Not too long ago, it seemed as if the writing was on the wall for the humble laptop – but a new generation of tablet–laptop hybrids has brought physical keyboards and closable cases right back into the spotlight.
The gradual demise of the low-end laptop was probably long overdue. If all you're concerned about is browsing the web, bashing out a few quick emails and watching videos, there's no real need for you to have a hot, bulky and power-hungry device – and as such, Android tablets like the Nexus 7 have come to fill the shelf space once occupied by netbooks and their ilk.
If you want to get down to some serious work, however – lengthy writing, graphic design or anything involving a mouse – a traditional laptop was, until recently, your best bet.
But technology changes fast, and it was inevitable that professional laptop users would begin to crave some of the benefits of a tablet, not least their extreme portability, while still maintaining the advanced features they need.
Step forward, then, the tablet–laptop hybrid. These devices are essentially tablets in form, but typically feature a removable 'keyboard cover' that functions as both text-entry device and protective lid – just like a laptop.
The advantages are clear: when all you need is tablet functionality, just take the screen – but when it's time to get down to work, you have the option to flesh it out with the kit you need.
At least, that's the ideal. But for a long time, hybrid machines failed to live up to it: covers were flimsy, tablet sections were bulky, and devices generally embodied the worst of both worlds.
That all began to change with the Microsoft Surface back in 2012. Although bundled with the much-maligned Windows RT operating system – imagine Windows 8 but, incredibly, worse – the device proved that it was possible to get the hardware right.
Fast forward four years, and things have come on leaps and bounds: Microsoft's Surface devices now run exactly the same version of Windows 10 as home PCs, and even Apple are dipping their toe into the hybrid game with the Smart Keyboard cover for their high-end iPad Pro.
Indeed, if you're torn between a tablet and a laptop, there's never been a better time to get on board with a hybrid – and so, here's Geek Squad's pick of the three best options on the market right now.
The three best laptop tablet hybrids available right now
Surface Book
Microsoft
RRP £1,299
As mentioned, Microsoft's Surface series can take the credit for revolutionising the hybrid field – but last year's Surface Book was perhaps the first device to truly commit to the form.
Previous Surface machines had featured their detachable keyboard as an optional extra: the base model was just the tablet portion. But the Surface Book features its keyboard as standard, pitching the device solely at the hybrid market. As such, it was something of a watershed machine for Microsoft, and it's clear they pulled no punches in either specs or design.
Indeed, this is a machine aimed squarely at the high end, with a price to match. Perhaps its most interesting (optional) feature is a dedicated Nvidia 3D graphics card that's built into the keyboard section, allowing for heavyweight video editing or even gaming. Remove the keyboard, and it seamlessly transitions to the tablet's on-board graphics chip without the need for a reboot. Finally, the stylus input makes this a superb choice for artists and graphic designers, and opens up a number of other interesting control possibilities.
Beyond the hardware, the design is elegant and, frankly, expensive: the all-aluminium construction and minimalist branding place it firmly alongside the MacBook Pro – something that's reflected in the price.
So while it's not a budget option, the Surface Book represents the pinnacle of lapto-tablet hybrid design, and anybody who's serious about both performance and portability should seriously consider it.
iPad Pro with Smart Cover
Apple
RRP from £499, plus Smart Cover from £39 and Pencil from £99
Okay, so the iPad Pro isn't strictly a hybrid straight from the box. But then, the same goes for the standard Surface and Surface PRo models – so we reckon it deserves a place on this list.
The Smart Cover for the 9.7 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models will set you back £39 and £49 respectively – and that investment will turn your super-powerful Apple tablet into a versatile hybrid device.
In a way, this development from Apple shows the tablet market coming full circle. It was Apple who sparked the tablet boom with the release of the original iPad in 2010 – sweeping away the clunky tablets of the 00s and earlier, and marking the beginning of the end for the humble laptop.
But since then, the tablet market has started to falter, with only hybrids bucking the trend and increasing their sales in recent years. As such, Apple have sought to reinvigorate their tablet offering with a little hybrid magic.
It's only a small change, but it's striking what a difference the Smart Cover makes to the iPad experience. All of a sudden you can actually type long documents and emails: having keys you can feel allows you to focus on the words, not the screen. What's more, keyboard shortcuts for navigating iOS really do make it feel like a laptop, rather than a tablet with a keyboard haphazardly bolted on.
Finally, the Apple Pencil makes the Pro an even more versatile choice. The pressure-sensitive stylus is elegant and responsive, with just the right amount of weight in the hand – a pleasure to use.
The downside? The price. While it's not so bad by laptop standards, it's rather high for a tablet! The very cheapest iPad Pro will set you back around £499, plus another £138 for the Pencil and Smart Cover together. Aim for the high end, and you're looking at almost £1,200 – on par with the more substantial Surface Book.
If you're an avid Apple fan and crave the flexibility of a hybrid machine, the iPad Pro is still a fantastic choice – but for many users less wedded to Apple's ecosystem, a Windows device offers a more versatile operating system and wider range of professional-tier software. But for sheer style, you won't do much better.
HP Spectre X360
HP
RRP from £999
Rounding off the list is a modern classic from HP, widely regarded as one of the most elegantly executed hybrid laptops on the market today.
Indeed, while they may not have the prestige of Apple devices, I've chosen HP laptops as my own Windows machines for years. They're sturdy, long-lived and built extremely well – and the Spectre X360 is no exception.
With an aluminium body and elegant rotating hinge, the machine looks fantastic – and once you fire it up, the backlit keyboard and gorgeous HD screen confirm the impression that this is a truly high-quality piece of kit.
HP haven't skimped on the internals, either. An Intel Core i5 processor means it can compete with any other laptop in its price range, and 8 GB of RAM is just about all you'll ever need for most mobile applications. The one thing holding it back is the lack of a dedicated 3D graphics card, with a standard Intel HD Graphics 5500 chip doing the business – although this is by no means a standard feature on a laptop and is only an optional extra for the Surface Book.
All told, the HP Spectre X360 is probably the best non-Surface Windows 10 hybrid you'll find. At 13 inches and almost 1.5 kg in weight, it's not as portable as some machines – but in every other sense, it's an extremely well-balanced choice.
That's our pick of the best tablet-laptop hybrids on the market today – but why not share your choice with our readers in the comments below?