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Generally speaking – yes, they can be. Many newer 2-in-1 laptop models have high-grade CPUs and GPUs and they will give you a smooth gaming experience.
However, whether you’re going for a regular machine or a full-blown 4K gaming laptop, your gaming habits determine how much a specific device suits your needs. Also, the 2-in-1 functionality can make their price tag a bit steep.
In this post, we will cover everything you need to know before buying a 2-in-1 laptop for gaming.
Let’s look at how 2-in-1s stack up against other gaming laptops.
Table of Contents
What is the Difference Between a 2-in-1 Laptop and Other Gaming Laptops?
Unlike regular gaming specs, 2-in-1 laptops are convertible devices that can work as both tablets and laptops. They are appealing primarily because of their versatility and compact sizes.
And of course, the main benefit and attraction of such devices is the touchscreen panel which you can use for drawing, taking notes and annotation, or touch interaction with files and documents.
Benefits of a 2-in-1 Laptop for Gaming
The first thing you’ll notice is how light these laptops are compared to some of the gaming behemoths. Their compact size doesn’t come at the expense of battery life, which is actually longer than in gaming laptops.
Another huge plus is the touchscreen which allows you to use the pen for taking notes, drawing, or digital art.
Finally, we shouldn’t forget that 2-in-1s have both a high refresh rate AND color accuracy, which you often don’t get in gaming laptops.
Drawbacks of a 2-in-1 Laptop for Gaming
Unfortunately, the slim and portable design of 2-in-1 laptops doesn’t leave much space for beefy components. This often means you can’t run a full graphics power, unless you’re willing to spend over $1k on your device.
Also, many of the affordable 2-in-1 laptops are not as sturdy and durable as gaming machines.
If you do have your heart set on the best heavy gaming specs and premium-level build quality, be ready for higher prices.
What are the Best 2-in-1 Laptops for Gaming?
Choosing the best 2-in-1 laptop for gaming may not be so straightforward. Before you make your pick, consider your gaming habits (light/heavy/streaming), budget, other uses, etc. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
1. Best for Gaming from Asus: Asus ROG Flow Z13
With the 12th-Gen. Intel Core i7 and one of the fastest GPUs that can fit inside a 2-in-1 laptop, this device is made for gaming. A bit heavier and thicker design with a window showing off the internals also gives off true gamer vibes.
2. Best Battery Life: Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
Powerful CPU and GPU, plenty of RAM, excellent battery life — the Surface Laptop Studio offers a lot. It is a bit on the heavier side, which might slightly impact portability, but you can fix this by carrying it around without a keyboard.
3. Best Screen: ASUS ZenBook Flip
Another convertible gaming gem. The ASUS ZenBook Flip features a gorgeous Full HD touchscreen, powerful specs, and great battery life. A downside for some gamers could be the size of the display at just 13.3”.
What is the Best 2-in-1 Laptop for Gaming and School?
Again, your pick will depend on several factors, starting from your budget and gaming habits to the school requirements. Different degrees will also come with their own demands. You can start your search with these:
1. Great Value: Dell Inspiron 15.6”
Thanks to its powerful processor and ample RAM, this great value machine allows easy multitasking and switching between apps.
The integrated GPU, on the other hand, doesn’t make it the best laptop for gaming. Yet, if you play games casually and don’t require out-of-this-world specs, Dell Inspiron has got you covered.
Dell Inspiron is a popular 2-in-1 Laptop for Gaming and School
2. Best Functionality: Acer Spin 5
Acer’s Spin 5 has a feature-rich stylus pen already included, so everything’s set for you to use the touchscreen panel straightaway. A 3:2 HD IPS display is ideal for note-taking.
Although its integrated graphics are no match for the dedicated GPUs of gaming laptops, this 2-in-1 is perfectly suitable for casual gaming.
3. Best Battery Life: Lenovo Yoga 9i
A stunning 14” screen with up to 500 nits of brightness, up to 15 hours of battery life, and a garaged stylus pen you won’t have to pay extra for — make this 2-in-1 laptop a superb choice for any schoolwork. It will also easily handle many light games and stay cool in the process.
What is the Best 2-in-1 Laptop for Gaming and Drawing?
2-in-1 laptops are a great solution for digital drawing and illustration. However, this requires a really good touchscreen and stylus capabilities which will further bump up the price. Specs are also important, so I wouldn’t consider anything under a 16GB RAM laptop. Check out our top picks:
1. Strong Gaming Performance: Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
In addition to the solid gaming performance, Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Studio offers 3:2 screen size with extra vertical space for improved drawing and photo editing. Up to 32GB RAM will easily handle even the 3D design programs.
2. Best Screen and Internals: MSI Summit E16 Flip
This laptop’s roomy, high-resolution 16” display with the included active pen provides a great canvas for digital artists to jot, draw, and sketch on. While MSI Summit isn’t as popular as some other MSI laptops, I found its great internals give hours of high-quality gaming.
3. Best Portability and Responsiveness: Asus ROG Flow Z13
The Asus ROG Flow Z13 is a more compact, 13.4-inch 2-in-1 convertible. But, don’t let its tiny chassis fool you – this is a legitimate gaming laptop. Thanks to its high-quality touchscreen and stylus functionality, it is also capable of tackling demanding creative tasks. For me, it was really easy to pack up this compact 2-in-1 and do my job outdoors.
The Best Cheap 2-in-1 Laptop for Gaming
If your budget is not very high, you should be looking for the best value for money rather than the best-in-class performance. The lower price does come with a few compromises, but you can still find a decent gaming 2-in-1 laptop that is budget-friendly. You might find these suggestions helpful:
1. Decent Performance: HP Pavilion x360
HP Pavilion x360 gives more than a decent performance for the price. Its processor will handle even heavy tasks, while the 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD make multitasking and file transfer smooth and easy.
The graphics, on the other hand, isn’t as powerful as some other GPUs, but it will definitely suit you if you’re a casual gamer.
For roughly $700, I think it’s a pretty sweet deal for the value it offers.
HP Pavilion is an affordable 2-in-1 Laptop for Gaming
2. Budget-Conscious Solution: Acer Aspire 5
This budget-conscious solution offers features in line with more expensive competitors, such as a backlit keyboard for night gaming and plenty of useful ports. It has quite enough processing power for light games and a solid battery life of 7.5 hours.
Of course, there are drawbacks. Acer Aspire 5 is light on storage, with just 128GB of SSD. Also, its 4GB of RAM may decrease productivity and severely limit gaming options. Still, any SSD laptop is worth considering.
And the good news is – it will set you back less than $400!
Conclusion
2-in-1 laptops are great and versatile devices. They can do just about anything – from office work to creative tasks, while providing incredible portability and flexibility.
These laptops can also be very capable gaming machines. Yet, high-end models which offer the best of everything do come at a price.
Make sure you determine what your needs are, both in terms of gaming and touchscreen functionality. Once you’ve identified those, it’ll be easier to find the sweet spot between the awesome features and the price.
