2-in-1 Hybrid and Convertible Laptops

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For years, when there was a requirement for a portable computer, only laptops helped out with its features. Then after, Operating systems and mobile processors turned out to be more powerful so that you could make a choice of using the same traditional clamshell laptops design or go with a tablet. The tablet offers greater convenience as it hasn’t any keyboard available or necessary but the main drawback with this is that it offers less power and functionality. Therefore, until the manufacturer’s realized that adding or removing a keyboard was the only thing to do to change one into another. As a result, a 2-in-1 is not only its own product category but it’s one among the fastest growing in the PC industry.

What Is a 2-in-1?

A 2-in-1 is just a touch-cum-detachable hybrid tablet or convertible hybrid laptop which has both the touchscreen and a physical keyboard of any of the types. You can use both of them combined together just like a regular laptop else can use only the touch screen if you want it to be used for a long period of time. It takes only a few seconds to flip between the two modes whenever you find that it is necessary. Rather you tend to buy a PC with any of the operating systems whether it is Chrome OS or Windows 10. Later, In the future, macOS may be top in the list but so far Apple has declared that some persons need a touch screen for iPad and iPad Pro lines that are equipped with iOS.

For a general purpose, There are two types of 2-in-1 devices available. They are:

  • Detachable-hybrid tablet
  • Convertible-hybrid laptop

Detachable-Hybrid Tablets :

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A detachable hybrid tablet is simply a slate tablet with a keyboard dock or a keyboard case. The dock option is a little more stable than the keyboard case, but there isn’t any difference in the idea. It is provided with an option to either remove the keyboard portion of the tablet or leave it according to your portability desire.

Slate tablet equipped with windows weigh less than 2 pounds along with the detachable part of its whereas in addition to the keyboard dock or the case would make it weigh twice of the system’s total weight. A tablet equipped with a well-designed keyboard dock which is attached mean to perform identically from a clamshell laptop and some detachable docks consist of additional battery cells which can enormously prolong for a large amount of time you are able to work when plugged off. Simpler keyboard cases usually lack refinements like additional USB ports or battery cells, and however the best keyboard case will be noticeably physically even more flexible, but you need not take it into mind if a keyboard is needed for you occasionally.

Generally, a keyboard case benefits as these features less in its overall weight and thickness. However, the detachable hybrid tablets are said to be top-heavy since all the components of the system and the batteries weight more, therefore they are restricted to the screen. Be sure of your usage whether it looks correct if you hold the PC in your hands and interact with the touch screen. To detach the tablet and leaving behind the heft of the keyboard is optimal when you are presenting a slideshow on a big screen actively and use the tablet for drawing notes on the slides in real time. It takes a few seconds to reattach the keyboard to the tablet, so it seems easy and comfortable for you to change the content of the slideshow during your lunch hour if you wish to change the focus of your talk for your afternoon session.

Convertible-Hybrid Laptops :

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The Convertible-hybrid laptop can be transformed from a laptop to simple tablet and can get back again to its original. Most of the convertible systems feature a design for folding that involves flipping of the keyboard out of the way back behind the screen. If you are planning to use the keyboard a lot, then the best choice would be this type of 2-in-1, as you are always guaranteed to have it with you.

Because a convertible hybrids turning point enables a motion, often you could be able to use these systems in different modes. If you want to share the display with all the personalities in a meeting, the keyboard can be placed flat down on the desk and have the kiosk-style of screen function. Or you can also prop it up, tent-style. It takes up a very less space compared with the remaining modes. It is hard to beat this type of 2-in-1 in terms of flexibility.

Usually, in convertible-hybrid systems, the motherboard and the battery are located at the base like on a traditional laptop, so it balances its use either on the lap or a tabletop. The stable bottom lid of the clamshell can also be a better platform for typing than the sometimes-flimsy panel of a detachable keyboard case. Also, there is much space for batteries in a laptop form factor, which results in improved battery life. The drawback of this style of the machine includes a little additional weight from those batteries, as well as additional thickness, as the hinge mechanisms are a little more complex than the thickness of a laptop. Unlike detachable laptops, convertible laptops and traditional laptops are always set to carry an additional weight and bulk of the keyboard along with you, wherever you go.

Tech Specs :

The remaining specifications like storage space, type of processor being used, screen size, and much more for convertibles and hybrids, in general, follow the same lines as most of the standard laptops and Windows tablets do. This means that you need to pay more if you want extra speed, thinner, flashier design, or fancier bells and whistles. For instance, a system with a fanless Core M or Intel Atom processor is likely to have a very thin body and excellent battery life.

But, generally, you must expect that these systems will be somewhat less powerful than comparably sized laptops, because they using mobile processors that are designed more for quiet and cool operation (that you will need for a system which you are using on your lap or the one in your hand) than they are for flaming speed. In contrast to this, a system using a processor such as an AMD A4-, A6-, or A8-series APU, or an Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 CPU, will be thicker and have overall battery life shorter, but the required power will be available to perform multimedia work in the field.

The top 10 tested convertible and hybrid laptops are explained below in short. Check out reviews of the best laptops, business notebooks, ultra-portable, and Windows tablets.
1. Microsoft Surface Book :

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The Microsoft Surface Book is an innovative and comfortable design with a big, beautiful screen, battery life for more than 15 hours and the power for making short work of every day and multimedia tasks.

2. Acer Aspire Switch 11 V (SW5-173-632W) :

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The Acer Aspire Switch 11 V, a well-priced detachable hybrid tablet, improves on the Acer Aspire Switch 11 by its increased speed performance, adding Windows 10, and reducing the cost.

3. Acer Chromebook R 11 (CB5-132T-C1LK) :

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A versatile convertible design with solid build quality, an IPS touch screen, full-size media ports, and strong performance, the Acer Chromebook R 11 still manages a very affordable price.

4. Asus Transformer Book T100HA :

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The Asus Transformer Book T100HA is a detachable hybrid tablet, boasting a wide range of features, speedy performance, a sharp display, and long battery life at a very affordable price.

5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga :

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The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga has drawn its features from the best specifications of a Lenovo business laptops, offering a slim and convertible design, good battery life, and enough ports and features that help you to stay productive at the office or on the road.

6. Microsoft Surface Pro 4 :

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The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is the best version of Microsoft’s tablet till now, with a bright display, snappy performance, and more than 10 hours of battery life. With Windows 10, the Surface Pen, and optional Type Cover can replace your laptop.

7. HP Spectre x2 :

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With its bulky detachable keyboard, built-in 4G LTE capability, high-resolution screen and the HP Spectre x2 slate tablet is likely very close to a practical replacement for your laptop.

8. HP Spectre x360 15t (15-ap012dx) :

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The 4K HP Spectre x360 15t premium is a well designed and constructed convertible-hybrid laptop and it is highly good in its performance. It is optimal for working at home and also to watch movies at higher-than-HD resolution.

9. Lenovo Yoga 900S :

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This one of the thinnest and long-lasting convertible-hybrid Windows laptops. It’s highly portable and contains a full-size keyboard, but it has to be paid for these conveniences.

10. Toshiba Satellite Radius 12 (P20W-CST3N01) :

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With its sharp 1080p touch screen, speedy functionality and multi-mode form factor, the Toshiba Satellite Radius 12 mid-range convertible hybrid laptops are well-suited to work as well as for entertainment.


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