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PC manufacturers have been trying to add touchscreens to laptops since the launch of the original iPad.
It makes sense. There is a combination of portability and certain functionality benefits to being able to control your computer from the screen.
A report from Maximise Market Research in February 2023 announced it expected the global market for 2-in-1 laptops to grow to US$8.27 billion by 2030, up from US$2.87 billion in 2021.
Today, most manufacturers offer a hybrid 2-in-1 laptop as part of their product lineup. While the scale of the market is great for variety, it can make it harder to find the best 2-in-1 laptop for your needs.
Remember that everybody’s needs are different, so what we’ve listed here may not be right for you.
If you don’t need a touchscreen device, then you could also check our list of the best laptops in Australia, or look at our guide of the best gaming laptops.
These are the best 2-in-1 laptops in Australia right now:
Lenovo Yoga 9i
Recommended by 70% of review sites
If you’re looking for a 2-in-1 that is more of a laptop with tablet functionality, then the Lenovo Yoga 9i is a fantastic option.
With a vibrant 14-inch OLED screen running at a 16:10 aspect ration, this is a fantastic laptop for entertainment. Its speakers offer impressive sound and its keyboard is backlit and responsive.
It may not be the most comfortable tablet to use for extended periods of time, but it’s the versatility and performance that make this 2-in-1 laptop shine.`
Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook
Recommended by 70% of review sites
The Duet 5 Chromebook punches well above its weight. More powerful than the previous model, it boasts the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen2 2.55GHz processor under the hood.
This means it can deliver much better performance, which is fantastic given it is physically larger as well. With a 13.3-inch screen and a 42WHr battery on board you get phenomenal battery life.
The keyboard is a little cramped and isn’t as tactile as you’d get from a full laptop. The trackpad also lacks some responsiveness.
But for the combination of tablet and laptop performance in a compact body, this is a great option.
Lenovo Yoga Book 9i
Recommended by 40% of review sites
That bottom half of your laptop is generally filled with a lot of wasted space. Lenovo’s solve with the Yoga Book 9i is to give you two full-size touchscreens in a book-like body.
But rather than requiring you to type on the touchscreen, it packs a keyboard in the box, giving you the best of both worlds.
The two 13.3-inch OLED screens offer 2880 x 1800 resolution with up to 400 nits of brightness. Powered by the 13th Generation Intel Core i7-1355U processor and with 16GB RAM under the hood, it’s certainly a capable machine.
An origami-like stand makes it versatile for a whole range of different workflows. It’s not going to be for everybody, but if you need screen real estate in your 2-in-1 laptop, then this could be a great option for you.
HP Spectre x360 14-inch
Recommended by 40% of review sites
HP’s Spectre x360 comes in a range of screen sizes, but it’s the 14-incher that makes the list.
Balancing size and weight with functionality with impressive specs like an IMAX-certified OLED screen, haptic touchpad and a 9MP IR camera, the Spectre x360 14-inch is a versatile 2-in-1.
Powered by an Intel Core Ultra 5 or 7 processor depending on the model, the Spectre comes with a dedicated AI chip that helps extend battery life, locks the screen when you walk away and gives easier control of the device.
It’s fast, sleek and stylish, and a great option if you want a newer laptop with the 2-in-1 form factor.
How we chose the best 2-in-1 laptops in Australia
Review sites – including this one – are subjective by nature. Everybody has a different opinion of what is best.
So to try and counter the fact that every best guide on the internet has a different opinion of what is best, we approached our list by combining the results of some of the top sites recommending 2-in-1 laptops on the market today.
To determine this list, we followed the same journey most consumers would follow: we went to Google.
We searched for “Best 2-in-1 laptops” and identified 10 of the top results. It’s important to note that Google results can change often.
Referenced sites
We listed out all of the 2-in-1 laptops listed on each site, tidying up any slight differences in spelling for consistency.
Laptops are a challenging category, because there are typically lots of configuration options available. Not every site tests the same configuration.
In most cases, we consolidate these mentions down to the single “parent” model, which doesn’t take into account the variety of processors, graphics cards and memory options available.
We calculated the frequency with which these guides mention each product. The more frequently a product is mentioned, the more agreement there is between experts reviewing these products.
We set a minimum of four mentions across all 10 guides to be eligible for inclusion here. This means that at least 40% of the sites surveyed recommend each product.
Before we created this page, we took some time to remove products that are either unavailable or difficult to find in Australia.
We also leveraged our own experience with products to ensure that we wouldn’t be recommending any product that doesn’t deliver.
What to look for when choosing a new 2-in-1 laptop
Whether you’re after one of the models listed above or something completely different, the decision factors you need to consider when buying a 2-in-1 laptop are the same.
Form factor: Convertible or detachable?
2-in-1 laptops come in two different styles. Firstly, you have the convertible type, which is more like a traditional laptop with a fancy hinge that allows you to move it around so that the touchscreen in prominent and it becomes a tablet.
The other style is detachable, where you actively remove the keyboard from the screen. These devices are almost more like a tablet with a keyboard than a true laptop, though a lot feature similar processing power to a traditional laptop.
One style isn’t better than the other, it depends on how you intend to use the device as to what will be better for you.
Display
Every 2-in-1 laptop is going to have a touchscreen display so that you can use it as either a laptop or a tablet.
But not every display is created equally. Look for screens that resist fingerprints for a start, but also models with higher resolutions and refresh rates.
Processor
Just like a traditional laptop, you want the processor to be powerful enough for the tasks you throw at it.
Most 2-in-1 laptops will be running Windows, so typically you’ll find them powered by an Intel processor.
Chromebooks, Android tablets with detachable keyboards and even the iPad Pro with the keyboard attachment will offer different processors, though. That’s not a bad thing, so long as the processor can handle its workload.
Battery life
Battery life is important for any laptop, but especially worth considering for a 2-in-1 laptop. Some models include extra batteries in a detachable keyboard, where other models will draw power from the tablet in order to power the keyboard, for example.
Laptop battery capacities are typically measured in Watt-Hours (WHr), and usually that means the larger the number the better the battery life.
Although it’s also important to remember that the software and processor and display size can all impact battery life as well.
Price
As with anything, price is a key component. The best 2-in-1 laptops in Australia can range from a few hundred dollars for a budget Chromebook to thousands of dollars for a premium-specked machine.
Understand your needs and work to your budget.
FAQ
What is a 2-in-1 laptop?
How did you determine the best 2-in-1 laptops in Australia?
What factors should I consider when buying a 2-in-1 laptop?
What is the difference between a convertible and a detachable 2-in-1 laptop?
How does the processor affect the performance of a 2-in-1 laptop?
Why is battery life important in a 2-in-1 laptop?
How does the price range for 2-in-1 laptops?
Update history
- 10 February 2023 – First Published
- 10 May 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations for products. Lowered the minimum number of recommendations to 4. Added the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 and HP Spectre x360 16.
- 15 August 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations for products. Removed the HP Spectre x360 13.5-inch, Microsoft Surface Pro 8, Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook and HP Spectre x360 16. Added the Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook.
- 4 December 2023 – Updated the number of recommendations. Added the HP Spectre x360 16.
- 7 March 2024 – Updated the number of recommendations. Removed the HP Spectre x360 16. Added the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i and the HP Spectre x360 14-inch.
