One consequence is that mobile professionals will once again become mobile, travelling to company offices or clients’ premises, working on trains or in coffee shops as they go about their business, as well as continuing to toil from home.
Increased prevalence of remote working during the pandemic drove significant demand for new devices, with analyst firm Gartner reporting a worldwide spend of $787.4 billion in 2021 (13% growth over 2020). This growth is forecast to continue in 2022, albeit at a slower pace ($813.7bn, 3.3%). Many users will be seeking the best laptop or desktop to take advantage of the security and usability features built into Windows 11, which is widely available on new PCs and eligible Windows 10 systems.
Also: Windows 11: Everything you need to know Mobile pros requiring maximum flexibility will likely be drawn to 2-in-1 devices that can work as laptops or tablets (although there is usually a premium to pay over a traditional clamshell device). These come in several form factors. ‘Laptop first’ 2-in-1s look like regular laptops, with ‘proper’ keyboards, but can either detach the screen section to work as an independent tablet (‘detachable’) or rotate the screen a full 360 degrees to lie flat, back-to-back, against the keyboard section and work in tablet mode (‘convertible’). A new convertible variant slides the screen forward to lie flat over the keyboard.
‘Tablet first’ 2-in-1s are, as the name suggests, primarily tablets but can work in laptop mode via an add-on – often somewhat flimsy – keyboard, with the tablet propped up by a kickstand. Windows dominates the PC operating system market thanks to its long-time availability on a wide range of OEM (and more recently, Microsoft) hardware, which has resulted in a huge variety of software written for the platform. Convertible Windows devices have been around for a long time – ZDNet reviewed the HP Compaq tc4400 running Windows XP Professional Tablet PC Edition back in March 2007, for example. However, it’s fair to say that the modern 2-in-1 era began with Microsoft’s Surface Pro in 2013, which launched with Windows 8 Pro. The Surface range, initially envisaged as a showcase for new tablet/laptop technologies and form factors to encourage Microsoft’s OEM partners, has since grown into a successful business for the company.
Convertible devices are also available as Chrome OS-based Chromebooks, which offer an affordable and increasingly popular platform for web-based productivity apps and virtual desktops. You might want to use Linux for its free, open-source and increasingly usable nature or because it’s less of a target for cybercriminals than Windows (although you may need to tweak your chosen distro to work well with a touch screen). There is no MacOS 2-in-1 yet, but the M1-based iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard is the closest you’ll get to a hybrid tablet/laptop in today’s Apple ecosystem.
So, given that you’re in the market for a 2-in-1 device, which one should you buy? As ever, that depends on what you want to do with it and how much budget is at your disposal.
Here are ZDNet’s current picks for a variety of form factors, operating systems, and use cases.
Dell’s XPS 13 is our current top pick among regular laptops for knowledge workers, and the convertible variant also heads up ZDNet’s list of best 2-in-1 devices. Like its stablemate, the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 offers a great combination of build quality, features and performance – with the added benefit of form factor flexibility thanks to its 360-degree rotating screen. If you choose the entry-level $1,169.99 configuration, you’ll get an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor with integrated Iris Xe Graphics, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and a 13.4-inch 16:10 touch screen with FHD+ (1920 x 1200) resolution. At the top end of the price scale, $1,469.99 buys you a Core i7-1165G7, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage and an FHD+ display. If you want the UHD+ (3840 x 2400) display, you currently have to settle for the $1,669.99 Core i7 configuration with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The addition of 11th-generation Intel processors and Thunderbolt 4 brings the XPS 13 2-in-1 9310 right up to date. However, battery life suffers if you go for a Core i7 processor and the power-hungry 4K+ screen. Read review: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 9310 Pros:
Solid build 4K+ screen option Thunderbolt 4 support
Cons:
Minimal-travel keyboard actionModerate battery life with Core i7/4K+ screen
Also see:
HP Spectre x360 (13-inch / 14-inch) HP Envy x360 13 (2020) Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360
The Surface Pro is a tablet with an attachable keyboard (not included in the base price) that transforms it into a laptop of sorts. It’s not a laptop you can use comfortably – or at all – on your lap, thanks to the kickstand that keeps the screen section upright, but it’s light and flexible and an excellent choice if you do a lot of touchscreen and stylus-driven tasks – sketching, handwritten note-taking and annotation, for example – as well as mainstream knowledge work. Note that, as with the keyboard, the stylus is another extra-cost option. There are two variants of the 13-inch Surface Pro 8, both of which run on 11th-generation Core CPUs: the consumer-focused Surface Pro 8, and the business-oriented Surface Pro 8 for Business, which offers LTE mobile broadband. As well as the 13-inch display, upgrades over the 12.3-inch Surface Pro 7/7+ include improved battery life (up to 16h on Wi-Fi, 14h on LTE), the Signature Keyboard with housing for the Slim Pen 2 stylus, and two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports. The SSD drive on the Surface Pro 8 is removable, so you can upgrade a 128GB or 256GB model by fitting a more capacious M.2 2230 PCIe drive. Read more: Six reasons I’m replacing my Surface Pro 7 with a Surface Pro 8 The Surface Pro 8 starts at $899.99 for a Wi-Fi-only version with a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. A Core i7 configuration with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD will cost you $1,399.99, while the top-end Core i7 model with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD costs $2,399.99. The Surface Pro 8 for Business starts at $1,099 for a Wi-Fi-only version with a Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. A Core i5 version of this spec will cost you $100 more, while adding LTE connectivity brings the price up to $1,349.99. Core i7 models start at $1,699.99 (16GB RAM, 256GB SSD), rising to a hefty $2,699.99 with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. Read more: The best Surface PC: Every Surface device is Windows 11-ready The original raison d’etre of the Surface brand was for Microsoft to showcase new form factors and technologies that its OEM partners could use as inspiration for their designs. That has certainly worked with the Surface Pro-style ’tablet-first’ 2-in-1, and you’ll find plenty of variations on the theme from the likes of Lenovo, HP, Dell and others. Pros:
13-inch screen with up to 120Hz refresh rate Signature Keyboard with stylus housing Two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports Upgradable SSD Available in consumer and business versions
Cons:
Signature Keyboard and Slim Pen 2 are extra-cost options No MicroSD card slot Not a ’lappable’ device
Also see:
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 DetachableAsus Vivobook 13 Slate OLED
Microsoft’s 10.5-inch Surface Go 3 is a tablet-first device, with keyboard covers and a stylus available as optional extras. It’s an attractive and highly portable 2-in-1 (if you buy the Type Cover keyboard) that’s well suited for mainstream productivity tasks like web browsing, email and video calls. The Surface Go 3 is available in two versions: the standard version runs Windows 11 Home in locked-down S Mode, while the slightly more expensive for Business model comes with either Windows 11 Pro or 10 Pro. It has a 10.5-inch FHD+ touch screen (220ppi) and comes with 4GB or 8GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage in the standard model, while the business model adds a 256GB option. You’ll pay $100 extra over the Wi-Fi-only model if you want 4G LTE mobile broadband. Read review: Microsoft Surface Go 3 Although entry-level prices for the Surface Go 3 are attractive, options can edge towards the expensive: a fully-specified ‘for Business’ system with a Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, 4G LTE, a top-end Type Cover and a Surface Pen comes in at $1,079.97. Read more: The best Surface PC: Every Surface device is Windows 11-ready The Surface Go 3 has decent camera (5MP front, 8MP rear) and audio subsystems, making it a good vehicle for on-the-go video calls. However, connections are limited to one USB-C port, Microsoft’s proprietary Surface Connect and Type Cover ports, a MicroSD card reader and a 3.5mm audio jack. Performance from the Core i3 processor in ZDNet’s review unit was acceptable for an affordable 2-in-1, but battery life – claimed at up to 11 hours – was slightly disappointing: although we could watch video for the full 11 hours, working with productivity apps brought battery life down to 3 hours 15 minutes. Pros:
AffordableExcellent screenHigh-quality webcam and speakers
Cons:
Disappointing battery lifeKeyboard and stylus are optional
Also see:
Microsoft Surface Go 2
Microsoft’s 2015 13.5-inch Surface Book was the original ’laptop-first’ detachable: at first glance, it looked like a regular laptop, but the screen could detach and function independently as a tablet, or be turned around and reattached, offering the ’tent’ and ‘presentation’ modes characteristic of 360-degree rotating convertibles. In 2017 the Surface Book 2 added a 15-inch version, an arrangement that persists with the Surface Book 3, which launched in May 2020. As with other Surface models, the Surface Book 3 is available in standard and business versions, the latter running Windows 10 Pro and offering more GPU options. Prices for the Surface Book 3 start at $1,599.99 for a 13.5-inch standard model with a 10th-generation Core i5-1035G7 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD; the business model costs $100 more. At the other end of the scale, a 15-inch business model with a Core i7-1065G7 processor, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD and discrete Nvidia Quadro RTX 3000 graphics with 6GB of dedicated video memory will set you back a hefty $3,699.99. Read review: Microsoft Surface Book 3 (15-inch) There are batteries in both sections of the Surface Book 3 (tablet and keyboard), but Microsoft only quotes battery life in laptop mode: 15.5 hours’ ’typical device usage’ for the 13.5-inch model and 17.5h for the 15-inch model. ZDNet’s review of the 15-inch Surface Book 3 reported achieving a full day’s work on battery power with “over a third of the battery left for the commute home, should commuting ever return after 2020”. Read more: The best Surface PC: Every Surface device is Windows 11-ready The latest refresh of the Surface range, in September 2021, saw Microsoft moving away from the detachable laptop form factor with the introduction of the 14.4-inch Surface Laptop Studio, which has a slide-forward screen supporting laptop, ‘stage’ and ‘studio’ (tablet) modes. If handheld tablet-mode operation is important to your workflow, note that the 13.5in. Surface Book 3 weighs 719g without the keyboard, while the 15in. model weighs 817g. The non-detachable 14.4in. Surface Laptop Studio, by contrast, weighs 1.74kg (Core i5) to 1.82kg (Core i7). Pros
Good battery lifeSolid specification3:2 display
Cons
Complex hinge mechanismHeavyExpensive
Lenovo’s IdeaPad Duet Chromebook is a 2-in-1 Chromebook comprising a 10.1-inch tablet, an attachable keyboard and a rear cover/kickstand, starting at $259.99. Running Chrome OS and with support for Android apps, this diminutive multi-modal device offers excellent value – albeit as a companion rather than a primary device. The entry-level configuration runs Chrome OS on a MediaTek Helio P60T processor with 4GB of RAM and a 64GB eMMC SSD. The 10.1inch IPS touch screen has FHD+ resolution (1920 x 1200, 224ppi, 16:10 aspect ratio) with 400 nits brightness. There’s also a $264.99 model, which boosts the storage to 128GB and adds a Lenovo USI stylus. The latter looks like the preferred option. Read review: Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook Although some keys on the right side are rather narrow, the keyboard has good action, while the touchpad is also necessarily small. Lenovo claims 10 hours of battery life for the IdeaPad Duet Chromebook, and that’s pretty much in line with what emerged in ZDNet’s review. Pros:
AffordableKeyboard and kickstand includedGood battery life
Cons:
Cramped keyboardModerate specification
Also see:
Acer Chromebook Spin 713Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook
Lenovo’s Intel Evo-branded Yoga 9i is the renamed late-2020 update to the well-received 2019 Yoga C940. As well as an improved 11th-generation Intel Core compute platform and long battery life, the stylish-looking Yoga 9i features an excellent audio subsystem built around Lenovo’s Rotating Sound Bar, plus a bundled active stylus with on-device garaging and charging. The Yoga 9i also comes in a 15.6-inch form factor, but we’re highlighting the 14-inch model, which weighs in at 1.37kg. Available in a silver Mica livery or as a leather-topped Shadow Black version with a fancy glass palm rest and an ultrasonic fingerprint reader, the ‘build your own’ Yoga 9i configuration starts at $1,104.99 for a Core i5-1135G7 processor running Windows 11 Home, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB PCIe SSD and an FHD IPS touch screen. You can boost this to Windows 11 Pro (+$60), a Core i7-1185G7 (+$265), 16GB of RAM (+$50), a 1TB SSD (+$135) and a 4K/ UHD display (+$100). All of these options, along with the Shadow Black livery, bring the price up to $1,734.99. Read review: Lenovo Yoga 9i (14-inch) The Yoga 9i’s signature Rotating Sound Bar has two subwoofers and two tweeters built into the hinge, delivering impressive audio whether you’re in laptop, tablet, tent or presentation mode. The active pen has a home at the back of the chassis, on the right side. Lenovo claims up to 15 hours of battery life for the FHD model or 10h for the UHD version. In ZDNet’s review of the UHD model, battery life came in at around 7 hours running a typical mix of productivity workloads. Pros:
Superb speakers in Rotating Sound BarStylus with on-device housingExcellent 4K screen
Cons:
No Windows Hello supportModerate battery life (4K model)Runs warm (4K model)
Also see:
HP Elite Dragonfly G2Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
Arguably, the most far-reaching aspect of Apple’s April 2021 event was the introduction of 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros powered by the M1 system-on-chip (SoC). This is the same Apple Silicon that underpins the latest MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac Mini. It gives Apple’s tablet similar horsepower to a high-end laptop (the company claims the M1 delivers 50% more performance and a 40% graphics boost over the previous-generation iPad Pro). With the addition of a Magic Keyboard, the iPad becomes a device that could, perhaps, replace a traditional laptop as a work tool. Read review: Apple iPad Pro (2021) It’s an expensive almost-laptop, though: the M1 iPad Pro starts at $799 for an 11-inch model with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and Wi-Fi 6, rising to $2,399 for a 12.9-inch model with 16GB of RAM, 2TB of storage and Wi-Fi 6 plus cellular (up to 5G) connectivity. That’s before you add in a Magic Keyboard ($299 for 11-inch, $349 for 12.9-inch) and a $129 Apple Pencil. You can buy a lot of stylus-equipped 2-in-1 actual-laptop for $2,877. Read more: iPadOS 15 hands-on review The latest iPad Pro hardware, which includes a mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display on the 12.9-inch model, is impressive, if expensive. However, much will depend on how the software develops, starting with iPadOS 15. Read more: Best iPad 2022: iPad Air, Pro, and Mini models compared Pros:
M1 processor drives excellent performanceNear-laptop capabilityThunderbolt 4 support
Cons:
Expensive
Also see:
Apple iPad Air (M1, 2022)
Rugged computing specialist Panasonic recently introduced the Toughbook G2, a fully rugged tablet with an optional keyboard that transforms it into a 2-in-1 device. The Toughbook G2 offers an enterprise-grade platform based on a 10th-generation Intel Core i5-10310U vPro processor with 16GB or 32GB of RAM 512GB or 1TB of MVMe SSD storage. It’s a Microsoft Secured Core PC, and there’s a variant with a quick-release SSD aimed at industry sectors with particularly data-sensitive use cases. Its rugged credentials include MIL-STD 810H testing and IP65 certification for dust and water resistance. The Toughbook G2’s 10.1-inch IPS display is ‘sunlight viewable’, with maximum brightness of 1,000 nits. It’s a 10-point capacitive multi-touchscreen that works with fingers and the optional stylus, with selectable modes for gloved hands and rainy conditions. As well as a selection of standard ports, there’s a ‘configuration port’ which can be fitted at purchase time with a serial port, a barcode reader, a USB 2.0 port, a second Ethernet port or a thermal camera. Another configurable element is the expansion bay at the back, which can take a smart card reader or an HF-RFID (NFC) reader. Read more: Toughbook G2: Panasonic’s new rugged 10.1-inch 2-in-1 Windows tablet Optional accessories include docking units, vehicle mounts, battery packs and the stylus pen. The detachable keyboard adds two extra ports – USB-A and USB-C – while the desktop cradle supports 4K output on two external 4K displays. Battery life with the standard 50Wh battery pack is quoted at 12 hours, or 18.5 hours with the optional extended 68Wh battery. Batteries are hot-swappable, which is a key requirement for many field workers. Pros:
Tough chassisGood security featuresHighly configurableGood battery life
Cons:
Moderate specificationExpensive
Also see:
Panasonic Toughbook 33DT Research LT330
Workstation-class systems in a convertible 2-in-1 form factor are not common, but a notable exception is Acer’s innovative ConceptD 7 Ezel. Aimed at graphics professionals and, in the Pro version, “videographers, 3D animators, AI professionals and many more,” the Ezel name refers to a flexibly-hinged touch-screen that supports multiple modes – six according to Acer (’laptop’, ‘float’, ‘share’, ‘display’, ‘pad’ and ‘stand’). First unveiled at CES 2020, this design idea has since been taken up by HP with the Elite Folio and Microsoft with its recent Surface Laptop Studio. The 15.6-inch screen is suitably high-spec, as you’d expect given the Ezel’s target market: an IPS panel with 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution, Pantone validation and support for 100% of the Adobe RGB colour gamut (no mention of DCI-P3 though). Also included is a Wacom EMR stylus with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. There are currently two ConceptD 7 Ezel models for sale on Acer’s US website: one runs Windows 10 Pro on a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor with 32GB of RAM, 2TB of SSD storage and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super GPU with 8GB of dedicated video memory and costs $3,999.99; the other runs Windows 11 Pro on a Core i7-11800H with an 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD and costs $3,499.99. Read review: Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel The Pro version offers Core i7 or Xeon processors, up to 16GB Nvidia Quadro RTX A5000 graphics, up to 32GB of RAM and up to 2TB of SSD storage. ISV certifications are also offered with the Ezel Pro, to reassure users that their mission-critical apps will work without issue. Pros
Versatile ’ezel’ design Attractive 15.6-inch 4K display Touch controls and bundled stylus Strong graphics performance
Cons
No DCI-P3 support Limited upgrade/customisation options
There are plenty of 15.6-inch convertibles on the market, but your search for anything bigger will lead you to just one vendor – LG, and its 16-inch Gram 16 2-in-1. Despite having the largest screen of any current convertible, the LG Gram 16 manages to combine good performance, relatively lightweight (1.48kg), military-grade (MIL-STD 810G) build quality – and, of course, 2-in-1 flexibility. The Gram 16 2-in-1 isn’t exactly an affordable option, so you’ll need to have a good reason for pushing the convertible format to its limit. The entry-level model, with a Core i5-1135G7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, costs $1,549.99, while a Core i7-1165G7 configuration with 2TB of SSD storage costs $1,699.99. The 16-inch touch screen is a high-quality 16:10 IPS panel protected by Gorilla Glass 6, with 2560 by 1600 (WQXGA) resolution and support for 99% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. A stylus is also included. LG claims up to 21 hours of battery life for the Gram 16 2-in-1’s large 80Wh battery, and we’ve seen reviews reporting over 15 hours of ‘real-world’ usage, which is impressive for a system with a large, high-resolution display. Pros:
Lightweight yet sturdyHigh-quality 16-inch screenGood battery life
Cons:
ExpensiveBasic webcam
HP’s Elite Folio is a 13.5-inch 2-in-1 whose touch screen folds forward by stages – first to cover the keyboard leaving the touchpad accessible, then to lie flat on the keyboard, enabling tablet-mode operation. It’s based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 platform, which includes both 4G LTE and 5G modems, along with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). The message is that this ultraportable (1.3kg) 2-in-1 is ‘always on, always connected’, with claimed battery life of up to 24.5 hours of ’local video playback’. With optional Sure View privacy for the touch screen, an Elite Slim Active Pen (with on-device storage and charging), a well-specified audio-video subsystem and fanless operation, this will be a sought-after laptop for the well-heeled mobile professional. Read review: HP Elite Folio review The Elite Folio’s Arm-based processor certainly delivers on battery life (ZDNet’s review recorded battery life of around 15 hours with mixed-use workloads), but there is a trade-off in that Windows 10 on Arm (WoA) can currently only run 32-bit Windows apps. Intel x64 emulation is coming to WoA, however, and is available now via the Windows Insider Program. ARM64-native apps are appearing too, and include Microsoft’s Teams and Edge, and Adobe’s Photoshop and Lightroom. Pros:
Exceptional battery lifeInnovative form factorPremium design and build quality4G LTE and 5G option
Cons:
App compatibility issuesFew portsExpensive
Also see:
Microsoft Surface Pro XLenovo ThinkPad X13s
There are 2-in-1 devices to suit both ’tablet-first’ and ’laptop-first’ use cases, so you should be able to find one that suits your work practices. It’s also an area of form factor innovation, so keep an eye out for new developments. Windows spans the range from budget to premium, while Chrome OS is largely confined to the affordable end of the market. There are no 2-in-1 laptops from Apple (yet) – the nearest you’ll get is an iPad Pro/Magic Keyboard combo running iPadOS 15. Windows 11 is rolling out on new PCs, and has been available as a free upgrade on eligible Windows 10 systems since October 5 2021. All of the Windows devices listed here qualify for Windows 11, so if you buy one with Windows 10 installed you’ll be able to upgrade to version 11 in due course if you wish. If you don’t, note that Windows 10 support ends on October 14 2025, after which there will be no more security patches or feature updates. See: Windows 11 hands on: Microsoft’s biggest minor upgrade ever is all about new hardware So in the absence of a specialised use case or budgetary constraint, you’re usually going to be looking at the likes of Lenovo, HP, Dell, Apple and Acer – which currently lead the PC market in terms of shipments – plus a handful of other well-known brands, including Microsoft. Once you have a long list of potential candidates, your budget will likely trim it down at the top end, while your cautionary instincts should kick in at the bottom end (if something appears too good to be true, it probably is). Armed with a well-researched shortlist, you should have a good chance of ending up with a laptop that will satisfy your requirements.
