CNET: Best laptops that can double as a tablet

The Samsung Chromebook Pro will make a believer out of many Chromebook skeptics by offering great value, features and performance for a budget-priced laptop. (Sarah Tew/CNET/TNS)

The Samsung Chromebook Pro will make a believer out of many Chromebook skeptics by offering great value, features and performance for a budget-priced laptop. (Sarah Tew/CNET/TNS)

A number of laptops today can double as tablets, and that’s the case for several of these machines, which are among the best CNET has reviewed.

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Lenovo Yoga 920

Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/reviews/lenovo-yoga-920-review/#ftag=CAD187281f

CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)

The good: The Lenovo Yoga 920 improves on the company’s premium two-in-one ultraportable by adding active pen support and Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, making a couple of design refinements and throwing in an eighth-gen Intel Core i-series processor for better performance and a very long battery life.

The bad: Base configuration starts around $1,300, the pen holder blocks its only full-size USB port as well as the power button when the pen is stowed and the overall design hasn’t changed much. At 3 pounds, it’s weighty for its size.

The cost: $2,129.89

The bottom line: The Lenovo Yoga 920 gets a handful of improvements and added features including a pen-enabled display and eighth-gen Intel processors to make it one of the best premium two-in-ones you can find.

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HP Spectre x360 13

Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/reviews/hp-spectre-x360-13-late-2017-review/#ftag=CAD187281f

CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)

The good: Beautifully designed and lightweight, the HP Spectre x360 13 has a great keyboard and trackpad, a sharp HD display and an above-average sound system. Battery life with this display is great, and its performance is top notch.

The bad: The system runs a little hot and the newly added fingerprint sensor is in an awkward location.

The cost: $949.99

The bottom line: The HP Spectre x360 13 remains a great little convertible laptop, and now it’s faster with great battery life.

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Apple iPad (9.7-inch, 2018)

Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/reviews/apple-ipad-2018-9-7-inch-review/#ftag=CAD187281f

CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (Outstanding)

The good: The 2018 entry-level iPad supports the Apple Pencil for art work and annotation, and adds a faster A10 processor. iOS continues to offer the best overall selection of free and paid apps on affordable tablets.

The bad: Lacks the bigger, better screen, quad speakers and Smart Connector found on pricier iPad Pros. The Pencil, case and keyboard add-ons will bring the price up to laptop level.

The cost: $318.00 to $339.00

The bottom line: The 2018 entry-level iPad doesn’t add much, but it makes an already excellent tablet a better buy than ever.

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Samsung Chromebook Pro

Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/reviews/samsung-chromebook-pro-review/#ftag=CAD187281f

CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)

The good: A very long list of features for the price, including a QHD touch display, hybrid hinge and included stylus. Adding support for the Google Play app store means this Chromebook can access a wide range of software.

The bad: The keyboard and touchpad both remind you this is a budget laptop, and the accelerometer is way too touchy. Running too many apps and browser windows at once eats up the RAM quickly, leading to slowdown.

The cost: $549.00 to $597.99

The bottom line: The Samsung Chromebook Pro will make a believer out of many Chromebook skeptics by offering great value, features and performance for a budget-priced laptop.

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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Section Editor Dan Ackerman, Senior Editor Joshua Goldman, Senior Editor Lori Grunin, Senior Editor Scott Stein and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.