There are a dizzying number of laptops and desktops to choose from — convertibles, two-in-ones, gaming machines and it only gets more confusing.
Cut through the clutter with this list of CNET’s top recommendations so you can get the right one for you.
Lenovo Yoga C930
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (outstanding).
The good: Lenovo’s Yoga C930 puts its 360-degree hinges to work as the two-in-one’s speaker system. The included active pen is discreetly housed and charged in the C930’s body and its webcam has a physical slider to block it when not in use. Performance and battery life are excellent for its class.
The bad: The included pen is a little small for extended use and there’s no option for discrete graphics, but no real deal breakers unless you object to its price.
The cost: $1,099.99 to $1,104.99.
The bottom line: Excellent performance and a stylish and functional design make the Lenovo Yoga C930 simply one of the best two-in-one laptops available.
Dell XPS 13 (2019)
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (outstanding).
The good: Dell has fixed this laptop’s only remaining serious flaw, designing a super-slim 2mm webcam to fit into the thin screen bezel. Optional colors look great, as does the 4K touchscreen. Excellent keyboard, and decent battery life for a 4K laptop.
The bad: The entry level configuration, while well-priced, cuts too many corners. We don’t love the woven texture on the wrist rest.
The cost: $1,699.87.
The bottom line: It’s nearly impossible to find anything to dislike about this 13-inch slim powerhouse, at least in the pricey high-end configuration tested here.
HP Spectre x360 (13-inch, 2019)
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (outstanding).
The good: The HP Spectre x360 13 is one of the best ultraportable two-in-ones available with lots of component options including three display choices, multiple privacy and security features and class-leading battery life. HP includes a laptop sleeve and full-size active pen.
The bad: Premium laptops come with premium prices. The low-power display is too dim for outdoor use.
The cost: $879 (renewed) to $1,062.99.
The bottom line: A stylish, thoughtful design, excellent component options and long battery life all make the HP Spectre x360 13 one of the best premium two-in-one ultraportables around.
Microsoft Surface Pro 6
Rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (excellent).
The good: The Surface Pro 6’s jump to new quad-core processors pays off in big performance gains. The new black color option looks cool. Remains the best kickstand and keyboard for Windows tablets.
The bad: Be ready to shell out extra for the keyboard cover, stylus and even for the new matte black design. CPU and color aside, it’s a very minimal upgrade over the previous version.
The cost: $605 to $899.99.
The bottom line: The latest Surface Pro tablet doesn’t make any radical design changes, but the performance jump makes it viable as a mainstream performance laptop replacement.
