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Best 2-in-1 Laptops (2026): Microsoft, Lenovo, and the iPad
There will always be a use case for owning both a laptop and a tablet as stand-alone products. But the 2-in-1 laptop is the utopian dream of combining these two into a single device.
Of all the models I've tested, no 2-in-1 laptop is equally good at being both a tablet and a laptop. They always lean toward one or the other. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't buy one, especially since the convenience of having both in one device makes it an easier pill to swallow, price-wise.
The products below should meet most people’s needs. But if none are a fit for you, check out WIRED's other computer buying guides, including the Best Laptops, Best Surface Devices, Best Cheap Laptops, the Best Tablets, and the Best iPad.
Updated September 2026: I've made the Surface Pro 12 my new top pick and rearranged many of the other recommendations on my list.
You can't talk about 2-in-1 laptops without talking about Microsoft's Surface devices. These tablets have removable keyboards that attach magnetically, not unlike an iPad. This form factor lets you switch between tablet and laptop modes. It's just as functional as a tablet as it is as a laptop. As I said, the Surface Pro is the epitome of this design, pioneering the idea of a tablet with a built-in kickstand that runs a full version of Windows.
The best model to buy right now is the Surface Pro 12 (6/10, WIRED Reviewed). The smaller screen and compact design befit a 2-in-1 tablet that's meant to be held in one hand (at least occasionally). This wasn't my favorite when it came out, largely because it was overpriced at the time. But with all the configuration changes and price increases in the Surface Pro lineup, this model has become my go-to recommendation.
This is the most successful small tablet Microsoft has ever made, and a big reason is that it doesn't cheap out on quality or shrink down the size too much. With a 12-inch screen, it still allows the keyboard to be large enough to type on comfortably. It doesn't have the option for an OLED screen, but the device still feels surprisingly premium, and it is even more portable than its older sibling.
Not only is the Surface Pro 12 cheaper overall, but it's also the only 256-GB storage model on offer, which gives you a more affordable starting configuration. Regardless, you get the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus, which gives the Surface Pro 12 excellent battery life and solid performance. And because Surface devices run a full version of Windows, they are the best 2-in-1 options to use as full laptop replacements. But be careful: Microsoft sells a $750 starting configuration with only 8 GB of RAM, which may limit multitasking and heavier applications.
An even better laptop replacement, however, is the Surface Pro 13.8 (7/10, WIRED Recommends). The larger screen gives you more visual real estate, and the larger touchpad on the keyboard cover is more comfortable to use. The keyboard cover also comes with fabric-like textured palm rests and a built-in spot to hold the Surface Slim Pen 2. I also like the option to upgrade to an OLED screen, which makes it a more capable iPad Pro competitor. The only problem is that price increases have made this larger Surface Pro feel overpriced. The 2026 Snapdragon X2 Elite or X2 Plus models have largely replaced the 2024 model I tested, priced at $1,600. For me, that's too expensive for something meant to be more of a compact travel device. That's especially true since you still have to buy the keyboard cover. That's why I'd recommend this older Snapdragon X Elite model, which gets you the OLED display with a 120-Hz refresh rate and also bundles in the keyboard and stylus. On top of that, it even includes a terabyte of storage. That's well worth it.
While the hardware makes for a good tablet, Windows still isn't a very touch-friendly operating system and lacks a touch-first app ecosystem to support it. That's where iPads come into play. The iPad Air and iPad Pro are the best tablets you can buy, largely than