Touchscreen laptops offer a combination of convenience and versatility that regular notebooks simply can't match. Also known as hybrid laptops, touchscreen-equipped laptops give you the opportunity to perform a plethora of tasks just like you would on your smartphone or tablet, but on a much larger display. 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 touchscreen laptops out there to determine the absolute best.
Best Touchscreen Laptops
- Our Top Pick: HP Envy 13 Touchscreen Laptop
- Runner-Up: Acer Swift 5 Touchscreen Laptop
- Best Budget: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 2-in-1 Laptop
- Best 2-in-1 PC: Microsoft Surface Pro 7 2-in-1 PC
- Best for Apple Users: Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch)
- Best Chromebook: Acer Chromebook Spin 713 Chrome OS Laptop
- Most Elegant: Dell XPS 13 (9310) Touchscreen Laptop
- Most Powerful and Versatile: Microsoft Surface Book 3 Touchscreen PC
How We Tested
We have been researching touchscreen 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 touchscreen laptops worth testing through the following criteria:
- Hardware specs — ensuring that consumers won’t have to upgrade for years after purchasing.
- Battery life — focusing only on notebooks that can make it through at least a day of use.
- Additional features — evaluating the product’s support for a stylus pen, and when available, a 360-degree display, among many other bits.
- Pricing — making sure that our top picks are not only elegant and well-equipped but also within reach of most prospective buyers.
The testing process included 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 the regular workflow, we also streamed Netflix and YouTube TV content.
What to Consider
Hardware specs are always some of the most important things to consider when shopping for any new laptop. For touchscreen-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. After all, you will be having hands-on interactions with it.
Since these are touchscreen laptops, compatibility with a stylus (bundled or optional) is also paramount. It's a cool modern-day functionality that allows you to take hand-written notes, make fine edits to graphic design projects, or simply unwind with a coloring book, to name just a few tasks.
A top-tier touchscreen notebook should have a screen with at least a Full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080). 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 to follow: The product with a lesser display resolution will last significantly longer between battery charges.
When it comes to picking a processor, you should opt for a notebook with one of the latest chips, such as the 11th-generation Intel Core, AMD Ryzen 5000 Series, and Apple M1.
Wireless connectivity features for the best touchscreen laptops should be futureproofed with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. The former will guaranteed 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.
And because 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 touchscreen laptop, it might be helpful to consider a battery pack for it.
If you're ready to find the perfect touchscreen laptop for you, check out our reviews on the best options out there now.
Our Top Pick
Key Specs
- 11th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics
- 8GB of RAM, 256GB NVMe SSD
- 13.3-inch Full HD IPS touchscreen
- Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, two USB-A ports, microSD card reader
- Up to 13 hours of battery life
The latest 13-inch HP Envy is the best touchscreen laptop for most buyers. Weighing less than 3 pounds, it offers a perfect blend of elegant design, exceptional craftsmanship, futureproof hardware specs with powerful processor and graphics, excellent performance, and reliable battery life.
We love the notebook’s fingerprint sensor, its hardware switch for disabling the webcam, and its Bang and Olufsen-tuned stereo speakers. They deliver a crisp and powerful sound, which belies the notebook’s form factor. We do, however, wish that the notebook’s camera sensor had a higher resolution than basic HD.
Most importantly, this HP Envy variant is impossible to overlook when it comes to pricing, especially considering its hardware specs and the build quality it offers. It's as value-packed as a sub-$1,000 PC laptop can be.
If budget permits, consider the HP Envy 14 for around $200 more. It has a slightly less powerful processor but more capable NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphics card to go with a bigger screen. One of our favorite products from CES 2021, the notebook is a better option for power users, as well as a respectable gaming rig.
Runner-Up
Key Specs
- 11th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics
- 16GB of RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD
- 14-inch Full HD IPS antimicrobial touchscreen
- Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port, two USB-A ports, HDMI port
- Up to 15 hours of battery life
The Acer Swift 5 will cost you a little more than the HP Envy 13, but it has an even lighter build, beefier specs with more onboard memory, and a slightly longer battery life, all of which justify the higher price. Best of all, the notebook’s housing and touchscreen have a permanent antimicrobial coating, making it perfect for the new reality we live in.
Design-wise, the Acer Swift 5 stands out by rocking an all-metal chassis with an eye-catching green finish and gold accents. Its touchscreen is not only antimicrobial but, thanks to a Gorilla Glass finish, incredibly durable.
As feature-packed as it is, the Swift 5 still weighs less than 2.5 pounds. I tip my hat to Acer for making an insanely lightweight notebook without skipping any essential features. The notebook can easily make it through a full day of use between charges, making it great for users constantly on the go, and it has a convenient fingerprint sensor sitting right below its keyboard.
Having said that, the built-in speakers could be a little bit better for the price, and we wish the product was equipped with a button to disable the webcam.
Best Budget
Key Specs
- 11th-generation Intel Core i3 CPU, Intel UHD graphics
- 4GB of RAM, 128GB NVMe SSD
- 14-inch Full HD IPS
- Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5, USB-C 3.1 port, two USB-A ports, HDMI port, SD card reader
- Up to 11 hours of battery life
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i is one of the best touchscreen laptops for shoppers on a budget. Priced at just around $500, it has a pleasantly understated design and a versatile 360-degree touchscreen that’s compatible with an optional stylus pen. The notebook’s hardware specs include an up-to-date Intel processor and a rich set of connectivity features. However, with 4GB of RAM, the Flex 5i is best suited for casual use and light productivity work.
The 14-inch Full HD touchscreen could use higher brightness and more vibrant colors, but it’s plenty good for a product this affordable. The built-in webcam shutter, on the other hand, is a pleasant (and welcome) surprise. We also like how lightweight the product is, weighing only an incredible 3.3 pounds.
The backlit keyboard and the trackpad of the Flex 5i are good for its price range, and so is its battery life, which can last up to 11 hours between charges. This laptop doesn't have a fingerprint sensor, but for $500, it certainly isn’t a dealbreaker.
This entry-level variant of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i comes with Windows 10 in S Mode out of the box, meaning that you can only install apps from the Microsoft Store. Thankfully, you can upgrade to a full Windows 10 version for free.
Best 2-in-1 PC
Key Specs
- 10th-generation Intel Core i3 CPU (dual-core), Core i5/Core i7 CPU (quad-core)
- 4/8/16GB of RAM; up to 1TB of SSD storage
- 12.3-inch PixelSense touchscreen with 2,736 by 1,824 pixels
- USB-C port, full USB port, microSD card slot
- Up to 10.5 hours of battery life
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 can effortlessly transform from a tablet to a full Windows 10 PC. The process is as easy as snapping the Signature Type Cover onto the device. Like all Surface products, the latest Pro is also timelessly elegant and exceptionally crafted. You can order it with a platinum or a matte black finish.
The Surface Pro 7 packs Intel’s 10th-generation processors, which, while not the latest, offer a good balance between power and energy efficiency. There are plenty of hardware configurations to choose from, too, so you're all but guaranteed to find one that suits your lifestyle and budget.
The 2-in-1 PC is also compatible with the Surface Pen — a powerful tool for creativity and productivity tasks. We also like that the device is equipped with a USB-C port.
Best for Apple Users
Key Specs
- Apple M1 chip with a Neural Engine
- Up to 2TB of built-in storage
- 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
- Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port, optional 5G connectivity
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
Like its predecessor, the latest 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro is a legit laptop replacement, especially when equipped with the excellent Magic Keyboard. Sporting the groundbreaking Apple M1 chip that also powers several Mac computers, the slate offers more graphics and processing power than most rivals. The iPad Pro is lightweight (weighing only 1.5 pounds!) and is incredibly 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 our favorite bits about the product. Its screen is brighter, more vibrant, and more fluid than the screen of any rival and is complemented by a quartet of impressive stereo speakers. It's also the ideal canvas for the Apple Pencil.
With a sophisticated dual camera that’s capable of recording 4K video, the iPad Pro is perfect for creative personalities. Its Face ID camera is hands down the best for video calls and virtual briefings.
Apple’s iPadOS has an intuitive user interface, great multitasking capabilities, and an outstanding selection of apps that are tailor-made for a big screen. Like all Apple products, the iPad Pro is also backed by a vast ecosystem of cases and accessories.
Best Chromebook
Key Specs
- 11th-generation Intel Core i5 CPU
- 8GB of RAM; up to 256GB of SSD storage
- 13.5-inch touchscreen with 2,256 by 1,504 pixels
- Two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, USB-A port, HDMI, microSD card reader
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
Acer’s freshly updated Spin 713 is an even better version of our favorite Chromebook. It has a sleek design with a versatile 360-touchscreen, an insanely tough build, and top-notch, up-to-date hardware specs. They include a powerful Intel chip, a crisp and vibrant 3:2 display with slim bezels, and abundant wired and wireless connectivity features.
It's a notebook that's as sleek as it is tough. Thanks to an all-metal chassis and screen that’s covered by Corning Gorilla Glass, the device is compliant with military-grade standards for durability, making it a great option for those who have a habit of throwing their devices through the wringer. Its overall tactility is nothing short of exceptional, too.
The available wired connectivity features of the Chromebook Spin 713 make it a perfect option for power users. With a duo of Thunderbolt 4-compatible connectors, an HDMI connector, and a full USB port, you can simultaneously connect to an external monitor and ultra fast storage drive, among many other accessories.
The $700 price tag of the latest Spin 713, while hefty for a Chromebook, is agreeable for a notebook with such design, build, and specs. If you are a Google Chrome OS user, you won’t have to think about upgrading for years after purchasing the product.
Most Elegant
Key Specs
- 11th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics
- 16GB of RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD
- 13.4-inch Full HD+ IPS touchscreen
- Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports
- Up to 14 hours of battery life
Dell’s XPS 13 is hands-down the most elegant touchscreen laptop available now. Its craftsmanship is just as impressive, featuring an aluminum enclosure and a carbon-fiber palm rest. Besides its high-tech good looks, it is a joy to interact with.
The notebook has top-tier hardware specs, equally impressive performance, and fantastic battery life, even when equipped with a Full HD+ display panel.
It is impossible not to marvel at how insanely compact and lightweight the XPS 13 is. Sporting the thinnest screen bezels in its class, the 13-inch notebook has the footprint of a typical laptop with an 11-inch screen. To top things off, it’s casually thinner than a dime.
The bottom line? If it weren’t for its price tag, the XPS 13 would have been our top pick in this highly contested product category. However, the product is significantly more expensive than a similarly equipped HP Envy 13.
Most Powerful and Versatile
Key Specs
- 10th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics
- Up to 32GB of RAM, up to 2TB SSD
- 13.5-inch or 15-inch PixelSense touchscreen
- Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, USB-C 3.1 port, two USB-A ports, two Surface Connect ports, SD card reader
- Up to 15.5 hours of battery life
The Microsoft Surface Book 3 is deservedly the industry’s gold standard for hardware performance and versatility and a worthy successor to the excellent Surface Book 2. It's worth splurging for because it’ll completely change your expectations of touchscreen notebooks. It packs incredibly powerful hardware, all of which is tucked into a gorgeous magnesium body with excellent tactility.
The 15-inch Surface Book 3 in particular is capable of legitimately replacing a gaming laptop — its GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU allows it to run graphic-intensive games or process high-resolution video without a hint of hesitation. It even has onboard Xbox wireless connectivity, allowing gamers to easily pair their favorite controller.
With a GeForce GTX 1650 GPU on board, the 13.5-inch model is no slouch either. It’s worth noting that the entry-level Surface Book 3 with a 13.5-inch screen comes with capable but less powerful Intel graphics. Avid gamers and creative pros should budget accordingly.
But it's the detachable display that truly separates the Surface Book 3 from all of its competitors. It's compatible with the Microsoft Surface Pen and a Surface Dial, which is handy for photo editing and graphic design-related tasks. The only downfall is that Microsoft charges extra for the stylus.
