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MagyarThe Best Stylus Convertibles
Convertibles are very versatile devices and can be used as traditional notebooks with all the advantages like a conventional keyboard, and also as tablets thanks to the integrated touchscreen. All these device also support active input pens for graphics designers and artists. The following ranking lists all modern convertible PCs, which can be used with active input pens.
Note: We did not use the (subjective) quality of the stylus or the input pen, respectively, for the following ranking, but only criteria we can judge objectively by our authors and measurements. These are the following: Performance headroom for applications, display quality, and sound. The information about the input pens can also be found in each individual review.
Please feel free to comment below if you have made experiences with the listed devices and especially the input pens to give additional help for other users.
Additional interesting top lists:
The Best Stylus Convertibles
Pos. | Display Leistung Lautstärke (avg) | Datum | Bild | Modell | Gewicht | Größe | Auflösung | Bew. | Leistung | Display | Lautstärke | Preis ab |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 89 % | 12/2020 |  | HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 Intel Core i7-1165G7 Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs 16 GB Memory, 512 GB NVMe | 1.3 kg | 13.50" | 1920x1280 | 89 % | 91 % | 85 % | 93 % | |
| 2 | 89 % | 03/2021 neu! |  | Acer ConceptD 3 Ezel CC314-72G-7513 Intel Core i7-10750H NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q 16 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 1.8 kg | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | 87 % | 91 % | 91 % | 87 % | |
| 3 | 89 % | 03/2021 neu! |  | HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7, i7-10810U Intel Core i7-10810U Intel UHD Graphics 620 16 GB Memory, 512 GB NVMe | 1.4 kg | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | 91 % | 90 % | 84 % | 97 % | |
| 4 | 88 % | 08/2020 |  | Dell Latitude 14 9410 2-in-1 P110G Intel Core i7-10610U Intel UHD Graphics 620 16 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.5 kg | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | 89 % | 86 % | 85 % | 89 % | |
| 5 | 88 % | 09/2020 |  | Acer Spin 5 SP513-54N-79EY Intel Core i7-1065G7 Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU) 16 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 1.2 kg | 13.50" | 2256x1504 | 88 % | 85 % | 90 % | 96 % | |
| 6 | 87 % | 12/2020 |  | Lenovo Yoga 9i 14ITL5 Intel Core i5-1135G7 Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs 8 GB Memory, 256 GB NVMe | 1.4 kg | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | 87 % | 91 % | 83 % | 92 % | |
| 7 | 87 % | 11/2020 |  | HP EliteBook x360 1030 G7 Intel Core i7-10810U Intel UHD Graphics 620 16 GB Memory, 512 GB NVMe | 1.2 kg | 13.30" | 1920x1080 | 90 % | 89 % | 84 % | 90 % | |
| 8 | 87 % | 11/2020 |  | Lenovo Yoga 7 14ITL5 Intel Core i5-1135G7 Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs 12 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.5 kg | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | 85 % | 89 % | 83 % | 85 % | |
| 9 | 85 % | 04/2021 neu! |  | Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 Intel Core i7-1160G7 Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs 16 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.1 kg | 12.30" | 1920x1280 | 89 % | 81 % | 91 % | 94 % | |
| 10 | 87 % | 01/2021 neu! |  | Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga ITL 20WE0023GE Intel Core i7-1165G7 Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs 16 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 1.5 kg | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | 88 % | 88 % | 83 % | 98 % |
The table above contains an overview over the best convertibles with stylus input reviewed by Notebookcheck over the course of the past 12 months as well as still relevant and available older products. In cases of identical score the more recent device is listed first. All prices in above table and price comparisons are updated daily and can thus differ.
Editors' Comments
Our ranking includes laptop convertibles as well as notebooks with 360-degree hinges and Windows tablets with additional keyboard docks. It is your choice which device you prefer. We notice that some convertibles still uses Intel's Kaby Lake dual-core processors. Devices with the latest quad-core Kaby Lake Refresh chips (KBL-R) often suffer from a performance drop under sustained workloads or the performance is worse than expected even in short peak load scenarios. This should be taken into account, especially if you plan to perform more complex tasks like video editing. Most of the following device are pleasantly quiet. Please refer to the original reviews if the battery runtime is important for you.
The situation is tricky when it comes to the scope of delivery in terms of the pen. You should definitely ask the manufacturer whether it is included or not if there are any doubts. Then there is the issue with the features of the pen; some of the manufacturers could not answer our question about the support of "pen-tilt", for example. The same applies for the support of third-party pens.
1st - HP Spectre x360 14
Technically speaking the HP Spectre x360 14 is nothing but a slightly bigger HP Spectre x360 13. It is a 13.5-inch tablet with optional OLED or very bright IPS touchscreen display. It comes with an HP Tilt Pen MPP 2.0 by default.
A great keyboard, a well-made case, long battery life, decent connectivity including Thunderbolt 4, plenty of performance, and a large clickpad render the HP Spectre x360 14 one of the best currently available convertibles.
In return, HP removed the WWAN option. The device is quite expensive and not particulaly well upgradable. Nevertheless, it offers a lot for its money.
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HP MPP 2.0 Tilt Pen
This new version of HP’s tilt pen supports Microsoft’s Pen Protocol 2.0 for improved response times and smoother workflows. Its price was raised slightly to $80 at the time of writing. According to HP, it weighs 10 g. It is charged via USB-C and features two buttons that can be individually assigned via software.
Pricecompare
2nd – Acer ConceptD 3 Ezel
The Acer ConceptD 3 with its Ezel hinge is a brand-new convertible concept. We found it to be very useful during our review as it offers a huge and immensely comfortable versatility in everyday use. We also liked its case, its input devices, and its connectivity.
In return, you have to live with a not particularly efficient processor and a maximum of just 16 GB of RAM, which might not be enough for some professionals. In addition, the device is comparatively heavy and bulky.
Overall, it is a decent multimedia convertible with a few minor weaknesses.
Prices start at around $1,500, and the device can be purchased through the usual retail channels, such as for example Amazon.
Wacom Digitizer
The active stylus included with the Acer ConceptD 3 Ezel is made by Wacom. It supports 4,096 levels of sensitivity, two buttons, and a built-in battery that is charged when inserted into the tablet. Given that the pencil is relatively small it is not very comfortable for drawing and much better suited for taking notes rather than graphics applications.
Pricecompare
3rd – HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7
The HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 performed very well in our review and scored a very high rating as a result. Accordingly, the 14-inch convertible can be found at the top of our top 10 list. It is powered by an Intel Core i7-10810U, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD.
The convertible is not made with business users in mind but also home users interested in Ultrabooks. Even the most affordable SKU offers everything you may need and ask for of a convertible, and if you are fine with the performance of a Core i5 you can save several hundred dollars. As before the device is incapable of fully utilizing a Core i7’s potential due to its limited cooling capabilities.
The HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7 also offers a very long battery life and is thus high versatile. It can easily last a full workday without needing to be recharged halfway through the day.
The device is available through the usual retail channels, such as for example Amazon.
HP Rechargable Active Pen
The HP Rechargeable Active Pen is not included and will set you back another $80. At just 15 g it is fairly light and supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity as well as tilt detection. It is charged via USB-C, comes with a total of 3 buttons, and can even be used as remote for presentations. On some devices it can be attached to the case magnetically.
Pricecompare
4th – Dell Latitude 14 9410 2-in-1
The Dell Latitude 14 9410 2-in-1 is successor to the Latitude 7400 2-in-1. Both convertibles are fairly similar, especially in regard to case. The new device continues its predecessor’s design language with its great build quality and its very long battery life.
However, the display could have been brighter, and a dedicated GPU option is not available. The stylus pen is sold separately. All things considered Dell’s convertible is worth a closer look despite the fact that the predecessor is still available at a lower price and the differences between the two are rather minor.
Dell Premium Active Pen
The Dell Premium Active Pen has a magnetic side that attaches to compatible convertibles. It connects via Bluetooth 4.2 and supports various protocols, such as MPP 1.51 (Microsoft Pen Protocol), Wacom AES 1.0, and even the latest Wacom AES 2.0 technology. Thanks to Windows Ink Workspace you can configure its three buttons to your liking. It offers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and a sampling rate of 240 Hz. According to Dell, the battery is supposed to last for up to 12 months and it is even replaceable. As are of course the tips.
Pricecompare
5th – Acer Spin 5 SP513
Acer’s convertible with stylus support managed to score first place on our list. While the previous generation suffered from various weaknesses (some of which might have qualified as nit-picking) Acer went back to the drawing board over and over again and continued to improve its 13-inch Acer Spin 5 continuously, for example by equipping it with a great display.
Its lightweight aluminum case is well built and offers two Thunderbolt 3 ports as well as a decent keyboard. The convertible is fairly powerful yet quiet and cool at the same time. Granted, it does thermal throttle under full load and its microSD card reader is pretty slow but overall the Acer Spin 5 is a great convertible with stylus support.
Acer Active Stylus
The Acer Active Stylus is charged and stored inside the Acer Spin 5 itself. IT supports Wacom AES 1.0 with 4,096 different levels of pressure. According to acer 15 seconds of charging should last for 90 minutes of active use. The pen is slim and includes two buttons.
Pricecompare
6th - Lenovo Yoga 9i
Lenovo may have updated its Yoga-series naming scheme but at the end of the day, the Lenovo Yoga 9i is nothing but an improved and updated Yoga C940. We would have wished for improved input devices and a brighter display but are very impressed by its performance improvements, particularly when taking its small footprint and low weight into consideration.
It supports modern Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, offers decent battery life, acceptable sound performance, and is practically silent under low and medium load.
The Lenovo Yoga 9i comes with a stylus pen that can be stored inside its case.
Lenovo Yoga Active Pen
Lenovo does not really provide us with a lot of information about the included Lenovo Yoga Active Pen. Unlike on Yoga C940 it is not an Active Pen 2 but a much thinner stylus specifically made for this device, and much more reminiscent of the ThinkPad X1 Yoga's included stylus.
We were not particularly fond of its grip and handling given that it is very thin. Lenovo does not specify the number of levels of sensitivity or its battery life. The stylus is charged by inserting it into the case.
Pricecompare
7th - HP EliteBook x360 1030 G7
The HP EliteBook x360n 1030 G7 is very expensive, but with its thin bezels, its great audio quality, an optionally available very bright display, and a very good keyboard also of very high overall quality. Despite its convertible nature it is relatively lightweight and slim.
On the downside are its warranty that is limited to just 12 months, its lack of card reader, and the lack of 4K and/or OLED display options that we came to expect in this price range.
Nevertheless, if you can afford it and are looking for a premium tablet you cannot really go wrong with this one.
HP Rechargable Active Pen
The HP Rechargeable Active Pen is not included and will set you back another $80. At just 15 g it is fairly light and supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity as well as tilt detection. It is charged via USB-C, comes with a total of 3 buttons, and can even be used as remote for presentations. On some devices it can be attached to the case magnetically.
Pricecompare
8th - Lenovo Yoga 7i 14
The Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 is the successor to Lenovo’s Yoga C740 following Lenovo’s new naming scheme. It is slightly faster and supports modern Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. However, if you do not need either of these you can save quite a lot of money by going for the significantly cheaper predecessor instead.
We liked the convertible’s good upgradability, its well-calibrated display, its high-quality case, its good performance, and its long battery life.
A stylus is not included by default and has to be purchased separately.
Lenovo Active Pen 2 (copy 1)
This convertible does not come with a stylus by default. Instead, you need to purchase the Lenovo Active Pen 2 separately for around $80. It weighs 20 g, has a circumference of 0.95 cm (0.37 inches) and a length of 15.3 cm (6 inches). It is powered by a single replaceable AAAA battery and connects via Bluetooth.
Similar to Microsoft’s Surface Pen it supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity as well as tilt detection, palm detection, and a total of 3 buttons, two on the side close to your thumb and one at the top. The stylus can be stored inside the convertible and is charged while inserted.
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9th – Lenovo ThinkPad X12
If you dislike convertibles for their overall pretty bulky and thick case, you might want to consider a detachable instead as it allows the use of the tablet part of the device detached from its keyboard dock (hence the name). The Lenovo ThinkPad X12 is Lenovo’s most recent contender in this class, and it feels a bit like a Microsoft Surface clone with ThinkPad genes.
Its main benefits are a compact high-quality case, a great keyboard cover including TrackPoint, and features such as WWAN or enhanced security. Temperatures remained inconspicuous, and Lenovo offers up to three years of default warranty in select markets.
With that said you need to keep in mind that device is not silent by any means, and that its speakers and webcam are mediocre at best.
Lenovo Active Pen 2
Officially, the Lenovo Active Pen 2 sells for $80 but it can be found for around $50-60 already. It weighs 20 g, has a circumference of 0.95 cm (0.37 inches) and a length of 15.3 cm (6 inches). It is powered by a single replaceable AAAA battery and connects via Bluetooth.
Similar to Microsoft’s Surface Pen it supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity as well as tilt detection, palm detection, and a total of 3 buttons, two on the side close to your thumb and one at the top. The stylus can be stored inside the convertible and is charged while inserted.
Pricecompare
10th – Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga
Lenovo’s ThinkBooks sit right in-between the more expensive high-end ThinkPads and the more affordable lesser-equipped IdeaPads. The ThinkBook 14s Yoga offers decent battery life and a low weight and is thus well capable of keeping up with its competitors. Heat emissions, noise emissions, and connectivity were at a high level overall.
Downsides include the lack of WWAN option, its warranty limited to just 12 months, its reflective display, and its somewhat slow storage device.
The ThinkBook 14s Yoga ITL is available in various configurations. At the time of writing, our review unit (Core i7-1165G7, 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB SSD, Windows 10 Pro) sold for around $1,100 on Amazon.
Lenovo Smart Pen
There isn’t much to say about the included Lenovo Smart Pen. It is charged when inserted into the case and is relatively thin. Overall, it is more akin to the pen included with more recent Yoga devices.
Pricecompare
Best Convertibles with Stylus Input
Test Results
| HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 | Acer ConceptD 3 Ezel CC314-72G-7513 | HP EliteBook x360 1040 G7, i7-10810U | Dell Latitude 14 9410 2-in-1 P110G | Acer Spin 5 SP513-54N-79EY | Lenovo Yoga 9i 14ITL5 | HP EliteBook x360 1030 G7 | Lenovo Yoga 7 14ITL5 | Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 | Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga ITL 20WE0023GE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response Times | ||||||||||
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 62 (32, 30) | 43 (13, 30) | 52.4 (26.8, 25.6) | 58.4 (26, 32.4) | 49 (22, 27) | 55.2 (26.8, 28.4) | 56.4 (26, 30.4) | 43.2 (22.4, 20.8) | 63.2 (30, 33.2) | 50 (22, 28) |
| Response Time Black / White * | 39.6 (21.6, 18) | 20 (7, 13) | 32 (17.2, 14.8) | 37.2 (18.4, 18.8) | 28 (16, 12) | 34.4 (18.8, 15.6) | 34.4 (16.4, 18) | 38.8 (21.6, 17.2) | 36 (18, 18) | 35 (18, 17) |
| PWM Frequency | 1667 (44) | 208 (90) | 26040 (62) | |||||||
| Screen | ||||||||||
| Brightness middle | 443.5 | 367 | 406.7 | 293.4 | 454 | 365 | 425.4 | 292.3 | 419 | 304 |
| Brightness | 394 | 354 | 382 | 290 | 426 | 346 | 407 | 280 | 406 | 289 |
| Brightness Distribution | 78 | 83 | 88 | 92 | 91 | 82 | 89 | 89 | 94 | 90 |
| Black Level * | 0.17 | 0.19 | 0.28 | 0.19 | 0.33 | 0.23 | 0.28 | 0.28 | 0.23 | 0.1 |
| Contrast | 2609 | 1932 | 1453 | 1544 | 1376 | 1587 | 1519 | 1044 | 1822 | 3040 |
| Colorchecker DeltaE2000 * | 2.7 | 1.09 | 3.74 | 1.29 | 1.27 | 3.65 | 4.39 | 2.99 | 1.1 | 2.97 |
| Colorchecker DeltaE2000 max. * | 4.36 | 2.61 | 5.92 | 3.61 | 2.42 | 6.69 | 6.73 | 7 | 2.2 | 5.69 |
| Colorchecker DeltaE2000 calibrated * | 2.61 | 0.99 | 2.18 | 0.88 | 0.78 | 1.61 | 1.65 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.59 |
| Greyscale DeltaE2000 * | 3.4 | 1.2 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 1.07 | 4 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 3.58 |
| Gamma | 2.09 105% | 2.4 92% | 2.19 100% | 2.18 101% | 2.39 92% | 2.33 94% | 1.87 118% | 2.22 99% | 2.06 107% | 2.17 101% |
| CCT | 6144 106% | 6563 99% | 6781 96% | 6394 102% | 6530 100% | 6873 95% | 6758 96% | 6732 97% | 6524 100% | 6346 102% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 62.1 | 63 | 61.6 | 63.8 | 65 | 60.1 | 61.7 | 60 | 62.8 | 56 |
| Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 98.5 | 98 | 95.1 | 99.1 | 100 | 93.9 | 96.6 | 91.8 | 99.2 | 89 |
| Noise | ||||||||||
| off / environment * | 25.8 | 25 | 25.2 | 26.1 | 26.9 | 26.3 | 28.1 | 27.4 | 25.1 | 24.9 |
| Idle Minimum * | 25.9 | 25 | 25.2 | 26.1 | 26.9 | 26.3 | 28.1 | 27.4 | 25.1 | 24.9 |
| Idle Average * | 25.9 | 25 | 25.2 | 26.1 | 26.9 | 26.3 | 28.1 | 29 | 25.1 | 24.9 |
| Idle Maximum * | 25.9 | 31.5 | 25.2 | 26.1 | 27.8 | 26.3 | 28.1 | 29.1 | 26 | 24.9 |
| Load Average * | 26.4 | 36.7 | 30 | 39.9 | 30.5 | 34.1 | 35.1 | 29.1 | 34.6 | 29.1 |
| Witcher 3 ultra * | 36.9 | 43.2 | 43.4 | 36.1 | 34.6 | |||||
| Load Maximum * | 41.5 | 36.7 | 38.1 | 44.7 | 32.4 | 43.3 | 37.6 | 46.3 | 37 | 29.8 |
| Heat | ||||||||||
| Maximum Upper Side * | 40.4 | 46 | 36.6 | 48.4 | 38.7 | 43.4 | 37 | 40 | 39 | 36 |
| Maximum Bottom * | 52.8 | 46 | 46.2 | 55.2 | 40.2 | 49.6 | 47.2 | 44.2 | 41.7 | 37.6 |
| Idle Upper Side * | 27.2 | 24.4 | 25.8 | 25.4 | 27.8 | 26.4 | 25.8 | 30.4 | 25.6 | 26.1 |
| Idle Bottom * | 29.2 | 24.8 | 29.8 | 28.6 | 27.3 | 29.4 | 32.6 | 31.6 | 25.6 | 25.8 |
| Battery Runtime | ||||||||||
| Reader / Idle | 2185 | 3768 | 2892 | 1301 | 2260 | 1855 | 1855 | 1389 | ||
| WiFi v1.3 | 707 | 506 | 1128 | 1141 | 645 | 591 | 617 | 605 | 492 | 622 |
| Load | 145 | 87 | 334 | 202 | 148 | 103 | 135 | 83 | 119 | 103 |
| H.264 | 645 | 627 | 597 | 836 |
* ... smaller is better