Best 2-in-1 laptops 2019: Get the best of both worlds

Abstract image of a tablet and laptop on a purple background

Although the rise of 2-in-1, hybrid and convertible devices was originally dismissed as a fad, laptops like Microsoft's Surface Pro have gradually crept into both the home and the workplace, changing the way we use our technology.

While they haven't supplanted the traditional clamshell form-factor just yet, laptop-tablet hybrids have enabled people to be more flexible, more productive and more efficient. If you want to get in on the action, we've rounded up the best 2-in-1 laptops in the business.

Microsoft Surface Pro 6

The sixth iteration of Microsoft's category-reshaping convertible may not add much in the way of new features or design tweaks, but it's still one of the most capable and polished hybrid devices on the market today. If you've got a last-gen Surface Pro you can safely skip it, but otherwise it's an excellent investment.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
CPUIntel Core i5-8350U, 1.6GHz
RAM8GB
Screen12.3in, 2736 x 1824
Dimensions292 x 201 x 8.5mm
Weight770g

Price when reviewed: 958 (exc VAT)

Read our full Microsoft Surface Pro 6 review for more information.

HP Spectre Folio 13-ak0001na

This lush, leather-clad laptop has a lot going for it. Aside from its elegant appearance, it's also got an astonishing 17hr battery life and an amazing screen. It compromises in other areas, of course - most notably in its use of a slightly underpowered dual-core processor - but as a general-purpose ultraportable, it's hard to beat.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
CPUIntel Core i7-8500Y, 1.5GHz
RAM8GB
Screen13.3in, 1920 x 1080
Dimensions320 x 234 x 15.2mm
Weight1.49kg

Price when reviewed: 1,249 (exc VAT)

Read our full HP Spectre Folio 13-ak0001na review for more information.

Lenovo Yoga 730 15in

2-in-1s are often on the smaller side, designed to be stowed easily in a bag. Not so for this 15in behemoth, which focuses on power and performance rather than portability. Featuring a quad-core 8th-gen Core i7 with an Nvidia GTX 1050 GPU and a 4K display, this convertible is definitely no slouch when it comes to speed.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
CPUIntel Core i7-8550U, 1.8GHz
RAM16GB
Screen15.6in, 3840 x 2160
Dimensions360 x 249 x 17.1mm
Weight1.89kg

Price when reviewed: 1,250 (exc VAT)

Read our full Lenovo Yoga 730 15in review for more information.

Microsoft Surface Go

Although it's technically the more affordable, lower-powered sibling to the Surface Pro 6, Microsoft's teeny 10in tablet actually ends up being a more versatile device than its bigger brother, mainly by virtue of the fact that it features a USB-C port. Battery life is disappointing and performance is only so-so, but it's still an absolutely superb device, and our pick of the Surface range.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
CPUIntel Pentium 4415Y, 1.6GHz
RAM8GB
Screen10in, 1200 x 1800
Dimensions245 x 175 x 8.3mm
Weight522g

Price when reviewed: 424 (exc VAT)

Read our full Microsoft Surface Go review for more information.

Dell XPS 15 2-in-1

Dell's reputation for high-quality devices hasn't come from nowhere, and its flagship 15in convertible is testament to why the company's laptops are so beloved. It offers outstanding performance and a very creditable battery life combined with a high-quality touchscreen display, all wrapped in a chassis that showcases Dell's long-established design prowess.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
CPUIntel Core i5-8305G, 2.1GHz
RAM8GB
Screen15.6in, 1920 x 1080
Dimensions354 x 235 x 9-16mm
Weight2kg

Price when reviewed: 1,415 (exc VAT)

Read our full Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 review for more information.

Lenovo Yoga 920

Lenovo Yoga 920

Not only one of the better-looking convertibles on this list, it's also one of the most powerful. Lenovo's Yoga 920 has so many great things going for it: a beautiful look, superb internal hardware, and an elegant hinge design that makes it stand out among rivals. Only an average at best screen holds the Yoga 920 back from true greatness, although its high asking price may also be a deal-breaker.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
CPUIntel Core i7-8550U 1.8GHz
RAM8GB
Screen13.9in, 1920 x 1080, IPS
Dimensions323 x 224 x 14mm
Weight1.4kg

Price when reviewed: 1,124 (exc VAT)

Read our full Lenovo Yoga 920 review for more information

Adam Shepherd

Adam Shepherd has been a technology journalist since 2015, covering everything from cloud storage and security, to smartphones and servers. Over the course of his career, he’s seen the spread of 5G, the growing ubiquity of wireless devices, and the start of the connected revolution. He’s also been to more trade shows and technology conferences than he cares to count.

Adam is an avid follower of the latest hardware innovations, and he is never happier than when tinkering with complex network configurations, or exploring a new Linux distro. He was also previously a co-host on the ITPro Podcast, where he was often found ranting about his love of strange gadgets, his disdain for Windows Mobile, and everything in between.

You can find Adam tweeting about enterprise technology (or more often bad jokes) @AdamShepherUK.