Blog

Aug 14, 2023

The Best Touchscreen Laptops To Write, Draw Or Tap On Your Screen

While there are many laptop designs, the most innovative ones include a touchscreen display. Sometimes a touchscreen is an option for a standard laptop, while for other laptop designs a touchscreen is

While there are many laptop designs, the most innovative ones include a touchscreen display. Sometimes a touchscreen is an option for a standard laptop, while for other laptop designs a touchscreen is integral to how it works. The best touchscreen laptops today—including the Dell XPS 15 OLED, our pick for best touchscreen laptop overall—have high-resolution displays that showcase bright and vivid colors.

The best touchscreen laptops offer multiple ways to interact with your favorite applications.

Whether a touchscreen makes web surfing more efficient, streamlines a photographer’s editing processes or helps a digital artist create a masterpiece, the best touchscreen laptops offer many ways to maximize their use. After extensive research and testing, we’ve compiled this lineup that showcases the very best touchscreen laptops available right now.

Dell

CPU: 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900H | RAM: 16GB | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 | Storage: 512GB | Display: 15.6-inch OLED | Resolution: 3,456 x 2,160 pixels (3.5K) | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Battery life: Up to 8 hours | Weight: 4.3 pounds | Dimensions: 13.6 x 9.1 x 0.7 inches

Best for: Handling higher-end computing needs.

While the Dell XPS 15 clocks in on the heavier side at over four pounds, its processing power and connectivity options make it worthwhile. You can get a wide range of configuration customization options that include your choice of processor, GPU, RAM and total SSD storage capacity. You can also pick between a non-touch display—or an OLED touchscreen. To make the cut, we opted for the best processor and graphics options, the 13.5-inch OLED touchscreen, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD.

The Dell XPS 15 has a beautiful, anti-glare, touchscreen display with a maximum brightness of 400 nits. It’s paired with an impressive speaker system that utilizes two 2.5-watt stereo woofers and two 1.5-watt stereo tweeters to generate a total of 8 watts of spatial 3D audio. Combine this with an impressive selection of ports and connectivity options and you wind up with a touchscreen laptop that can handle just about any task you can throw at it. And for security, you also get a 12 month subscription to McAfee LiveSafe.

Pros:

Cons:

Microsoft

CPU: Intel Pentium 6500Y | RAM: 4GB | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615 | Storage: 64GB eMMC | Display: 10.5 inches | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,280 pixels | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Battery life: Up to 11 hours | Weight: 1.2 pounds | Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.9 x 0.3 inches

Best for: Everyday computing on the go using a compact 2-in-1 device.

When you shop Microsoft’s website for the Surface Go 3, you can upgrade the 2-in-1 device with a faster processor, more RAM and a higher capacity SSD. In addition to Wi-Fi support, there’s also an LTE Advanced option for wireless connectivity. But regardless of the configuration, the computer works with the Surface Pen stylus, so you can handwrite or draw on the touchscreen display—whether you’re using the device as a tablet or laptop. What you get with the Surface Go 3 is an extremely lightweight and portable device with a good battery life.

Because this is a Microsoft product, it integrates seamlessly with the Windows operating system, all Microsoft applications and the OneDrive cloud service. While the main Surface Go 3 starts out at just $400, even if you don’t upgrade the hardware configuration, if you add the optional Surface Pen ($75) and Surface Go Type Cover keyboard ($130), you’re looking at a larger financial investment that more closely rivals other Windows-based laptops with touchscreens. What you can count on with the Surface Go 3, however, is versatility and easy transportability—giving you the computing power you want, when and where you need it.

Pros:

Cons:

Lenovo

CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1240p | RAM: 16GB | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe | Storage: 512GB | Display: 14 inches | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,200 pixels | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Battery life: Up to 9 hours | Weight: 2.5 pounds | Dimensions: 12.4 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches

Best for: Business users wanting a touchscreen.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 offers some great customization options, including choosing a beautiful 4K WQUXGA touchscreen (shown here) or a 2.8K OLED touchscreen. The anti-glare 4K display has a 60Hz refresh rate, but has a maximum brightness of just 400 nits. It’s loaded with security features designed for business professionals, including a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button. You also get the ability to locate the computer from your phone using the unique Tile feature (which works even when the computer is powered off). The internal IR camera uses face recognition that automatically locks down the computer when you temporarily step away from it and then unlocks it when you return. Add an optional PrivacyGuard option to prevent prying eyes from glancing at your screen from the side while you’re working.

What will also appeal to business users is that the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 is built to be durable, so you can work in both hot and cold temps. The computer’s processing power allows for multitasking while easily handling most work-related tasks. And you get a nice assortment of ports and wireless connectivity options too.

Pros:

Cons:

Acer

CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1110G4 | RAM: 8GB | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe | Storage: 128GB | Display: 14 inches | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 pixels (1080p) | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Battery life: Up to 10 hours | Weight: 3.02 pounds | Dimensions: 12.7 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches

Best for: A casual business or personal computer user looking for a 2-in-1 device that runs using ChromeOS.

Not everyone needs or wants to spend a fortune on a mid-to-high-end Windows laptop. One possible solution is the Acer 2-in-1 514 Chromebook. It runs using ChromeOS, so it relies heavily on a continuous internet connection. However, this particular model is loaded with features that allow it to rival a typical Windows-based computer—starting with a 128GB SSD for storage.

The biggest drawback to this Chromebook is that for just a bit more money, you can get a full-featured Windows-based laptop instead, with an otherwise comparable hardware configuration. You’ll also get Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 6 wireless connectivity, plus one USB-A and two USB-C (Thunderbolt 4) ports. The 14-inch display gives you plenty of room to work.

Pros:

Cons:

Amazon

CPU: Intel Pentium Silver N6000 | RAM: 4GB | Graphics: Intel UHD | Storage: 128GB | Display: 14 inches | Resolution: 1,366 x 768 | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Battery life: Up to 10 hours | Weight: 3.75 pounds | Dimensions: 12.8 x 9.1 x 0.8 inches

Best for: Someone looking for a low cost 2-in-1 Chromebook.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 314 is an entry-level 2-in-one that has internal stereo speakers that’s affordable and portable. As a plus, for stylus users, you’ll get a responsive stylus performance.

Ports are limited to two USB-A and one USB-C as well as HDMI. Battery life is average—about what you’d expect from a touchscreen device. You can opt for upgraded features, but this configuration is on the low-end, hence the ultra-affordable price.

Pros:

Cons:

Lenovo

CPU: 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1360P Evo | RAM: 16GB | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe | Storage: Up to 1TB | Display: 14-inch OLED | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,400 pixels (4K) | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Battery life: Up to 14.3 hours | Weight: 3.1 pounds | Dimensions: 12.5 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches

Best for: Using as a feature-packed 2-in-1, complete with 4K OLED touchscreen display.

While the processor included with the Lenovo Yoga 9i can handle power-hungry tasks, it also comes with an impressively bright 14-inch OLED touchscreen display. The 4K resolution screen features a glossy finish and provides a maximum brightness of 400 nits plus Dolby Vision support. Unlike most laptops—especially thin and lightweight models—Lenovo has put a lot of emphasis on audio with the Yoga 9i. Designed by Bowers & Wilkins, you get two 3-watt woofers and two 2-watt tweeters that are optimized to support Dolby Atmos. Also built into the computer is a 1080p HD webcam.

In addition to Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 support, you get multiple USB-C (Thunderbolt 4) ports, one USB Type-A port, plus an audio port. Since the Yoga 9i offers a touchscreen display, it comes with the Lenovo Precision Pen 2, allowing you to handwrite or draw directly on the screen whether you’re using it in laptop or tablet mode.

Pros:

Cons:

Dell

CPU: 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700H | RAM: 16GB | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 | Storage: 512GB SSD | Display: 17 inches | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,200 | Refresh rate: 60Hz | Battery life: Up to 10 hours | Weight: 5.1 pounds | Dimensions: 14.7 x 9.8 x 0.8 inches

Best for: Someone looking for a large display for video editing and other power-hungry computing tasks.

The Dell XPS 17 offers a large and vibrant 17 inch, anti-glare touchscreen display with a maximum brightness of 500 nits. If you need to upgrade parts, you can fully customize this laptop, too. You also get four USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 4) ports, along with a 3.5mm audio port and an SD memory card slot.

The chassis is elegant, durable and light, as it’s made from machined aluminum and carbon fiber. Stream all sorts of video and see the intricate detail within the video using this display. What you see is complemented by Waves MaxxAudio Pro and Weaves Nx 3D audio that relies on a quad speaker design. If you want a laptop computer that provides the maximum amount of on-screen real estate, without having to invest in a separate portable monitor, this Dell XPS 17 laptop is probably what you’re looking for.

Pros:

Cons:

Amazon

CPU: Intel Core i9-12900H | RAM: 16GB | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 | Storage: 1TB | Display: 13.4 inches | Resolution: 2,560 x 1,600 pixels | Refresh rate: 120Hz | Battery life: Up to 6 hours | Weight: 6.9 pounds | Dimensions: 11.9 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches

Best for: Gaming on the go with the use of a touchscreen.

Gamers know that the laptop computers best suited to provide them the computing power needed to run the most popular PC games are not cheap. And trying to squeeze enough computing power into a thin and lightweight laptop will jack up the price. The Asus ROG Flow Z13 offers a nice combination of power and portability.

Being realistic, the maximum battery life you can expect while gaming using the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is significantly less than 6 hours. Its six plus pounds will also give users some pause as it’s heavier than most gaming laptops. But during the time you’re running on battery power (or when the laptop is plugged in), you get super-fast performance. The computing power kicks into overdrive during gaming sessions, making full use of the i9 processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics.

Pros:

Cons:

We sourced the best touchscreen laptops of 2023 from reputable, top-rated brands and examined critical features of each model including battery life, display, processors and more. For the few we haven’t gotten our hands on, we combed through customer reviews, ensuring each pick had an average rating of at least 3.5 stars out of 5.

To make sure there’s a laptop to fit everyone’s lifestyle on our list, we curated a variety in our top recommendations including Chromebooks, 2-in-1 laptops and more. We frequently update this story to ensure accuracy and it was last edited in August 2023.

The Forbes Vetted tech team consists of accomplished tech experts who’ve (literally) written books on the subject. In particular, this story was written by Jason Rich, an accomplished writer, journalist, photographer and experienced product tester.

In addition to covering dozens of tech topics, Jason has written several of our TV best lists (listed below). Over his career, he has accumulated hours of in-depth product research and has conducted firsthand testing, including for the writing of this story. The tech section is overseen by Consumer Tech & Electronics Editor Rebecca Isaacs, an industry veteran who has been covering consumer technology for over four years.

We know tech tends to become quickly outdated. To keep this piece fresh and accurate, it’s regularly updated; its current iteration was published in August 2023.

Looking for more options? We’ve got a list to help you find the best laptop for your lifestyle. From MacBooks and Chromebooks, to models under $500, we've got you covered.