Tablet laptops, which are also called convertibles or 2-in-1 laptops, are in essence two PCs for the price of one. They feature two convenient modes that include the traditional laptop with its clamshell design and a detachable tablet, a blended form factor that is ideal for multiple uses.
While there are pros and cons to both form factors taken alone, the beauty of the 2-in-1 is that you’re getting the performance and functionality of the laptop combined with the portability and long battery life of the tablet.
There are two kinds of 2-in-1 laptops:
Detachable – These hybrid laptops detach for use as a tablet and feature both a touch screen and a physical keyboard.
Convertible – These laptops bend backwards with 360-degree rotating hinges that protect the display and keyboard in four convenient modes that include:
Laptop: the default mode with an angled display and flat keyboard, which is perfect for traditional uses like typing, creating, playing, gaming, etc.
Tablet: the display folds against the back of the keyboard, offering touch screen functionality for drawing, creating, reading, taking notes, and more
Tent: the keyboard is hidden and the screen is rotated and optimized for touch screen use
Stand: this mode flips the keyboard back as a stand for hands-free use and presentations
HP® offers a variety of choices within the broad category of 2-in-1 laptops, both detachable and convertible laptops, that include best value 2-in-1 laptops, entry-level models, premium, and business categories.
For this article, we’re going to call out just 5 of the best 2-in-1 laptop tablets on the market, with suggestions for best use for each price point. So here they are, 5 of the top tablet laptop combos.
One of the best laptop tablets for college and secondary school students is the HP Chromebook x360 11 G2 EE. This durable, versatile, and adaptable laptop enables collaboration and blended learning via the intuitive Chrome operating system, access to Android apps, and downloadable HP Classroom Manager software.
Its 360-degree hinge supports typing, writing, touching, drawing, and capturing interactions across four modes perfect for the college student – laptop, tablet, tent, and stand.
Powerful, long-lasting performance
The HP Chromebook x360 11 G2 EE features the latest multi-core Intel® Celeron® processors (including either the dual-core N4000 or the quad-core N4100), up to 8GB of SDRAM memory, and from 32GB to 64GB of internal storage space.
Enjoy a long battery life of up to 11 hours and 45 minutes so you can study, work, search, collaborate, and stream throughout the school day and even longer. And HP Fast Charge Technology lets you recharge it to 90% in only 90 minutes.
A form factor for education
Choose from among four modes, including the traditional notebook clamshell, tablet, stand, or tent. Its 11.6-inch diagonal High Definition (HD) IPS BrightView LED UWVA slim touch screen display lets you take notes, annotate, learn concepts, and solve problems on screen with integrated touch technology.
An optional digitizer and HP Wacom EMR Pen support natural writing and drawing. The display’s Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 helps protect the laptop from damage and breakage.
Compact, yet robust
At 0.83-inches and with a weight that starts at 3.24 lbs, this HP Chromebook is compact yet robust. It has an anchored, pick-proof, and minor spill-resistant keyboard to help prevent everyday wear and tear, water intrusion, and tampering. Made with shock-absorbing molded rubber trim, it also passes MIL-STD 810G8 and IP 419 testing and nearly 3-foot-drops on concrete.
Perfect for the classroom
The HP Chromebook x360 features the easy-to-use, student-friendly Chrome OS, which offers automatic software updates and virus protection, as well as access to the Google Play Store and Android apps.
There are quite literally thousands, and counting, of downloadable and shareable innovative education apps available. HP Classroom Manager software also lets educators and others take control of the classroom, manage class PCs, and allow students to collaborate.
Like the HP Chromebook x360, the HP Pavilion x360 15t is a convertible laptop tablet combo with 360-degree-rotating, strong, adjustable, and innovatively engineered hinges that protect both the display and the keyboard.
The HP Pavilion x360 packs more power than the HP Chromebook, however, and features more screen real estate with a 15.6-inch display.
See more on the screen
The HP Pavilion x360 15t has a 15.6-inch diagonal Full HD (FHD), IPS WLED-backlit, multitouch-enabled, three-sided, micro-edge display that lets you pack your screen with files, photos, videos, and much more.
In laptop mode, you’ve got a full-size island-style backlit keyboard and precision touchpad support. And in tablet, stand, and tent modes, you can control the laptop easily from the touch screen.
Memory and storage for all your needs
The HP Pavilion x360 has plenty of memory and storage for your music libraries, photos, videos, games, and more. It features 8GB memory (RAM) that’s customizable up to 16GB and storage that starts with a 1TB 5400 rpm SATA hard drive and offers various customizable configurations, including:
128GB M.2 solid-state drive (SSD)
2TB 5400 rpm SATA
1TB 5400 rpm SATA and 16GB Intel® Optane™ memory
1TB 5400 rpm SATA and 128GB M.2 SSD
1TB 5400 rpm SATA and 256GB M.2 SSD
512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Power to do more
It starts with a reasonable dual-core Intel Core i3 8145U with a 2.1 GHz base frequency and up to 3.9 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology and 4MB cache and an Intel UHD Graphics 630 graphics card. If you’re looking for more power, it’s customizable up to a quad-core i7 8565U (with a 1.8 GHz base frequency and up to 4.6 GHz) and AMD Radeon 535 graphics card with 4GB of video memory (VRAM).
Work easily on the go
This HP Pavilion performs but it doesn’t take up tons of room while doing so. It’s thin and light at only 4.39 lbs, and 0.81 inches tall. Work on-the-go effortlessly thanks to a battery life of up to 8 hours and 30 minutes and included wireless technology and Bluetooth.
You’ll also be equipped with the tools for multimedia experiences with dual speakers and HP Audio Boost with Audio by B&O Play and an HP Wide Vision FHD Camera with a dual-array digital microphone.
One of the best business tablet-laptop combos, and another excellent choice in the convertible category, is the HP Spectre x360 15t touch. This premium device is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, crafted from the powerful yet beautiful HP Spectre line, which offers excellent performance, durability, reliability, and portability.
A powerhouse convertible
This HP Spectre x360 is equipped with a powerful and efficient central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) combo: a quad-core Intel Core i7-8565U CPU and the NVIDIA® GeForce MX150 GPU with 2GB VRAM.
The NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics card is built on the Pascal architecture, which is one of NVIDIA’s most powerful computer architectures, to help increase speed and efficiency. The HP Spectre x360 15t touch also has 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage, with the choice to customize:
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
512GB or 1TB Intel SSD plus 32GB Intel Optane memory
Form meets function
The HP Spectre x360 15t laptop is not just functional. It blends form and function by merging premium components with sophisticated design elements like the beautifully crafted, iconic gem-cut aluminum chassis.
This chiseled and angular profile also boasts a lightweight frame. At only 4.81 lbs and 0.76-inches high, the laptop is ultra-slim and portable. In addition, it will help you power through your day with a battery life of up to 13 hours and 45 minutes.
Pixels that go to work for you
The screen on this laptop is a 15.6-inch diagonal Ultra HD (UHD) or 4K IPS micro-edge WLED-backlit display that features more than 8 million pixels. All of these pixels give you crisper colors, images, and text that lets you accomplish several things.
This laptop is customizable, so you can also upgrade to the 15.6-inch diagonal 4K UWVA BrightView micro-edge AMOLED multitouch-enabled display.
Work confidently and securely
With the HP Spectre x360 15t, you can work confidently knowing that your information is secure and private. It provides smart technology for enhanced security features:
Fingerprint Reader: Log on to your laptop easily, with just the touch of a finger, to keep your information private and secure
HP Wide Vision FHD IR webcam: Video chat with an 88-degree, wide-angle field of view via easy log in to Windows Hello
Privacy Camera Kill Switch: Turn off your laptop camera with an actual physical switch to safeguard your privacy
HP Sure View Privacy Screen: This optional integrated screen lets you keep your confidential information private by making your screen appear dark to everyone but you
The HP ENVY line of notebooks is appropriately named. They rival the power and style of some of the more expensive laptops, but they are focused on value. Attractively designed, yet thin and portable, HP ENVY notebooks feature incredibly long-lasting battery life, durability, and connectivity.
The performance “wow” factor
The HP ENVY x2 12-inch detachable PC features a powerful 7th Generation dual-core i5-7Y54 processor with a 1.2 GHz base frequency and up to 3.2 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology.
This CPU enables incredible speeds and fast transitions between applications. It has an integrated Intel HD Graphics 615 graphics card to help you easily keep pace with your multi-tasking demands while rendering all of your on-screen visuals smoothly and vividly.
With 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD storage, you can boot up in seconds, transfer files without long wait times, and enjoy a faster experience.
On display
The 12.3-inch diagonal display is WUXGA+ IPS BrightView WLED-backlit touch screen that helps you transform your content with amazingly high detail and 178-degree wide-viewing angles. The display is also made with edge-to-edge Corning Gorilla Glass. This strong and durable glass offers more protection to stand up to daily scrapes or bumps.
Ultraportable design
The HP ENVY x2 is truly portable thanks to an all-metal design with aluminum housing. It features not only quality materials that are built to last, but also a sleek design with polished accents.
At only 0.31 inches high and 2.71 lbs, you can take this thin and light laptop virtually anywhere. It features an innovative magnetic hinge design that supports multiple viewing angles, to elevate both your laptop and tablet experiences.
Long-lasting battery and connections
The battery life on this 2-in-1 redefines mobility. It has an exceptional battery life of up to 17 hours and 30 minutes with mixed usage and up to 19 hours of video playback. And charge it to nearly 90% charge in approximately 90 minutes with HP Fast Charge.
Work and play from just about anywhere thanks to a powerful 4G LTE connection. You’ll never need to search for WiFi again. And with the latest 802.11 a/c (2x2) WiFi adapter and Bluetooth 4.2, your connections are rock solid and up to 6 times faster than 802.11n (1x1).
Unleash creativity
In tablet mode, notetaking and drawing feel as natural as pen on paper. The HP ENVY x2 includes an HP Digital Pen so that you can write, sketch, blend, and navigate with smooth control and amazing accuracy. Its pressure-sensitive tip provides a natural pen-to-paper feel, and produces a range of shading and coloring effects.
The HP ZBook x2 G4 detachable workstation is one of the best HP tablet laptops for business and is, in fact, HP’s most powerful detachable PC. It functions as a business laptop for a full-performance workstation-class laptop experience with a full-sized Bluetooth keyboard and integrated stand.
When detached, the keyboard stays active so you can continue working. And in tablet mode, you can use HP Quick Keys to keep working with your favorite Adobe apps without using the keyboard.
Performance packed
The HP ZBook x2 features the latest 8th Generation Intel Core i7 8550U quad-core processor with up to 4.2 GHz of turbo boost at your fingertips. Both integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 and discrete NVIDIA Quadro M620 GPUs offer professional graphics performance that delivers real-time visualization of multi-layered artwork and creative projects. A dual-fan active cooling system is designed to dissipate the heat from both the CPU and GPU.
Loads of memory and storage capacity
With 32GB RAM, this HP ZBook provides twice the memory capacity of any other HP detachable PC. It also features a 512GB HP Z Turbo Drive PCIe SED SSD storage, which is up to 6 times faster than SATA SSD and 21 times faster than traditional HDD storage. And with up to 2TB of local PCIe storage, you can work anywhere with confidence.
Stunning display
This HP ZBook features HP's most advanced detachable PC display. The screen is an HP Dream Color 14-inch diagonal 4K IPS anti-glare touch screen. This stunning display immerses you in 1 billion colors and lets you work in any lighting conditions.
Uninterrupted creativity
Make every stroke count and create without interruption with a professional Wacom EMR pen. With natural tilt and almost zero latency, this pen features 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. So it feels like you’re actually using a pencil on paper. And it conveniently never needs charging.
The HP ZBook x2 gives you 18 configurable keys around the screen, so you can drastically cut down the time spent working on a given project. With HP Quick Keys, you can, for instance, turn touch functionality on and off, lock and unlock, easily change brush size and hardness, pan and zoom, and see full-screen previews.
About the Author: Jolene Dobbin is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Jolene is an East Coast-based writer with experience creating strategic messaging, marketing, and sales content for companies in the high-tech industry.
Prices, specifications, availability and terms of offers may change without notice. Price protection, price matching or price guarantees do not apply to Intra-day, Daily Deals or limited-time promotions. Quantity limits may apply to orders, including orders for discounted and promotional items. Despite our best efforts, a small number of items may contain pricing, typography, or photography errors. Correct prices and promotions are validated at the time your order is placed. These terms apply only to products sold by HP.com; reseller offers may vary. Items sold by HP.com are not for immediate resale. Orders that do not comply with HP.com terms, conditions, and limitations may be cancelled. Contract and volume customers not eligible.
HP’s MSRP is subject to discount. HP’s MSRP price is shown as either a stand-alone price or as a strike-through price with a discounted or promotional price also listed. Discounted or promotional pricing is indicated by the presence of an additional higher MSRP strike-through price
The following applies to HP systems with Intel 6th Gen and other future-generation processors on systems shipping with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 Pro systems downgraded to Windows 7 Professional, Windows 8 Pro, or Windows 8.1: This version of Windows running with the processor or chipsets used in this system has limited support from Microsoft. For more information about Microsoft’s support, please see Microsoft’s Support Lifecycle FAQ at https://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle
Ultrabook, Celeron, Celeron Inside, Core Inside, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Atom, Intel Atom Inside, Intel Core, Intel Inside, Intel Inside Logo, Intel vPro, Itanium, Itanium Inside, Pentium, Pentium Inside, vPro Inside, Xeon, Xeon Phi, Xeon Inside, and Intel Optane are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries.
In-home warranty is available only on select customizable HP desktop PCs. Need for in-home service is determined by HP support representative. Customer may be required to run system self-test programs or correct reported faults by following advice given over phone. On-site services provided only if issue can't be corrected remotely. Service not available holidays and weekends.
HP will transfer your name and address information, IP address, products ordered and associated costs and other personal information related to processing your application to Bill Me Later®. Bill Me Later will use that data under its privacy policy.
Microsoft Windows 10: Not all features are available in all editions or versions of Windows 10. Systems may require upgraded and/or separately purchased hardware, drivers, software or BIOS update to take full advantage of Windows 10 functionality. Windows 10 is automatically updated, which is always enabled. ISP fees may apply and additional requirements may apply over time for updates. See http://www.microsoft.com.
Get Marvel’s Avengers when you purchase HP gaming PCs with qualifying 9th gen or 10th gen Intel® Core™ i5, i7 and i9 processors. Redemption code will be sent out by email within 60 days of purchase. Limited quantities and while supply lasts. Offer valid thru 12/31/2020 only while supplies last. We reserve the right to replace titles in the offer for ones of equal or greater value. Certain titles may not be available to all consumers because of age restrictions. The Offer may be changed, cancelled, or suspended at any time, for any reason, without notice, at Intel’s reasonable discretion if its fairness or integrity affected whether due to human or technical error. The Offer sponsor is Intel Corporation, 2200 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054, USA. To participate you must create an Intel Digital Hub Account, purchase a qualifying product during the redemption period, enter a valid Master Key, and respond to a brief survey. Information you submit is collected, stored, processed, and used on servers in the USA. For more information on offer details, eligibility, restrictions, and our privacy policy, visit https://softwareoffer.intel.com/offer/20Q3-19/terms.