Nothing like being able to carry your laptop anywhere without feeling the burden of it and being able to use it even in the tightest of places, right? Well, that is exactly what a 2 in 1 laptop has been designed for, utmost comfort of use.
And guess what, you do not have to spend big to get one of these babies. If you are a student or need a laptop for watching movies, browsing social media, etc. you wouldn’t want to spend $1000+.
So what are some pocket-friendly convertible laptops?
Well, to make choosing your next convertible laptop easy, we covered a detailed buyer’s guide on the best 2-in-1 laptops under 600 that are worth every penny.
Top-Performing 2-in-1 Laptops under 600 Compared
Dell Inspiron 13 7000
Lenovo Flex 14
ASUS Chromebook Flip C434
ASUS VivoBook Flip 14
Dell Inspiron 13 7000
Lenovo Flex 14
ASUS Chromebook Flip C434
ASUS VivoBook Flip 14
In-Depth Reviews of Convertable Laptops Under 600
#1: ASUS ZenBook Flip
The ASUS ZenBook Flip is a solid machine that can take on any task thrown at it. The credit goes to its powerful hardware mix that consists of the latest Intel 11-th gen processor, 4K OLED display, superb speakers, stylus, and a comfortable keyboard. It’s surprising how ASUS has managed to squeeze all these features into a compact and thin chassis.
- Intel Evo Platform - The perfect combination of performance, responsiveness and battery life. Enjoy amazing performance with the 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor. Experience vivid colors with Intel Iris Xe graphics. Stay productive with a fast-charging, long-lasting battery.
- 13.3 inch OLED Full HD 4-way NanoEdge bezel display with Windows 10 Professional
- Latest 11th generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 Quad Core Processor (12M Cache, up to 4.70 GHz, with IPU)
- Fast storage and memory featuring a 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD and 16GB LPDDR4X RAM
- Extensive connectivity with HDMI, Thunderbolt 4 via USB Type C, USB Type A, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0
The screen of the ZenBook Flip S is likely its best feature. It’s a touch-enabled 13.3-inch 4K OLED panel with deep blacks, vibrant colors, and good viewing angles. To match the beautiful display, this laptop is equipped with excellent speakers. They don’t get particularly loud, but they sound well-rounded and full.
Despite its compact size, the keyboard of the ZenBook Flip S does not feel cramped. The keys are decently sized, and the backlit keyboard is a pleasure to use. The ZenBook Flip S’s snappy trackpad, which includes NumberPad 2.0, will make your life easier. Simply tap an icon in the top right corner of the touchpad to bring up an LED touch-based Numpad. For a laptop of this size, the Numpad performs admirably.
One thing that worried us about the Flip S is its battery life. Even though the notebook comes with a 67Wh battery, the battery lasts approximately four and a half hours. This was with the resolution to 4K, but you can turn the resolution to 1080p to increase the battery. The Flip S laptop charges fast, and it takes only 60 minutes to fully charge the battery.
The laptop comes with an ASUS Stylus Pen with 4096 pressure levels. It makes the 2 in 1 experience particularly special because it unlocks the ability to utilize the stylus for graphic design and drawing. It also makes note-taking and scrolling through the UI a fluid experience
The ZenBook Flip has also earned an intel EVO badge, which signifies Intel’s confidence in the laptop’s premium quality. The device’s 11th generation Intel i7 CPUs ensure that it is speedy at routine chores and performs well under high loads as well.
| Pros | Cons |
| Intel EVO Certification | Short battery life |
| Excellent Stylus in box | Tablet mode is awkward to use with the keyboard in the back |
| Beautiful 4K display | |
| Diverse port selection | |
| Powerful performance |
#2: HP Pavilion x360
The HP Pavilion x360 is an entry-level 2-in-1 laptop that delivers amazingly on the core premise of being a tablet and a laptop. It is an inexpensive option for the masses that looks good, works fast, and delivers a great laptop and tablet experience.
For connectivity, we have two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 SuperSpeed ports, one HDMI 2.0 port, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 SuperSpeed port for charging or connecting to a display via DisplayPort 1.4, a headphone jack, and a full-sized SD card slot. The lack of ports should not be a problem on this laptop.
The inclusion of Wifi-6 capabilities in this laptop is a great boost to productivity and helps get much better wireless connections.
It comes equipped with a quad-core Intel i5 1035G1 and 16 GB DDR4 RAM. The laptop should have no performance lag even while multitasking between a movie, an excel file, and a web browser. The 512 GB of SSD storage is still SATA-based, which does mean it is a little slow but does give a significant improvement to boot time.
The display is a 3-sided micro-edge display FHD display and fills more of the top panel. The great screen is complemented by a sound system that makes watching movies blissful. The sound system has also been tuned by the experts at B&O to make sure that it sounds clear and expressive.
| Pros | Cons |
| Attractive build | Screen is bland and lacks brightness |
| Comfortable keyboard | Not a full day battery |
| Quad-core CPU | |
| Audio quality is solid | |
| Wifi 6 enabled |
#3: LG Gram 16T90P
Truly a laptop worth the name, LG gram is the most lightweight 16” laptop out there. To add to that, the laptop has a sharp 2560×1600 IPS touchscreen that bends to make a tablet. With powerful internals and performance, you can depend on, the LG gram is an amazing laptop.
- Aspect Ratio:16:10
- 16” WQXGA (2560x1600) IPS Touch Display with Pen and DCI-P3 99% color expression
- Intel Evo Platform Powered by 11th generation Intel core i5-1135G7 Processor with Intel Xe Graphics delivers performance for high-resolution content creation and editing
- 16GB LPDDR4X 4266mhz RAM delivers a high level of performance for memory-intensive content creation, designing, editing, and multitasking
- Improve productivity with 512GB PCIe M.2 NVMe SSD for dependable storage accessible in a flash
While the LG gram is equipped with an Intel i5-1135G7, the highlight is the super-fast RAM. It is a 16 GB LPDDR4X module that runs at a whopping 4266 MHz. It’s swift, and it is perfect for designing, editing, multitasking, or content creation.
In the box, you also get the accompanying LG stylus pen which has 4096 pressure levels and a battery life of 18 months!
With the Intel Evo platform, powered by the 11th gen Intel core processor and Iris Xe graphics, you get 1.2x the CPU performance and 1.8x the graphics performance compared to its predecessors. The LG Gram also has integration for Alexa, which gives you the ability to set timers and alarms, control your music and keep up with your calendar.
The LG Gram comes with upgraded 2W speakers and MAX 5W Smart Amp for realistic audio and sound effects. DTS:X Ultra also provides more immersive 3D audio rendering that gives a rich and surround sound-like experience.
It is also equipped with a Thunderbolt 4 port that lets you enjoy dual 4K and single 8K display connection to only one Thunderbolt port with stability, scalability, and security. Plus, 16T90P boosts productivity with transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps, next-gen interface support, and USB4 compatibility.
| Pros | Cons |
| Thunderbolt 3 support | No discrete GPU |
| Most lightweight 16” laptop | Keyboard could have been better |
| Amazing display | |
| Long battery life | |
| Excellent performance |
#4: Acer Spin 3
The Acer Spin 3 is an all-rounded device that packs huge value for money. It functions great as a tablet with a rechargeable active stylus and does great as a laptop as well. It’s powerful enough to carry out daily tasks with some light multitasking as well.
- 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8265u Processor (Up to 3.9GHz), 8GB DDR4 Dual Channel Memory & 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- 14" Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS widescreen LED-backlit multi-touch Display
- 802.11AC Wi-Fi & Bluetooth 5.0
- 1 - USB 3.1 Gen 1 port, 1 - USB 2.0 port, 1 - HDMI Port with HDCP support
- Windows 10 Home & Lithium Ion Battery with Up to 12 hours Battery Life. Maximum Power Supply Wattage = 45 W
The front-firing dual speakers give excellent audio on this machine in every possible orientation you put it in. The 14” FHD display is complemented beautifully by the speakers and makes multimedia and light games look amazing. Playing multimedia on this laptop will give an immersive and enjoyable experience.
One thing that stands out about this laptop is the cooling system. Although Acer has not given any specific upgrade, the Acer Spin 3 is extremely well ventilated. It manages to stay cool even under heavy loads, as it is designed amazingly well.
The Acer Spin 3 has marvelous wireless connectivity with a dual-band Wifi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 support. However, the port selection could have been better, as the Spin 3 only has one USB-3.1 port, one USB 2.0 port, one SD card reader, and one HDMI port. Lack of USB-C, a headphone jack, and an ethernet port are felt if a lot of your work gets done from modern SSDs, which use USB-C.
| Pros | Cons |
| Stays cool even under pressure | Ports selection is very limited |
| Aggressive pricing | Upgradation is not possible |
| Amazing design | |
| Loud and clear audio | |
| Rechargeable active stylus |
#5: Dell Inspiron 5481
Are you looking for a 2-in-1 laptop for domestic use that won’t need to have the most high-end specs to serve its requirements?
The Dell Inspiron 5481 fits perfectly into the role of the laptop that will do great at basic functions like web browsing and movie watching. It is built with ease of use kept at the priority because the laptop becoming a tablet is its headline feature.
The Dell Inspiron 5481 is a little outdated in 2021, as it comes with an 8th Gen Intel i5 processor and only 4 GB RAM, but it should be able to provide a decent experience for what it is meant to be. Which is a light device not meant for heavy workloads, but to be used as an entertainment or general-purpose device.
The Inspiron is also thin and lightweight, making it highly portable, just what you need from a 2-in-1 laptop. You could be using this laptop at your desk at home, and then on the metro seat as a tablet.
It comes with a 128 GB SSD inside, which might sound a little less, but due to the advent of streaming services, one might get by without facing storage issues. The SSD for all purposes is still very fast and apps and windows open very quickly.
| Pros | Cons |
| SSD Storage | The display is not FHD, only HD |
| Large trackpad | The keyboard is not backlit |
| SD card reader | |
| Thin and light design | |
| Inexpensive |
#6: Dell Inspiron 13 7000 (Best for Gaming)
Didn’t think you could get a gaming laptop under $600 that is also convertible? Then You are in for a treat with the Dell Inspiron 13 7000.
- 13. 3" 1920x1080 FHD LED-Backlit IPS Touchscreen Display; AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 5 2500U Quad-Core Processor 2. 0GHz
- 8GB DDR4 2400 Memory, 256GB Solid State Drive; No Optical Drive
- 802. 11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4. 1, Windows 10 Home 64-Bit, MaxxAudio Pro, Stereo speakers, 3-cel Lithium-ion Battery, 1x USB 2. 0, 1x USB 3. 0 w/ PowerShare, 1x USB Type-C, 1x HDMI, 1x SD Card Reader, 1x Headphone/Microphone combo jack
- Windows 10 Home 64-Bit, Era Gray
Best Features
Make no mistake, the Dell Inspiron isn’t a powerhouse like some of these gaming laptops but if you spend a lot of time playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Crysis 3, or PUBG Lite, the laptop checks all the required boxes.
For example, it comes with an AMD Quad-Core Ryzen 5 2500U and any tech geek will tell you that this processor can go toe to toe with the i5 or i7 processors.
That is mainly because the Ryzen 5 comes with a 4-core 8-thread processor compared to the 2-core 4-thread chip of the i7 making Ryzen the faster choice. Plus, it is cost-effective as well.
Further boosting the gaming experience is the AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 graphics card that can run most games between 60-90 fps while you can play Counter-Strike Go at about 120 fps.
Bringing those games and movies to life is the 13” Full-HD Display. And since it is an IPS display, it does not just produce better colors, a wider viewing angle but is also easy on the eye.
Also, the laptop has 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD. With the 8GB RAM, you run your fair share of apps and tabs simultaneously while the use of SSD not only increases disk durability but also ensures the laptop boosts in less than 25 seconds.
As you already know, the laptop is convertible and can be used in tent mode, as a traditional laptop, or like a tablet (perfect for the lazy Sunday when you want to stay in bed all day long).
It weighs just 3.8lbs and easily fits into your hands while the intuitive touch screen ensures you can quickly navigate from one window to the next (just like with your mobile).
It is also a great laptop for the forgetful you and me as you do not have to remember the unlock password. That is because facial recognition makes the job hassle-free.
Lastly, so your shenanigans need not stop even at night whether it is work or some fun time with friends, the laptop has a backlit keyboard with adjustable brightness.
Drawbacks
The major disappointment with this laptop was the battery life. With a full charge, it gives about 3-4 hours though if you use the power saver well and close unnecessary programs you can churn out another hour or two.
Pros
- An ideal convertible laptop for games like COD: MW 3, Counter-Strike Go, PUBG Lite. etc.
- AMD Quad-Core Ryzen 5 2500U is at par (if not better) with Intel i5 and i7.
- With the AMD Radeon RX Vega 8, most games run between 60-90 fps
- IPS display ensures great viewing angles and color production
- It also puts less strain on the eye
- The laptop weighs just 3.8lbs and is compact enough to be comfortably used as a tablet
- It will boot in less than 25s thanks to the SSD.
- Comes with facial recognition for easy unlocking
- The keyboard is backlit
Cons
- Poor battery life as it runs just 3-4hrs on a full-charge
- Wi-Fi connection can be unstable if you are further away from the router
#7: Lenovo Flex 14
If you are looking for something with a more eye-grabbing design and better battery life than the Dell Inspiron, Lenovo Flex 14 is just what you need.
- The 14 inches Fhd (1920 x 1080) Touchscreen display is ideal for productivity or creativity, while the Intel Pentium Core i5-8265u Processor is fast and responsive. Includes 8GB DDR4 RAM and 128GB NVMe SSD
- With up to 8 hours of battery life, the Flex 14 enables you to work, play, and stay in the loop all day, from anywhere. Recharge technology lets you recharge your multimode PC up to 80% in just 1 hour
- Stay connected with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in. The Flex 14 notebook also includes 2 USB ports, 1 USB-C port, a card reader, HDMI port, and audio jack
- Write, draw, or sketch directly onto the Flex 14's touch screen. With a digital pen (available separately), you can capture moments of inspiration or take notes on the fly
- The convenient true block privacy shutter lets you physically close your PC's webcam whenever you're not using it
Best Features
First and foremost, I love the battery life of the laptop. It gives you 7-8hrs on a single charge. Now, this may not seem too impressive but you have to take into consideration the powerful specs as well.
Plus, when you do run out of battery, the laptop takes just 1-hour to reach 80% battery life so you can get back to work at the earliest.
For starters, the laptop features an I5-8265U Processor along with 8GB RAM which means it can easily handle streaming movies, browsing the internet with multiple tabs, etc.
And if you, like me hate the laptop boot-up taking more than a few seconds or apps opening slowly then you will be glad to know that the 128GB SSD ensures it takes not more than 20-25 seconds.
Whether you want to display presentations on the laptop or stream movies, videos, the laptop has got your back with the 14” Full-HD display. The colors, contrast, brightness, etc. produced by the IPS screen are captivating, and even with long hours of viewing you do not end up with red eyes.
Unlike the Inspiron mentioned above, the Lenovo Flex comes with a fingerprint scanner for easy unlocking and utmost security.
Further ensuring your privacy is the TrueBlock Privacy Shutter which allows you to physically close the laptop’s webcam when not in use.
The laptop weighs slightly less than the Inspiron at 3.5lbs which makes it even easier to handle irrespective of the mode you are using in.
Even this laptop comes with a backlit keyboard so you can keep binge-watching your favorite shows or complete that presentation, etc. even with the lights out.
If you are a graphic designing student or just an enthusiast that uses Photoshop, etc. often, you can also get the pen. But remember, you will need to buy it separately.
Drawbacks
The laptop comes with an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 615. So if you are planning to perform some graphics-intensive tasks like gaming, high-end graphics designing, video editing, etc, then I would recommend you go with the Dell Inspiron.
Also, you may run out of space sooner than with the Inspiron if you happen to store a lot of videos, photos, etc. as it comes with just a 128GB SSD.
Pros
- Comes with an eye-catching, all-black design
- Runs for about 7-8hrs on a single charge
- Recharges to 80% in just an hour
- Delivers great speed even when multitasking with multiple programs and tabs
- The 14” display is a Full-HD, IPS display that delivers great colors and contrast
- With an SSD, the laptop takes mere seconds to boot
- You can buy the Pen for designing and navigation purposes
- It has a backlit keyboard
- TrueBlock Privacy Shutter gives you more privacy by closing the camera when not in use
- The fingerprint scanner makes unlocking easy and reduces the chances of getting hacked
Cons
- Not suitable for graphics-intensive tasks like gaming or designing
- 128GB isn’t ample space and you will need to upgrade soon
#8: ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 (Best 2 in 1 Chromebook Under 600)
Most of your work revolves around using Apps like Google Drive, Google Docs, or some Android apps? Then a Chromebook is well worth the money and it hardly gets any better than the ASUS Flip C434.
- 14 inch Touchscreen FHD 1920x1080 4-way NanoEdge display featuring ultra-narrow bezels (5mm thin) around each side of the display that allows for a 14 inch screen to fit in the body of a 13inch laptop footprint.Control method:touch
- The FHD display has a durable 360 degree hinge that can be used to flip the touchscreen display to tent, stand, and tablet mode.
- Powered by the Intel Core m3-8100Y Processor (up to 3.4 GHz) for super-fast and snappy performance. If you use a ton of tabs or run lots of apps, this has the power to get it all done with ease.
- 8GB DDR3 RAM; 64GB eMMC storage and 2x USB Type-C (Gen 1) and 1s Type-A (Gen 1) ports plus a super bright backlit keyboard.
- The lightweight (3lbs) all-aluminum metal body makes the C434 both durable and beautiful for a timeless look that will never go out of style.
Best Features
One of the reasons this Chromebook has become a favorite is because it is one of the fastest on the block. While most Chromebooks feature MediaTek Processors, the ASUS Flip is primed for high-speed performance with the Intel Core M3-8100Y Processor.
And to top it all, there is a whopping 8GB RAM, a spec you would normally only see in low to mid-range Windows laptops. Another spec similar to the Windows laptops is the use of integrated Intel HD Graphics 615 graphics card further giving its performance a major boost.
Giving the Chromebook a quick boot is the eMMC storage. If you use lesser apps even they open up in seconds And while you might think 64GB isn’t enough, note that Chromebooks usually come with 32GB storage, some even with 16GB storage.
But if you do run out of space, there’s a surprise for you in-store. With the laptop, comes a 1-year subscription to Google One account with 100GB storage.
You can also comfortably use the Chromebook in dim or no light thanks to the backlit keyboard. Plus, the key travel is just 1.4mm which gives you the best typing experience.
And making navigating around, switching between windows, tabs, etc. hassle-free is the large touchpad with multi-gesture support (it is pretty much like with a MacBook)
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is also one of the most durable of Chromebooks as it sports an aluminum body rather than plastic parts while the diamond-cut design gives it a premium and modern look.
You are going to use your Chromebook a lot for streaming NetFlix, Amazon Prime, etc. and thus a clear and immersive display is a must and the Flip C434 delivers on that with the 14″ Full-HD display
But that’s not all.
This is a 4-way NanoEdge display. That means it comes with ultra-thin bezels on the side (just 5mm) offering you a nearly borderless display. It also has great viewing angles so watching movies with your friend/partner is hassle-free.
Finally, the Chromebook though sturdy remains on the ultra-light side as it weighs 3.3lbs and also features an amazing battery life of about 10 hours thus giving you great portability (your favorite coffee shop or while on a trek, you finally have a Chromebook that you can use anywhere you want).
Drawbacks
Well, this is a Chromebook and using the ChromeOS which means it won’t support most of your Windows applications so do think about your needs before investing in a Chromebook
The speakers can get quite loud at full volume but also very unpleasant so I would recommend you get a good set of earphones/headphones or Bluetooth speakers for a better movie experience.
Also, and this is an obvious one, the Chromebook is not suitable for graphic-intensive tasks.
Pros
- It is one of the fastest Chromebooks on the market and can compete with low-end Windows laptops
- That’s because of the 8GB RAM, Intel M3-8100Y Processor, and Intel graphics card
- Flash storage lower booting time and opens up apps faster
- The aluminum body gives it excellent durability (will last you for years)
- 4 Way Nano-Edge display ensure minimum bezel and maximum viewing area
- The Full-HD display with 100% sRGB delivers immersive pictures
- You get a 1-year subscription to Google One with 100GB storage Free
- Backlit keyboard with the perfect key-travel for fast, easy typing
- Runs all day long with the 10-hour battery life
Cons
- Not compatible with Windows applications
- Does not support gaming, video editing, or other heavy tasks
- Low-quality speakers so make sure you have good earphones/headphones
- eMMC storage is no match for an SSD if you run multiple programs
#9: New Microsoft Surface Go
The New Microsoft Surface Go doesn’t just look classy and sleek it packs a punch that you’d be taken aback by. Confused? Here’s what you need to know about this compact baby.
- High res 10 inch PixelSense: Display designed to be viewed, touched, and written on
- Lightest surface yet, starting at 1.15 pounds. Touch: 10 point multi touch
- All day battery life, with upto 9 hours of unplugged power. Ambient light sensor
- Runs Windows 10 Home in S Mode, streamlined for security and superior performance
- Includes multi tasking USB C, fast charging surface connect, and headphone jack. Use it in Laptop, Tablet or Studio Mode
Best Features
When you first take a look at the specs of the New Microsoft Surface Go, you expect it to be a slow, difficult to use tablet/laptop but guess what, it is anything but that (at least as long as you keep your expectation in check)
There’s no sugar-coating the fact that the Intel Pentium Gold isn’t the quickest but believe it or not we ran Adobe Photoshop CC and Lightroom CC on it and it worked just fine.
Yup, as long as you are editing 1-2 images at a time, you will face minimal lag while the intuitive touch screen makes zooming in and out easy peasy.
Furthermore, teamed with an excellent 8GB RAM, the laptop can also handle some lightweight games like Age of Empires, Transistor, etc (a few must-try games).
There is also the 128GB SSD. The base model comes with eMMC storage and while they are good, SSDs give you better speed especially when running multiple apps.
There is a kickstand at the back that allows you to switch between tablet mode and studio mode.
If you rather use it as a traditional laptop, you need to get the keyboard. The high-end, soft keyboards cost anything between $100-$150 and are worth every penny. Similarly, you can also get the Stylus and the Mouse for more comfortable usage.
With constant usage, it gives you a solid battery life of about 6-7 hours. Charging it is easy as well as you can do it via the console connector or a USB-C charger and if you have a high-power USB-C charger, the charging is pretty quick.
Considering the low price tag, the front-facing stereo speakers performed well above our expectations (no headphones, no problem).
But what are good speakers without a good display, right? Thankfully, the PixelSense display produces accurate colors and brightness which makes it ideal for daily use.
Lastly, it is the lightest 2 in 1 laptop on the list at 1.15lbs so moving around even while carrying it in your hands is easy.
Drawbacks
Well, the laptop isn’t ideal for games like PUBG, Fortnite, etc. and if you edit too many images or run too many power-thirsty apps, you will face lag.
Talking about the S Mode, while the thought behind it is great as Microsoft gives you Android Apps on Windows, most commonly used apps just aren’t there. Though with little tweaks in the coming years, the S Mode will be a major highlight.
Also, the display is just 10” so if you are doing some intricate work on it, the display might feel cramped up.
To end with, the bezels are slightly thicker though that is mainly to provide you with a better grip and to integrate the speakers.
Pros
- The processor is powerful enough to handle light editing on Adobe Lightroom CC or Photoshop
- It has an 8GB RAM so running multiple apps won’t slow down the laptop
- The SSD is faster than the eMMC that the base model comes with
- You have the option to buy a keyboard, mouse, or stylus for a more comfortable user experience
- It gives a good run-time of 6-7 hours on a single charge
- The front-facing speakers are clear and loud
- The PixelSense display produces excellent colors and contrast
- It is one of the lightest 2 in 1 laptop and weighs just 1.15lbs
- Charging with a powerful USB-C charger reduces charging time
Cons
- The S Mode misses out on a lot of important apps and thus isn’t as useful
- The laptop cannot be used to play games like Fortnite, PUBG, etc.
- It has thicker bezels
- The 10-inch display can feel cramped at times
#10: ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 (For Budget Buyers)
If you are looking for something good on the cheap, the ASUS VivoBook Flip is the answer to your prayers.
But there’s more to it than just a price tag. Here’s all you need to know about it.
- Powerful & efficient Intel Celeron N4000 1.1GHz (Turbo upto 2.6GHz); 64 eMMC storage, 4GB LPDDR4
- Featuring Windows 10 in S mode operating system with 1 year of office 365 included; Webcam: VGA Camera
- 14" Glossy screen with a Nano Edge FHD display with wide view technology and a touchscreen with upto 178° viewing angle optimized for entertainment
- 13” wide, 0. 6” thin with 0. 3” bezel for a stunning 73% screen-to-body ratio; aluminum chassis and lightweight at 3.3 pounds.
- Portable and convertible 2 in 1 laptop with four viewing modes: Tablet, tent, stand, and laptop.
Best Features
First and foremost, even at this price range, you get a large 14-inch and pretty good Full-HD display that has wide viewing angles which is good news since you will primarily be using the laptop for streaming.
Similarly, the fact that the laptop comes with an SSD over eMMC or HDD is a huge plus as it makes boot, shutdown, etc faster.
The aluminum chassis makes this a very durable laptop and won’t break or crack with the little bumps and falls (I have dropped this off the bed, and still worked just fine).
The brushed aluminum finish on the outside and the interior does look for a premium laptop.
You will also be switching the laptop from tablet, tent to laptop mode often and thus having metal hinges helps as it gives the laptop stability and improves durability.
As a bonus, you also get a 1-year Office 365 subscription which means you get complete access to features of MS Word, Powerpoint, Excel, etc. for your daily presentation or other work-related needs.
It also comes with a fingerprint scanner on the trackpad which allows you to unlock the laptop within seconds without having to remember the password each time.
Lastly, for the laptop to be truly portable it has to be lightweight and compact and the Flip is just that. It weighs a mere 3.3lbs and has a decent 5-6 hr battery life.
Drawbacks
On the downside, it only has 64GB of memory which means you will need to backup all your data often to create space.
This also features the Windows S Mode which isn’t as handy as they make it out to be though that may vary depending on the apps you use.
The keyboard can feel a bit mushy as the keys are slightly close which probably has been done to make the laptop more compact.
Also, the webcam is VGA so your video calls won’t be as clear and amazing as they would have been with a 720p for a Full-HD camera.
Pros
- It is the ideal laptop for anyone on a tight budget and costs around $400
- Comes with an SSD over eMMC which gives it a speed boost
- It has ample power to stream movies, run cloud-based apps on multiple tabs, etc.
- With an aluminum chassis, the laptop can handle falls and bumps
- Adding to the durability are the metal hinges
- The brushed aluminum finish gives it a premium look and feel
- You get a 1-year Office 365 subscription free
- Comes with a fingerprint scanner for unlocking
- Gives a run-time for 5-6 hrs which is decent enough
- It weighs just 3.3lbs and fits perfectly in the hand
Cons
- The webcam is just VGA so picture quality isn’t great
- The 64GB storage provided is low and will need you to take constant backups
- S Mode does not have a lot of the apps people tend to use regularly
- The keyboard can feel clustered to first-time users
What to consider when buying a 2 in 1 laptop under $600
If you plan to use your 2 in 1 laptop for both work and entertainment you should make sure it has the right specifications and capabilities to keep up with your desire. To have maximized productivity during work and experience full pleasure and entertainment, you want a laptop that works smoothly and without any lags.
Whether it’s some business calls, using lots of different tabs in your browser, running a couple of programs at the same time, or just playing video games and watching movies, everything depends on your device’s specifications. The components you should focus on the most are the CPU, the RAM, the storage, the display resolution, the GPU, as well as others.
CPU
CPU is the first thing you should be careful about when buying a 2 in 1 laptop. This is the most important component that your device depends on, whether it will have lags or run smoothly. If you want your laptop to be able to run different programs at the same time, have a lot of tabs open in your browser, and allow you to multitask, then you should not save money on CPU.
As always, you will need to choose between AMD and Intel. In this case, there are more laptops with Intel processors that we would recommend. As we talk about 2 in 1 laptop under $600, the best processors you can get are the Intel Core i5 from Intel and Ryzen 5 from AMD. You won’t make a mistake with either of them because they will provide you with excellent performance. They both have 4 cores and we recommend you chose one of them.
On the other hand, if you have a lower budget, then you have two cheaper Intel processors, Intel Core M3-8100Y and Intel Celeron N400. This is the bar you shouldn’t go under, as both of them have only 2 cores. Choosing them can result in the slower speed of your laptop and in occasionally lags but if your budget is limited this Is the best you can get. Again, we recommend going with the 4 cores option.
RAM
The second component we should talk about is RAM. The recommended requirement is 8GB RAM. The top bar is 16GB but it would be difficult to fit into this price range and it’s unnecessary. You shouldn’t go under 4GB RAM, like today, every video game or program requires around 4GB so it can run without any problems.
If we talk about RAM speed then you shouldn’t worry, you can choose everywhere between 1600MHz and 3200MHz. Most of the RAM today is in that range so this is not the part that should bother you.
Storage
When talking about storage, usually you can choose between HDD and SSD but this time you have 1 more option, eMMC storage. If you prefer space over speed, then you should go with an HDD as it can give you up to 256GB of space.
On the other hand, if you want your laptop to turn on faster and overall to have a higher speed and don’t care about the space, then you can choose the 128GB SSD. We recommend SSD if you want to use your 2 in 1 laptop for work, and HDD if you want to use it to download movies and play video games because then you will need more space.
The third option you can choose is eMMC storage. This is the worst of these 3 options as it’s slower than the SSD and can provide you with a very small amount of space (usually only 64GB). This is also the cheapest option, so you should consider it only if you have a smaller budget.
This is the speed of the eMMC compared to the speed of the SSD
Display
Because you will spend most of your time in front of the screen you must be careful when choosing a display. The first thing you should be aware of is that your display is in a full HD as today everything is in that format. Also, if we talk about a refresh rate, it will probably have 60Hz, which Is fine in this price range. Choosing a 120Hz display will cost you a lot and it won’t make that much of a difference.
Also, the size of your display should be somewhere between 13 and 14 inches, which is a little bit smaller than an average laptop size. We talk about 2 in 1 laptop which can be used both as a laptop and as a tablet so this is the size that fits both options.
GPU
When we talk about a GPU, you don’t have much to worry about. Almost every 2 in 1 laptop in this price range is made with an integrated graphics processor (IGP). It’s either AMD Radeon graphics or Intel HD Graphics but there is nothing much you can do about it. These laptops are not made for some high requirements PC games but are perfect for mobile games that you can play while in tablet mode.
Other
Battery life is as important as the previously mentioned things. If you use it for work, your laptop will most of the time be on the charger and you don’t have to worry about its battery. But when we talk about tablet mode, if you are playing a game or watching a movie in your bed, it can be frustrating when your battery runs off. You can choose everywhere between 3-4hrs and 7-8hrs battery life. If you are using your device just for work, you can go with the lower option, but if you prefer entertainment we would suggest looking for higher battery life.
Lastly, we have to talk about an operating system. Most of the 2 in 1 laptop In this category come with Windows 10. This is perfect because you will have every option as if you are using a regular PC or laptop.
