Of all the models I’ve tested, no 2-in-1 laptop is equally good as both a tablet and a laptop. They are always inclined towards one or the other. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy it, especially since the convenience of having both in one device makes it an easier pill to swallow for the price.
The products below should meet most people’s needs. But if none of them are a good fit for you, check out our other computer buying guides, including the best cheap laptops, best tablets, and best iPads.
detachable tablets
If you want a 2-in-1, think about a detachable tablet first. These are basically tablets that connect to a keyboard. This form factor emphasizes being able to switch between tablet and laptop modes. It is just as functional as a tablet, just like a laptop. The Surface Pro epitomizes 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 didn’t come into its own until the 2024 models. This is largely thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon While it’s not cheap (especially once you include the Type Cover), I love that you can now use the keyboard even when away from the screen, making it even more adaptable in away from the desk scenarios. To compete with the iPad Pro, there’s even an OLED model (with a 120-Hz refresh rate) available, which really brings visuals to life on the display.
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 for that is that it’s not cheap in terms of quality or very small in size. With a 12-inch screen, this still allows the keyboard to be large enough to be comfortable typing on it. It doesn’t have the OLED screen option, but it’s still a surprisingly premium-feeling device that’s even more portable than its older sibling.
Not only is the Surface Pro 12 cheaper overall, but 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 exists to make a good tablet, Windows isn’t so friendly with touch and doesn’t have a touch-first app ecosystem to support it. This is where iPads come into play.
The iPad Air and iPad Pro are the best tablets you can buy, largely because of the breadth of touch-first apps available in the App Store. In many ways, this is what makes the iPad an ideal 2-in-1 laptop, especially if you actually want to use it as a tablet. They are also easier to hold in one hand, as they are lighter than surface devices. These days, these iPads are increasingly becoming legitimate laptop replacements, too. With the Magic Keyboard attachment, you can add an additional USB-C port and a full-sized keyboard and trackpad. I like that this design doesn’t rely on a kickstand, making 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 better than ever as laptops. The latest model I tested, the M4 iPad Air, is extremely powerful, and with the Magic Keyboard attached, it’s really a solid 2-in-1 laptop that comes in cheaper than the Surface Pro with a keyboard. That’s good enough performance for everything you want to do with the iPad, especially if you choose the larger 13-inch model. My only real complaint is that the palm rest on the Magic Keyboard is quite small.
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