Top 7 Best 2-in-1 Budget Friendly Laptops 2023

by Kevin Parker Blogger

Welcome to our guide on the top 7 best 2-in-1 budget-friendly laptops for 2023. The popularity of 2-in-1 convertible laptops has increased due to their versatility.

Various types of 2-in-1s exist, including laptops with 360-degree hinges, tablets with kickstands and detachable keyboards, and even dual-screen models. Our list of various laptops is intended to help you decide which one to buy based on your needs.

These 2-in-1 laptops can be used as both traditional laptops and tablets, making them perfect for those who are always on the go or for those who want a device that can handle both work and play.

In our testing, we've found the best 2-in-1 convertible laptops. Here's our list of the best 2-in-1 convertible laptops. In addition to our picks for the best laptop and Chromebook, check out our picks for the best business laptop, as well.

In this list, we have carefully curated a selection of laptops that offer both versatility and value for money.

Here are the Top 7 2-in-1 Laptops of 2023:

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
Asus 2-in-1 Q535
Lenovo Chromebook C340 15
Pixelbook
Microsoft Surface Pro 8
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5

1. Lenovo Yoga 9i 14:

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (2021) is a 2-in-1 laptop that offers both versatility and power. The Yoga 9i 14 is a premium laptop that comes with a 14-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The display is vibrant and offers great viewing angles, making it perfect for both work and entertainment.

One of the standout features of the Yoga 9i 14 is its 360-degree hinge, which allows you to use it in a variety of modes, including laptop, tent, stand, and tablet modes. This makes it a great option for those who want a device that can handle both work and play.

Under the hood, the Yoga 9i 14 is powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and comes with 16GB of RAM, making it a powerful device that can handle demanding tasks with ease. It also comes with a 512GB SSD, providing plenty of storage for your files and documents.

Another great feature of the Yoga 9i 14 is its battery life. The laptop comes with a built-in battery that can last up to 12 hours on a single charge, making it perfect for those who are always on the go.

The price of the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (2021) can vary depending on the specific configuration and where you purchase it from. The base model of the Yoga 9i 14 (2021) starts at around $1,199.99, but prices can go up depending on the specific configuration such as adding more storage or memory. I would recommend checking with Lenovo or authorized retailers for the most up-to-date pricing and availability.

2. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5:

f you're in the market for a cost-effective 2-in-1 laptop, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2020) is a great option to consider. Although it is a discontinued model, it can still be found at a reasonable price. Equipped with either an AMD Ryzen 4000 or Intel 10th Gen CPU, this laptop offers enough power to handle daily productivity tasks and entertainment with ease. It also supports pen input, though you may have to purchase the stylus separately as it may not be included in the package.

However, like most budget-friendly laptops, there are some trade-offs with the IdeaPad Flex 5. The display, for instance, is a 1080p screen that is clear but doesn't have the brightest output, making it susceptible to glare in well-lit environments. Additionally, the webcam's video quality is not the best and the image can appear soft and underexposed. On the positive side, the 53Wh battery offers long-lasting power, which can get you through a full school or workday with light use.

The base model of the IdeaPad Flex 5 starts at around $699.99, but prices can go up depending on the specific configuration such as adding more storage or memory

3. Asus 2-in-1 Q535:

The Asus 2-in-1 Q535 is a versatile laptop that offers great value for money. This laptop comes with a 15.6-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, which provides clear and vibrant visuals. The display also has a 360-degree hinge, which allows you to use it in a variety of modes, including laptop, tent, stand, and tablet mode, making it perfect for both work and entertainment.

An adequate amount of storage space is guaranteed with a total of 1256 GB. In terms of pixel density, the Asus 2-in-1 Q535 has an excellent density of 282.4 pixels per inch, resulting in sharper text and picture quality. The Asus 2-in-1 Q535 has 16 GB of memory that can handle multiple applications with ease.

The battery life of the Asus 2-in-1 Q535 is short and you may need to have that charger connected during long gaming sessions. Gaming performance with an average of 28.305 frames per second is not suitable for highly demanding games. The Asus 2-in-1 Q535 is considered heavier than the competition. For normal usage, the battery life of 3.8 hours is disappointing. The price of Asus 2-in-1 Q535 is very expensive.

4. Lenovo Chromebook C340 15

The Lenovo Chromebook C340 15 (2020) is a great budget-friendly option for those looking for a 2-in-1 Chromebook. With a 15.6-inch display and 360-degree hinge, it offers versatility and convenience. It's powered by either an Intel Pentium Gold or a Core i3 CPU, both of which provide a smooth desktop experience on Chrome OS.

The battery life of this device is impressive, lasting up to 12 hours with light use or 8 hours of video playback. The display is spacious and relatively sharp, although it may not be bright enough in highly lit rooms. The keyboard is comfortable and includes a Numpad, the touchpad is responsive and the webcam is decent.

However, the memory is limited to 4GB which may cause some stutters or slowdowns if too many applications are running simultaneously.

5. Pixelbook 12 inch

The Pixelbook is a top-of-the-line 2-in-1 laptop that boasts a sleek and lightweight design, powerful hardware, and a beautiful screen. Its keyboard is also noteworthy for its excellent typing experience.

However, it runs on ChromeOS, which may not be the preferred operating system for some users. While it offers some unique features such as Google Assistant and the Pixelbook Pen, it may not be as versatile as other laptops that run on Windows or macOS. Furthermore, the Pixelbook's high price point may not be justifiable for some users when compared to other devices like the iPad Pro with Apple Pencil support or the MacBook and Surface Pro with more advanced operating systems.

Despite its limitations, the Pixelbook is an excellent machine for those who can live within its ecosystem and can take advantage of its features. However, for those looking for more flexibility, other operating systems may be a better choice.

6. Microsoft Surface Pro 8

If you're looking for a 2-in-1 tablet that offers a detachable keyboard, the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021) is a great option. The ability to detach the keyboard makes it more comfortable to use as a tablet as it is lighter and easier to hold. The 3:2 IPS panel is sharp and has a 120Hz refresh rate, providing a responsive pen input experience. However, it should be noted that the pen must be purchased separately. The webcam is excellent with 1080p resolution and an IR camera for quick login via facial recognition. Battery life is only around seven hours of light use, but it is equipped with USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports for charging and the power adapter is compact.

On the other hand, if you don't require a lot of processing power and want a compact device, the Microsoft Surface Go 3 (2021) is a great alternative. It is similar to the Surface Pro 8 in that it is a tablet with a detachable keyboard, but it has a smaller 10.5-inch screen. The display is sharp and supports pen input, the webcam is excellent and the battery life is roughly the same as the Surface Pro 8. Available with an Intel Pentium Gold or Core i3 CPU, it can handle basic tasks such as emails, video playback, and web browsing. However, the keyboard may feel cramped, making it less suitable for typing long reports or essays and it only has a single USB-C port.

7. Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021) is our top pick for a budget-friendly 2-in-1 tablet. It offers an affordable Chrome OS tablet with an impressive OLED panel. The kickstand allows you to open it to nearly any angle, and it comes with a detachable keyboard like the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 (2021). The 42Wh battery provides around 10 hours of light productivity or eight hours of video playback. However, the speakers are not of the best quality and sound unnatural and quiet, so it is recommended to use headphones.

While this device is good for some work, it should be noted that its SoC (System on Chip) can only handle simple tasks such as web browsing and text formatting and the keyboard is cramped and uncomfortable for typing. Despite these limitations, it is one of the best budget 2-in-1 laptops we've tested and a great option for light productivity and media consumption.

Final Thoughts:

Our recommended 2-in-1 laptops are carefully selected based on a variety of factors such as price, feedback from users, and availability. We prioritize affordability and value, ensuring that a cheaper option is chosen over a more expensive one if the price difference is not justified.

If you prefer to make your own decision, we have a comprehensive list of all our 2-in-1 laptop reviews, sorted by price from low to high. It's important to note that most laptops come in various configurations, and the table only shows the results of the model we tested. Therefore, it's best to refer to the full review for information about other variants.