STACK #232 February 2024

TECH FEATURE

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As handy as laptops are, some kinds of work just call out for a touchscreen. With a 2-in-1, you don’t have to choose! These devices give you the power and productivity of a laptop, as well as the convenience of a tablet when you need to scribble or scrawl on the screen. Words Michael Irving Best of both worlds

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Our 2-in-1 picks

Why would you need a 2-in-1? A 2-in-1 is perfect for uni-goers dabbling in some creative subjects. The laptop format will help you knuckle down and get through regular coursework, but when you get to subjects like digital art or graphic design, you can fold the keyboard back and sketch right on the touchscreen. That almost 360-degree hinge also gives you more options for using your 2-in-1. You can, for example, stand it up in a tent shape to watch remote lectures, video call for group projects, or watch movies when you need a break (we won’t tell anyone).

Lenovo Flex 5 The Lenovo Flex 5 is a great starting point. This capable 2-in-1 can handle all your everyday uni tasks with its 12th generation Intel Core i5 processor, and Wi-Fi 6E compatibility for the fastest internet connectivity currently on the market. The 14-inch display is Full HD plus a few extra lines of pixels wider, giving more screen real estate for multitasking. 14” WUXGA touchscreen Intel Core i5 1235U, up to 4.4GHz 512GB SSD 8GB RAM HDMI/USB-A/Thunderbolt 4.0/4-in-1 card reader 1.5kg

HP Pavilion X360 The HP Pavilion X360 is not only a slick and professional-looking 2-in-1, but it’s

environmentally responsible too, with keycaps and other components made of recycled plastic. The battery boasts eight hours of juice to keep you powered up all day, and if your study sesh is running long, the fast-charge option can recover 50% of the battery in just 30 minutes.

14” Full HD touchscreen Intel Core i5 1235U processor, up to 4.4GHz 512GB SSD 8GB RAM HDMI/2x USB-A/USB-C/microSD card reader 8 hours battery 1.51kg

Old school note-taking

HP Envy X360 EVO The ultimate 2-in-1, the HP Envy X360 EVO is running on a more powerful 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, with clock speeds of up to 4.7GHz, and backed up by a generous 16GB of RAM, it can churn through demanding tasks with ease. Dual Thunderbolt 4.0 ports provide super-fast data transfer speeds. It’s perfectly portable too with a lightweight frame of just 1.32kg, and a beefy 17 hour battery life to get you through multiple study days.

A touchscreen isn’t just good for drawing – you can write on it, too. Try handwriting notes during lectures, rather than typing them out. Not only is it quieter, but studies say that you’ll remember that info better!

13.3” WUXGA touchscreen Intel Core i7 1250U processor, up to 4.7GHz 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 2x USB-A/2x Thunderbolt 4.0/microSD card reader 17 hours battery 1.32kg

16 FEBRUARY 2024

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