Surface Pro 6
The best 2-in-1 overall
Why should you buy this: It’s a great tablet PC because of its thin and light form factor, and it offers a solid physical keyboard, superior pen, and outstanding performance for real productivity.
Who’s it for: Anyone who just can’t decide between a tablet and a traditional notebook
Why we picked the Microsoft Surface Pro:
The most recent Microsoft Surface Pro machine closely resembles its predecessors, adding in a new black color but retaining essentially the same outer chassis. But don’t let looks fool you, as there has been a meaningful update over the previous Surface Pro.
First up is an upgrade to 8th-generation quad-core Intel Core-U processors, which provide a real boost in performance and a significant improvement in battery life. The new CPUs afford very good performance that’s a step up from the previous 7th-generation processors, particularly when multitasking. Battery life was also dramatically improved and is perhaps the more important benefit from the CPU upgrade. The Surface Pro 6 now lasts as long as most Windows 10 notebooks, tablet or clamshell, and that’s a real feat.
Microsoft Surface Go
The best 2-in-1 for tablet usage
Why should you buy this: It provides the same ability to morph into a tablet as its bigger sibling, but it’s also more comfortable in its primary role as a tablet.
Who’s it for: Anyone wants a tablet first but one that can plug in a keyboard in a pinch — and doesn’t want to spend a ton of cash
Why we picked the Microsoft Surface Go:
You can buy an iPad with around a 10-inch display, but what if iOS just doesn’t cut it for you? Maybe you need Windows 10 for the occasional productivity work, but you still want a tablet that can let you consume your media without giving you cramps. If that’s you, then you’ll want to consider the Microsoft Surface Go. It provides the same basic form factor and build quality as the Surface Pro 6 while being significantly smaller and even easier to use as a tablet.
As a detachable tablet, it has its own version of Microsoft’s excellent Type Cover option and Surface Pen that provide great typing and inking experiences. Best yet, the Surface Go itself is very reasonably priced for a Pentium Gold 4415Y CPU, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage and only costing a bit more for 8GB of RAM and a fast 128GB PCIe SSD. In short, it’s cost-competitive with the iPad and runs the full Windows 10.
Performance is maybe its biggest let-down. It can keep up with productivity and media tasks but won’t win any races. The display is a standout feature, though, as a 10-inch 3:2 aspect ratio PixelSense panel at 1,800 x 1,200 (217 PPI) with excellent contrast, brightness, and colors.
HP Chromebook x2
The best 2-in-1 Chromebook
Why should you buy this: If you’re a Chrome OS fan and the Surface Book 2 makes you jealous of Windows 10 users, then the Chromebook x2 offers a compelling alternative.
Who’s it for: Anyone looking for a Chromebook 2-in-1 that makes as good a laptop as it does a tablet.
Why we picked the HP Chromebook x2:
The Windows 10 ecosystem doesn’t have a monopoly on the 2-in-1 form factor. If you haven’t bought into Windows 10 or you don’t have the cash for some of these Windows 10 machines, then you’ll likely be looking for a different option. That’s where the HP Chromebook x2 comes in.
This 2-in-1 Chromebook is just as well-built as any of the 2-in-1s on this list, and it provides very good performance thanks to a 7th-gen Intel Core m3 processor that’s more than fast enough for the lightweight Chrome OS. 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage are enough to keep Google’s operating system humming and at a reasonable price too. You’ll also enjoy a 12.3-inch display at a high 2,400 x 1,600 (235 PPI) resolution and in the same productivity-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio as the Surface devices on our list. Brightness, contrast, and colors are all excellent, meaning that the Chromebook x2 can serve as both a fast productivity device and a great media consumption tablet.
If you’re looking for a Chrome OS machine and don’t want to give up a great build quality, an innovative design, and great performance and battery life, then the Chromebook x2 should be on your short list.
Microsoft Surface Book 2
The best large 2-in-1
Why should you buy this: It’s a solid performer for just about any productivity task, but converts to a tablet for on-the-go use.
Who’s it for: Business and creative professionals with money to spend on the best
Why we picked the Surface Book 2:
Microsoft’s 15-inch Surface Book 2 reigns supreme as the best overall 2-in-1 choice among large devices. It’s not only the best large 2-in-1, but it’s also one of the best laptops, period.
The Surface Book’s claim to fame has always been its display that can be popped off the keyboard base to become a surprisingly thin, light, and powerful tablet. The keyboard base is more of a dock containing an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 discrete graphics and housing most of the combination’s total 90 watt-hour battery capacity.
Also, the Surface Book 2 introduced Intel’s eighth-generation Intel Core processors, specifically the Core i7-8650U quad-core CPU. It also comes with 16GB of RAM in all of its configurations, and up to a 1TB SSD can be selected. Its power supply limits it from full-on gaming prowess, but it’s great for advanced applications like AutoCAD and Adobe Premier.
