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I found the 6 best touchscreen laptops for college, work, and creative pros β€” lab-tested and expert-reviewed

28 November 2025 at 23:24

The best touchscreen laptops cover a wide spectrum of performance powerhouses, budget-minded stalwarts, entertainment wonders, and versatile 2-in-1s. Toss in a long battery life, and it's no wonder they're a great value for anyone who likes navigating with a screen instead of a touchpad β€” and you'll often find them among Laptop Mag's best 2-in-1 laptops and best laptops overall, too.

Our new favorite touchscreen laptop is the 2-in-1 Asus Vivobook 16 Flip. With commendable speed, battery life, and a vibrant 16-inch OLED panel, it's a strong value. If you need something cheaper, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers incredible multitasking performance and over 18 hours of battery life for under $1,000. If you want the best, thinnest, and lightest touchscreen laptop available, check out the Asus Zenbook S 14.

If you're not sure you'll need a touchscreen, check out our best laptops page, which includes non-touch models. If you are looking for a touchscreen to do specific creative work, the best laptops for Photoshop or the best laptops for graphic design include touchscreen laptops geared for those specific tasks. If you want to save money, our curated selection of the best laptop deals is an excellent, up-to-date resource.

This page is constantly updated based on our latest reviews to reflect Laptop Mag's current picks for the best touchscreen laptops in 2025.

The Quick List

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip 2-in-1 laptop open-facing, against a white background.Best overall

1. Asus Vivobook 16 Flip

Best overall

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip is the best 2-in-1 you can grab today for its versatility and performance. Period.

Read more below

A silver laptop viewed at an angle with a purple desktop wallpaper covered by a few program windows.Best Budget

2. Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (7441)

Best budget

The Inspiron 14 Plus makes up for its lackluster display with a speedy, Snapdrgon X Plus processor β€” and it has one of the longest battery lives we've ever seen in a Windows laptop.

Read more below

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 2-in-1 on a white backgroundBest Chromebook

3. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714

Best Chromebook

One of the most popular Chromebooks now comes with a free trial of Gemini Advanced, which includes access to Google's enhanced AI model and 2TB of cloud storage.

Read more below

An open and powered on laptop against a white backgroundBest OLED

4. Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition

Best OLED

This Lenovo Yoga display's color accuracy is outer worldly. Images are sharp, vivid, and perfectly saturated. Its over 400-nit peak brightness helps ward off distracting glare, too.

Read more below

A laptop display, bordered in black, showing a metallic, curved object flowing across the desktop.Best ultraportable

5. Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406)

Best ultraportable

This laptop has the most performance and battery life packed into one of the thinnest laptops currently on the market β€” especially for the price.

Read more below

Lenovo ThinkBook 13 X G4 on a white background open with a swirling blue shape on screen along with a pop up menuBest business

6. Lenovo ThinkBook 13x G4

Best business

Mic quality, a good 1080p webcam, and portability make the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x G4 a great choice for anyone who needs a work computer, especially if you travel frequently. It won't scald your lap, either.

Read more below

Best overall

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip convertible laptop on a black and white desk, against a gray background.
Future | Madeline Ricchiuto
The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip convertible laptop facing away on a black and white desk against a gray background.
Future | Madeline Ricchiuto
The keyboard deck of the Asus Vivobook 16 Flip convertible laptop.
Future | Madeline Ricchiuto
The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip convertible laptop in tent mode, playing a video. The laptop stands on a black and white desk against a gray background.
Future | Madeline Ricchiuto
A close-up of the right-hand ports Asus Vivobook 16 Flip convertible laptop against a black and white desk.
Future | Madeline Ricchiuto

1. Asus Vivobook 16 Flip

You can't get much better than this.

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | GPU: Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Display: 16-inch (2880 x 1800) 120Hz OLED touch | Size: 13.98 x 9.62 x 0.67 ~ 0.69 inches | Weight: 3.9 pounds

Stunning OLED display
Great battery life
Solid all-around performance
Responsive SSD
Smooth iGPU gaming (with Medium settings at 1080p)
Powerful audio in tent mode
Mushy keyboard
Webcam colors are a bit distorted
Why is it our best overall pick?

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip is a near ideal 2-in-1 laptop that features a striking OLED display, a fast and efficient performance, and even surprisingly good gaming performance.

Buy it if

βœ”οΈ You want performance that doesn't sacrifice battery life. Up to 14 hours of without a charge sounds like a browser tab-hoarder's dream.

βœ”οΈ You want a display that could put a kaleidoscope to shame. This laptop's OLED display offers excellent DCI-P3 gamut coverage, which produces a vibrant array of colors and excellent contrasts.

Don't buy it if

βœ–οΈ You want a thinner or lighter laptop β€” a drawback of many 2-in-1s. This one is 0.69 inches at its thickest point and weighs nearly 4 pounds.

βœ–οΈ You like springy and clacky keys. This laptop's membrane key switches might feel too mushy, especially you regularly use a mechanical keyboard.

2-in-1 laptops are designed for a wide range of situations, and as Laptop Mag staff writer Madeline Ricchiuto mentions in her review of the Asus Vivobook 16 Flip, we "tend to be picky about our 2-in-1s." But the Flip offers a β€œcompelling combination” of solid performance, power efficiency, a stunning OLED display, and smooth iGPU gaming performance β€” making it the best touchscreen laptop on the market.

Its speedy Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor and 32GB of RAM offer ample multitasking power, but the laptop's battery life doesn't suffer for all the performance it cranks out. In our battery rundown test, it surfed the web for nearly 14 hours before it needed a charge β€” 3 hours longer than our previous pick, the HP Spectre x360 16. And in our Handbrake transcoding test, it converted a 4K video to 1080p in under 8 minutes. That's not the fastest we've ever seen, but for a 2-in-1 laptop that's not primarily designed to be a video editing or graphic design laptop, that's good!

The Flip doesn't have the brightest OLED display Laptop Mag has ever tested, but a max of 356 nits of brightness is enough to ward off most glare. (Try to angle the screen away from any harsh overhead lighting, though.) A good thing, too, since the display produces incredibly vibrant colors and deep contrasts. It covers 84.4% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which is much more than most competing laptops.

Another of the Asus Vivobook 16 Flip's great features: gaming. Its integrated graphics make most games playable (at least 30 fps) on Medium graphics at 1080p β€” even Baldur’s Gate III.

See our full Asus Vivobook 16 Flip review.

Best budget

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 (Snapdragon X Plus) review
Future/Rami Tabari
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 (Snapdragon X Plus) review
Future/Rami Tabari
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 (Snapdragon X Plus) review
Future/Rami Tabari
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 (Snapdragon X Plus) review
Future/Rami Tabari
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 (Snapdragon X Plus) review
Future/Rami Tabari

2. Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (7441)

It's pretty cool β€” literally.

CPU: Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 | GPU: Qualcomm Adreno | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Display: 14-inch (2560 x 1600) 60Hz IPS touch | Size: 12.36 x 8.81 x 0.58~0.67 inches | Weight: 3.17 pounds

Sharp, bright display
Strong performance
Incredible battery life
Decent webcam
Cool thermals
Poor gamut coverage
Middling graphics
Why is it our best budget pick?

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (7441) nails the important stuff β€” performance, portability, and battery life β€” at an affordable price. It also has just enough ports if you want to hook up an external monitor or directly transfer photos from your camera or phone.

Buy if it

βœ”οΈ You occasionally (or frequently) forget your laptop charger at home. This laptop, and its 18 hours and 20 minutes of battery life, will save your day.

βœ”οΈ You want a laptop cool enough to use in your actual lap. It's a sweet treat to come one that doesn't feel like a pint-sized heatwave, and this one didn't exceed 88 degrees on the underside. That's well below our 95 degree threshold β€” and the average human body temperature.

Don't buy it if

βœ–οΈ You use or a bunch of niche apps. Snapdragon laptops run Windows on ARM, and while this version has pretty good emulation software this time around, it may not run some apps reliably, or at all. Check if a native ARM4 version exists, first.

βœ–οΈ You want a display with bright, accurate colors. Our tests showed this laptop's gamut coverage is almost 10% less than the average of all the premium laptops we've tested, which isn't totally wide enough to begin with β€” only about 88.7%.

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (7441) is part of the first wave of Copilot+ PCs to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor β€” and for a budget touchscreen laptop we've seen go on sale for less than $1,000, it's impressive: great performance, great heat management, excellent battery life, and even a solid webcam. Laptop Mag's editor, Rami Tabari, sums it up best in his review: "If your focus is affordability and incredible battery life, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is the one to buy."

It has one of the slower Snapdragon X processors, but it sure doesn't feel like it. This laptop flew past the average premium machine in our Geekbench 6.3 overall performance test, 13,281 to 9,726, respectively. It also has one of the longest battery lives we've seen in any laptop: 18 hours and 20 minutes, which blows past the average premium laptop by almost seven hours.

There's more: it has a surprisingly good 1080p webcam that clearly captures fine details like strands of hair, and the contrast doesn't blow out when there's too much light. You can safely keep this Inspiron on your laptop, too, whether you're writing a paper for a history class or streaming the latest gaming news on YouTube.

But here's the sacrifice: this laptop's display color. It's dull, covering only 69.1% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. (The average premium laptop covers 88.7%.) Brightness is its redeeming quality: a max of 470 nits.

See our full Dell Inspiron 14 Plus review.

Best Chromebook

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 on a black table with headphones, a phone, pens, and notebooks around it.
Stevie Bonifield
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 display showing
Stevie Bonifield
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 keyboard and touchpad
Stevie Bonifield
The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 featuring bronze accents
Stevie Bonifield
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 ports right side
Stevie Bonifield
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 ports left side
Stevie Bonifield

3. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714

Simple, but not simplistic.

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 115U | GPU: Intel Integrated Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 14-inch (1920 x 1200) IPS touch | Size: 12.35 x 8.84 x 0.71 inches | Weight: 3.3 pounds

Built-in AI tools
Fantastic typing experience
Top-firing speakers
Bright, colorful display
Occasionally laggy touchpad
Battery life could be better
Why is it our best Chromebook pick?

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is stylish, comfortable, and comes with a powerful, Intel Core Ultra processor. It's also a 2-in-1 laptop, a bonus for anyone who loves to write by hand.

Buy it if

βœ”οΈ You want a Chromebook with a great keyboard. This one has a comfortable layout and pleasantly tactile keys β€” a far cry from most Chromebooks' mushy keyboards.

βœ”οΈ You want to try Google's AI features. This laptop comes with a free, 1-year subscription to Gemini Advanced that includes 2TB of cloud storage.

Don't buy it if

βœ–οΈ You need a responsive touchpad. From finger touch to on-screen action, the one in this Chromebook lagged a bit every now and then.

βœ–οΈ You need double-digit battery life. This Chromebook gets just over 9.5 hours, which is still on the short-side compared to some other Chromebooks and some Windows laptops.

I definitely agree with our reviewer, Stevie Bonifield, in that the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is "ideal for students or professionals who mainly work through web browsing."

Typing with its keyboard feels comfortable and crisp. Movie dialogue comes through its speakers loud and clear. It can transform into a tablet, which makes it easier to use certain Google Docs features like handwritten annotations. And as an added bonus, buyers get a free, 1-year subscription (normally $20 per month) to Gemini Advanced, Google's suite of AI tools like Deep Research.

Its Intel Core Ultra processor handles multiple open Chrome tabs, video streaming, and other basic tasks with legerity. In the Geekbench overall performance test, the Spin performed admirably with a score of 6,335, making it 8% faster than the average Chromebook (5,246) and in-line with our real-world experience.

While we wish its battery life was longer, it can still last through a typical day at work or school β€” but that's dependent on how bright you set the display and how often you'd use this Chromebook throughout the day.

For our battery run down test, we set the display to 150 nits of brightness and have the laptop continuously cycle through a series of web pages until the battery runs out of power. The Spin made it 9 hours and 30 minutes before powering down.

If you have the display set to its maximum brightness of 355 nits, that number can be shorter. Still, that number is higher than some Chromebooks we've tested in the past.

See our full Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 review.

Best OLED

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition open at an angle on a white desk.
Laptop Mag/Rami Tabari
Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition open on a white desk, highlighting the cosmic blue lid.
Laptop Mag/Rami Tabari
Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition open on a desk, highlighting the keyboard.
Laptop Mag/Rami Tabari
Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition open on a white desk in tent mode.
Laptop Mag/Rami Tabari
Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition open on a white desk, highlighting the ports on the left, including one USB Type-A and two USB Type-C.
Laptop Mag/Rami Tabari

4. Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition

O(oh)LED-la-la!

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | GPU: Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Display: 14-inch (2880 x 1800) 120Hz OLED touch | Size: 12.44 x 8.66 x 0.65 inches | Weight: 2.9 pounds

Svelte design
Long battery life
Stunning OLED display
Smooth keyboard and touchpad experience
Awesome speakers
Middling performance for the price
Why is it our best OLED pick?

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition's finely calibrated, color-accurate display presents images with the right amount of saturation and contrast. It's also one of the lightest convertible laptops you can get right now.

Buy it if

βœ”οΈ You frequently watch movies on a laptop. With great color accuracy covering over 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut, its OLED display makes everything appear perfectly saturated. The display is super bright, too, over 400 max nits.

βœ”οΈ You want convertible laptop that won't break your back. This one is on the lighter and thinner side: 2.9 pounds and 0.65 inches thick, which is pretty good for a 2-in-1.

Don't buy it if

βœ–οΈ You want better processing performance at a lower price. This laptop's CPU isn't prohibitively slower than the competition, but its higher price tag is worth noting.

βœ–οΈ You need a 16-inch display. This laptop is only available in one configuration β€” with a 14-inch screen.

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is another convertible laptop that passed the Laptop Mag "taste-test." Our reviews editor, Rami Tabari, called it a "great all-in-one package" that's like having an LG OLED TV in your lap. Featuring an alluring OLED display, boomin' audio, a clicky keyboard, and long battery life packed into a lightweight chassis, it has almost everything an ideal laptop should have.

It's our best OLED pick for a reason: the incredibly color-accurate display. The Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition covers an outstanding 149.2% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and had Tabari "drooling over the colors." (I would too.) With over 400 nits of max brightness to push through harsh glare, it's not only great for watching movies, but also for video editing, graphic design, and drawing.

However, its processing performance makes it a better portable movie theater than a device for editing them (at least professionally). The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V isn't a slow-poke, but some of this laptop's biggest competitors offer comparable features with faster performance at a lower price.

The Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition falls behind in raw multicore performance by as little as 1% or as much as 29%. However, when it comes to real-world tasks like video transcoding, this laptop fares better. In our Handbrake test, it took almost 6 and-a-half minutes to convert a 4K video to 1080p.

If you want to use it as a drawing tablet, this laptop is thankfully cool enough to put in your lap. Its hottest point, between the G and H keys, didn't exceed 88.3 degrees during testing β€” well below our 95-degree comfort threshold.

See our full Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition review.

Best ultraportable

Asus Zenbook S 14 on a wooden table with a video playing on the display.
Future
Asus Zenbook S 14 closed on a wooden table showing the lid with stylized Asus logo.
Future
Asus Zenbook S 14 open on a wooden desk angled slightly away from camera showing the stylized Asus logo on the lid.
Future
Asus Zenbook S 14 open on a wooden desk showing the ports on its left side.
Future
Asus Zenbook S 14 open on a wooden table showing the ports on its right side.
Future

6. Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406)

The case for a featherweight class of laptops,

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | GPU: Intel Arc | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Display: 14-inch (2880 x 1800) 120Hz OLED touch | Size: 12.22 x 8.45 x 0.47 ~ 0.51 inches | Weight: 2.6lbs

Responsive performance
Nearly 14 hours of battery life
Vivid display
Sleek, portable design
Powerful audio
Fast SSD
Shallow, mushy chiclet keyboard
Grainy webcam
Why is it our best ultraportable pick?

The Asus Zenbook S 14 is one of the thinnest, lightest, and fastest laptops we've recently tested. It's only 0.47 inches thick at its thinnest point and weighs a next-to-nothing 2.6 pounds. It also has a stunning OLED display and gets nearly 14 hours of battery life.

Buy it if

βœ”οΈ Your laptop goes everywhere with you. It barely takes up space in a bag, and it weighs about as much as the average hardcover book. You shouldn't have to worry about straining a muscle carrying it around.

βœ”οΈ You want a clamshell laptop. The Asus Zenbook S 14 has the most performance and battery life packed into a traditional form factor. We've seen it go on sale for under $1,000, too, cheaper than the average 2-in-1.

Don't buy it if

βœ–οΈ Mushy keys give you the heebie-jeebies. The Zenbook S 14's keys are shallow, with just 1.1mm of travel, and lack tactile feedback. The springy kind. Not the finger-in-applesauce-kind.

βœ–οΈ You won't play PC games under 60 frames per second. Even with a new Intel Core Ultra 200V series chip its Arc iGPU averaged 48 fps across the games we tested at Medium graphics on 1080p. This laptop fared the worst in Shadow of the Tomb Raider at just 19 fps.

As Laptop Mag's Madeline Ricchiuto said in her review of the Asus Zenbook S 14: "This is an impressive launch laptop for Intel Lunar Lake and a win for Asus." Nearly everything about it β€” its design, portability, performance, battery life, and OLED screen β€” makes it the best-balanced, thin and light laptop in its class.

It's OLED display and battery life are this laptop's most impressive features. The glossy, 3K display produces rich and accurate colors. Its peak brightness (342 nits), though dimmer than some of its competitors, is still bright enough to ward off the harsh glare of fluorescent office lighting. The 3K display also helps conserves power, while still looking as crisp and clear as 4K; the Zenbook S 14 lasted just under 14 hours in our web surfing battery test.

While that's not as long as some of its competitors, it's impressive how Asus fit a large, 72Wh battery inside the laptop's incredibly thin chassis. That definitely has a hand in powering this laptop past the 10-hour mark.

It handles dozens of open browser tabs and simultaneously running apps without a hitch, too. On the Geekbench 6 cross-platform CPU benchmark, it's evenly matched in single-core performance with the the Asus Zenbook S 16 (AMD Ryzen AI), 2,751 to 2,765, respectively. Just a 0.5% difference.

Multicore performance is a different story, though. It trails behind the Asus Zenbook S 16 (13,282) by 16% and the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (12,707) by 13%. That's disappointing to see, especially compared to Intel's last-gen Meteor Lake chip.

But the Zenbook S 14 makes up for that with its quick SSD, taking just 17.8 seconds to complete our 25GB File Copy test at a transfer rate of 1,513 MBps.

See our full Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) review.

Best business

The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x G4 with lid open on a white table
Stevie Bonifield
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x G4 seen from behind on a white table
Stevie Bonifield
Close up of the ports on the right edge of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x G4
Stevie Bonifield
The keyboard deck of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x G4 seen from above
Stevie Bonifield
Close up of the ThinkBook logo on the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x G4
Stevie Bonifield

7. Lenovo ThinkBook 13x G4

Surprisingly impressive.

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 125H | GPU: Intel Arc | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Display: 13.5-inch (2880 x 1920) IPS touch | Size: 11.6 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches | Weight: 2.7 pounds

Fantastic speakers
Snappy keyboard
Sharp display
Mediocre CPU performance
Low color gamut coverage
No USB Type-A ports
Why is it our best business pick?

The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x G4 is a well-rounded laptop with some surprisingly good features. It has more than enough power to handle multiple productivity tasks at once, a solid webcam for work meetings, and a comfortable keyboard .

Buy it if

βœ”οΈ You need a work laptop for writing reports, emails, or data entry. This laptop is exceedingly efficient with office administration tasks. It's a piece of cake for it to run multiple productivity apps at the same time.

βœ”οΈ You listen to music while you work. Remote workers are most likely in a better position to reap the benefits of this laptop's great speakers. But if you can listen to music in your office, everything comes through crisp and clear, even without maxing out the volume.

Don't buy it if

βœ–οΈ You work long hours away from a desk. The battery might last from sun up to sun down but it will need another charge to keep up with your late nights.

βœ–οΈ You do any kind of creative work. This laptop has neither the performance or a vivid enough OLED screen for serious video editing or digital artwork.

A good business laptop should have a powerful CPU, a snappy keyboard, and an office-appropriate chassis. But a great one does all that and more, like the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x G4. Our reviewer, Stevie Bonifield, writes that it has "surprising strengths" for a business laptop, including "seriously impressive speakers." It's the kind of laptop that can be an "an around-the-clock companion."

At 0.5 inches thick and 2.7 pounds, this ThinkBook is as thin and as light as other laptops on this list. It's easy to travel with, whether flying to a conference or walking down the hall to the conference room (or, for you remote workers, to your favorite coffee shop). Its two-toned, silver-gray chassis is business-appropriate without being business-boring. It also has a snappy keyboard with a decent amount of tactile feedback, yet it stays pretty quiet. (I've tested a lot of Lenovo laptops over the years, and I like their keyboard for the same reasons.)

Stevie praises how well Billie Eilish’s β€œOcean Eyes” sounded through the ThinkBook's speakers; the bass was smooth, balanced with the highs in a way that created a surround-sound effect.

While this laptop's CPU isn't the most performative compared to some of its closest competition, it still handles numerous open browser tabs with two or three apps open at once just fine. Geekbench 6 benchmark tests revealed a multicore score of 11,058, which is lower than some of its director competitors. But most people will not notice a difference in basic productivity tasks.

Unlike CPU performance, though, battery life is definitely more noticeable, and we wish this laptop lasted longer than 8 hours and 39 minutes. By comparison, every laptop on this list has much more battery life, between two hours and ten hours more.

But if your job doesn't constantly keep you glued to your laptop, or you rarely ever work away from a desk (maybe you're a teacher!), its lower-than-average battery life shouldn't be a huge concern.

See our full Lenovo ThinkBook 13x G4 review.

Benchmark comparisons

Click to view chart data in table format

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (7441)

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition

Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406)

Lenovo ThinkBook 13x G4

Geekbench 6 (Higher is better)

10,987

13,281

6,335

11,059

11,157

11,058

Handbrake time ((MM:SS), lower is better)

07:41

06:23

NA

06:26

08:30

05:58

Battery life - Web surfing (HH:MM)

13:47

18:20

9:30

12:47

13:51

08:38

SSD transfer speeds (MBps, higher is better)

1,756

1,510

NA

1,448

1,513

1,011

DCI-P3 Color Gamut (Higher is better)

84.4%

69.1%

78.7

149.2%

82.0%

74.0%

Display Brightness (Nits, higher is better)

365

470

355

421

342

477

Hottest temperature (95 degree comfort threshold)

85.5

100

90.5

88.3

97.7

92

Recently Reviewed

Not every laptop can make the best touchscreen laptop page. (You'd be scrolling for days if we included them all!) We review new laptops every week and over 100 laptops yearly, so here's a look at our most recently reviewed laptops that didn't make this page either due to a fault, price, battery life, display brightness, or something else.

Acer Chromebook Spin 312 | Intel Core i3-N305 | Intel UHD integrated graphics | 8GB RAM | 128GB eMMC

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Pros: Affordable price; sturdy build; smooth trackpad

Cons: Shallow audio; thin keycaps; grainy webcam

See our full Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review.View Deal

Asus ROG Flow Z13 (2025) | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | AMD Radeon 8060S integrated graphics | 32GB RAM | 1TB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Pros: Long battery life; sharp, bright display; solid speakers; incredible performance and graphics

Cons: Over $2K; limited use-case; keyboard isn’t suitable for gaming; runs hot

See our full Asus ROG Flow Z13 review.View Deal

Asus Zenbook 14 (UX3405CA) | Intel Core Ultra 9 285H | Intel Arc 140T integrated graphics | 32GB RAM | 1TB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Pros: Powerful performance; gorgeous OLED display; satisfying keyboard; durable chassis

Cons: Muffled speakers; mediocre battery life; panel is a bit dim

See our full Asus Zenbook 14 review.View Deal

HP EliteBook Ultra G1i AI | Intel Core Ultra 7 268V | Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics | 32GB RAM | 512GB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…Β½

Pros: Sleek, thin-and-light design; great display; roomy keyboard and touchpad

Cons: Battery life could be better; middling performance

See our full HP EliteBook Ultra G1i AI review.View Deal

HP ZBook Studio 16 G11 | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H vPro | Nvidia RTX 3000 Ada Generation | 64GB RAM | 1TB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Pros: Powerful Nvidia RTX Ada Generation graphics; strong general performance; bright, vivid display; high audio fidelity with impactful volume; many configuration options; plenty of ports

Cons: Expensive; battery life could be better; gets hot under pressure

See our full HP ZBook Studio 16 G11 review.View Deal

Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 Aura Edition | Intel Core Ultra 5 226V | Intel Arc 130V integrated graphics | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…Β½

Pros: Bright and vivid OLED display; sturdy aluminum chassis; haptic touchpad feels great; punchy speaker system

Cons: Poor price-to-performance ratio; average battery life; light on ports

See our full Lenovo ThinkPad X9-14 Gen 1 Aura Edition review.View Deal

Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i (Gen 10) | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics | 32GB RAM | 1TB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…Β½

Pros: Phenomenal display; top-tier keyboard; stylish design; great audio

Cons: Poor price-to-performance ratio; glass lid is a fingerprint magnet; exceptionally awful webcam quality

See our full Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i (Gen 10) review.View Deal

MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo (A2VM) | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics | 32GB RAM | 2TB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…Β½

Pros: Great battery life; solid performance; strong convertible hinges; bright, vivid display; satisfying keyboard feel; stylus included

Cons: The keyboard is a bit cramped; poor audio quality and volume

See our full MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo review.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 | Qualcomm Adreno integrated graphics | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…Β½

Pros: Outstanding performance; attractive thin-and-light design; gorgeous and bright AMOLED touchscreen display; copilot+ and Galaxy AI features

Cons: Disappointing battery life; gets too hot with heavy usage; grainy image from webcam

See our full Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge review.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro | Intel Core Ultra 7 256V | Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Pros: Bright and vivid touchscreen AMOLED display; over 12 hours of battery life; light for a 16-inch laptop; durable aluminum chassis; galaxy AI and Copilot+ AI features

Cons: Multitasking performance can’t match top competitors; limited key travel can impact typing; disappointing webcam, lacks facial recognition

See our full Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro review.View Deal

How to find your perfect touchscreen laptop

Whether you're looking for a clamshell or a 2-in-1, there are a few key things to keep in mind before you buy a touchscreen laptop.

Display: You need something bright and sharp

Touchscreen laptops aren't exclusively reserved for artists and designers but many use them. (Some even come with a stylus.) If you're looking for your next digital sketchbook or canvas, you absolutely need a display that can accommodate your creative endeavors. If it's too dim or can't accurately present color, you most likely will be disappointed.

OLED displays generally produce the richest colors with the widest color gamuts, but there are also good IPS displays out there. 80% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut should be your minimum if you're an artist, but you'll be better off the closer you get to 100% (or higher in some cases).

We also recommend getting a laptop with a high resolution display since they present sharper images. If you're an artist or designer who creates highly detailed work, a 2K display or higher will let you get into the nitty gritty.

Design: Sturdy portability is a necessity

Flexibility is vital, especially for 2-in-1 laptops. Not only do its hinges need to support up to 360-degree angles, but trying to draw or tapping on a screen that constantly bounces becomes a headache real quick. Creaky hinges and a lid that feels like it'll snap off every time you lift it are an absolute no.

The best touchscreen laptops support themselves in any position and require conscious force to open and close the lid. Laptops with an aluminum chassis are usually the sturdiest, but you'll want to read our reviews and see which ones feel the best in practice.

We also recommend getting a light laptop, anything around four pounds. Depending on the size, some can be a little heavier or lighter, though.

Battery life: The longer the better

Battery life is another key component of any good laptop. If you travel a lot, walk back and forth across campus multiple times a day, or draw in the park against your favorite tree for hours on end, don't count on there being an outlet! Consider a laptop with at least ten hours of battery life, which should get you through most days.

FAQs

Q: Is there an Apple touchscreen laptop?

A: No, currently, no Apple touchscreen laptop is produced by the company. The closest you can get in 2025 is purchasing an iPad Pro 13-inch M4 with an Apple Magic for iPad Pro 13-inch. This combination gives you a powerful detachable 2-in-1 laptop experience, but the big trade-off is that you are running iPadOS rather than macOS. Depending on your usage and software needs, that may be a dealbreaker for you.

As for whether there will ever be an Apple touchscreen laptop, there have been rumors of a foldable MacBook and patents for touchscreen MacBook designs filed by Apple, but it is unclear if any of these designs will ever come to market.

Q: Are there touchscreen gaming laptops?

A: While touchscreen gaming laptops are uncommon, they do exist. The best touchscreen laptop for gaming in 2025 is the Asus ROG Flow Z13 (2025). This detachable 2-in-1 gaming laptop offers a bright and vivid touchscreen display and remarkable performance.

For gamers, the biggest caveat with this laptop is that it only includes integrated graphics, and while our reviewer says they are, "The most powerful integrated graphics I've ever tested," they still can't compare to a dedicated high-end GPU. Asus does have a solution for that, you need to purchase the Asus ROG XG Mobile, an external GPU that plugs into the Z Flow 13 via Thunderbolt 5 and supercharges it with up to an RTX 5090 laptop GPU.

Q: I already have a stylus; will it work with one of these laptops?

A. That depends! Not all touchscreens have stylus support. The ones that do might not support the same type of pens. We recommend checking the manufacturer's website of both the laptop and stylus to be absolutely sure.

This will help you determine what pen protocols the stylus and laptop support. The two main ones are Microsoft Pen Protocol (MPP) and Wacom AES. They're not intercompatible, but some pens support both, while others only support one.

How we test touchscreen laptops

One person leans over a desk, another sits beside, while they both look at a desk with several laptops on top.

(Image credit: Future)

We put each touchscreen laptop through extensive benchmark testingβ€”both synthetic and real-worldβ€”before we send it to our reviewers. We evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers, and heat management.

For synthetic performance, we run each laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 6 and 3DMark professional graphics tests. On Chromebooks, we also use Geekbench 6 in addition to JetStream 2, WebXPRT 4, and CrXPRT 2 to determine their CPU and web performance.

To measure real-world performance on laptops, we: convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution; duplicate a 25GB multimedia file; and run the Sid Meier's Civilization 6 Gathering Storm benchmark with medium settings at 1080p resolution to test graphics.

On both laptops and Chromebooks, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to measure display brightness and DCI-P3 color gamut. To measure heat output, we play a 15-minute, full-screen video and then measure the surface temperature of different areas on the laptop.

For battery tests, we set the display to 150 nits of brightness and then the laptop navigates a controlled group of web pages with text, images, and videos.

Once a laptop is through our initial lab tests, our expert reviewers take over, using it extensively in their daily work for approximately a week. This hands-on, real-world approach, coupled with our lab data, enables Laptop to deliver a detailed and accurate review of every laptop.

See this page on How We Test Laptops for more details on our benchmarking procedures.

Why Trust Laptop Mag

Laptop Mag reviews over one hundred different laptops yearly, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games. We're not just experts in the laptop field, as we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest in gaming.

We are 100 percent independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades and continues to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.

Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.

One of the world's largest technology publishers, Future Publishing, enforces our editorial trustworthiness. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector β€” and we're the group's specialist for all things mobile tech.

I review laptops for a living β€” here are the 6 best 2-in-1 laptops that I'd buy with my own money

28 November 2025 at 22:40

The best 2-in-1 laptops in 2025 offer a versatile experience: They can flip between a traditional laptop layout, a tablet, and anything in between using a 360-degree hinge. For those who constantly change their environments, this form factor is perfect.

After over five years of reviewing laptops, I've tested my fair share of 2-in-1 laptops, so I know what boxes a laptop needs to tick to earn a spot as one of the best. Plus, I have a personal love for convertible laptops. My first work laptop was the convertible Lenovo Flex 5, and the Lenovo Yoga 9i has been my daily driver for the last three years.

If you've decided a 2-in-1 laptop is the best option for you, you're likely looking for a laptop that can move with you throughout the day. Use it in traditional laptop mode to get your work done, flip it into tablet mode for drawing or graphic design tasks, and tent mode is perfect to end the night watching your favorite TV show or movie.

Every convertible laptop I've picked for this list is well-constructed, with sturdy hinges that'll stand up to daily rotation. Beyond great build quality, the best 2-in-1 laptops feature a battery that'll last all day, solid multi-tasking performance, and a gorgeous display. These 2-in-1 laptops are among the best laptops, period.

No matter what you're searching for in a 2-in-1 laptop, we have an option that'll fit the bill.

Click to view recent updates to this page

Update log

5/22/2025: Swapped the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition in for the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i as the best graphic design option and updated benchmark comparisons.

The Quick List

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607) laptop open on a white background.Best overall

1. Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607)

Best overall

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607) is quite the 2-in-1 gem, decked out with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, 32GB of RAM, and a gorgeous 16-inch, 2880 x 1800 OLED display. Plus, it has great battery life, powerful audio in tent mode, and gaming capabilities that may shock you.

β–Ό Read more below

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus open on a white backgroundBest budget

2. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

Best budget

Looking for a 2-in-1 that doesn’t break the bank? The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus may be what you’re looking for. It's a Chromebook with decent performance and a battery life that'll last a whole work or school day. Add its great keyboard and it's a great choice for the price.

β–Ό Read more below

An open and powered on laptop against a white backgroundBest for graphic design

3. Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition

Best for graphic design

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is a visual stunner, with a gorgeous OLED display that covers a whopping 149.2% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. For graphic design users, this display can’t be beat. Team it up with the laptop’s excellent hinge speakers, a clicky keyboard, and decent performance, and you’ve got a well-rounded machine.

β–Ό Read more below

The Lenovo Thinkpad Fold laptop open on a white background.Best foldable

4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16

Best foldable

Looking for a foldable laptop? You've found the perfect choice with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16. With its sturdy chassis, 16.3-inch folding HDR OLED display at 2560 x 2024-pixel resolution, and solid performance, it's probably the best foldable laptop you can buy today.

β–Ό Read more below

An open and powered on LG Gram Pro 16 laptop facing forward against a white background.Best for travel

5. LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1

Best for travel

The LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 is the lightest 16-inch 2-in-1 in the world. It's not only incredibly portable but it also features a gorgeous display, almost 11 hours of battery life, and strong performance.

β–Ό Read more below

An open and powered on MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo laptop on a white background.Best business

6. MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo A2VM

Best business

The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo A2VM is the perfect laptop for business users, channeling nearly 17 hours of battery life in a machine lighter than three pounds, all with an excellent, sturdy 2-in-1 design that will not disappoint.

β–Ό Read more below

The best 2-in-1 laptops in 2025

Through extensive hands-on testing and a series of thorough benchmarks, we decided that the products below are indeed the best 2-in-1 laptops of 2025.

Best 2-in-1 overall

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip convertible laptop on a black and white desk, against a gray background.
Future | Madeline Ricchiuto
The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip convertible laptop in tent mode, playing a video. The laptop stands on a black and white desk against a gray background.
Future | Madeline Ricchiuto
A close-up of the right-hand ports Asus Vivobook 16 Flip convertible laptop against a black and white desk.
Future | Madeline Ricchiuto
A close-up of the left-hand ports on the Asus Vivobook 16 Flip convertible laptop, against a black and white desk.
Future | Madeline Ricchiuto
The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip convertible laptop facing away on a black and white desk against a gray background.
Future | Madeline Ricchiuto

1. Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607)

The top 2-in-1 laptop that'll fold to your heart's content

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | GPU: Intel Arc 140V | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Display: 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED | Size: 14 x 9.6 x 0.7 inches | Weight: 3.9 pounds

Stunning OLED display
Great battery life
Solid all-around performance
Responsive SSD
Smooth iGPU gaming (with Medium settings at 1080p)
Powerful audio in tent mode
Mushy keyboard
Webcam colors are a bit distorted
Why is it our top pick?

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip is the 2-in-1 laptop we’d recommend to most people, simply because it’s priced well for what it delivers, which includes impressive performance, a full work day’s worth of battery life and then some, and a truly gorgeous OLED display.

Buy it if

βœ”οΈ You want stellar performance paired with excellent battery life: With a Geekbench 6 score of 10,987 and a battery that lasts nearly 14 hours, this convertible laptop is a powerful companion.

βœ”οΈ You love a snazzy display: This laptop’s 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED display is a treat for the eyes, with β€œlush, infinite contrast” and β€œvibrant colors.” Whether you’re simply browsing the web or streaming your latest obsession, this display won’t disappoint.

Don't buy it if

βœ–οΈ You’re a keyboard enthusiast: In our review, we described this membrane keyboard as β€œmushy.” If a satisfyingly clicky typing experience is important to you, opt for a different 2-in-1.

βœ–οΈ Portability is a top priority for you: At 3.9 pounds, this laptop certainly isn’t heavy, but it’s not the lightest 2-in-1 laptop out there. So if you need the most lightweight travel laptop you can find, this might not be the best fit for you.

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip is a β€œcompelling combination” of specs and features, according to Laptop Mag’s Madeline Ricchiuto, making it our favorite 2-in-1 laptop to recommend for most people.

Inside, you’ll find an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor leading the pack, accompanied by 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics. For supporting multiple RAM-hungry browser tabs and even Photoshop and low-intensity games, this configuration is more than equipped.

For concrete proof of this convertible laptop’s performance abilities, let’s take a look at a few benchmarks. In our testing, the Vivobook 16 Flip delivered a great Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 10,987, completed the Handbrake conversion test in 7 minutes and 41 seconds, and maxed out at 85.8 degrees Fahrenheit, well below our comfort threshold of 95 degrees.

Despite impressive performance, this laptop promises healthy battery life. In our battery test, which involves continuous web surfing at 150 nits brightness, the Vivobook 16 Flip lasted a whopping 13 hours and 47 minutes, winning out easily over our previous overall pick: the HP Spectre x360 16 (11.07). That’s more than enough for a full work day, followed by a few hours of streaming or internet shopping.

And of course, for a 2-in-1 laptop, a stunning display is paramount β€” and this laptop doesn’t disappoint. The Vivobook 16 Flip sports a 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Whether you’re drawing, watching a TV show, or organizing your calendar, this laptop’s display will deliver vibrant colors and rich contrast.

As a bonus, you can even get some solid gaming performance out of this laptop. In our review, it handled Baldur’s Gate III at Medium, 1080p settings incredibly well, with stable frame rates and lush visuals. It’s not going to earn a spot as one of the best gaming laptops any time soon, but it’s an impressive feat for a convertible laptop.

See our full Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607) review.

^ Back to the top

Best budget

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus opened up with the display and deck visible on a desk.
Future
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus keyboard view.
Future
Sideview photo of Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus showing ports and overall thinness
Future
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus open in
Future

2. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

Get a Chromebook; it's so affordable your jaw will drop

CPU: Intel Core i3-1315U | GPU: Intel UHD | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB eMMC | Display: 14-inch, 1920 x 1080 | Size: 12.4 x 9.0 x 0.8 inches | Weight: 3.6 pounds

Speedy AI-infused performance
Great keyboard
Sturdy hinges
Attractive
The display could be brighter.
Why is it our top budget pick?

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus fits everything it can for the price it offers. You likely won't find a better 2-in-1 laptop under $500. The performance and design take it make it more than "cheap."

Buy it if

βœ”οΈ You want to spend as little as you need for the most you can get: With an Intel Core i3-1315U, the Chromebook forgoes the rather poor performing processors that you'd get stuck with at this price point for something with a bit more kick.

βœ”οΈ You want an elegant design: Affordable doesn't mean cheap. The IdeaPad Flex 5i looks pretty slick with its blue aluminum hood. And it's rather compact, at 0.8 inches thin and 3.6 pounds.

Don't buy it if

βœ–οΈ You want a bright, colorful display: This is one of the biggest sacrifices you'll need to make for a budget laptop. I wouldn't watch your favorite content on this thing. Your phone likely has a better display.

βœ–οΈ You powerful performance: Yes, the IdeaPad Flex 5i offers decent performance, but that's relative to the price. You won't be video-editing or photo-editing on this thing without a little slowdown.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a 2-in-1 Chromebook that'll save you a little more than a shiny penny and still provide a solid overall experience. It's packed with an Intel Core i3-1315U processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of eMMC storage, and a 14-inch, 1920 x 1080 touchscreen display.

Mark Anthony Ramirez said, "The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i takes full advantage of Google's AI-infused Chrome OS and delivers potent performance that will impress you," in our review of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus.

For its performance, we tested it against the Geekbench 6 overall performance test where the IdeaPad Flex 5i scored 5,384, sliding past the 5,259 Chromebook average at the time. That's decent enough to get you through most less-taxing tasks. And thanks to the Chromebook's relatively light operating system, it won't suffer the same slowdowns as a Windows laptop.

The IdeaPad Flex 5i is also quite portable, measuring 12.4 x 9.0 x 0.8 inches and weighing 3.57 pounds. It lands somewhere between the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (3.02 pounds) and the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (3.7 pounds). It also looks nice, featuring an aluminum storm grey colored lid β€” that's not common for a cheap laptop.

Adding to that portability is its battery life. It lasted 9 hours and 43 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test, which consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits. It's a bit shorter than the Chromebook average at the time (9:50). However, you'll get more than a workday or school day's worth of life out of this laptop. Close to 10 hours is still solid, especially for a laptop this affothat is rdable.

Unfortunately, you'll need to sacrifice the display. The Flex 5i's 14-inch, 1080p display covered a dismal 46.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and produced only 306 nits of brightness. This isn't too far from what we expect from a laptop at this price point. Still, both scores landed well below the Chromebook average at the time.

Despite that, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is an excellent 2-in-1 laptop if you are on a budget.

See our full Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review.

^ Back to the top

Best for graphic design

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition open on a white desk, highlighting the vivid display.
Laptop Mag/Rami Tabari
Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition open on a desk, highlighting the keyboard.
Laptop Mag/Rami Tabari
Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition open on a white desk in tent mode.
Laptop Mag/Rami Tabari
Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition open on a white desk, highlighting the cosmic blue lid.
Laptop Mag/Rami Tabari
Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition open on a white desk, highlighting the ports on the left, including one USB Type-A and two USB Type-C.
Laptop Mag/Rami Tabari

3. Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition

This high-res OLED display is ideal for artists

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | GPU: Intel Arc 140V | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Display: 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED | Size: 12.4 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches | Weight: 2.9 pounds

Svelte design
Long battery life
Stunning OLED display
Smooth keyboard and touchpad experience
Awesome speakers
Middling performance for the price
Why is it our top pick for graphic design?

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition boasts a color-rich, bright OLED display that simply makes graphic design tasks a breeze. Plus, its other premium features add even more value.

Buy it if

βœ”οΈ You don’t want to sacrifice battery life for a high-quality display: The Yoga 9i has a colorful display with stellar DCI-P3 color gamut coverage and max brightness, and yet it still has great battery life. It lasted almost 13 hours in our battery life test.

βœ”οΈ You want audio quality that matches the stunning display: Finding a laptop with a great display is already a tough enough feat, but finding one with fantastic speakers to match? That’s damn near impossible, but the Yoga 9i manages to do it.

Don't buy it if

βœ–οΈ Top-notch performance is a must for you: The Yoga 9i is impressive in multiple ways, but a bit lacking in the performance department. Its Geekbench 6 score of 11,059 is still great for simple daily tasks, but it pales against competitors.

βœ–οΈ You’re picky about ports: This laptop has a decent array of ports, including three USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and an audio jack. However, if you’re looking for an HDMI port, an SD card reader, or another USB-A port, you’re out of luck.

With its gorgeous OLED display, good performance, and a plethora of other premium features, the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition is one of the best laptops for graphic design you’ll find with a nifty convertible form factor. Though it's not a cheap 2-in-1 rig at $1,749 full price, you get a lot of value in exchange.

In our review of the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition, Rami Tabari notes, β€œBetween its battery life and punchy keyboard, and its OLED display and strong speakers, this thing is sure to be one of the best laptops I review this year.”

This laptop’s best-selling feature is, without question, its 14-inch, 2880 x 1800-pixel OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. We were β€œdrooling over the colors” in testing, which makes total sense, seeing as the laptop covered an impressive 149.2% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Then, the display also clocked 421 nits brightness, plenty for working indoors or in direct sunlight.

On top of its enticing display, the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition also packs one of Lenovo’s famously clicky, satisfying keyboards, a well-balanced soundbar that lives between the laptop’s hinges and produces stellar audio, and an all-aluminum chassis that’s cool to the touch and rounds out the premium experience.

The only feature that falters slightly is performance, notching a Geekbench 6 score of just 11,059. For everyday tasks, this is perfectly fine. However, if you plan on tackling more intense projects, like video editing, it may struggle to keep up with you. The Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition also lacks an HDMI port and more than one USB-A port, but this is easily remedied by adding one of the best USB-C hubs to your setup.

In exchange for average performance, this laptop is able to achieve a full workday of battery life and then some. In the Laptop Mag battery life test, which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits brightness, this laptop held on for 12 hours and 47 minutes. It’s not going to beat the laptops with the best battery life, but it’s impressive nonetheless, considering the laptop’s power-hungry OLED display and its thin-and-light chassis.

See our full Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition review.

Best foldable

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 Gen 1 folded on a desk with a digital keyboard visible.
Future
An overhead view of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 Gen 1 physical keyboard with a red TrackPoint dot.
Future
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 Gen 1 side view with the laptop nearly closed
Future
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 open and propped up in horizontal mode, with the physical keyboard set up in front of the laptop.
Future
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 Gen 1 back view
Future

4. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 Gen 1

Want two displays in a compact design? Get this foldable laptop

CPU: Intel Core i7-1260U | GPU: Intel Iris Xe | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Display: 16.3-inch, 2560 x 2024, folding OLED | Size: 10.9 x 6.9 x 0.7 inches (folded), 13.6 x 10.9 x 0.3 inches (unfolded) | Weight: 2.9 pounds, 4.3 pounds w/ keyboard and stand

Sturdy kickstand
Vivid OLED display
Responsive performance
Respectable HDR brightness
Ports in inaccessible places
Battery life could be better
Outdated specs
Why is it our top foldable pick?

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 offers a massive foldable display that you can make as compact as a tablet with a simple flip. Top that with a gorgeous OLED screen and a sturdy design.

Buy it if

βœ”οΈ You want to enjoy a large display without a bulky keyboard in the way: Yes, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 does come with a keyboard, but it's detachable, which means you get a 16.3-inch OLED display without the baggage.

βœ”οΈ You want to emulate the desktop experience: With a large display and a detachable keyboard, it's easy to work at your desk without feeling like you need to be attached to the laptop itself. Its ThinkPad keyboard is quite nice, too.

Don't buy it if

βœ–οΈ You want modern specs: Unfortunately, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold's specs are quite old despite being a newer laptop. Don't expect top of the line performance from this machine.

βœ–οΈ You want long battery life: You do get around 7 to 9 hours of battery life, depending on the mode you use. However, that doesn't quite meet our current standards, where laptops average around 11-12 hours.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold model we reviewed is built with an Intel Core i7-1260U, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and a 16.3-inch OLED display at 2560 x 2024-pixel resolution. Of course, the main selling point of this device is that it's foldable. If you're unsure what that means, it essentially has the ability to act as a laptop with a keyboard magnetically attached to the deck, and if you remove the keyboard, you can extend it out into a single, full-sized tablet.

Madeline Ricchiuto said, "As a business machine, the ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 is perhaps positioned better than its competitors because its flexibility matches the current hybrid work environment better than a standard laptop might," in our review of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold.

This means most people aren't going to need this laptop, but for those that do, our reviewer claimed that it's arguably the best foldable laptop available right now. It's shockingly thin and light, coming in at just 2.9 pounds in tablet mode and 4.3-pounds with the keyboard and stand attached.

Its design allows for a compelling all-in-one use case. You can turn the laptop into a makeshift monitor and then detach the keyboard to emulate a quick desktop setup in no time at all. Considering it's only 4.3 pounds, it can easily fit most bags and is perfect for on-the-go workers who prefer larger space for their projects.

It's important to keep in mind, however, that its Intel Core i7-1260U is a couple of generations old now, so don't expect the latest and greatest processing speeds. On the Geekbench 6 overall performance test, its multi-core score of 7,953 is decent but notably slower than other laptops on this list, like the Yoga 9i's 9,954.

Its battery life also leaves a bit to be desired, coming in at 8 hours and 44 minutes in laptop mode and 7 hours and 22 minutes in tablet mode. Regardless, it has more than enough success in its execution to make for a great foldable.

See our full Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16 Gen 1 review.

^ Back to the top

Best for travel

LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP) open on a wooden table
Laptop Mag/Sean Riley
LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP) on a wooden table
Laptop Mag/Sean Riley
LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP) on a wooden table
Laptop Mag/Sean Riley
LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP) on a wooden table, showing ports on the right side.
Laptop Mag/Sean Riley
LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP) on a wooden table, showing ports on the left side.
Laptop Mag/Sean Riley

5. LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP)

Thin, light, and perfect for travel; it'll last longer than work too

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | GPU: Intel Arc | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Display: 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED | Size: 14.1 x 10 x 0.5 inches | Weight: 3.1 pounds

Thin and light 2-in-1 design
Vibrant 16-inch OLED screen
Almost 11 hours of battery life
Solid productivity performance
Expensive relative to performance
Mushy trackpad
Why is it our top pick for travel?

The LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP) launched as the lightest 16-inch 2-in-1 laptop in the world. That offers you quite a lot of real estate while minimizing the burden it takes to move.

Buy it if

βœ”οΈ You are constantly on the go but don't want a small laptop: At just 3.1 pounds and 0.5 inches thin, you can't get much lighter and slimmer for a laptop that offers up a 16-inch OLED display.

βœ”οΈ You want high performance and battery life on the go: With the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and a near 11-hour battery life, you'll get the most out of the LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 no matter where you are.

Don't buy it if

βœ–οΈ You want something more affordable: While the LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 offers strong performance, it doesn't seem that way when you consider the price tag. You can get more for less elsewhere.

βœ–οΈ You want a pleasant touchpad experience: The keyboard is decent, but it does feature low key travel. The worst part is that the touchpad will be quite mushy when you click on it.

What makes a laptop great for travel is its physical portability. The LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP) is the lightest 2-in-1 16-inch laptop ever. The Gram Pro 16 comes in at 14.1 x 10 x 0.51 inches and 3.08 pounds, which is tiny compared with the HP Spectre x360 16 (2024) (4.3 pounds, 14.1 x 9.7 x 0.8 inches) and the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 Gen 9 (4.7 pounds, 14.3 x 10 x 0.7 inches).

Sean Riley said, "It can rattle around in your laptop bag on a trip or commute and come out unscathed," in our review of the LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1.

Adding to its portability is its battery life. The Gram Pro lasted 10 hours and 41 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test, which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits. That puts it in a tightly competitive spot with the HP Spectre (10:45), and it crushes the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i (9:51). So not only is the Gram slim and light, but it'll also survive longer than your average workday.

The Gram Pro is built with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. On the Geekbench 6.3 overall performance test, the LG Gram Pro soared over the category average, which was a couple of thousand points lower at the time. It also hovered around the HP Spectre (12,370) and Yoga Pro 9i (12,141).

Its 16-inch, 2880 x 1800 Touch OLED display is absolutely stunning to behold, managing an 133.5% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut and a brightness of 392 nits. Its combination of brightness, color, and high resolution should be fantastic for artists who need to go in-depth with accuracy.

The keyboard is pleasantly bouncy despite its low key travel. The touchpad is also quite responsive. Unfortunately, the touchpad is quite mushy, so if you choose the Gram Pro 16, you might want to check out the best wireless mouse page.

Ports are also very important on a laptop for travel. The last thing you want is to be carrying a dongle or worse yet, forgetting to pack it, so make sure these ports suit your needs. The LG Gram Pro comes with two USB Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, two USB Type-A ports, and a headphone jack. Unfortunately, if you need an SD or microSD card slot, you'll need a USB Type-C hub.

See our LG Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP) review.

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Best business

MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo (A2VM) 2-in-1 laptop on a table with two plants next to it, the deck and screen are visible.
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MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo (A2VM) 2-in-1 laptop stood up on a desk with only its display visible.
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MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo (A2VM) 2-in-1 laptop view from an angle with the back visible.
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Angled view of the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo (A2VM) 2-in-1 laptop's keyboard and trackpad.
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MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo (A2VM) 2-in-1 AI PC laptop open on a white desk, against a blue backdrop.
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6. MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo A2VM

A business laptop with battery life that will last

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | GPU: Intel Arc 140V | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 2TB SSD | Display: 13.3-inch, 1920 x 1200 | Size: 11.8 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches | Weight: 2.9 pounds

Solid Intel Ultra 7 performance
Gorgeous 4K OLED panel
Loud, impactful speakers
Thin and sturdy chassis
Clicky keyboard
Dreadful battery life
Could be brighter
Why is it our top business pick?

The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo A2VM features modern processors, tons of storage, high RAM, and long-lasting battery life in a lightweight machine perfect for business users.

Buy it if

βœ”οΈ You want battery life that can truly last: The Summit 13 yields nearly 17 hours of battery life, which is far above our expectations for a long-lasting laptop.

βœ”οΈ You want a sturdy 2-in-1: It's important that a 2-in-1 doesn't feel flimsy at its hinges, as those need to be strong in order to make its core features usable without making you uncomfortable.

Don't buy it if

βœ–οΈ You want a battery speaker system: Unfortunately, the Summit 13's audio leaves a lot to be desired, as it's low and muddy.

βœ–οΈ You want a large keyboard: This is a 13.3-inch laptop and its keyboard is notably cramped, which should be fine for most people, but if you're sensitive to tight keyboards, this won't be for you.

The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo A2VM is among the first batch of laptops that have earned our prestigious Editor's Choice badge in 2025, and it has shot its way up to the top as one of the best business laptops we've tested.

The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo is built with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics, 32GB of RAM, 2TB of SSD storage, and a 60Hz, 1,920 x 1,200-pixel resolution IPS touchscreen. Even while its display may seem underpowered on paper, it boasts solid color depth and decent brightness.

The MSI Summit scored 10,895 on the Geekbench 6 overall performance test, which is pretty solid, but you can definitely find better performance in competitors like the Asus Zenbook S 16 (13,282) or HP EliteBook Ultra G1q (12,717)

Its display performed solidly in our color tests, reproducing 85% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which is about better than what we'd expect out of a business laptop. The MSI Summit was similarly decent in our brightness tests, as it managed an average of 366 nits, which is fine enough for most. We do think it might be a bit too dim for usage while outdoors, especially if it's a sunny day, but it will be more than enough for a majority of indoor settings.

Unfortunately, we were pretty let down by its speaker system, as it's underwhelming in both volume and quality, delivering audio that delivers an uneven sound.

The best part of the MSI Summit is its staggering battery life, lasting 16 hours and 52 minutes in Laptop Mag's test which involves continuous web browsing over wifi at 150 nits of brightness. We typically recommend laptops with more than 10 hours of battery life, and this absolutely crushes that metric.

You won't regret your purchase of the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo if you're a business user. With its incredible battery life, solid performance, sturdy hinges, and satisfying keyboard, this is a great laptop.

See our full MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo review.

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Benchmark comparisons

Click to view chart data in table format

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold 16

LG Gram Pro 16

MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo A2VM

Geekbench 6 (Higher is better)

10,987

5,384

11,059

7,953

11,897

10,895

Handbrake time ((MM.SS), lower is better)

7.41

6.26

11.45

8.52

9.1

Battery life - Web surfing (HH.MM)

13.47

9.5

12.47

8.44

10.41

16.52

SSD transfer speeds (MBps, higher is better)

1,756

1,448

1,332

1,810

1,669

DCI-P3 Color Gamut (Higher is better)

84.4

46.5

149.2

93.1

133.5

85

Display Brightness (Nits, higher is better)

356

306

421

466

392

366

Hottest temperature (95 degree comfort threshold)

85.8

89.5

88.3

101.7

115.7

101.5

Recently reviewed 2-in-1 laptops

Not every laptop we review can make it onto our best 2-in-1 laptop buying guide, but just because they came up short of the guide doesn't mean they aren't worth checking out. Here's a look at some of our recent reviews that may still be a fit for you despite not making our buying guide, either for a minor fault or simply because it isn't a convertible laptop.

Acer Swift 16 AI (Intel) | Intel Core Ultra 7 256V | Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics | 16 GB RAM | 1TB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…Β½

Pros: Vivid, high-resolution OLED display; pleasantly clacky keys; better than expected speakers; solid battery life.

Cons: Display could be brighter; not great for heavy multitasking; keyboard is too large for small hands; subpar webcam.

See our full Acer Swift 16 AI (Intel) review.View Deal

Acer Predator Helios 16 | Intel Core i9-14900HX | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 | 32GB RAM| 2TB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Pros: Bright and colorful display; powerful RTX 4080 performance; superb processing power; excellently priced.

Cons: Weak speakers; lacking battery life.

See our full Acer Predator Helios 16 review.View Deal

Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 | 32GB RAM | 1TB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Pros: Slick general performance; smooth RTX 4060 graphics; bright 240Hz display; decent battery life; plenty of ports; quality webcam.

Cons: Keyboard gets very hot while gaming; thermal throttles during long gaming sessions; tinny, distorted audio.

See our full Acer Predator Triton Neo 16 review.View Deal

Lenovo ThinkPad X13 2-in-1 Gen 5 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155U | Intel integrated graphics | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…

Pros: Colorful screen; bouncy keyboard; silky touchpad.

Cons: Dim display; cramped keyboard; tiny touchpad; middling performance; short battery life.

See our full Lenovo ThinkPad X13 2-in-1 Gen 5 review.View Deal

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4, 2024) | Apple M4 CPU | Apple M4 GPU | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Pros: Over 18 hours of battery life; outstanding performance; brilliantly bright display; unmatched build quality; incredible stereo audio.

Cons: No Face ID; awkward vent placement.

See our full Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4, 2024) review.View Deal

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9 | MediaTek Kompanio 838 | MediaTek Mali-G57 MC3 | 4GB RAM | 128GB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Pros:Β Solid battery life; high-quality 5MP front-facing camera and 8MP rear camera; affordable price-point; ultra-light chassis; good performance for the price; slick stylus and gesture controls

Cons:Β Mushy keyboard on the attached folio; having 4GB memory does limit some applications

See our fullΒ Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9.View Deal

HP Omnibook Ultra Flip 14 | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | Intel Arc integrated graphics | 32GB RAM | 2TB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Pros:Β Surprisingly solid gaming performance; sharp OLED display; good webcam and microphone

Cons:Β Mediocre overall performance; no USB Type-A ports

See our fullΒ HP Omnibook Ultra Flip 14. View Deal

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4, 2024) | Apple M4 | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

Pros:Β Over 18 hours of battery life; outstanding performance; brilliantly bright display; unmatched build quality; incredible stereo audio

Cons:Β No Face ID, awkward vent placement

See our full MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4, 2024) review. View Deal

MSI Stealth A16 AI+ | AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 8GB | 32GB RAM | 1TB SSD

Score: β˜…β˜…β˜…Β½

Pros:Β Sleek design; great keyboard and touchpad experience; long gaming battery life

Cons:Β Mediocre display; poor audio; middling performance and graphics

See our fullΒ MSI Stealth A16 AI+. View Deal

How to find the best 2-in-1 laptops

Finding the perfect 2-in-1 for you differs from a traditional laptop. After all, these are meant to be portable and must fulfill their name appropriately.

Display: You need something bright and sharp

While 2-in-1s aren't exclusively reserved for artists and designers, it's often used by them to make a quick and easy transformation from a traditional laptop to a tablet for illustrating. As a result, you absolutely need a display that can accommodate your creative endeavors, and if it's too dim to be taken on-the-go or too lackluster to accurately present color, you will absolutely be disappointed.

OLED is a great start if you're in need of a quality 2-in-1, but IPS displays can also feature excellent color in some cases. 80% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut should be your minimum if you're an artist, but if you can get closer to 100% or even go beyond, the better off you'll be.

We also recommend higher resolutions to let you get into the nitty gritty when illustrating, as it will present crisper detail for artists and designers. 2K should be your floor, but the higher, the better.

Design: Sturdy portability is a necessity

2-in-1 laptops are inherently all about flexibility, as their hinges support up to 360-degree angles. You don't want hinges that creak and a lid that feels like it'll snap off every time you lift it. Sturdiness is a necessity, and we've found that the best 2-in-1 laptops can support themselves in any position and require conscious force to move about. An aluminum chassis is a great start, but you'll want to read our reviews and see which ones feel the best in practice.

And since 2-in-1 laptops are frequently moved around quite a bit, we recommend something light. Anything around 4 pounds and under is recommended, but some can be a little heavier, depending on the size.

Battery life: Long-lasting is vital for being on-the-go

Battery life is another key component of any good 2-in-1 laptop. If you plan to take the notebook to class, work, or spend a whole day illustrating in a park, don't count on there being an outlet! Consider a laptop with at least 11-12 hours of battery life, which should be enough to get you through most of the day without worry. In any case, the longer, the better.

FAQs

What does "2-in-1 laptop" mean?

It can mean different things for different laptops, but the core design philosophy implies that the product can transform from a laptop into a tablet. They're also all touchscreen laptops (because it would defeat the purpose otherwise).

Now, that can take many forms. The most common one is a traditional laptop with a 360-degree hinge. But there are also detachable laptops, which feature a removable keyboard. There are dual-display laptops, which feature a discrete Bluetooth keyboard. Then there are foldable laptops, which feature a display that can fold in two and also may feature a discrete keyboard.

Do all 2-in-1 laptops fold the same?

No, and this is actually super important to research. Some 2-in-1 laptops are well-crafted with sturdy hinges and magnetic folds that snap in place when put in tablet mode. However, I've also reviewed laptops with sloppy hinges and no magnetic backing. It's important to take a look at the Design sections in Laptop Mag's reviews.

Additionally, there are foldable and detachable laptops. The former features a screen that folds in half, and the latter features a traditional tablet design with a detachable keyboard. Again, read that Design section to ensure you're getting what you need.

Do 2-in-1 laptops break easily?

Ideally, 2-in-1 laptops should not break easily. 2-in-1 laptops often feature the strongest hinges in comparison to traditional laptops, as they're designed to support their own weight when configured in various positions.

Whether you're in tablet mode or tabletop mode, it should be able to hold its own weight. If we review 2-in-1 with weak hinges, it's unlikely that we'd recommend it to begin with, as sturdy hinges is a necessary baseline requirement for a solid 2-in-1 laptop.

Are 2-in-1 laptops good for drawing?

It depends. 2-in-1 laptops are used for business, or casual use, and then some with a very specific focus on catering to artists.

Some are designed for illustrating, but you want to ensure that's one of its intended use cases. You'll also want to make sure it's compatible with a pen.

Are 2-in-1 laptops good for gaming?

No, 2-in-1 laptops are not generally good for gaming. The crossover between gaming laptops and 2-in-1 laptops is pretty much non-existent, but 2-in-1 laptops with discrete GPUs do exist, like the Asus ROG Flow X16. However, these are pretty rare.

Integrated graphics have gotten significantly better over the years. If you're using a laptop with a modern Lunar or Arrow Lake processor or even one of AMD's latest AI chips, you'll likely get some decent performance for casual gaming, but don't expect too much. The gaming-focused Asus ROG Flow Z13 (2025) is one of the only examples of a gaming 2-in-1 laptop with integrated graphics that we recommend.

Is a convertible laptop the same as a 2-in-1 laptop?

Generally speaking, the terms "convertible" and "2-in-1" are used interchangeably to describe a device that can be used as a traditional laptop and folded into a tablet.

However, more specifically, a convertible laptop typically involves a built-in keyboard. According to IT company CDW, the term "hybrid laptop" describes a laptop with a keyboard that can be removed, like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold.

That said, any laptop with a 360-degree hinge that can fully fold backwards is typically lumped into the same broad category, whether it's technically a convertible or hybrid laptop.

How we test the best 2-in-1 laptops

Two people in the Laptop Mag testing lab, with four laptops open in front of them on a wooden table.
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View of an open and powered on laptop in the Laptop Mag testing lab.
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Three open and powered on laptops in view at the Laptop Mag testing lab.
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We put 2-in-1 laptops through extensive benchmark testing β€” both synthetic and real-world β€” before they end up in the hands of our reviewers. We evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers and heat management.

In our benchmark testing, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and sRGB color gamut of the laptop's display. For performance testing, we run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 5.4 and 6.3 and 3DMark professional graphics tests.

To determine real-world performance, we task the laptop to convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution and to duplicate a 4.97GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics test is the Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm benchmark with high settings at 1080p resolution. Gaming laptops go through an entire library of games at high settings to see how their discrete GPUs keep up.

We also run heat tests by playing a 15-minute full-screen video and measuring temperatures in different areas of the laptop. Last but not least, our battery test consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. For MacBooks and premium Windows 11 laptops, a runtime of over 9 hours is considered a good result, whereas gaming laptops and workstations that can stay powered for longer than 5 hours deserve praise.

These tests are complemented with extensive hands-on testing from our reviewers who critique everything from the laptop's materials to the feel of its touchpad. For 2-in-1 laptops in particular, it needs a strong hinge and practical design to support its own weight. It's important that every part of the design feels sturdy so that no matter what position a user bends the hinge, it won't collapse.

Why Trust Laptop Mag

Laptop Mag reviews over one hundred different laptops every year, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games. We're not just experts in the laptop field, as we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest in gaming.

We are 100% independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades, and we continue to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.

Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.

Our editorial trustworthiness is enforced by one of the world's largest technology publishers, Future Publishing. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector β€” and we're the group's specialist for all things mobile tech.

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