3 Best Detachable Laptops in 2024

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Amazing 2 in 1 detachable laptops for business and fun

top detachable laptop

Many people prefer tablets for dealing with regular tasks as they usually cost less and amaze with portability so valued in the modern world. However, if you are interested in fulfilling more serious tasks or want to have a robust device at your disposal with a keyboard and a nice selection of ports, you should give up the idea of buying a tablet and opt for a laptop. There is a separate segment of detachable laptops that combine the best of tablets and standard laptops, so they can fully satisfy users looking for a compact yet powerful device.

Top 3 Detachable Laptops of 2024

  1. Microsoft Surface Book - With Core i7
  2. Microsoft Surface Go - With SSD
  3. Microsoft Surface Pro - With removable screen

Using 2 in 1 detachable laptops, you get to enjoy the computing power of a full-featured device packed into a compact body of a tablet. This is a reasonable choice for most everyday tasks considering that such laptops come with all must-have features you typically expect from such a device. We have studied the modern market and named 3 best detachable laptops you should purchase.

1. Microsoft Surface

Best detachable laptop tablet with Core i7
detachable laptop surface book

CPU: Intel Core i7 | GPU: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 15-inch | Weight: 3.4 pound

  • ✚ Amazing detachable design
  • ✚ Top-notch graphics processor
  • ✚ Lots of configuration variants
  • ✚ Well-designed keyboard
  • Expensive
  • Keyboard base is rather heavy
Rating

This laptop with removable keyboard is a logical continuation of the company’s 5-year plan aimed at creating the “ultimate laptop” that is claimed to be a mixture of a tablet and a keyboard base. Such a system is designed with users’ needs in mind and can fully assist you in your creative, work-related and entertainment needs. Frankly speaking, the developer demonstrated nice progress by creating a do-it-all device that is being improved and developed to surpass niche rivals. With a 15″ display and Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti GPU, it is a worthy option to consider. The Quadro RTX makes Microsoft Surface a suitable variant if you are searching for a portable workstation. The RTX hardware allows for real-time ray tracing, which is a solid argument in favor of this model if you are engaged in graphics design.

2. Microsoft Surface Go

Laptop with SSD
detachable laptop surface go

CPU: Intel Pentium | GPU: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB | Display: 10-inch | Weight: pound

  • ✚ Solid construction
  • ✚ Small size and weight
  • ✚ Runs Windows apps
  • ✚ Wonderful keyboard case
  • Too narrow
  • Lacks standard USB ports
Rating

Microsoft Surface Go 2 has undergone serious changes and can easily surpass not only its predecessor but many modern laptops with detachable screen. The most praise-worthy upgrades have touched its computing performance, a display that has become significantly larger, and battery life. Such a boost in specs has made it one of the most demanded Windows 2-in-1 laptops in 2020. Though such improvements come at a price, Surface Go 2 amazes with more capabilities that an iPad offers and universal design if compared with conventional laptops. Actually, it can easily win the title of the best detachable laptop in the midrange category. The front of the device is presented by a 10.5″ touch screen, while the edges are occupied by ports, a power button and a volume rocker.

3. Microsoft Surface

Best laptop with removable screen
detachable laptop surface pro

CPU: Intel Core i5 | GPU: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 12-inch | Weight: 1.7 pound

  • ✚ Up to 10.5 hours of work
  • ✚ USB-C port
  • ✚ Dual far-reaching mics
  • ✚ Amazing keyboard cover
  • Without Wi-Fi 6
  • Separately purchased keyboard
  • Not for users with a tight budget
Rating

You can hardly notice any differences in design if you put Microsoft Surface Pro 7 and a previous model side by side, but there is still one improvement that can be a deal-breaker – USB-C. Other features that the manufacturer has worked on are mics and overall performance, but they both come at the expense of battery life. In fact, this detachable laptop tablet is a great option for users awaiting the introduction of a new port, but otherwise, there is no reason to spend almost 800 bucks on it. Though the market is full of more advanced devices that catch the eye with flashy design and promising filling, Surface Pro 7 is still difficult to beat.

IMAGE NAME FEATURES
detachable laptop microsoft surface book
Microsoft Surface Book
Professional
  • CPU: Intel Core i7
  • GPU: Intel HD Graphics
  • RAM:16GB
  • Storage: 256GB
CHECK PRICE
detachable laptop microsoft surface go
Microsoft Surface Go
Budget
  • CPU: Intel Pentium
  • GPU: Intel HD Graphics
  • RAM:4GB
  • Storage: 64GB
CHECK PRICE
detachable laptop microsoft surface pro
Microsoft Surface Pro
Our Choice
  • CPU: Intel Core i5
  • GPU: Intel HD Graphics
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 256GB
CHECK PRICE

How to Choose the Best Detachable Laptop?

best detachable laptop

Operating System

While looking for laptops with detachable screens, there are many things to keep in mind, but the feature that can greatly influence your experience is the OS it runs. Simply put, it is the interface through which you “communicate” with your laptop, open programs, perform various tasks, etc. The most popular OS is Windows. Finding a Windows 10 detachable laptop is really easy nowadays. Such brands as Acer, HP, Dell, Lenovo produce numerous machines compatible with this OS.

Mac OS is specifically developed for Apple products. It is also popular among users and has many advantages to brag about.

The third place is occupied by Chrome OS that comes preinstalled on all Chromebooks. Actually, this is the newest operating system, but it masterfully invades the market. It is advertised as a browser-tied OS that works mainly off the cloud (online), particularly through Google’s own pack of apps and services, e.g. Google Drive or Gmail.

best detachable laptop

Hardware (Specs)

The hardware is like a brain in your laptop’s body that controls and affects its performance while handling all sorts of tasks. The processor (CPU) and memory (RAM) influence the speed and effectiveness of a laptop when you hop from one activity to another or perform several tasks at once. The storage (HHD or SSD) defines the space that a laptop has for files.

The graphics processor (GPU) is responsible for the laptop’s efficiency when it comes to rendering videos and 3D visuals for games. Many devices, especially those belonging to the low & midrange groups, use the so-called internal graphics that shares RAM with the CPU rather than a dedicated GPU. When we talk about the sharpness characteristics of a detachable laptop, we mean pixel density. A widely accepted standard is 1080p known as Full HD. All the specs described above impact the battery life of a laptop. The average duration is 8 hours, but that is OK for devices meant for regular tasks, when it comes to gaming machines, this indicator must be higher.

Size

Shopping for a detachable laptop, you probably want a performant device that won’t occupy much space. A smaller model is a more suitable option if you tend to relocate often and don’t want to carry a bulky laptop. However, a larger device has a bigger display, which is a must for photo and video editing, playing games, and other activities when you need to stare at a screen for several hours. Standard sizes of laptops are 13 and 15 inches, but you can also find 11″ and 17″ models.

FAQ

  • • What’s the point of buying a 2-in-1 laptop?

Hybrid devices boast such advantages as a small weight, touchscreen displays, and reversible hinges. If this sounds like something you can’t do without, then you surely need to buy this device. Actually, 2-in-1 laptops make online browsing, binge-watching, and even working more comfortable.

  • • Should I prefer a tablet to a laptop?

A tablet has a smaller screen and lacks some important components if we compare it with a laptop. But it works longer without recharging and shows higher speeds.

  • • How long can I use a tablet?

According to the predictions, an average tablet is likely to work for 6.47 years in 2023. Then, you need to replace your gadget.

  • • Should you turn off your tablet at night?

If you want to prolong the life of your tablet, you can turn it off at night, but such a decision conflicts with the main idea behind a tablet - to have a device capable of instant powering-on from standby. If you want to conserve power at night, just turn off Wi-Fi and 3G. 

Robin Owens

Tech and Hardware Specialist

Robin Owens is FixThePhoto’s first person for all things tech and hardware our team of managers and retouchers use. Growing up in a tech-savvy family, she had all new gadgets as toys from an early age. This created her lifelong interest in PCs and photography-related devices too. After earning her Journalism degree from the University of Kansas, Robin began her career writing tech reviews and guides for local publications, eventually joining FixThePhoto in 2018.

Read Robin's full bio

Tetiana Kostylieva

Head Editor

Tetiana Kostylieva is the Head Editor and Content Creator of all FixThePhoto blog articles, bringing years of creativity and expertise to the team. Her career started in 2013 as a caricature artist at events in New York, where she honed her eye for detail and her ability to connect with people. Now, she leads our editorial team, testing new ideas and ensuring every piece of content is both helpful and engaging.

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