By Robin Owens 21 days ago, Hardware
If you're looking for the best hybrid laptops, check out our product ratings.
If you need to find a portable laptop that can be used as a tablet, take a closer look at hybrid models. Besides being extremely portable, they are perfectly suitable for work-related tasks and leisure activities.
There is no need to spend all day at your desk, as you can take a hybrid laptop with you wherever you go. To find a perfect option for your needs, read on to learn more about the best hybrid laptops available on the market today.
Every hybrid laptop can also be used in tent mode, which makes it perfect for watching movies. These devices are great for designers as they allow users to create quick sketches and complex graphics without hassle. As such models have 2 form factors, it will help you avoid buying two devices.
The newest models released in 2024 have impressive sets of specs, which enables them to cope even with the most demanding tasks with ease. Make sure to read this article to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of hybrid laptops and pick an option that suits you most.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Processor | GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 14-inch | Weight: 3.63 pounds
⊕ Amazing display
⊕ Remarkable battery capacity
⊕ Decent keyboard and touchpad
⊕ Integrated fingerprint reader
⊖ Unimpressive design
⊖ A noisy cooling system
⊖ An upgraded version is expensive
The Lenovo Flex 5 15 is a great option for people who intend to purchase a reliable laptop. It’s fitted with a 15.6-inch touchscreen and a convenient keyboard with backlit keys. You will enjoy the amazing sound quality and storage capacity. After testing this laptop, I can confirm that it has a good battery life, as I was able to use it a whole day without plugging it in. The only thing that I don’t like is the design. Besides, the cooling system might be pretty noisy when the laptop is under load.
Similarly to other best hybrid laptops on this list, the Flex 5 15 can be used in tablet mode, you need just to flip its screen. However, as it weighs 4.4 pounds, it seems pretty heavy and less convenient to use if you compare it to tablets.
CPU: Intel Quad-Core Pentium N5000 Processor | GPU: Intel | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 128GB | Display: 14-inch | Weight: 3.3 pounds
⊕ Stylish aluminum design
⊕ Great battery life
⊕ Virtually noiseless fans
⊕ Decent sound quality
⊖ Limited storage space
⊖ Subpar performance
The Asus VivoBook Flip 14 is a cheap laptop that costs around $400. While you are unlikely to be impressed with its storage capacity and mediocre processor, it’s still a decent solution for those who are looking for an affordable device. The Core m3 CPU can’t handle photo and video editing well. Its storage capacity is also rather unimpressive, so you will need to keep your photos and videos in the cloud or on an external drive. The device comes with 64 GB eMMC flash storage, but you can use only 24.9 GB as the rest is taken by OS. It delivers better performance than the Acer Spin 1 but costs $200 more, has worse battery life and fewer ports.
Unlike other more powerful 2 in 1 hybrid laptops, the VivoBook Flip 14 is hardly suitable for creating media content, however, you can use it for watching movies and listening to music. Despite some disadvantages, it has a nice design and delivers great sound quality.
CPU: Intel Core i5 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 14-inch | Weight: 3.50 lbs
⊕ Solid build quality
⊕ A touch screen rotates 360 degrees
⊕ High-quality stereo sound
⊕ IPS display
⊖ No Ethernet support
⊖ Subpar battery life
⊖ 1-year warranty
The HP Pavilion x360 14t is a convertible laptop with a 14-inch screen that can be used for solving work-related tasks, playing games or casual Internet browsing.
You will be impressed by its speedy SSD and 1 TB hard drive, which are rare for budget hybrid laptops. If you need more storage space, you can replace both drives. However, to do this, you will need to disassemble the case.
CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7 | GPU: Intel | RAM: 15GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 15-inch | Weight: 7.79 pounds
⊕ Impressive performance
⊕ Noiseless cooling system
⊕ Impressive battery capacity
⊕ A convenient detachable tablet
⊖ Overly expensive
⊖ Some hardware issues
The Microsoft Surface Book 3 comes with a powerful processor and a decent GPU. However, its other specs are pretty similar to those that can be found in earlier versions. Despite this minor disadvantage, this hybrid gaming laptop is equally suitable for watching videos, playing recent titles and working on graphics.
It delivers speedy performance, boasts amazing battery capacity and image quality. Featuring a 4-core 10th Gen Intel processor and an Nvidia GPU, it also comes with a high-resolution PixelSense screen that supports a Surface Pen.
CPU: Intel Core i5 | GPU: Intel| RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Display: 12.3-inch | Weight: 1.1 pound
⊕ High-speed Intel 10th Gen CPU
⊕ The battery life of up to 10.5 hours
⊕ USB-C support
⊕ Dual far-field mics
⊖ A keyboard and pen cost extra
⊖ No Thunderbolt 3 support
⊖ Outdated design, if compared to the Surface Pro X
The Surface Pro 7 is the newest addition to Microsoft’s series of flagship laptops. While some users might opt for the Pro X instead, this earlier version still has plenty of strong points. The design might seem a bit dated, but the laptop has a set of impressive features.
It supports USB-C and features Intel’s Ice Lake processor that delivers impressive performance. If you compare it with the earlier versions, you will see that the manufacturer hasn’t upgraded this model significantly. Despite its unimpressive design, this laptop is a great value for the money if you take into account its CPU.
CPU: Intel Core i3 | GPU: Integrated | RAM: 4 GB | Storage: 64GB | Display: 13,3-inch | Weight: 2.97 pounds
⊕ Great value for the money
⊕ Amazing keyboard
⊕ Good battery life
⊖ Decent display
⊖ Limited RAM and storage
The Flex 5 Chromebook released by Lenovo is considered to be the best cheap hybrid laptops available on the market today. At $409, it costs less than some budget options with similar specs, however, you shouldn’t expect advanced functionality. It is fitted with a decent display and keyboard.
Besides, its processor is powerful enough for complex tasks. The laptop comes with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, which might be insufficient for some users, but if you are willing to overlook these shortcomings, it’s a perfect option for those who are on a budget.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lenovo Flex
Our Choice |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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ASUS Vivobook Flip
Affordable |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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HP Pavilion x360
Touchscreen |
CHECK PRICE → |
Before making your choice, think carefully about which type of laptop suits you most. If you intend to use a laptop for work-related tasks and leisure activities, you will enjoy using a convertible device that can be used as a tablet. Among hybrids, I recommend you take a closer look at the Lenovo Yoga C940, Dell XPS 13 and HP Spectre x360 13.
Those who want to carry a laptop around need to find a small-sized device with a high-quality display and an easy-to-detach keyboard. The best options among such convertible models are Microsoft Surface laptops and the iPad Pro from Apple. If you are a designer, you can also purchase a proper tablet as such devices take up even less space than hybrid laptops and attach a special keyboard for designers when needed.
After deciding on a tablet or laptop that suits your needs, think about how powerful it has to be. If you want to purchase a device with advanced specs, make sure to consider models that come with Intel’s U-series or H-series Core i5 processors. Besides, a good laptop should have at least 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. AMD 4000-series CPUs are also pretty decent so you can buy a model equipped with them as well.
A great battery capacity is a must for any decent hybrid laptop. If you often need to work at the library or anywhere where it might be difficult to plug your device in, you need to purchase a laptop with good battery life. It’s better to purchase a model with at least 9 hours of battery life, as it will be perfect for students and those who often need to work on the go.
It’s believed that Lenovo was the first company to come up with the idea of hybrid laptops. In 2010, they released the U1 laptop with a detachable screen that could be used as a tablet. Other companies were slow to follow suit, but now hybrid laptops are a common sight.
A typical 2-in-1 computer comes with a display and detachable keyboard, which allows people to use it both as a laptop computer and tablet. When people are talking about hybrid computers, they usually refer to 2-in-1 PC.
For most users, the main disadvantage of such devices is their price. Each model comes with a set of extra cables, pricey circuits and hubs, which affects the overall price.
Hybrid computers combine the best advantages of analog and digital devices. Thanks to their digital component acting as a controller, you can solve logical operations with ease. The analog components allow solving differential equations.
