Because “Laplet” isn’t a word. YET.
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Not long ago, a laptop with a touchscreen was considered pretty out of place. Sure, it was nice to have the option to tap or scroll with your finger, but there was no real advantage to having a touchscreen since it was often times easier to just use the touchpad. As tablets continued to gain in popularity, and Microsoft admitted it messed up with Windows 8 by going whole hog with touch, the idea of 2-in-1 laptops was born.
The idea is simple; a laptop with a touchscreen that also happens to have a screen that either detaches or rotates 360-degrees, morphing the device into a faux-tablet. In theory this gives you the best of both worlds; a laptop and a tablet, both in the same slim(ish) package. Some 2-in-1s even support Windows Ink, which is a fancy name for software that can recognize a stylus so you can jot down some notes or draw on the display.
Of course a poorly designed 2-in-1 can also give you the worst of both worlds with an expensive, underpowered laptop and a bulky tablet. But luckily weve got you covered, and we’ve done all the research. We’ve narrowed your search down for you with the models listed below.
Here are seven of the best 2-in-1 laptops available right now.
HP Spectre x360
The most recent update to HP’s Spectre x360 13t is a big one, with a price to match. At $1,399, the new x360 comes with the latest Intel Core i7-8550U, a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD, 16GB of LPDDR3 RAM, and an HP Active Stylus. The 360-degree hinge rotates the 13.3-inch HD (1920×1080) display all the way to the back, instantly converting the laptop into a tablet. Other handy features include a fingerprint reader along with power and volume buttons located on the side of the housing, making it easier to wake, login, and adjust volume when in tablet mode.
Surface Book 2
Microsoft’s $1,383 Surface Book 2 is the epitome of a 2-in-1 laptop, and it’s also impressively outfitted despite its slim stature. Not only is it a powerful laptop with a fancy and well-designed hinge, but the screen completely detaches from the keyboard and converts into a dedicated tablet. A 13.5-inch touchscreen display boasts a resolution of 3000×2000, and is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor with a 256GB SSD, 8GB of RAM, and two USB 3.1 ports along with a do-it-all USB Type-C port too. There’s even a full-size SD card reader. Unfortunately, if you want a stylus you’ll need to pay an extra $99 for a Surface Pen directly from Microsoft.
Google Pixelbook
Not a fan of Windows 10? Chrome OS may be for you. Google’s Pixelbook is a well-designed Chromebook that supports stylus input as well as all of Google’s apps and services. At first glance of the spec sheet, it’d be easy to assume this is a Windows 2-in-1. For $999 you get a Pixelbook Pen and a Pixelbook equipped with an Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD storage. But alas, it runs Chrome OS, which might not be as “robust” as Windows but it’s constantly updated with the latest security features, and grants you access to all of the Android app ecosystem too.
Lenovo Yoga 920
Lenovo’s Yoga line has long been synonymous with 2-in-1 laptops for some time now, and with the Lenovo Yoga 920 (13) that trend continues. This particular model comes equipped with an Intel Core i7-8550U processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 256 SSD, and Lenovo’s Active Pen 2 stylus for $1399. The hinges are incredibly unique and look downright cool. A 13.9-inch FHD (1920×1080) display, a couple USB-C ports, and a fingerprint sensor are also included for good measure.
Asus VivoBook Flip 14
For the budget-minded, the Asus VivoBook Flip 14 is a solid option. Priced at $749, the VivoBook Flip 14 is a powerful 2-in-1 with a relatively big display for the price. Asus was able to fit a 14-inch display into the body of a what’s typically a 13-inch laptop thanks to its NanoEdge bezel. The FHD (1920×1080) display has a viewing angle of 178-degrees. Powering this 2-in-1 is an Intel Core i7-7500U, a 1TB HDD, and 8GB of DDR4 RAM. Also included in the box is the ASUS Pen stylus, making this particular model even more appealing.
Acer Spin 5
The Acer Spin 5 is another budget-friendly 2-in-1. Only with this model, you’re getting an 8th generation Intel Core i5-8250U, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The 13.3-inch FHD (1920×1080) display works with a stylus, but it doesn’t appear one is included in this exact listing. Still, there’s a lot of expansion ports, including an HDMI port alongside two USB 3.0 and a lone USB 2.0 port.The Spin 5 does include a fingerprint sensor, but unfortunately it’s in an awkward spot in the corner of the touchpad.
Samsung Notebook 9 Pro
Samsung heard you like a stylus, so it put a stylus inside its laptop. Taking inspiration of the company’s Note smartphone line, the Notebook 9 Pro has an S-Pen tucked into the side of its housing. Press on it and it pops out. Slide it back in until you need it again. The 13-inch model has an Intel Core i5-7200U, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and a 128GB SSD for $929. For a little bit more, you can bump up the internals to a Core i7 CPU and double the storage to 256GB. A lone USB Type-C port is found on this model, accompanied by two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, and a microSD card reader.
Source: IGN PC Articles
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