The 10 best 2-in-1 laptops of 2017: the best hybrid laptops ranked

Update: Stacked with the same HQ series Intel Core i processors wielded by the 15-inch MacBook Pro, we’ve added the similarly sized Lenovo Yoga 720 to our list at number 5. Read on to find out more!

Convertible and detachable 2-in-1 laptops may have been around for only a handful of years now, but pretty much everyone has taken a liking to them. These tablets-that-double-as-laptops aren’t as limited in functionality as iPads and Android slates, and are far more versatile than traditional notebook computers, like the Surface Laptop.

• The best laptops aren't limited to 2-in-1s and hybrids

All of the top 2-in-1 laptops ship with Windows 10 pre-installed which, yes, despite previous reports, you can still use to unleash your inner visionary in Microsoft Paint. This is especially worth noting for the sake of hybrid notebooks, which are often either bundled with a pen or sold separately from a first-party stylus that’s recommended for them.

Then again, not all of the best 2-in-1 laptops are the same. Some are bundled with styluses and detachable keyboards while others are strapped to 360-degree hinges. All, however, are riddled with touch-specific features, like Windows Ink and Tablet Mode, with the best of the bunch also being powerful enough to rival Apple’s MacBook Pro. 

Introductions out of the way, these are the best 2-in-1 laptops of 2017:

• Samsung Notebook 9 Pro
• HP Spectre x360
• Microsoft Surface Book i7
• Samsung Notebook 7 Spin
• Asus ZenBook Flip UX360
• HP Spectre x360 15
• Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1
• Lenovo Yoga 720
• Lenovo Yoga 910
• Lenovo Yoga 900S

The Samsung Notebook 9 Pro can go head-to-head with the 15-inch MacBook Pro, and for a substantially lower cost. Though it’s limited to only one configuration, albeit across two different sizes, the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro is as powerful as it is pragmatic. Defined in part by its inclusion of the S-Pen, this heavy-hitting hybrid is every bit as capable as Microsoft’s Surface Book and without the need to recharge its stylus.

Read the full review: Samsung Notebook 9 Pro

• This product is only available in the US as of this writing. UK and AU readers: check out a fine alternative in the HP Spectre x360 15.

With Kaby Lake now ruling the roost in terms of CPUs, HP decided it’s high time to flip the switch on its Spectre 2-in-1. With an overhauled keyboard and suave new logo, the HP Spectre x360 holds its own against anything Apple can show. At the same time, none of this stifles the battery life, which exceeds 8 hours of straight use. What’s more, the HP Spectre x360 can now be configured with a 4K screen and 1TB of SSD storage, too.

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360

Toting the same design as the original Surface Book, the Surface Book i7 hasn’t done away with the controversial fulcrum hinge, but it does boast 131% better graphics and a 20% improved battery life. For creative professionals with an artistic side, this is tempting. So long as it’s necessary for your workflow, it may be worth the lofty price of admission, too, even if you’re getting the short end of the stick in memory and SSD space.

Read the full review: Surface Book i7

Equipped with a Skylake i7 CPU and discrete Nvidia graphics, the Samsung Notebook 7 Spin is nearly as fashionable and powerful as a MacBook Pro, but for roughly half the cost. With all the trackpad real estate in the world paired with a snazzy, full-size keyboard, the Samsung Notebook 7 is a real treat even without accounting for the fact that it’s a 2-in-1. You’ll flip once you realize that your laptop does too – and with an HDR-capable screen at that.

Read the full review: Samsung Notebook 7 Spin 

• This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Asus ZenBook Flip UX360.  

If the 13-inch Lenovo Yoga 720 is a caterpillar, the 15-inch model is a majestic butterfly, freshly hatched from its cocoon. Outfitted with the choice between only the best HQ series Core i5 and i7 processors, this 2-in-1 is competitive spec-wise with the 15-inch MacBook Pro while remaining but a fraction of the cost of Apple’s flagship machine. What’s more, it even has the ports you know and love in addition to the still-blossoming USB Type-C interface.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 720 (15-inch)

Unlike the Asus ZenBook Flip UX305 before it, the ZenBook Flip UX360 ditches the MacBook Air doppelgänger approach in favor of a hybrid design with a whole array of ports. Everything from USB-A to USB-C is present, along with micro HDMI and a microSD card reader. At the same time, it doesn't neglect the wholly aluminum chassis of yesteryear, ultimately making the ZenBook Flip UX360 an excellent value.

Read the full review: Asus ZenBook Flip UX360

More than just a basic hardware refresh, the HP Spectre x360 is as easy on the eyes as it is to use. Because the keyboard feels natural to the touch, there’s no debate as to whether this 2-in-1 is better as a laptop or as a tablet; it comes equally recommended as both. If it made a peep, what with its silent fans and subdued chiclet keys, the HP Spectre x360 15 may even garner a few jealous stares.

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360 15

The Lenovo Yoga 720 is a rare instance of a hybrid that feels just as homely as a laptop as it does a tablet. Although it’s the kind that flips 360 degrees rather than toting a detachable hinge, the modest pricing and formidable design choices more than make up for a notebook that comes easily recommended, even if the ports are notably limited to two USB-C’s and a single USB 3.0 slot. So, of course, you’ll be on the prowl for adapters.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 720

• This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Dell Inspiron 13 7000.

Lenovo has knocked it out of the park once again with the Yoga 910. A sharper, more contemporary design is complemented by not only an Ultra HD screen, but one that’s 13.9 inches big with super-slim bezels to boot. Although the battery life comes in short, it’s one of the few remaining 2-in-1s to keep classic USB ports intact. Plus, the speakers aren’t half bad.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 910

The 12.5-inch display, the USB-C port and even the Intel Core-m chip on the inside reeks of the controversial, yet incredibly lightweight MacBook, yet the Lenovo Yoga 900S is so much more despite a lacking keyboard and trackpad. For one, you get access to full-size USB 3.0 ports in addition to the Type-C interface. Better yet, the highest end version ships with an m7 processor and 1440p display and costs less than MacBook's comparatively specced built-to-order model.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 900S

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article

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