspiring, and are more like a gimmicky playroom to mess around with AI content ideas.
Bottom line
Just like its previous model, but this time with top-notch performance, the Asus ProArt GoPro Edition (PX13) is, again, the perfect companion for creative pros. With its speedy performance, ultra-portable form factor and incredible OLED touch display bursting with depth and colors, this 2-in-1 is a must for creators (if they have the funds).
- Read our full Asus ProArt GoPro Editon (PX13) review
The best 2-in-1 laptop for gaming
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Who is this for?
This is the 2-in-1 for gamers. I know many of you will balk at the fact that this thing has an integrated GPU, but this is a breakthrough in raw performance — offering frame rates equivalent to what you may see in an RTX 4070 gaming laptop in something the size of a tablet. And for the ultimate version of this (and for Death Stranding fans), the gorgeous Asus ROG Flow Z13 Kojima Edition will suit you.
Why is it the best 2-in-1 for gamers?
The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 and AI Max+ 395 chips you can get in the compact 2-in-1 unlock something special here — this is the missing link between a Steam Deck and a massive gaming laptop. Giving you the best of both worlds in something seriously versatile, to however you want to play.
What do we like?
👍 Insane performance: The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 (or AI Max+ 395) APU bridges the gap between integrated and dedicated graphics in a way I’ve never seen before. On the train down to London, I was simply stunned by the fact that I could play Cyberpunk 2077 on high graphics settings at well over 90 frames per second (FPS). Of course, this performance extends to crushing even advanced rendering or AI tasks with the greatest of ease, too.
👍 Seriously impressive battery life: Battery life is always the bane of gaming laptops. In our testing, it’s rare that we see a machine get over an hour. But to get two hours and 15 minutes on one charge in our gaming battery life test is, simply, bonkers.
👍 Lovely display and ergonomics: That 13-inch 2.5K Mini-LED display is bright, smooth with a 180Hz refresh rate and full of color to make your games look their best. Plus, the keyboard cover on here has a nice tactile typing experience as well!
What don’t we like?
👎 Not many ports: PC gamers will need plenty of ports for any accessories and peripherals, but with just two USB-C sockets and no Type-A to be seen, you’re going to be pretty limited with what you can connect this to.
👎 Ray Tracing is AMD’s enemy: Look, I’ve always through Ray Tracing is a bit of a gimmick when it comes to graphics. But it is very much a way of the gaming world now, and much like a lot of AMD’s GPU tech, the Flow Z13 can struggle with it. I recommend keeping this option turned off in your titles.
Bottom line
I sat with my mind blown about the Asus ROG Flow Z13 — seeing what I believe to be the future of gaming laptops. A far better balance between raw performance to squeeze out every last frame, and better battery life, given it’s coming from an integrated chip. It’s the best of both worlds and easily one of the best 2-in-1s you can buy right now.
- Read our full Asus ROG Flow Z13 review
The best OLED 2-in-1 laptop
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Who is this for?
The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Pro 360 is a 2-in-1 with a lovely 16-inch AMOLED touchscreen that comes with a stylus, making it a great choice for anyone who wants a Windows 11 laptop that can fold over for use as a tablet without having to worry about springing for accessories. In addition to its power and elegance, it's fairly light and easy to carry, too, with good battery life, making it a nice choice for students and professionals alike. Yes, the impressive Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Pro has arrived, and with a touchscreen, but without a 360 model, it's not nearly as versatile to use as a true 2-in-1 laptop.
Why is it the best OLED 2-in-1?
If you prize OLED quality in your portable PCs, this is the 2-in-1 for you because it's the cheapest, most effective way to get one with a lovely AMOLED touchscreen at a good price. If anything, the 16-inch (2880 x 1800) AMOLED touchscreen will be the first thing to grab your attention. When we ran it through our testing lab, our display testing revealed that the screen is nearly as bright and color-accurate as a Dell XPS 16 or MacBook Pro, yet the Galaxy Book 4 Pro 360 generally costs less and offers more for your money (a packed-in stylus and AMOLED touchscreen) than these premium laptops.
What do we like?
👍 Lovely AMOLED touchscreen: The 16-inch (2880 x 1800) 120Hz AMOLED touchscreen on the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Pro 360 is its best feature, as it ensures everything you do on it (from videos to web browsing to gaming) looks great.
👍Great performance and battery life: The Intel Core Ultra chips inside these laptops give them good performance and battery life, which has been a problem for Galaxy Books for some time. But the Galaxy Book 4 Pro 360 easily outpaced its predecessors, and its 12-hour battery life will get you through a workday.
👍Thin and light design is easy to carry: At under 4 pounds and 0.5 inches thick, this 2-in-1 is a bit heavier than the Surface Pro 11, but not by much. If you need a laptop to carry to work or school all day, this is a great choice that's easy on the back.
What don’t we like?
👎 Frustratingly short power cable: Samsung sells the Book 4 Pro 360 with a power cable that's roughly 6 feet long, and it can only plug into the USB-C port on the left side of the laptop. So if you're in a meeting room or coffee shop and there's not a power outlet within a few feet, you're going to be annoyed.
👎 Poor gaming performance: This laptop can't be outfitted with a GPU, and unlike the Z13, the integrated graphics chipset onboard just can't run games well at all. You can enjoy some oldies and more basic games on this machine, but anything demanding will grind it to a halt.
Bottom line
The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Pro 360 is the best 2-in-1 for someone who wants a full laptop (not a tablet) and prizes display quality and comfort over gaming performance. Admittedly, the performance and battery life of the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Pro 360 were a little more impressive before Snapdragon-powered 2-in-1s hit the scene, but it's still a great all-around laptop for working, browsing the web and watching movies. And on that gorgeous 16-inch AMOLED touchscreen, everything looks great, plus it's quick to respond to input from your fingers or the packed-in Samsung stylus. For a step up in performance, you could also check out the Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360.
- Read our full Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 review
Also tested
If you can't find what you're looking for in the list above, we've got even more laptops we've tested that are worth your attention. They may have a few setbacks, but these 2-in-1 laptops may be exactly what you're looking for.
(★★★★☆)
The HP OmniBook X Flip 14 makes for a great 2-in-1 machine for traveling workers, students and anyone after a capable premium laptop for less. Yes, there's a lot of bloatware here, and the gapless keyboard may not suit your fancy, but there's plenty of value with the performance and premium design it has on show. While it's normally at around $999, we've spotted this for well under (around $599), so you're better off grabbing this during a sale.
Read our full HP OmniBook X Flip 14 review
(★★★★☆)
MSI is known for its lightweight, ultraportable laptops, and the Prestige 14 Flip AI+ delivers just that, but in a svelte 2-in-1 design. It's got great performance, outstanding battery life of over 20 hours and enough power for gaming with its Intel Panther Lake chip. But we noticed that it's awkward to use in tablet mode, and its OLED panel is pretty dim. So, in this case, don't expect the best 2-in-1 experience.
Read our full MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ review
(★★★★☆)
With the might of a Snapdragon X Elite processor and a bright OLED display, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is the ultraportable 2-in-1 laptop that gets (nearly) everything right. For it to be a 2-in-1, though, it needs its pricey Surface Flex Pro keyboard, and that bumps up the price by quite a bit. And that's not mentioning the Slim Pen stylus. Still, for a compact laptop that's lightweight and versatile, the Surface Pro 11 soars.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Pro 11 review
(★★★★☆½)
We're big fans of the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED, because it gives you an elegant, easy-to-carry 2-in-1 with a lovely 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen. These days, though, it's tricky to find, meaning it's on its way out. But Asus has more recent 2-in-1 laptops in its pipeline that are well worth checking out.
Read our full Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED review
(★★★★☆½)
Microsoft's Surface Laptop Studio 2 comes in a design you don't see every day, and it really works in its favor. It has a unique sliding 14.4-inch (2400 x 1600) 120Hz touchscreen that you can "tent" over the keyboard like an easel for easier sketching, note-taking or movie-watching. Plus, it has enough power for work and gaming, too, if you upgrade to a model with a discrete Nvidia GPU onboard, but the aging 13th Gen Intel CPU means it's no longer as fast or as long-lasting as the top picks on this list.
Read our full Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 review
Performance test results compared
We run every laptop we test through the Geekbench CPU benchmarking utility to get a sense of how capable it is in terms of raw CPU power.
Geekbench assigns the laptop a score for its performance in single-core workloads and multi-core workloads, which we then report to you against similar laptops to help you decide.
Simply put, the higher the score, the better the laptop is when it comes to raw CPU performance. The single-core workload score is typically a little more meaningful because not all apps are optimized for multi-core performance, but many are, so it is important to know.
Best 2-in-1 Laptops Performance Tests
Slide through to see each benchmark
Geekbench 6 (single-core)
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| Asus Zenbook Duo 2026 (Intel Core Ultra X9 388H) | 3031 |
| Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 Gen 10 (Intel Core 3 N355) | 1166 |
| Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition (Intel Core Ultra 7 258V) | 2751 |
| Asus ProArt GoPro Edition PX13 (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395) | 2932 |
| Asus ROG Flow Z13 (AMD Ryzen AI Max 390) | 2896 |
| Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Pro 360 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H) | 2308 |
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| Asus Zenbook Duo 2026 (Intel Core Ultra X9 388H) | 17283 |
| Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 Gen 10 (Intel Core 3 N355) | 4275 |
| Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition (Intel Core Ultra 7 258V) | 11059 |
| Asus ProArt GoPro Edition PX13 (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395) | 18407 |
| Asus ROG Flow Z13 (AMD Ryzen AI Max 390) | 17876 |
| Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Pro 360 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H) | 11979 |
Battery life test results compared
In every laptop we review, we test the battery life to see just how long these machines last. With 2-in-1 laptops, you'll notice these don't last quite as long as the best laptop for battery life, but they will still get you through a full workday without needing a charge. Here's how each of our top 2-in-1 picks compares.
Best 2-in-1 Laptops Battery Life Benchmarks
In our battery test, we set the laptop's display to 150 nits of brightness and have it endlessly browse the web via Wi-Fi until it runs out of juice.
Battery life (hh:mm:ss)
| Product | Value |
|---|---|
| Asus Zenbook Duo (2026) | 14.383333333333333 |
| Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition | 12.783333333333333 |
| Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Pro 360 | 12.066666666666666 |
| Asus ProArt GoPro Edition (PX13) | 11.2 |
| Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 Gen 10 | 8.533333333333333 |
| Asus ROG Flow Z13 | 7.5 |
Frequently asked questions
How much RAM do I need?
The answer really depends on what kind of 2-in-1 laptop you buy. If you end up with a Chromebook or Chrome tablet (neither of which is on this list right now), you really only need 4GB of RAM since you do very little computing on the machine itself. But if you buy a 2-in-1 laptop running Windows 11, you're going to want more memory.
These days, I generally recommend that anyone buying a new Windows laptop get at least 16GB of RAM if you can afford it. While you can get away with just 8GB, anything lower will almost certainly cause a seriously frustrating slowdown when multitasking or trying to run demanding apps, and you'll quickly feel behind the curve.
But while 16GB of RAM is more than enough for multitasking in Windows 11 and running basic apps, modern PC games demand more. So if you're buying a gaming laptop (or just a laptop you plan to play modern games on), I recommend you review the system requirements of the game(s) you want to play and make sure you have at least the minimum (ideally the recommended) RAM. In general, 16GB of RAM is enough to scrape by, while 32GB of RAM is more ideal, especially for serious gaming.
What accessories deliver the most bang for my buck?
First and foremost, if you want to use your 2-in-1 like a giant tablet, it's a good idea to invest in a stylus you like. Check the specs of your laptop to see what kinds of styluses it works with (active vs passive stylus, for example), and then check local retailers for some you can try out before you buy. If you want some ideas for what to shop for, check out our guide to the best Apple Pencil alternatives.
Also, consider investing in a versatile, stable laptop stand that can accommodate your 2-in-1 laptop in the configuration(s) you like to use it in. We maintain our own detailed guide to choosing the best laptop stand for your needs, and you don't have to spend a lot to see real results!
Plus, consider investing in a good mouse you like, because relying on the trackpad is less than ergonomic and can lead to real pain and hand issues over time. Check out our guide to the best mouse for all sorts of use cases and budgets for some ideas and advice on how to choose the perfect mouse for your needs.
Last but not least, if your laptop doesn't have many ports, you might consider getting a good USB hub so you can plug in more accessories when you need them. This is really key to getting the most out of slim ultraportables like the MacBook Air and Dell XPS 14, since they typically have a pair of USB-C ports and that's it.
How to choose the best 2-in-1 laptop for you
- Performance: If you only need something basic for surfing the web and checking email, consider a value machine like the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 Gen 10. If you need more power to multitask, run demanding applications, or edit photos/videos, look for a 2-in-1 packing plenty of RAM and newer CPUs, like the Asus ProArt GoPro Edition (PX13) or Asus Zenbook Duo.
- Graphics and gaming: To function as both tablets and laptops, 2-in-1s are typically designed to be as thin and power-efficient as possible, so they don't pack discrete GPUs. These days, though, that doesn't mean they aren't great for gaming. The game-focused Asus ROG Flow Z13 is a great example, packing an AMD chip with mighty integrated graphics power. But the same can be said with the Intel Panther Lake-powered Asus Zenbook Duo. But any Windows laptop with a decent x86 CPU and enough RAM can probably play older or basic games well, and the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition.
- Size: Consider how portable you need your new 2-in-1 to be: is this a laptop you occasionally want to use as a tablet, or vice versa? If you prefer the lighter weight and smaller size (typically) of a tablet, and can live with having a flimsy/detachable keyboard, then something like the Surface Pro 11. If you'd rather have the larger screen and extra power/versatility of a laptop that doubles as a tablet, and don't mind the extra size and weight, consider something like the Asus ProArt GoPro Edition (PX13) or the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360.
- Operating system: Just about every 2-in-1 laptop on the market comes with one of two operating systems: Windows and ChromeOS. Right now, every laptop we have on this list is a Windows machine, and that's because they offer far more versatility when it comes to workflows and entertainment. Still, Windows 11 is by far the most common operating system among 2-in-1 laptops, but now it's available in two flavors: Arm and x86. Most laptops run on x86, but the Snapdragon chips that power the Surface Pro 11 are Arm-based, so keep in mind that you can't run games on it. If you'd prefer that, go with the Asus ROG Flow Z13 (for pure gaming) or the Asus Zenbook Duo (for a Windows laptop that can also run games).
How to find the best deals on laptops
A good deal is always appreciated, but it feels like now more than ever our readers are hunting for opportunities to save money on a new laptop.
Obviously, the first thing to do is check out our regularly updated list of the best cheap laptop deals to see if any of the laptops you have your eye on are currently on sale.
Next, we scour Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and other retailers to see if they have the model you're after on a deep discount. If you're having a hard time finding the model you want, think about creating an account with each major retailer and setting up email alerts so you get notified as soon as the cheap laptop you want is back in stock.
Finally, make sure to use a good price-tracking tool like CamelCamelCamel to track prices on the laptop you want across multiple retailers, so you know when you've found the best deal!
How we test laptops
When testing the best 2-in-1 laptops, we go through the usual series of tests, including CPU, GPU, RAM, battery life and more, but with a great emphasis on testing the screen (not unlike the best touchscreen laptops).
We measure the average brightness and color quality of each laptop's display using our in-house light meter and colorimeter. What's more, we also test the laptop's responsiveness, whether it be through touch or a stylus. This gives us a good idea of whether it can actually be used like a tablet.
That's not all, of course. For general performance, we run our machines through tests that include Geekbench 6 (CPU performance), as well as various 3DMark tests to measure the GPU's performance (whether its dicrete or integrated graphics). We also run a file transfer test to measure how fast a machine's hard drive is.
There's plenty more we do in our testing process, which we constantly update with the latest tools and benchmarks. For more, check out our guide to how we test.
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Darragh is Tom’s Guide’s Computing Editor and is fascinated by all things bizarre in tech. His work can be seen in Laptop Mag, Mashable, Android Police, Shortlist Dubai, Proton, theBit.nz, ReviewsFire and more. When he's not checking out the latest devices and all things computing, he can be found going for dreaded long runs, watching terrible shark movies and trying to find time to game





