Microsoft Surface Pro (2024)

Pros

• Entirely removable keyboard
• Excellent battery life that will last for a full workday
• Fast, NPU-powered Snapdragon X processor
• SSD can be removed and replaced
• Get the OLED screen if you can

Cons

• Copilot+PCs come with a suite of gimmicky AI apps
• Smaller screen size than others
• Can get expensive if you upgrade to the faster processor, OLED screen, or bigger SSD

I've been an open book about my love for the new Surface Copilot+PC laptop ever since I first tried it earlier this year. It's my go-to laptop, and this two-in-one can be more or less the same thing depending on which specs you get. The one listed here is on the lower end, using a Snapdragon X Plus CPU with an LCD screen (as opposed to the pricier Snapdragon X Elite with OLED). Of all those potential upgrades, the OLED screen is the one I've found to be the most worth it.

In terms of true tablet potential, I love that this keyboard doesn't just stow away—it detaches completely. This means tablet mode can remain an easygoing, lightweight mode. In terms of design, it's a touch that can't be beat. The AI that powers it all is another question and one with mixed answers.

Regardless of which SKU of the Surface Pro you end up with, you'll be working fast and smart thanks to the neural processing unit (NPU). It reaps the benefits in terms of speed and battery life, but the user experience is harmed by the relentless push of Microsoft's Copilot and other suite of first-party AI apps that not so subtly come preinstalled.

Lenovo Yoga 7

Pros

• Reliable, long-lasting build
• Terabyte storage
• Fast, upgradable CPU
• Spacious 16-inch touch screen

Cons

• On the heavier side at nearly 5 pounds
• 8 gigs of RAM is pushing bare minimum

Lenovo knows laptops. If you want an entry-level PC, it's a great go-to brand, but we'll admit the website isn't the most user-friendly. Stack on top of that the endless number of tweaks and builds and it's easy to get lost and give up quick. So I've made it easy for you.

Amazon is selling this Lenovo Yoga 7 for $670, and it's well worth that. Out of the box, this is an excellent touch-screen laptop. It's got some heft to it, but the processing power and 16-inch screen more than make up for the extra backpack weight. It's pretty snappy, too.

After a while you may notice the machine slowing down to some extent while multitasking. It's a start, but the eight gigabytes of onboard RAM can take you only so far if you're serious about using it as a workhorse.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714

Pros

• One of the better picks for tablet mode
• Included docking kit provides extra storage, too
• Backlit keyboard

Cons

• ChromeOS can be a bother to work around
• 8 GB RAM and 256 GB of SSD storage

If you are approaching this from the other angle and want a more powerful tablet instead of a touchier laptop, this Chromebook is a choice pick. It won't blow you away in terms of its memory and storage capacity, but in terms of performance it will be an upgrade over your current Samsung tablet. For now, it also comes with an external docking kit if you buy on Amazon, where it also happens to be seeing a veritable discount.

I'm not the biggest fan of the native Chromebook OS (it's a bit of a walled garden compared with Windows), but for more casual users it's an easy option. These are the same kind of casual users who won't be bothered by this laptop's other downsides and instead appreciate its touch-screen tablet mode and the backlit keyboard for nighttime browsing in laptop mode.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i

Pros

• A solid PC for under $500
• Lightweight and sturdy as a tablet or laptop
• Free docking station included

Cons

• Lower on storage space than other options
• Windows 11 S isn't the best version of the OS
• Lacks USB-C Charging

If you want to save money but don't want to feel beholden to ChromeOS, Lenovo swoops in once again to save the day. This is far from the best Lenovo laptop on the market; let me make that clear. But if you want it to check certain boxes—has a touch screen, is under $500, has a screen that spins—then this is the only one.

Performance-wise, this isn't exceptional but is pretty standard for a budget Windows machine. It gets the job done without adding unnecessary stuttering and wait time to your online activity. It runs on Windows 11 S, which is a bit more restricted than Windows 11. This is great for older folks and those who already are deeply invested in the Microsoft app ecosystem. Anyone else might want to consider switching operating systems before diving in for real.

HP Spectre x360 16

Pros

• Perfectly capable for business and productivity needs
• Can run modern games at medium graphics settings
• 120Hz refresh-rate display

Cons

• Expensive
• Still no gaming laptop

There still isn't a great option for a touch-screen gaming laptop. The closer you get to a two-in-one, the more the average gamer has to rely on cloud technology like GeForce Now to play modern video games on their laptop. The HP Spectre x360 is not a gaming laptop, but it manages to hit a sweet spot between productivity beast and gamer-friendly PC.

With an i7 core processor, 16 gigs of RAM, and a rare (for a laptop) 120Hz refresh rate, there's a lot going for this laptop in terms of performance. As a business laptop, it's got killer speeds and supports touch controls when you need them. When it comes to gaming, you can do it. Sometimes.

Asus Zenbook Duo

Pros

• A whole second OLED touch screen
• Doesn't sacrifice anything in laptop mode
• Detachable keyboard
• Stylus included

Cons

• Cumbersome for travel
• Doesn't turn into a single tablet easily
• Battery life suffers in most modes

This final, extra special, option is in a league of its own. Well, not entirely. This isn't the only two-in-one laptop with an extra screen—hell, it's not even the only one Asus makes. But when it comes down to which one we're most likely to recommend to our reader, this one keeps coming in first.

The Zenbook Duo has all the power of the Intel Core Ultra 7 (or 9) processor powering two gorgeous OLED screens. It's super modular with options for single and dual displays—the second screen acts as a touch-bar-esque expansion of the keyboard in laptop mode. In laptop mode, it performs like any other Zenbook with the equivalent CPU and RAM. (The Ultra 9 upgrade is also equipped with double the memory.)

The big downsides are form and battery life. If you're looking for something in between a laptop and tablet when it comes to weight and portability, the Zenbook Duo won't fit the bill. Asus has figured out how to power a dual-screen display without performance dipping too much, but the more you use both displays, the more the battery life will suffer.

What to Look for When Buying a 2-in-1 Lapotp

Shopping for laptops is hard. It's many times more complicated than shopping for tablets, which come one-size-fits-all. Laptops are just small computers. Like bigger PCs, two-in-one laptops have a bunch of parts that can be customized before you buy and swapped out later for better ones. When it comes to the basic specs of the PC-buying world, these are the ones you need to know.

Processor (CPU): Computers have multiple processors, but the CPU is your main one. It determines how powerful your machine is. Different CPU manufacturers include Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, and while they all virtually make the same thing, many PC users have their preferences. As a rule of thumb, a processor with a higher number in the name and a higher price tag is going to be faster than something with smaller numbers.

Graphics (GPU): The GPU is the processor that determines graphics and rendering. If you're planning on playing video games on your PC, pay attention to this one.

Memory (RAM): Random-access memory, or RAM, is essentially your computer's short-term recall. Higher RAM helps with buffering and loading times and generally helps you multitask more. For a laptop, eight gigabytes of RAM is serviceable, but 12 and up is really what you should be looking for.

Storage (SSD): Pretty much all modern devices with real storage have a solid-state drive (SSD). The amount determines how much data (how many files, programs, etc.) you will be able to store on your computer. Something like 256 GB is acceptable but low for an SSD. Try aiming for something closer to a terabyte or more.

Operating System (OS): Getting a machine with a default OS that you know how to use is pretty darn important. Most of these options use Windows, but Chromebooks, for example, use ChromeOS. Others may natively run different versions of Windows that may be superior or inferior based on your needs. In case you want a change, you can always download a new operating system, but to be honest it's a big pain.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a laptop docking station?

A handful of these laptops (the Lenovo and Acer options) come with a free docking station. So what is that? It's basically an external device that expand's your laptops port compatibility. Some even have storage space.

What is WUXGA and WQXGA?

Here's the deal. When you see these acronyms, you know you are working with a 16:10 display. Wide ultra extended graphics array and wide quad extended graphics array are both just formats for 1920x1200 and 2560x160 resolutions, respectively, in a 16:10 aspect ratio.

Can I use any stylus on all touch-screen laptops?

Some touch-screen devices come with styluses (or pens), while others don't. Which begs the question: Are all touch-screen pens interchangeable? Unfortunately, no. The standards for this stuff are still pretty all over the place. Some devices like the Acer Chromebooks support the universal stylus initiative (USI), while others quite honestly work best with their own hardware. Galaxy Books only work with Samsung's S pens for example. If you don't want to do your own research, it's best to play it safe and get the brand's matching stylus for the most reliable results.

Why Trust Esquire?

Here at Esquire, we've been poking, prodding, and stress-testing products for a long time. With combined decades of expertise in styleand fashion, groomingproducts, home electronics, and entertainment, we know what our readers are looking for, allowing us to recommend the best techfor your hard-earned money.

On a basic level, a PC is just like a T-shirt. It needs to look good and it needs to do what it says it will do. Reliably, again and again. In the case of electronics, that second part is a lot more complicated. That's why we're here. From cheap headphonesto pricier essentials like smartwatches, we compile our guides by doing heavy research and testing so you don't have to waste your time and money.