As the name suggests, ‘Tablet first’ 2-in-1s in 2022 are primarily tablets but can work in laptop mode via an add-on — often somewhat flimsy — keyboard, propped up by a kickstand with the tablet.
Mobile pros demanding maximum flexibility will probably be drawn to 2-in-1 devices that can serve as laptops or tablets. These come in different form factors.
‘Laptop first’ 2-in-1s in 2022 resemble like regular laptops, with ‘proper’ keyboards, but can both detach the screen section to work as an autonomous tablet (‘detachable’) or twist the screen a full 360 degrees to lie flat, back-to-back, on the keyboard section and serve in tablet mode (‘convertible’).
Convertible devices are also possible as Chrome OS-based Chromebooks, which allow an affordable and frequently recommended platform for virtual desktops and web-based productivity apps.
Best 2-in-1 Laptop in 2022
So, since you’re in the business for a 2-in-1 device in 2022, which one should you buy? As ever, it depends on what you need to do with it and how much budget is at your disposition.
Let’s check picks for a variety of form factors, operating systems, and use cases.
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360
With its stunning AMOLED touchscreen, excellent battery life, and relaxing S Pen stylus, it is the best 2-in-1 laptop for students, creatives, and professionals who like to carry notes or doodle. While the webcam is disappointing, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 combines some of the latest and most extraordinary Windows ultraportable components with the Super AMOLED display tech and Galaxy device ecosystem.
- Display: 13.3- or 15.6-inch 1080p Super AMOLED
- CPU: Intel Core i7
- RAM: 8-16 GB
- Storage: 512 GB – 1 TB
| PROS | CONS |
| Beautiful 1080p display with thin bezels, Great battery life, Remarkably thin and light, Comfy S Pen stylus | Bad webcam, Screen could be brighter, Samsung apps feel like bloatware if you don’t own Galaxy devices |
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio is a re-thought Surface Book with a more MacBook Pro-like layout and an eye-catching hinged display. It is Microsoft’s flagship device for Windows 11, which pledges to make Windows a more attractive place for both job and play. Like Windows 11, the Surface Laptop Studio is promoted as a one-stop-shop for productivity, entertainment, and creative work. It is all that: its 11th Gen Intel CPU and 16+ GB of RAM offer you enough power to tackle every job.
- Display: 14.4-inch 120 Hz touchscreen (2400 x 1600 pixels)
- CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core i5 | Intel Core i7
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU
- RAM: 16GB | 32 GB
- Storage: 256 GB – 1 TB SSD
| PROS | CONS |
| Versatile sliding hinged display, Great speakers, Bright, vibrant screen, Good Slim Pen 2 stylus | Performance could be better, Ports are sparse and inconveniently placed |
Lenovo Yoga 9i
The Lenovo Yoga 9i is a fantastic 2-in-1 with good battery life, a colorful display, an excellent rotating speaker, and a speedy performance. Unfortunately, it has a limited port selection, and while the webcam delivers decent image quality, it doesn’t have an IR sensor. It thus can’t support logging in via Windows Hello biometric authentication. So you can probably write it off.
- Display: 14-inch, 1080p
- CPU: Intel Core i7
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
| PROS | CONS |
| Great battery life, Colorful 1080p display, Strong audio, Fast performance | Limited ports, No IR webcam |
Microsoft Surface Go 2
The Microsoft Surface Go 2 finally recognizes the promise of the original Surface Go. Its bigger screen, slimmer bezels, and longer battery life (with an optional performance boost from the Core m3 CPU) count up to a sub-$800 hybrid that can handle a lot. Of course, power users may consider twice when looking at how it piles up against comparable 2-in-1 tablets like the Surface Pro 7 and the iPad Air, but with the Go 2, Microsoft’s made a solid Surface 2-in-1 for people who don’t like to pay Pro prices.
- Display: 10.5-inches, 1920 x 1280 pixels
- CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y
- RAM: 4-8 GB
- Storage: 64 GB eMMC or 128 GB SSD
| PROS | CONS |
| Great battery life, Bright screen, Excellent webcam | Unimpressive performance, Type Cover has a learning curve |
Samsung Galaxy Book Flex
From its bright 15-inch screen to its powerful performance and even more-striking color, the Galaxy Book Flex is a superb 2-in-1 laptop. Its nifty Qi-charging touchpad offers the unique functionality we’d like to see other laptop makers toy with. We love the Galaxy Book Flex’s fantastic endurance and solid performance, but some asterisks are getting in the way. Specifically, thanks to a questionably-placed fingerprint reader and shallow keys, its keyboard takes some getting used to.
- Display: 15.6″ QLED (1920 x 1080 pixels)
- CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7 (Ice Lake)
- Memory: 12 GB RAM
- Storage: 512 GB SSD
| PROS | CONS |
| Amazing battery life, Striking blue design, Built-in S-Pen | Hinge could be stronger, Fingerprint reader disrupts typing, QLED display could be better |
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
It is the latest in the Surface Pro tablets. This iteration contains an 11th generation Intel CPU, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 13-inch 120Hz display, and a removable SSD. You’ll get Windows 11 right out of the box with this 2-in-1. Its tiny size and lightweight structure make the Surface Pro 8 ideal at home or on the road. In addition, the front-facing and rear cameras are incredible, supplying clean, detailed photographs.
- Display: 13-inch screen (2880 x 1920)
- CPU: Intel i5-1135G7 | Intel i7-1185G7
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM: 8GB | 16GB | 32GB
- Storage: 512GB | 1TB (128GB or 256GB removable SSD options)
| PROS | CONS |
| Large, vibrant display, Tailor-made for Windows 11, Supports external devices, Sharp webcam | Underwhelming gaming performance, Slim Pen 2 and Signature keyboard sold separately |
Lenovo Chromebook Duet
You will be pretty impressed by its excellent battery life, sharp screen, and neat new tablet optimizations for Chrome. If only its keyboard weren’t cramped and its hinge felt a bit more solid; still, for students who need an affordable 2-in-1 Chromebook or families peeking for a device that everyone can use to browse the web, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a compelling option.
- Display: 10.1 inches, 1920 x 1200 pixels
- CPU: 2.0GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P60T
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage: 128GB eMMC
| PROS | CONS |
| Excellent battery life, Sharp screen, Affordable, ChromeOS tablet optimized | Cramped keyboard, Hinge is a bit flimsy |
HP Spectre x360 14
It is a convertible business laptop powerhouse featuring top-tier hardware that provides excellent performance for both works and plays. In addition, it comes packaged with a rechargeable MPP2.0 Tilt Pen, which is ideal for digital artists or anyone who favors taking handwritten notes during conferences.
- Display: 14-inch 1920 x 1280 FHD (as tested) or 3000 x 2000 OLED touchscreen
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1165G7
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics
- RAM: 8 GB
- Storage: 256GB to 512GB SSD
| PROS | CONS |
| Excellent sound quality, Stellar display, Intuitive touchscreen and pen controls, Ultra portable | Very expensive, Limited port connectivity on lower-priced models, No 10-key option, Pen input finicky for left-handed users |
iPad Pro 2021 (12.9-inch)
This iPad Pro’s Liquid Retina XDR screen contains features none of its rivals can match, getting 200% brighter than the competition. Plus, it’s Center Stage video conferencing trick is quite impressive. Still, it’s an expensive device that gets even more when you factor in the cost of a new Magic Keyboard, which is critical to making it usable as a laptop.
- Display: 12.9-inch mini-LED display, 2732 x 2048 pixels
- CPU: M1 chip
- RAM: 8-16 GB
- Storage: 128 GB – 2 TB
| PROS | CONS |
| XDR display gets super bright, M1 processor sets new iPadOS records, Center Stage is pretty cool, Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4 support, 5G | Display is best on HDR content, Expensive with Magic Keyboard and other accessories |
2-in-1 Laptop: Is it right for you?
The critical question when purchasing a 2-in-1 laptop — as with any product — is: ‘What do you desire to do with it?’ Having discovered the use case, you’ll focus on your research and should immediately get a feeling for the key peculiarities to look out for.