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There will always be The use case would be to own both a laptop and Tablet PC as stand-alone products. But a 2-in-1 laptop is the perfect dream of combining these two devices into one.
Of all the models I tested, no 2-in-1 laptop is equally good at being a tablet and a laptop. They always lean towards one or the other. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy one, especially since the convenience of having both in one device makes it an easy pill to swallow, price-wise.
The products below should meet most people’s needs. But if none of these are right for you, check out our other products Computer buying guidesincluding Best cheap laptopsthe Best tabletsand Best iPad.
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Detachable discs
If you want a 2-in-1, consider a detachable tablet first. These are basically tablets that attach to a keyboard. This form factor emphasizes the ability to switch between tablet and laptop modes. It’s just as practical as a tablet as it is with a laptop. The Surface Pro is an example of this design, pioneering the idea of a tablet with a built-in kickstand that runs a full version of Windows.
Microsoft has improved the hardware Over the yearsbut that won’t be the case until the 2024 model It came by itself. This is largely thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (and Plus) processor, which finally gave the device a decent amount of performance and battery life. Although it’s not cheap (especially once you include Write the cover), I like that you can now use the keyboard while it’s detached from the monitor, making it more adaptable in away-from-the-desk scenarios. To compete with iPad ProAn OLED model (120Hz refresh rate) is also available, which brings on-screen visuals to life.
Last year, Microsoft introduced a smaller, more affordable model, the Surface Pro 12. This is the most successful small tablet Microsoft has ever made, and the main reason for that is that it doesn’t cut back on quality or cut down on size too much. With a 12-inch screen, it still allows the keyboard to be large enough to be comfortable to type on. It doesn’t have the option of an OLED screen, but this is still a surprisingly nice device and is more portable than its bigger brother.
Not only is the Surface Pro 12 cheaper overall, it’s also the only 256GB storage model available. Since Surface devices run a full version of Windows, they are the best 2-in-1 devices that can be used as complete laptop replacements. Although the hardware is there to make a good tablet, Windows is not touch-friendly and doesn’t have a touch-first app ecosystem to support it. This is where iPads come into play.
iPad Air and iPad Pro are Best tablets You can buy, thanks in large part to the breadth of touch-first apps available in the App Store. In many ways, this is what makes the iPad an ideal 2-in-1 laptop, especially if you actually want to use it as a tablet. It’s also easier to hold with one hand, because it’s lighter than Surface devices. These days, these iPads have become a legitimate alternative to laptops as well. With the Magic Keyboard accessory, you can add an additional USB-C port, full-size keyboard, and trackpad. I like that this design doesn’t rely on a kickstand either, which makes it easier to use on your lap than the Surface.
iPadOS is still not perfect, but… Introduction of windows And with better cursor support, they function as laptops better than ever. The last model I tested is M4 iPad Airvery powerful, and with the Magic Keyboard included, it’s a really powerful 2-in-1 laptop that comes in cheaper than the Surface Pro with the keyboard included. It’s ample performance for anything you want to do with an iPad, especially if you opt for the larger 13-inch model. My only real complaint is that the palm rest on the Magic Keyboard is too small.