Convertible notebook test: the best models


Many people ask themselves this question before making a purchase: Should it be a new notebook or tablet? A convertible makes the decision superfluous, because it is both: depending on your needs, it is a notebook with a real keyboard or a slim tablet. Switching between the two variants can be done in just a few simple steps. But are these quick-change artists really that great or just a lazy compromise? COMPUTER BILD tested current convertible notebooks and says which 2-in-1 laptops are really recommended.

Test winner: Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360

  • Very high work pace
  • Good screen

The Galaxy Book Pro 360 scores with a lot of power, enormous endurance and many connections. Nevertheless, it is light, thin and cleanly processed. The included S-Pen is a nice bonus that suits the convertible and rounds off the offer. For the price of 1,299 euros (price at the time of testing), an SSD with at least 500 gigabytes of memory and 16 gigabytes of RAM should be in the notebook. You can read the full review of the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 here.

Price tip: HP Envy 13 x360

  • Very high work pace
  • Very low operating noise
  • Display somewhat unevenly bright

The HP Envy 13 x360 in the 13-bd0150ng configuration tested here surprised in the test with a great OLED display – that is very rare in this price range (price at the time of testing: 850 euros). The screen showed bright colors, if desired with high contrast and very bright. The Envy is also a versatile notebook/tablet combo with a long battery life. Read the full review of the HP Envy 13 x360 here.

This is how COMPUTER BILD tests convertible notebooks

In a complex test procedure, COMPUTER BILD regularly checks convertible notebooks. The most important test points are as follows:

  • Tempo: From now on, the test laboratory will measure the pace of work with new, even more complex test programs. They determine the speeds for office work, Internet tasks, photo, video and 3D editing – including with the benchmark test PC Mark 10.

Color fidelity, brightness, contrast: COMPUTER BILD tests convertible notebook displays just as extensively as monitors.

  • Picture quality: From now on, COMPUTER BILD will measure and evaluate the image quality of the displays in the same way as with monitors. Contrast, brightness and color fidelity remain important test points, and the testers also determine the sRGB and DCI-P3 color space coverage – important for color-accurate image processing.
  • Battery life: A portable device should be as handy and light as possible. That’s why every test notebook is weighed in the laboratory. Whether the device is not only portable, but also actually mobile, is primarily determined by the battery performance during operation. After determining the endurance, the laboratory uses a measuring instrument to create a charging curve. It records how long it takes for the power pack to fully charge the battery again.
Convertible notebook test

COMPUTER BILD not only measures the battery life, but also how long it takes for the energy storage to be fully charged again.

  • Loudness: The noise development is also under scrutiny; after all, whirring and humming can disturb concentration. Special microphones measure the operating noise in a soundproof cabin, both during normal operation and under full load. Meanwhile, a thermal imaging camera monitors the heat development.
  • Connections: USB 4, Thunderbolt 4 – these are just two of the new connection standards. However, the editors not only assess whether they are available, but also their quality.
  • LTE, 5G: More and more notebooks are equipped with LTE, 5G or the upcoming WLAN standard Wifi 6E – these transmission standards are now also included in the evaluation.
  • Access Blocks: Fingerprint sensors, facial recognition, vein scanners – the access blocks are also using increasingly sophisticated technologies, which COMPUTER BILD now records and evaluates separately.

Convertible notebook test – the designs

In this test field, there is the right device for every budget and all requirements – from the small 10-inch device for 449 euros to the large 15-inch device for a stately 2,300 euros. The test candidates differ not only in performance and size, but also in their design.

  • Foldable display: With models like this Samsung Galaxy Pro 360 or HP Envy X360 the touchscreens are permanently connected to the keyboard like on a normal notebook. If the user folds the display 360 degrees onto the underside of the keyboard, he has a tablet in front of him. If he doesn’t fold the display completely, he can comfortably watch films and pictures or show presentations. On the other hand, such a tablet is quite heavy because it always has a keyboard on its back.
  • Detachable display: In models like the Microsoft Surface Go 3, the touchscreen can be detached from the keyboard, as is the case with many other convertibles on the market. This is practical if you only need a handy tablet on the go and a real notebook at home.
  • Foldable and detachable display: The two test candidates from Microsoft offer the possibilities and thus the advantages of the other two designs – but do not have their disadvantages! However, the Surface Book 3 13.5 and Surface Book 3 15 models are also damn expensive.
HP Specter X360

In devices with rotatable displays, the hinge is subject to heavy loads. The connection must therefore be well designed and robust.

Sharp and precise touch screens

But versatile usability does not make a perfect convertible. For this, a device like any conventional notebook or tablet needs a first-class screen. The best display offered in this comparison Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5. It showed photos, videos and websites with 3000×2000 pixels really sharply and with high color fidelity. The AMOLED screen of the Samsung Galaxy Pro 360 in the test with extremely high contrast values ​​and even brightness distribution. So the picture looks bright from every viewing angle. Of course, all convertibles have touchscreens for their role as tablets. All test candidates implement inputs at the touch of a finger precisely and without delays.

Microsoft Surface Book 2

The convertible should have at least two USB ports, a memory card reader, an HDMI port and a headset jack.

Tempo test: nimble or lame?

Working at high speed is just as important as a good screen and a quick response to fingertips and swiping. First of all: The speed of all test candidates is completely sufficient for simple office and Internet tasks. However, it gets down to business when the devices are supposed to add filters and 3D effects to photos or create a film from several self-made video clips. These exhausting tasks were too much for that Microsoft Surface Go 3 – they put every user in front of a big test of patience. But you shouldn’t expect a super-fast convertible for less than 500 euros. The outrageously expensive showed how fast it works Surface Book 3 13.5. No wonder, a strong Intel Core i7 processor drives the equipment version tested here, the working memory is very well dimensioned with 16 gigabytes, the operating system, programs and data are stored on a fast SSD. The larger Microsoft Surface Book 3 15 also has the powerful GTX 1660 Ti graphics chip in the keyboard compartment. It offers more power than the graphics unit housed in the processor. That’s how it shows Surface Book 3 15 even games run reasonably smoothly.
Microsoft Surface Go 2

The screen of the Microsoft Surface Go 2 can be detached from the keyboard.

Testing the convertible battery life

In addition to a high working speed, a battery with a lot of endurance is a must. After all, the devices are intended for mobile use and a socket is not always within reach. That came up in the test Lenovo Yoga C740 only four hours and 50 minutes when working without a power outlet. The two proved that things can be done much better Microsoft Surface Book 3: Over seven hours are an announcement! You can easily watch three to four feature films in one go.

Asus VivoBook Flip 15

Many convertibles cannot be opened at all or only with great effort, so an upgrade is not possible. When buying, make sure you have enough memory and a sufficiently powerful processor.

But does such a convertible actually have serious disadvantages? After all, the balancing act between notebook and tablet is not easy for manufacturers to master.

  • upgrade: As with many notebooks, upgrading the station wagon is a difficult to impossible undertaking. At best, the main memory can be expanded in this way – but that was it. Exchanging the hard drive or SSD for a model with a larger capacity is not possible in most cases. Many current models also have their SSD and RAM soldered to the motherboard. Interested parties should therefore check the equipment carefully before buying, because nothing can be changed later. Good: The RAM and SSD can be exchanged in the tested HP Pavilion x360 (15-dq0221ng).
  • No drive: If you need a drive, you often have to buy an external DVD burner – many devices do not have an optical drive.
  • Heavy as a tablet: If you are shortlisting a model with a detachable display for frequent use as a tablet, you should not forget that the screens of the tested devices are significantly heavier than pure tablets. A comparison: The detachable display of the Microsoft Surface Book 3 15 it weighs an impressive 814 grams, while the 2021 version of the iPad 10.2 only weighs 490 grams.

Convertible notebook test

Convertible notebooks: the best models in the test

Verdict: Convertibles in the comparison test

If you don’t have to pay attention to the cent, you’re with the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 well served. But that is anything but cheap: almost 1,300 euros are due for the tested equipment version NP950QDB-KC3. Anyone who can cope with less battery life, equipment and image quality will get the HP Envy 13 x360 for 400 euros less the price-performance winner, which did very well in the test.

Which is better – convertible or laptop?

A convertible is more versatile than a notebook because it combines a laptop and tablet in one device.

Which convertibles are good?

For whom is a convertible worthwhile?

Especially for those who want to have a device that combines laptop and tablet in one device.

Which processor for convertible?

That depends on the application. If you’re constantly doing exhausting photo and video editing, you should use a model with a Core i7 processor. A convertible with a Core i5 or Core i3 CPU is also sufficient for less demanding tasks.

How does a convertible work?

A convertible is basically nothing more than a notebook with a rotating or even detachable touchscreen. It therefore works just like a laptop.

Do all convertibles have touch screens?

Yes, almost all convertibles have a touchscreen.

What can a convertible notebook do?

Depending on the performance class, a convertible notebook can handle all the applications that a classic laptop can handle.

Which is the best convertible notebook?

What do you call a tablet and laptop in one?

A tablet and laptop in one is called a convertible.



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