While some people might like a 2-in-1 or X360 laptop for sleekness, many others like it for convenience. Though, it’s sleek, but more convenient and dual-purpose. It’s not every time you have the professional space to place your whole laptop correctly. It serves as a tablet which is easier to navigate and flexible. You can also easily switch between modes to use the touchscreen with your fingers or a stylus. You can also expect better battery life because the components in a 2-in-1 are less power-hungry than those in standard laptops. Microsoft and HP(x360) are two of the most popular types of 2-in-1 laptops, although there are more options, let’s explore.
1. Acer Spin 5
The Acer Spin 5 is a 2-in-1 laptop with a 14-inch high-resolution display that is lightweight and made entirely of aluminum. It’s powered by a 12th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU and comes with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. This model, SP514-51N-70LZ, costs $1,350 and has a 2,560×1,600 resolution display. However, it lags behind competitors in terms of design and display technology.
Despite its unassuming appearance, the Spin 5’s sturdy construction shines out. It weighs under 2.9 pounds and has tiny bezels that frame the screen. The solid aluminum painted in “Concrete Gray,” feels more beige but is quite durable. The keyboard is big and quick, providing a fantastic typing experience. The touchpad, albeit small, is precise and effective. An active stylus, stored and charged inside the laptop, increases adaptability.
The 14-inch screen on the Spin 5 is brilliant, with a nit rating of 425 and a tested brightness of roughly 450. The 16:10 aspect ratio provides additional vertical space, which is useful for viewing documents and web pages. However, the lack of an OLED display at this price point is surprising, given OLEDs provide superior contrast and color accuracy.
The Spin 5’s 12th-generation Intel Core i7-1260P CPU with Intel Iris Xe graphics delivers excellent performance. It performs well in benchmarks against similarly priced 2-in-1 laptops. However, battery life is a drawback, lasting 9 hours and 39 minutes in tests—shorter than other competitors.
Pros | Cons |
Sturdy all-aluminum build | Lacks OLED display at its price point |
High-resolution 14-inch display | Battery life could be better |
Lightweight and portable | Plain design without premium aesthetics |
Includes an active stylus | |
Strong performance with 12th-gen Intel CPU |
Related: Acer Aspire 5 Review
2. Microsft Surface Pro 9
The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (Intel) is a top-tier 2-in-1 laptop in 2024. Microsoft is one of the top manufacturers of 2-in-1 laptops, It’s a sleek, lightweight device that combines tablet ease with laptop performance. The Surface Pro 9 has a 13-inch 3:2 aspect ratio touchscreen that provides a bright, detailed display with a resolution of 2880×1920 pixels.
This model is powered by Intel’s 12th-generation Core i7-1255U processor, which provides reliable performance for a variety of activities. It comes with 16GB of RAM and user-upgradable storage, which starts at 256GB SSD. The build quality is excellent, with a sturdy aluminum body that is both attractive and durable.
One of the notable features is the kickstand, which allows for a variety of usage positions, ideal for drawing or typing. The Surface Pro 9 now incorporates two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) connectors, which expands its communication choices. It supports Microsoft’s Slim Pen 2, which charges inside the keyboard and provides a natural inking experience.
However, the high cost beginning price and the absence of critical attachments like a keyboard and pen in the base package may be a deterrent for some. It also no longer has a headphone jack, and only the SQ3 processor model supports 5G connectivity.
Pros | Cons |
1080p HD video with infrared night vision | Ongoing subscription fees for cloud storage and advanced features |
Two-way audio for communication | Potential for battery life to be affected by frequent use |
Up to 2-year battery life on a single set of batteries | |
Enhanced motion and person detection | |
Ability to save and share video clips |
See also: Microsoft AI PC. All New Surface Lineup.
3. Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8
This device has a sleek design, a powerful Intel Core i7-1360P processor, with an integrated stylus. The laptop’s 14-inch OLED display, which has a resolution of up to 3840 x 2400, provides vivid colors and precise details. Its strong soundbar ensures high-quality audio in every mode, and the all-aluminum design is both durable and attractive.
On the plus side, the Yoga 9i Gen 8 excels at productivity tasks and simple photo editing. Its keyboard is ergonomic and includes handy shortcuts, and the trackpad is quick. The laptop also has a 1080p webcam and accurate fingerprint and facial recognition for speedy sign-ins. Its battery life of approximately 10 hours is adequate for a full workday, and rapid charging is a convenient feature.
However, the display’s average brightness of 350 nits may not be suitable for everyone. During intense workloads, such as photo processing, the laptop becomes warm and loud. While it is competitively priced for a luxury model, it may be prohibitively pricey for some customers.
Overall, the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8 is a formidable competitor in the 2-in-1 market, expertly blending performance, design, and feature set. It’s ideal for individuals looking for a multipurpose gadget that can be used for both work and enjoyment.
Pros | Cons |
Stunning design | Display brightness averages at 350 nits |
Excellent performance for productivity | It can get warm and loud under heavy use |
Included stylus | Expensive for some buyers |
Great battery life | |
Rotating soundbar |
4. Acer Chromebook Spin 714
A 2-in-1 laptop with a comfortable keyboard and good build quality. It has 256GB of PCIe NVMe storage, 8GB of RAM, and an Intel Core i5-1335U processor. It becomes one of the more potent Chromebooks out there as a result.
The design is metallic dark silver, and the design is expertly done. Typing is enjoyable thanks to the keyboard’s substantial key travel and sharp bottoming action. On the other hand, the small touchpad limits usability and is a disadvantage.
The 14-inch touchscreen displays 1,920 x 1,200 pixels with an aspect ratio of 16:10. Although sharp, it doesn’t have the same vibrancy as OLED screens. The audio quality is average; it’s good enough for podcasts but not great for music or movies.
The battery life, which lasted about 11 hours throughout testing, is respectable yet unimpressive. In comparison to certain competitors that provide greater battery life, it falls short. Fast transfer connectivity is provided by the device’s Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, and HDMI interfaces.
Weighing only 3.02 pounds, the 714 has a 1440p webcam with a hardware privacy shutter and is fairly portable. It does not, however, offer biometric login choices. Overall, performance is fluid, and can easily manage several open browser tabs as well as cloud-based services.
Even with its powerful performance, the Chromebook Spin 714 has a fierce rivalry. It is comparable to various Windows alternatives with equivalent hardware because of its pricing point.
Pros | Cons |
Solid build quality | Small touchpad |
Enjoyable keyboard | Mediocre display |
Ample RAM and storage | Average battery life |
Excellent connectivity |
Related: Best Laptops for Engineering Students in 2024
5. Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED
A multifunctional 2-in-1 laptop that strikes a mix between performance and design is the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED. With its gorgeous 14-inch 2.8K OLED display, which offers rich blacks and vivid colors, it’s ideal for both work and play.
The laptop’s 3.3-pound weight and thin design make it perfect for use while traveling, but its back-mounted keyboard can be uncomfortable when in tablet form.
A 13th generation Intel Core i5-1340P or i7-1360P CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and an assortment of ports—two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C, one USB-A, one HDMI, and a headphone jack—are among the device’s standout features. There are two connectivity options: Bluetooth 5 and Wi-Fi 6E. In tests, the battery life can last up to nine hours.
Good key travel and a lighted LED number pad on the touchpad of the Zenbook 14 Flip make for a pleasant and functional keyboard. Its 13th Gen Intel Core CPU and 16GB RAM allow it to multitask smoothly, but its integrated GPU has trouble with gaming.
Although it is less than some competitors, such as the Lenovo Yoga 9i, battery life is still respectable at around nine hours. The video quality of the 720p webcam is not up to par, which is disappointing. Music enthusiasts should not listen to the downward-facing speakers because the audio is bass-deficient.
Pros | Cons |
Sharp, vibrant OLED display | Subpar 720p webcam |
Thin and light design | Less than 10-hour battery life |
LED Numpad on the touchpad | Mediocre speaker quality |
Good performance in productivity tasks |
See Also: 8 Cheapest Laptops with Longest Battery Life in 2024
6. Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is a reasonably priced 11-inch Chromebook with a detachable keyboard and a foldable kickstand. It has a Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 processor, 4GB of RAM, and either 64GB or 128GB of storage. The water-resistant detachable keyboard is included in the low price, making it an excellent budget choice.
Using the Chromebook Duet 3 for an entire day demonstrated both its virtues and drawbacks. It works well for leisure and pleasure but issues with intensive multitasking. The tiny 11-inch screen is bright and vibrant, with little glare even at 30-40% brightness. The keyboard is well-designed, with ample travel and comfortable key spacing.
However, the device only has two USB-C connections and lacks a headphone connector. The battery life is adequate for the price, lasting approximately six and a half hours under intensive use. It may last closer to nine hours with a Chrome-only workload. The touchpad is snappy, but users with larger fingers may find it tight.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 excels at simple activities, but its small screen and restricted connectors are big limitations. The audio quality is low, and it struggles with demanding applications such as Zoom. Despite these flaws, its portability and convenience make it an attractive option for students and casual users.
Pros | Cons |
Sharp, bright screen | Only two USB-C ports, no headphone jack |
Light and portable form factor | Thin audio quality |
Surprisingly great detachable keyboard | Limited performance under heavy multitasking |
Performs well in basic tasks |
7. HP Spectre x360 14
In the 2-in-1 laptop market, the HP Spectre x360 14 is unique because of its latest Intel Core Ultra CPU. With the integrated Intel Arc GPU, this update significantly improves graphics performance, which makes it perfect for multimedia creators. The elegant, all-metal chassis adds to the car’s luxury sense and is both gorgeous and strong.
HP swapped out the old 3:2 panel for a flexible 16:10 OLED panel. With its breathtaking images, this high-resolution 2.8K screen is ideal for both work and play. The gadget also has a 9-megapixel 4K webcam, which improves the quality of video calls with AI-assisted features like noise reduction and better framing.
The touchpad and keyboard of the Spectre x360 14 are made to be both comfortable and effective. Quick feedback is given by the keys, and the haptic touchpad responds and is accurate. On the other hand, the power button’s always-on LED can be annoying.
Because of the Intel Arc GPU, the Spectre x360 14 does well in gaming benchmarks even with integrated graphics. Strong battery life allows for around ten hours of use between charges. For further connectivity, you may need to use adapters due to the limited port options.
Pros | Cons |
CPU delivers good performance and future-proofing | The Always-on LED on the power button gets annoying |
Intel Arc GPU offers a performance bump | GPU upgrades not offered |
Beautiful, all-metal chassis | Limited port selection |
Strong AV output with OLED display, quad speakers | |
Super-sharp 9-megapixel webcam |
Related: QLED vs OLED TVs: Which Technology is Best for You in 2024?
8. Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (2022) stands out among detachable laptops. This tablet’s lightweight design makes it very portable. It has a bright, sharp 3K touch display that accepts pen input. The optional XPS Folio keyboard, albeit costly, increases versatility. However, this 2-in-1’s battery life is average, and it only has two USB-C connections and no headphone jack.
The XPS 13 2-in-1 measures 0.29 by 11.5 by 7.9 inches and weighs under 1.6 pounds. It has a 1080p user-facing webcam and a 2160p rear-facing camera. It is powered by Intel’s 12th-generation U-Series processors and can tackle common tasks efficiently. RAM capacities range from 16GB to 1TB SSD.
One disadvantage is that the XPS Folio keyboard, which has a kickstand, is not included in the base price. The tablet lacks a built-in kickstand, which can be inconvenient. The keyboard accessory weighs 1.23 pounds and is around half an inch thick, affecting total portability.
The tablet’s connectivity options are limited, with only two USB Type-C ports. With no headphone jack, you’ll need to use the provided USB-C-to-3.5mm converter for wired audio. It performs similarly to the conventional XPS 13 but has heat limits due to its small design.
Pros | Cons |
Lightweight tablet design | $100 XPS Folio keyboard is not included |
The XPS Folio keyboard accessory is effective and intuitive | Average battery life |
The device features a dazzling 3K touch display, a 1080p front-facing webcam, and a 2160p rear-facing camera | Limited to only two USB-C ports, with no headphone jack |
See Also: How to screen record on a Dell Laptop