Discover a Whole New World of Interactions With the Best Touch-Screen Laptops

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Touch-screen laptops offer a combination of convenience and versatility that regular notebooks can't match. Also known as hybrid or 2-in-1 laptops, touch-screen-equipped offerings give you the opportunity to perform a plethora of tasks just like you would on your smartphone or tablet, but on a larger display. Long gone are the days of using solely a trackpad or a mouse.

But with so many options on the market right now, it's hard to choose which one is right for you. That's why we tested the most highly rated touch-screen laptops to determine the absolute best.

The Best Touch Screen Laptops

• Best PC Laptop: Samsung Galaxy Book3 360

• Runner-Up: Acer Swift 14

• Best Budget: Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14

• Best 2-in-1 PC: Microsoft Surface Pro 9

• Best for Apple Users: iPad Pro 12.9-inch with M2

• Best Chromebook: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

• Best Premium PC Laptop: Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2

What to Consider

Display

Hardware specs are always important to consider when shopping for any new laptop. For touch-screen-equipped products, in addition to the mandatory processor, memory, and connectivity bits, you should be particularly mindful of the quality and the resolution of their display panel — you'll be having a lot of hands-on interaction with it, after all.

A top-tier touch-screen notebook should have a screen with at least a Full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels). A higher resolution will result in a better viewing experience with sharper onscreen content, but it will have a significant impact on battery life. A simple rule of thumb: products with a lower display resolution will last significantly longer between battery charges.

If you are shopping for a premium touch-screen notebook, look for a display panel with a high refresh rate (above 60 Hz). This feature will bring faster and smoother interactions across the board, including scrolling through pages, emails, and social media feeds, as well as gaming. After years of experience, I can personally confirm that a high refresh rate is great, so long as you don't mind the potential battery life impact it might bring.

Since these are touch-screen laptops, compatibility with a stylus (bundled or optional) is also paramount. It's a cool modern-day functionality that allows you to make hand-written notes or fine edits to graphic design projects, or unwind with a coloring book, to name a few tasks.

Processor

When it comes to picking a processor, you should opt for a notebook with one of the latest chips, such as the 12th- or 13th-generation Intel Core, AMD Ryzen 7000 Series (or higher), and Apple M2. If you want to game on your touch-screen laptop, look for a standalone graphics chip. Any option that offers NVIDIA's RTX 40 Series GPU deserves a look.

Connectivity

Wireless connectivity features for the best touch-screen laptops should be future-proofed with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 or higher standards. The former will guarantee fast internet speeds for years (when connected to a compatible network), while the latter will ensure a stutter-free connection with Bluetooth headphones, earbuds, and speakers.

Regarding wired connectivity options, a USB-C port is a must-have in today's modern era, and when shopping for top-shelf laptops, always look for Thunderbolt 4 compatibility. The latter will allow you to connect compatible external monitors and ultra-fast external storage drives to your notebook. USB-A and HDMI ports are also important to consider.

Battery Life

Since most of us live a life on the go, we only picked products that can make it through a workday of use between charges. That said, the battery life of any laptop depends on the screen brightness and the quality of your internet connection, as well as the tasks you run (e.g., video editing and gaming are particularly taxing). Depending on how you plan to use your touch-screen laptop, it might be helpful to consider a battery pack for it if you don't have access to an outlet to plug in.

How We Tested

We have been researching touch-screen laptops ever since the product category became mainstream. The process involves reading reviews from other industry experts, sifting through hardware specs, and scouring consumer feedback about each product.

From there, we selected the best touch-screen laptops worth testing through the following criteria:

• Hardware Specs: We ensure that you won't have to upgrade for years after purchasing.

• Battery Life: We focused only on notebooks that can make it through at least a day of use.

• Additional Features: We evaluated the product's support for a stylus pen and, when available, a 360-degree display, among many other bits.

• Pricing: We make sure that our top picks are not only elegant and well-equipped but also within reach of most prospective buyers.

The testing process includes using the notebook as a daily driver in and out of work. We put every laptop's hardware through its paces by opening countless Chrome tabs with other programs like Slack and Spotify open in the background.

In order to assess the device's graphics, we edited high-resolution photos, and where applicable, played PC games. To evaluate the quality of its display panel, we used each product in various ambient lighting scenes. In addition to going through regular workflow, we also streamed Netflix and YouTube TV content.

Ready to find the perfect touch-screen laptop? Here are today's best options worth your attention.

Samsung's Galaxy Book3 360 is the best touch-screen laptop for most upgraders. Available with a 13.3- or 15.6-inch 360-degree AMOLED touch screen, the notebook offers an elegant design, a premium all-metal build, futureproof hardware specs with abundant wired and wireless connectivity options, stellar everyday performance, and long battery life with fast charging tech, all at an agreeable price.

The versatile laptop is also lightweight — the 13.3-inch version weighs well below 3 pounds, while the big screen iteration is just a tad above the same weight.

A longtime calling card of Samsung's excellent Galaxy phones, the rotating AMOLED display of the Book3 360 is one of its biggest selling points. Its vibrant colors and infinite contrast make competitors' screens look generic in comparison. The Full HD panel could use a higher resolution and refresh rate, but these features would have significantly impacted the laptop's battery life.

The 360-degree screen is compatible with the iconic S Pen stylus. Combined with a feature-rich suite of preloaded tools, the optional accessory makes jotting down notes, sketching, and making precise edits to photos a breeze. I frequently relied on it during my testing, and I wish it didn't cost extra.

A $1,000 budget will get you a 13.3-inch Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 with an Intel Core i5 chip, 8 GB of RAM, and ample 512 GB of storage. Spending another $250 will bump the processor to a beefier Intel Core i7 and double the RAM while keeping the product's price reasonable. The 15.6-inch Book3 360 costs $1,349.99 for a version with an Intel Core i7 chip, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage.

Consider the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 if you are shopping for a big-screen touch-screen PC. The costlier notebook has a higher-resolution AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate that's a joy to use. It also packs 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.

The Acer Swift 14 is a formidable alternative to our top pick from Samsung. It costs more than its rival, but it has considerably more storage and a higher-resolution screen and webcam. The display's tougher Gorilla Glass cover and antimicrobial coating also make it more suitable for hands-on interactions.

Measuring 14 inches diagonally, the screen slots above the 13.3-inch Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 and below its 15.6-inch iteration, so it offers a finer balance between size and multitasking capabilities. However, its IPS panel, while good, is no match for the viewing experience of Samsung's AMOLED screen.

Design-wise, the Acer Swift 5 stands out with an elegant machined metal chassis with an eye-catching green finish and gold accents. As feature-packed as it is, the Swift 14 still weighs just a tad above 2.5 pounds. I like that this is a lightweight notebook that doesn't compromise on performance, onboard hardware features, or battery life.

Overall, the Acer Swift 14 is worth investing in if you are looking for a powerful and portable touch-screen laptop but don't prioritize a rotating display or using a stylus pen. The product supports input devices, but the experience is not on the level of the S Pen.

The elaborately named Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is the touch-screen laptop to get if you are looking to upgrade without breaking the bank. Priced below $500, it has a pleasantly understated design and a versatile 360-degree touch screen that's stylus pen-compatible. Surrounded by a slim bezel, its sharp 14-inch touch screen is great for a product in this range and equally suitable for multitasking and watching videos.

Equipped with an entry-level Intel processor and 8 GB of RAM, the Spin 14 delivers reliable everyday performance, though I wouldn't recommend it to demanding power users. The device's plentiful (and futureproof) connectivity features are great for the money, too. I also like how lightweight the product is, weighing only 3.3 pounds.

The notebook's webcam could use a higher resolution than basic HD, and its speakers could be better. Having a backlit keyboard or an integrated fingerprint sensor would have been great, too, but the lack of all these features isn't a dealbreaker in this price category.

Double-digit battery life is another reason why you should have the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 on your radar if shopping on a tight budget. This affordable laptop also includes a protective sleeve.

The device runs Windows 11 in S mode, meaning that you can only install apps from the Microsoft store. You can upgrade to a full version of the platform for free.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is the best 2-in-1 PC worth your attention. Its ability to effortlessly convert from a sleek tablet to a powerful laptop is second to none and the main reason why you should order one. The transformation is as easy as snapping the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard — a must-have accessory that costs extra — onto the device. The 2-in-1 PC is also compatible with the Surface Slim Pen 2 — an amazing tool for creativity and productivity tasks.

The above versatility made me frequently reach for the Pro 9 for work and while traveling. I used it in laptop mode on my desk and to write down meeting notes with the Surface Slim Pen 2 on multiple occasions. That said, I really wish the snap-on keyboard and stylus didn't cost extra. These essential accessories make the substantial price of the Surface Pro 8 even heftier.

While not the latest, the Intel 12th-generation processors of the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 offer an excellent balance between power and energy efficiency. There are plenty of hardware configurations to choose from, all headlined by a superb PixelSense touch screen with a high refresh rate and an adjustable kickstand. You’re all but guaranteed to find a Pro 9 that suits your lifestyle and budget.

Like all Surface products, the latest Pro brings elegant looks and best-in-class craftsmanship to match. You can order it in a quartet of beautiful finishes: silver, graphite, forest, and sapphire. Matching keyboards are also available.

Like its predecessor, the latest 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro is a fantastic laptop replacement, especially when equipped with the Magic Keyboard. Sporting the industry-conquering Apple M2 chip that also powers our favorite MacBook, the slate offers more graphics and processing power than similarly priced rivals while being elegant and portable.

The big iPad Pro's mini-LED Super Retina XDR display panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate is in a league of its own and one of my favorite bits about the product. It is brighter, more vibrant, and more fluid than the screen of any rival and an ideal canvas for the Apple Pencil.

With a sophisticated dual camera that's capable of recording 4K video, the iPad Pro is also perfect for creating content, unlike its 2-in-1 PC and Chrome OS competitors. On the other hand, its Face ID camera with Center Stage is hands-down the best for video calls and virtual briefings.

I’d choose the iPad Pro over its non-Apple rivals for the power of the M2 chip, the quality of its screen, and iPadOS. The platform has an intuitive user interface, top-notch multitasking capabilities, and an outstanding selection of apps tailor-made for a big screen. So whether you or the giftee are a casual- or power-user, finding apps to make the most of the slate will be easy.

You can spec the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with up to 1 TB of storage. Optional 5G connectivity is also available. And as always, there’s a vast ecosystem of cases and accessories for personalizing the device.

Lenovo's IdeaPad Flex 5i is the best touch-screen Chromebook for most buyers. It has a sleek design, a versatile 360-degree touch screen, a robust build quality, and stellar, up-to-date hardware specs at a solid price. You get a powerful Intel chip, a crisp and vibrant display with slim bezel, and abundant wired and wireless connectivity features.

The IdeaPad Flex 5i is one of the first products to be part of the Chromebook Plus lineup. Recently unveiled by Google, the new product tier ensures Chromebooks that rock the Plus moniker have futureproof specs that include a sharp screen, at least 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, a Full HD webcam, and at least 10 hours of battery life, among other bits. Such hardware ensures you won't have to think about upgrading for years after purchasing the product.

In terms of performance and versatility, the Flex 5i performed admirably while I tested it. It handled multiple Chrome OS tabs and Android apps with ease. The battery life was solid, too.

The available wired connectivity features of the IdeaPad Flex 5i make it a perfect option for power users. Having a duo of USB-C ports, a full USB connector, and a microSD card reader allowed me to link all my go-to accessories.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a great buy if its hefty price tag fits within your upgrade budget. It packs powerful hardware tucked into a gorgeous metal body with a versatile design and excellent tactility. Its powerful NVIDIA GPU allows it to run graphic-intensive games or process high-resolution video without a hint of hesitation.

I couldn’t help but admire the power and speed of the Surface Laptop Studio 2 while I put it through its paces. Its ability to shift between conquering workflows and delivering top-tier gameplay is intoxicating and worth splurging on. I successfully used it as my primary workstation during workdays and to play Cyberpunk 2077 with an Xbox controller for hours on weekends.

A swiveling PixelSense touch screen and surprisingly powerful speakers set the Surface Laptop Studio 2 apart from its competitors. In addition to offering best-in-class versatility, the display has a high maximum refresh rate for next-level gameplay and smooth everyday interactions. Of course, the panel is also compatible with the Microsoft Surface Slim Pen 2.

Overall, the range-topping Surface is a worthy successor to the original Surface Laptop Studio. Every Surface Laptop Studio 2 comes with a powerful Intel Core i7 processor, and you can choose between NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 and 4060 GPU. Microsoft offers a more reasonably priced version with Intel Iris Xe graphics, but I highly recommend you spend extra on an NVIDIA chip.

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