Best 2-in-1 Laptops (2026): Microsoft, Lenovo, and the iPad

A comprehensive guide to the best 2-in-1 laptops of 2026, highlighting top picks from Microsoft's Surface line, Apple's iPads, and innovative convertible designs from Lenovo and Asus.

There will always be a use case for owning both a laptop and a tablet as stand-alone products. But the 2-in-1 laptop is the utopian dream of combining these two into a single device.

Of all the models I've tested, no 2-in-1 laptop is equally good at being both a tablet and a laptop. They always lean toward one or the other. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't buy one, especially since the convenience of having both in one device makes it an easier pill to swallow, price-wise.

The products below should meet most people’s needs. But if none are a fit for you, check out our other computer buying guides, including the Best Cheap Laptops, the Best Tablets, and the Best iPad.

Detachable Tablets

If you want a 2-in-1, think first about a detachable tablet. These are basically tablets that attach to a keyboard. This form factor emphasizes being able to switch between tablet and laptop modes. It's just as functional as a tablet as it is as a laptop. The Surface Pro is the epitome of this design, pioneering the idea of a tablet with a built-in kickstand that runs a full version of Windows.

Microsoft has refined the hardware over the years, but it wasn't until the 2024 model that it came into its own. That's largely thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (and Plus) processor, which finally gave the device an appropriate amount of performance and battery life. While it's not cheap (especially once you include the Type Cover), I love that you can now use the keyboard while detached from the screen, making it even more adaptable in scenarios away from a desk. To compete with the iPad Pro, there's even an OLED model (with 120-Hz refresh rate) available, which really brings visuals on the display to life.

Last year, Microsoft came out with a smaller and more affordable model, the Surface Pro 12. This is the most successful small tablet Microsoft has ever made, and a big reason is because it doesn't cheap out on quality or shrink down the size too much. With a 12-inch screen, it still allows the keyboard to be large enough to be comfortable typing on. It doesn't have the option for an OLED screen, but this is still a surprisingly premium-feeling device that is even more portable than its older sibling.

Not only is the Surface Pro 12 cheaper overall, it's also the only 256-GB storage model on offer. Because Surface devices run a full version of Windows, they are the best 2-in-1 devices to use as full laptop replacements. While the hardware is there to make for a good tablet, Windows isn't so friendly with touch and doesn't have a touch-first app ecosystem to support it. That's where iPads come into play.

The iPad Air and iPad Pro are the best tablets you can buy, largely thanks to the breadth of touch-first apps available in the App Store. In many ways, that's what makes an iPad such an ideal 2-in-1 laptop, especially if you actually want to use it as a tablet. They are also easier to hold in one hand, as they are lighter than the Surface devices. These days, these iPads are increasingly legitimate laptop replacements too. With the Magic Keyboard attachment, you can add an additional USB-C port and a full-size keyboard and trackpad. I like that this design doesn't rely on a kickstand either, which makes it easier to use on your lap than the Surface.

iPadOS still isn't perfect, but with the introduction of windowing and better cursor support, they work as laptops better than ever. The latest model I tested, the M4 iPad Air, is immensely powerful, and with the Magic Keyboard attached, it's a really solid 2-in-1 laptop that comes in cheaper than the Surface Pro with the keyboard included. It's plenty of performance for just about anything you'd want to do with an iPad, especially if you opt for the larger 13-inch model. My only real complaint is that the palm rests on the Magic Keyboard are quite small.

Lastly, I have to point to one of the most interesting detachable 2-in-1s to ever come out, the Asus ROG Flow Z13. I don't know anyone who has asked for a gaming-based 2-in-1, but Asus went out and made one that actually works anyway. You likely won't be using this much as a tablet, but the form factor keeps all the heat created by the components away from your hands. Unlike almost every other portable gaming device you can buy, your hands on the keyboard stay cool and sweat-free.

Convertible Laptops

There's an entirely different breed of 2-in-1 laptop out there, commonly referred to as a convertible laptop. These look like traditional laptops, but they have two unique features: a 360-degree hinge and a touchscreen. This allows the laptop to operate in a few different modes, which give closer access to the touchscreen. Most often, people enjoy tilting the screen back and laying the keyboard flat and backwards on the table to watch movies and videos. While you can fold the screen all the way back against the bottom of the laptop like a tablet, the thickness and weight of these devices make it fairly uncomfortable to use like this.

If you're looking for the best 2-in-1 laptop with this design, I recommend the Lenovo Yoga 9i. Bar none, this is one of the most premium laptops you can buy, sporting a classy design, a very sharp OLED screen, and a thin chassis. One of the interesting aspects of this design is that Lenovo added an extra benefit to the 360-hinge by building a loud speaker into it that gives you higher-quality audio, regardless of the mode you're using it in. The particular Intel processor it uses means it also gets great battery life and performance. There's no real trade-offs or compromises to getting a 2-in-1 convertible.

The other convertible 2-in-1 I'd point you to is the Framework Laptop 12. I'm a big fan of Framework devices, due to the great repairability, allowing you to replace or upgrade nearly every internal component. You can even upgrade the processor and motherboard, which Framework sells separately. In theory, that means more years of use and less e-waste. Admittedly, it has a fairly thick chassis. But it's affordable, and the 2-in-1 hinge makes it a great, versatile family or student computer. To save money, you can opt for the DIY Edition, which would also make for a fun education project for a kid.

I've also tested a lot of convertible Chromebooks over the years, but my favorite is the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. Not only is this the best 2-in-1 Chromebook, it's also the best 2-in-1 you can buy for under $600. It uses a powerful (and efficient) new chip from MediaTek that gives it competitive battery life, something Chromebooks have lacked for years now. It even comes with a higher-resolution screen and 12 GB of RAM. It's pretty stacked for a Chromebook, but more than that, it's also an excellent 2-in-1 laptop.

Experimental 2-in-1 Laptops

2-in-1s have always been a more experimental form factor. Over the past few years, companies like Asus and Lenovo have experimented with taking that step further. The most successful of these is the Asus Zenbook Duo.

The idea of a dual-screen 2-in-1 sounds preposterous on paper. They can be set up side by side like a book, or stacked vertically. Both are interesting use cases, allowing you to get that second-screen experience on the go. It's even more ridiculous-looking when you see it in person. This thing is one sure way to get stares at a coffee shop, but it's more useful than you might think. There's a new version coming out this year that I saw at CES, which allows the two screens to sit side by side with a minimal gap in between.

I also saw the Zephyrus Duo at CES earlier this year, which is a PC gaming take on this same idea. That one should be coming out later this year. Lenovo's version of this design is the Yoga Book 9i. We liked the original model from 2023, and a refreshed version came out in 2025. It has a removable keyboard though, making it a more fiddly option.