What’s the best touchscreen laptop for you? It depends on a lot of things, including what you use your computer for. When buying a computer, you need to know the differences between models and what you’re getting for your money. And we’re here to help.

Chances are, you own a smartphone and have gotten used to interacting with your screen by touch. And yes, touchscreen laptops do have lots of great advantages. Firstly, they’re far more intuitive and easy to use. Secondly, the tech has gotten to the point where it’s reliable and affordable. With beautiful screen displays along with greater speed and responsiveness, why not? Also, they’ve finally become affordable.

Of course, some grumble about slightly higher prices, slightly lower battery life, and grubby fingerprints on your screen. But we’ve come a long way since the Lenovo 3 came out. For the most part, touchscreens now perform as well as standard computer games these days.

When looking to buy a new computer, you need to take a range of factors into account. These include size, weight, performance, speed, memory, operating system, and quality. All of these will a role in deciding what to buy when the time is right. After all, not all computers are created equal. In fact, there’s often a great deal of difference between the makes and models.

For example, if you work images or videos, you’ll need a higher end model with a large, crisp display. Meanwhile, a college student who takes their laptop everywhere needs something lightweight and durable.  As for avid gamers, they need a model with a fast processor, a high-quality graphics card, and lots of RAM.

We have decided to take an opportunity to review and rate a number of different touchscreen laptops. This should certainly help you find the best touchscreen laptop for you.  In order to help you find the right one, we’ve broken our list down into common usage categories.  These options include all-around, business, college, and also the higher-end creative and gaming ones. Furthermore, we have a unique rating system based on a number of different factors. We explain how this works in the section on how we choose our ratings.

How We Choose Our Ratings for the Best Touchscreen Laptop

When we are reviewing the different touchscreen laptops below you will see that we have condensed reviewers’ remarks and opinions, investigating how they have rated the individual models, and listed some of the product specifications of each individual computer.

In order to achieve giving you the most honest and unbiased ratings for the selected computers, all of our ratings are based on information provided by actual real customers and actual manufacturer specifications.

It’s important to note that all of these opinions are provided by real people who have no commercial interest in these products. As for us, although we do make commissions from our links, we only recommend top quality products.

We also want to note that even the best touchscreen laptop may get some bad reviews because of Windows 10. This is due to the fact that Windows 10 updates are frequent, time-consuming, and highly annoying. Furthermore, they make your computer slow down significantly as they take place. Luckily, Microsoft is working on making their Windows 10 updates faster. In addition, you can schedule your updates so they occur when you’re not using your computer.

The Best Touch Screen Laptop: A Buyers’ Guide

In addition to the screen size and processing speed, there are some other things to think about. For example, do you want a screen that comes off so you can also use it like a tablet? And how much memory (RAM) do you think you’ll need?

Convertible or Detachable?

Finally, we’d like to mention that touchscreen laptops come in two flavors: Convertible and detachable. Convertible models allow you to flip your keyboard at a 180-degree angle. This way it functions as a stand so you can use it in tablet mode. Detachable models also let you remove it from the keyboard so you can use it as a stand-alone tablet.

How Much RAM Do I Need?

When choosing the best touchscreen laptop for you, a major factor is the amount of memory (RAM). For most of us, 8GB ram is the sweet spot. This easily handles nearly all applications for home or work. It can even run resource-hogging software like Adobe Photoshop as long as you don’t have too many windows open. If you love gaming or work with high-end multimedia, large databases, etc., spend more and go for 16 GB RAM.

The 10 Best Touchscreen Laptops

Best Touchscreen Laptop All-Around

1. Microsoft Surface Pro 4. Intel Core M, 4GB RAM, 128GB

 

If you’re looking for the all-around best touchscreen laptop, look no further than the Microsoft Surface Pro 4. This device made our best touchscreen laptop list because it runs fast and is a joy to use. Not only is it lightweight, but it also has a good display and a battery life of up to 12 hours. When you need something powerful for every-day use, the Surface Pro’s the ticket. And best yet, the pricing starts at about $799 (although prices vary).

If you need more power, you can buy the version with 8 GB Ram and a terabyte of disk space for about $1,299. Or check out the high-end rig with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB hard drive space for $2,199. Please note that prices often vary.

Features for the entry-level model include:

• Type: Detachable
• Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Size: 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.3 
• Screen: 12.3″ (2,736 x 1,824 max resolution)
• Processor: 2.2 GHz core_m5 – i7
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 – 620; Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
• RAM: 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM
• Hard Drive Space: 128 GB
• Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
• OS: Windows 10
• Other features: Stylus, webcam, built-in mic, USB

Most buyers love their Surface Pro and rave about how fast it runs and how nice the display is. Yet others complained that it seems to freeze a lot. This may be because of the above-mentioned issues with Windows 10 updates. Also, it lacks an HDMI port for connecting a monitor with a bigger screen, though some support USB.

In Summary

Roughly 200 Amazon users rate these 3.9 out of 5 stars. However, hundreds at Best Buy and other online stores give the various models an average of 4.7 stars. Some even say it’s as well-designed and fun to use as the much-touted MacBook Pro… Plus, it has a touchscreen. Because the Microsoft Surface Pro’s such a great all-around piece of tech, we give it 4.7 out of 5 stars.

 

Best Touchscreen Laptop for Business

2.  HP Elitebook X360 1030 G2 13.3″ Flip Design Notebook, Windows, Intel Core i5 2.5 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD

If you need something compact, powerful and versatile that travels light, check out the HP Elitebook X360. Even the lowest end model can easily handle the web and the kind of software most of us use. In addition, it can do more heavy-duty lifting with functions like PowerPoint with graphics and video.

This is a sleekly designed workhorse of a business PC and it’s priced accordingly. You won’t find any under-$1,000 model with just 4GB of RAM here, because these users aren’t messing around.

Reviewers call it “light, fast and responsive” with “top-notch” performance. And if something goes wrong, the HP Elitebook X360 comes with a three-year warranty.

The HP Elitebook X360s start out on the high-end with the following features for around $1,210 on Amazon.

• Type: Convertible
• Weight:  2.82 pounds
• Size: 12.5 x 8.6 x .06″
• Screen:  13.3″ (1920 x 1080 max. resolution)
• Processor: 2.5 GHz 8032
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620
• RAM: 8 GB DDR4-2133 SDRAM (onboard)
• Hard Drive Space: 128 GB SSD
• Battery Life:  14.03 hours
• OS: Windows 10 Pro 64
• Other features: IR webcam, mic, HB Active Pen, fingerprint reader, USB, USB-C

In Summary

The EliteBook X360’s powerful and feature-packed. What’s more, you can level up if you need more space and memory. Firstly, for double the storage, you can snag the one with a 256 GB solid state drive for about $1699. Secondly, if you do a lot of graphics, video, and other demanding apps, try the highest-end version. For roughly $2,469, you can have this baby with 16 GB RAM and an entire terabyte’s worth of solid state storage.

Because of its power, reliability, and positive reviews, we rate the HP EliteBook x360 4.3 out of 5 stars.

• You may also like: HP’s Elite X3 Business Smartphone

Best Touchscreen Laptop for Students (and Photo Collectors)

3. HP 15.6″ High-Performance Touchscreen Laptop PC Intel i3-7100u Dual-Core Processor 8GB Memory 1TB HDD DVD+RW HDMI Webcam WIFI Bluetooth Windows 10

For under $500 this best touchscreen laptop packs a punch. “This is a great value for the price,” one reviewer enthusiastically wrote. And yet another mentioned that “it runs fast.” They then added, “I would highly recommend this computer for school work.” Several others proclaimed it a “great value for the price.”

With a big screen and 8GB of RAM you can do a lot with this computer. In addition, it’s price, ruggedness, and fairly light weight makes it a no-brainer for college students. And certainly, that one terabyte of hard drive space will be welcome to avid photo collectors, Pinterest pinners, Instagrammers, and YouTubers.

Meanwhile, buyers say the downside is those pesky automatic Windows 10 updates that seem to take forever. In addition, a handful said it seemed “cheaply made.”

• Type: Convertible
• Weight: 4.41 pounds
• Size: 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.3″
• Screen: 15.6″ (1366 x 768)
• Processor: 7th Generation Intel Core i3-7100U 2.40 GHz dual-core Processor
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620
• RAM: 6 GB
• Hard Drive Space: 1 TB
• Battery Life: Up to 6.5 hours.
• OS: Windows 10
• Other Features: WebCam, built-in mic, Bluetooth, wifi, read/write DVD, USB, SD card slot

In Summary

Buyers on Amazon rated this 3.9 stars, while over a thousand buyers on Best Buy gave it 4.5 stars. Furthermore, 94 percent of the Best Buyers say they’d recommend it to a friend. Because this HP delivers so much value, we rate it 4.2 out of 5 stars.

Best Touchscreen Laptop on a Budget

4. Acer Chromebook R 11 Convertible

11.6″ HD Touch, Intel Celeron N3150, 4GB DDR3L, 32GB, Chrome, CB5-132T-C1L

This Acer Chromebook‘s a definite win if you’re on a budget and need something you can take anywhere. At $239, the price is obviously right. Plus its durability and functionality have made this machine highly popular. On Amazon alone, over 500 people have reviewed it, and 60 percent give it a 5-star rating. Chromebooks use Google Chrome’s operating system and are tightly integrated with the browser. Furthermore, they’re giving Apple and Microsoft a run for the money. Like the Chromebook C 720 i3, the Acer Chromebook R11 Convertible model is similarly popular.

On the downside, the speakers are somewhat “tinny” and some have trouble with the trackpad. Also, there’s only 4 GB RAM. This shouldn’t matter as its designed to use Google’s free online suite of business and graphics apps. But if you prefer your own software, this may not be for you.

Some of the available features include:

• Type: Convertible
• Weight: 2.76 pounds
• Size: 8.03 x 11.57 x 0.76″
• Screen: 11.6″ HD IPS Screen (Max resolution: 1366 x 768 pixels)
• Processor: Intel Celeron  N3150 Quad-Core Processor 1.6GHz with Intel Burst Technology up to 2.08GHz
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
• RAM: 4GB DDR3L Onboard Memory
• Hard Drive Space: 32 GB Solid State Drive
• Battery Life: 10 hours
• OS: Chrome
• Other features: USB, webcam, mic, SD card slot

In Summary

Although it’s not as design-y as the iPads, it’s sleek, sturdy, and well made. In addition, one reviewer noted that they were “extremely impressed with the device.” They especially love the 360-degree rotation. Because it’s such a great value, we give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Best Touchscreen Laptops for Creatives

5. HP ZBook X2 Studio G4 Mobile Workstation Core i7 7700HQ, Win 10 Pro 64-bit, 16 GB RAM

Do you work with images, websites, publications, presentations, audio, video, or animation? Do you also need the power of a desktop while craving freedom and ease of use? If so, then maybe the HP ZBook Studio’s the best touchscreen laptop for you. Designed so creatives can replace their desktop, this model has lots of power and plenty of connections. In fact, when you’re at home or work, you can even plug in a monitor, keyboard, and mouse (or pen tablet) so it’s like a regular PC.

On the one hand, reviewers say the display looks great, plus the stylus, keyboard, and touchscreen are easy to use. In addition, it’s beautifully designed and quite sturdy. The screen also detaches from the keyboard, which is a nice touch. On the other hand, some say it’s a tad heavy, though others weigh more. Also, it isn’t quite as fast as you’d think, and the battery only lasts about five hours. Still, if you want mobility with the power of a desktop PC, this is definitely the best touchscreen laptop.

Oh, and there’s the price, which starts at around $2,486 on Amazon. Or, you can get the one with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of hard drive space for around $1999.  It should be noted that prices vary.

Some of the available features include:

• Type: Detachable
• Weight: 3.7 pounds (4.9 pounds with keyboard cover)
• Size: 11.5 x 7.9 x .33″
• Screen: 14″ (3840 x 2160 max. resolution)
• Processor: Intel Core i7-8650U
• Graphics: Nvidia Quadro M620
• RAM: 16 GB
• Hard Drive Space: 512 GB SSD
• Battery Life:  5 hours
• OS: Windows 10
• Other features: USB-C, USB 4.0, HDMI connector, SD card slot, stylus

In Summary

There aren’t many reviews in yet, but PC Magazine gives the HP ZBook X2 4 out of 5 stars. Since this is a solid option for the right person, we also give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

6. 2018 Dell Inspiron 13 2-in-1 7000 13.3″ Full HD IPS Touchscreen Laptop. Intel Quad-Core i5-8250U Up to 3.4GHz 8GB DDR4 256GB SSD MaxxAudio 802.11ac Bluetooth Webcam HDMI USB Typec-C Win 10

The 2018 Dell Inspiron 13 7000 may lack the HP ZBook X2’s brawn. However, it holds its own. And it’s also an elegant little marvel of a machine that goes everywhere with ease. On your desk, it has the ports you need to hook it up to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse or pen tablet. Also, the  As a small bonus, it also comes with a stylus (although it’s for writing, not drawing).

This model lists for about $779 and has 8 MB of RAM. That’s enough to run multimedia programs like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere, but not necessarily at the same time.  However, there’s also a more beefed-up version with 16 GB of RAM that lists for around $1,199. This should meet nearly any multimedia user’s needs. As we’ve already noted, prices are subject to change.

However, this Inspiron does have some flaws.  As with the HP ZBook, its flexibility comes at a price. At 3.09 pounds it’s a bit heavier than some would like. Also, those ports make it slightly bulkier than other touchscreen laptops. Also, the battery life could be better. With video, the battery life falls short of the 8 hours, 20 minutes promised.

Some of the available features include:

• Type: Convertible
• Weight: 3.09 pounds
• Size:“
• Screen:  13.3″ (1920 x 1080 max. resolution)
• Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5
• Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
• RAM: 8 GB
• Hard Drive Space: 256 GB SSD
• Battery Life:  8 hours, 20 minutes
• OS: Windows 10
• Other features: Webcam, mic, stylus, USB 3.1 Type C, USB 3.1, HDMI, SD card slot, Blue Tooth

In Summary

All in all, the Dell Inspiron delivers a lot of bang for the buck… And all in a sweetly designed little package with a modest price tag. You can get a perfectly good refurbished (slightly) older model for even less. This latest model only recently came out. However, reviewers are impressed with the design and versatility. We give it a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Best Touchscreen Laptops for Gamers

6. Razer Blade Pro

This lean, mean, dream machine has all you need for playing the latest computer games. At $4,256, it’s very pricey, however, this top-of-the-line Razer Pro definitely delivers. Furthermore, this sleek stunner comes jam-packed with incredible features. The large 17.3″ screen handles 3D VR graphics with easy with a crystal-clear display with realistic movement in stunning detail. This system is also the only one that’s THX Certified for the audio, so go ahead and put on your high-end headphones. However, you may not need them, because the built-in speakers are amazing.

The power and massive screen come at a price. The Razer Pro may look slim but it’s packing a lot of pounds. Also, chasing down all those dragons takes a major hit on your battery life. If you forget your cord, expect only about two hours of gameplay. Furthermore, the Razr Pro tends to overheat.

Some of the available features include:

• Type: Convertible
• Weight: 7.7 pounds
• Size: 16.7 x 11 x 0.88″
• Screen: 17.3″ (3840 x 2160 max resolution)
• Processor: 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7820HK processor
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics
• RAM: 32 GB DD4
• Hard Drive Space: 1 TB SSD
• Battery Life:  hours
• OS: Windows 10
• Other features: Bluetooth, HDMI output, USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, card reader (supports SD, SDHC, SDXC), Wireless-AC, HD webcam,

In Summary

The Razr Pro delivers an incredible gaming experience, but its features do come at a price. Firstly, it’s heavy, and secondly, it tends to overheat and the battery doesn’t last long. Finally, there’s the cost. Luckily for us, prices for laptops and other electronics are never written in stone. The price for the top-of-the-line model has already dipped to a somewhat more affordable $3,799.99 on Best Buy. Furthermore, you can get certified refurbished models for just $3999 from Amazon. Finally, there’s the lower-end version with 16GB RAM listed for around $1699.

Despite its flaws, this product delivers a state-of-the-art gaming experience. We, therefore, rate the Razr Pro 3.7 out of 5 stars.

7. Dell XPS 9560 15″ Ultra Thin and Light Laptop with 4K Touchscreen Display

If you want a great gaming laptop and don’t have beaucoup bucks, the Dell XPS 9560‘s the way to go. Billed as “the world’s smallest 15″ performance laptop,” it’s got a fast processor, dazzling graphics, and a lot of power for the price. In addition, Dell claims it gets a whopping 19 hours of battery power (or 11 for video streaming). The one with 16 GB RAM ists for $1999, but often sells for as little as $1599. (As we’ve noted, prices vary.)

Of course, there are some downsides, but not many. Some users complained about the webcam. In order to save screen real estate, Dell put it at the bottom of the screen where it “peers up your nostril.” Others complain about freezing and hardware glitches. However, more experienced users not you can avoid these by getting a zip file from tech support so you can install the latest drivers.

Some of the available features include:

• Type: Convertible
• Weight: 3.9 pounds
• Size: 9.3 x 14.1 x 0.66″
• Screen: 15.6″ (3840 x 2160 resolution)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-i7  3.8 GHz 8032
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
• RAM: 16 GB
• Hard Drive Space: 16 GB
• Battery Life: 19 hours. 11 hours video streaming
• OS: Windows 10
• Other features: Wireless-AC adapter, webcam, mic, SD card slot, USB 3.0, HDMI, Thunderbolt 3, Bluetooth

In Summary

Despite glitches, over 10,000 users on the Dell Website rate this product 4 stars. Meanwhile, about 160 Amazon users rate it 3.5 stars. Because of these ratings and the overall features, we rate the Dell XPS9560 4 out of 5 stars.

The Best Touchscreen Laptop: In Conclusion

Whether you are a beginner or an expert, buying the best touchscreen laptop involves many factors. Firstly, you’ll need to consider quality vs. price. Secondly, you’ll need to make sure you have enough memory. RAM is essential for running the software and handling the things you normally do from day-to-day.

Finally, you should think about the features you need. If you work with multimedia or do a lot of gaming, you’ll need a higher-end system. Or, if you love taking photos and videos you’ll want lots of disk space. If you have a digital camera, you’ll also want SD card slot. When you’re on a budget and use mostly-online apps, then you won’t need as much RAM or disk space. And if you travel a lot, you’ll want something lightweight with a long battery life.

Featured image: CC by 2.0, Intel Free Press, Flickr.