Friday, October 08, 2021
Sometimes you want a tablet and sometimes you want a traditional laptop. Available with 11th Gen Intel processors and a beautiful high-quality display, the Dell XPS 13 9310 2-in-1 is our pick for best 2-in-1 convertible laptop right now. Prices start at $1,652. Be sure to check out our best Windows 11-ready laptops too.
Best overall: Dell XPS 13
The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is a wonderful machine that knows how to do both tablet and laptop computing very well. Its 360-degree hinge makes it super easy to flip around and use as a tablet, or flipped back into a laptop for when you need to get some real work done. It's rocking a 13.4-inch 1080p or 4K display with 11th Gen Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 processor options.
For the best Windows 10 convertible, check out the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1.
For RAM, you can get it configured with 8GB or 16GB of RAM if you need the extra memory for multitasking and intensive tasks. In regard to storage, the XPS 13 2-in-1 is available with a 256GB or 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD drive. These will offer great read and write speeds.
The display is Dolby Vision and HDR 4000 certified, with a 90% DCI P3 color gamut, and even has support for Dell's Premium Active Pen, making it an excellent choice for artists looking to draw on the go. The display is available in both 1080p and 4K resolutions, with touch being standard on all models. We absolutely love this thing.
Reasons to buy:
- Beautiful slim design
- 16:10 touch display
- Excellent keyboard and trackpad
- Pen support
- Intel Xe Graphics
Reasons to not buy:
- No full-size USB-A
Best overall
Dell XPS 13 9310 2-in-1
A slim, premium Windows 2-in-1
The latest Dell XPS 13 is our pick for the best 2-in-1 you can buy right now. It has a beautiful slim design, edge-to-edge infinity display, and top-of-the-line 10th Gen Intel processors to boot.
Runner-up: HP Spectre x360 14
Featuring an incredible 13.5-inch 1080p or "3K2K" 3:2 display in either LCD or OLED technologies, 11th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, 8GB or 16GB RAM, and up to a 2TB SSD, you can't go wrong with the HP Spectre x360 14 for all of your mobile computing needs. It's also a great 2-in-1 for web browsing, light video editing, and productivity work thanks to its 360-degree hinge.
The Spectre x360 14 features Intel's Xe Graphics, which provide up to 80% more GPU power in an Ultrabook. Paired with two Thunderbolt 4 with USB 4 Type-C ports, one USB-A port, and a headphone jack, you'll have access to all the ports you need.
Reasons to buy:
- Unique gem-cut design
- 3:2 touch display
- OLED option
- 3000x2000 display
- Pen included
Reasons to not buy:
- Battery life is just OK with OLED
Runner-up
HP Spectre x360 14
A great, cheaper option
If it weren't for the Dell XPS 13, the Surface Pro 7 would easily be our pick for the best overall convertible laptop. But the presence of the Dell doesn't mean the Surface Pro isn't worthy of consideration!
Best tablet: Surface Pro 8
Sporting a great 13-inch 120Hz 3:2 display, 11th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, up to 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD, you can't go wrong with the Surface Pro 8 for photo editing and more. It's also a great 2-in-1 for web browsing, light video editing, and productivity work if you buy the Microsoft Surface Type cover too.
The Surface Pro 8 uses the same flagship 2-in-1 form factor that was first popularized by Microsoft back in 2012. It features a kickstand around the back and a separate Type Cover accessory that adds a keyboard and trackpad, turning the Surface Pro into a convertible PC.
It even has support for the new Microsoft Surface Slim Pen 2 with haptic support. It can also be had with LTE, though no 5G model is available.
It also has two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a Surface Connect port, and a headphone jack. It also has an upgradable SSD. It has Windows Hello facial recognition and some of the best cameras on a Windows PC today, excellent for video calls while working from home.
Reasons to buy:
- Classic design
- 3:2 touch display
- Pen support
- Colorful accessories
Reasons to not buy:
- No 5G
- Notable bezels
Best tablet
Surface Pro 8
A great, cheaper option
If it weren't for the Dell XPS 13, the Surface Pro 8 would easily be our pick for the best overall convertible laptop. But the presence of the Dell doesn't mean the Surface Pro isn't worthy of consideration!
Powerful PC pick: Surface Laptop Studio
If you're looking for a 2-in-1 that also has power under the hood, the Surface Laptop Studio is the device for you. Featuring an Intel H35 series Intel core i5 or i7, up to 32GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, the Surface Laptop Studio can be your perfect on-the-go workhorse for video and photo editing, creativity work, and more.
Featuring a 14.4-inch 120Hz display, one of the best keyboard we've ever tested, and a haptic touchpad with adjustable levels of intensity, the Surface Laptop Studio is a one of a kind. The display can be pulled forward into stage mode, great for watching content on the couch or a place. It can also be laid flat, which Microsoft calls studio mode.
In studio mode, you can take advantage of the Microsoft Slim Pen 2, which also supports haptics. The laptop features two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a Surface Connect port, and a headphone jack.
Reasons to buy:
- Beautiful form factor
- Powerful processor
- Amazing keyboard/trackpad
- 120Hz display
Reasons to not buy:
- No LTE or 5G option
- Only available in silver
Powerful PC pick
Surface Laptop Studio
A light, stylish 2-in-1 convertible laptop
From $1,599 at Microsoft Store
Surface Laptop Studio is packing a powerful processor, dedicated RTX graphics, up to 32GB RAM, and a beautiful large 120Hz display. Get this if you need power with your 2-in-1.
ARM-powered pick: Surface Pro X
Windows 10 on ARM is still in its infancy stages, meaning some apps might behave slower than usual or not run at all. Still, for the most part, your experience should be smooth if you're just web browsing with Edge, checking email, listening to music, editing Office documents, and watching movies on Netflix on the Surface Pro X.
The Surface Pro X builds on the design that the Surface Pro 7 features, including the same kickstand and 2-in-1 form factor with an optional Type Cover accessory for a keyboard and mouse. The difference is Microsoft has made the screen bigger, 13 inches to be exact, and slimmed down the bezels too, which makes Surface Pro X look like it's from the future.
Also, Microsoft has made the overall thickness of the device slimmer. It's incredibly thin, so thin that there's no room for a full-size USB-A port. It has two USB-C ports and a Surface Connect port, and LTE is built into every model. It's the future of Surface Pro, and we think it looks great.
Reasons to buy:
- Beautiful slim design
- 3:2 edge-to-edge touch display
- Pen support
- Great battery life
Reasons to not buy:
- Not all apps supported
- Only available in black
ARM-powered pick
Surface Pro X 2-in-1
Beautiful convertible with great battery and performance
If you're looking for a true convertible experience with Windows 10 on ARM, the Surface Pro X is your best choice. Thanks to it being powered by ARM, the device can wake and sleep instantly, just like an iPad, and can last much longer on a single charge.
Budget pick: Surface Go 3
The 10.5-inch touch display on the Surface Go 3 is 1920x1280, and there's a front-facing webcam tucked in at the top that's great for video calls. Inside, get an Intel Pentium Gold Processor 6500Y with 4GB or 8GB RAM with 64GB or 128GB storage. Or, upgrade to an Intel Core m3 processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB storage, with optional LTE.
The Surface Go 3 is perfect for students and businesses looking to get work done when out and about. Its small form factor makes it super convenient to carry around, in or out of a bag. Plus, it's cheap, starting at just $399. For that price, you're getting the same premium design found on the Surface Pro, including the same kickstand and Type Cover setup.
It has Windows Hello and excellent webcams. It features a USB-C port, Surface Connect, and a microSD card slot as well for expandable storage. We love the Surface Go, and think it's the best $400 Windows PC you can buy.
Reasons to buy:
- Small PC
- Cheap
- 3:2 touch display
- Premium design
- Windows Hello
Reasons to not buy:
- Not very powerful
- Type Cover is very small
Budget pick
Surface Go 3
A straightforward laptop to tablet on the cheap
If you love the design of the Surface Pro, you'll love the Surface Go 3 from Microsoft. It has the same hinged kickstand to prop up the tablet when the keyboard and touchpad are attached, and it even includes has pen support for inking experiences.
Bottom line
We think the Dell XPS 13 9310 is the best 2-in-1 convertible PC out there right now. It's an excellent laptop, a great tablet, and it's all inside a beautiful premium piece of kit with the latest specifications, a high-quality display, and an excellent keyboard and trackpad set. It even has pen support and a 16:10 touch screen. There's really not much we can fault here.
Our pick
Dell XPS 13 9310 2-in-1
A slim, premium Windows 2-in-1
The latest Dell XPS 13 is our pick for the best 2-in-1 you can buy right now. It has a beautiful slim design, edge-to-edge infinity display, and top of the line 10th Gen Intel processors to boot.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Zac Bowden is a senior editor at Windows Central, which means he covers a wide array of software and hardware here at Windows Central. Joining Mobile Nations in 2016, you can usually find him playing with new Windows 10 builds or secret unreleased prototype devices. Hit him up on Twitter: @zacbowden.
Daniel Rubino is the executive editor of Windows Central. He has been covering Microsoft since 2009, back when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Surface, HoloLens, Xbox, and future computing visions. Follow him on Twitter: @daniel_rubino.
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