INTHEBLACK May 2025 - Magazine - Page 58
WORK SMART
TECH STACK
Hybrid
laptops
With keyboards that fold out of the way or detach completely,
2-in-1 hybrid laptops offer the best of both worlds for those
who need both a laptop and tablet to hand.
Words Adam Turner
CHOOSING THE PERFECT HYBRID LAPTOP
begins with striking a balance between size
and weight. A 13.3- or 14-inch screen
is typically the sweet spot between portability
and useability.
Go much smaller, and the screen
and keyboard can become too cramped.
Much larger, and the device becomes
too heavy to carry around all day.
Some hybrid laptops use the traditional
clamshell design, allowing the user to fold
back the keyboard and use the touchscreen
like a tablet. Alternatively, some tablet-style
devices support detachable keyboards, so they
can double as a laptop.
A few hybrids discard the physical keyboard
in favour of two touchscreens, with the ability
to call up an on-screen keyboard for typing.
Most hybrid laptops that run Microsoft
Windows 11 contain an Intel or AMD processor.
Some feature Intel’s EVO badge, meaning they
58 INTHEBLACK May 2025
are optimised for responsive performance,
long battery life and fast charging, all within
a thin and light form.
Most new Copilot+ PCs feature Snapdragon
processors, rather than Intel or AMD. While
they enhance the performance of artificial
intelligence and extend battery life, reliance
on Snapdragon chips means they run
a special version of Windows 11 which
supports Microsoft 365, but not all
third-party Windows applications. This could
be a deal-breaker, depending on the workplace
applications required.
Likewise, Google Chromebooks run
ChromeOS rather than Windows. It doesn’t
allow installation of Windows applications,
but ChromeOS does support Android
applications from the Google Play Store,
which includes some Microsoft 365
applications.
Here are six hybrid laptop options.
