Two-in-one convertible laptops are either more laptop than tablet, or more tablet than laptop.
Such is the case between the Samsung ATIV Book 9 Spin and the Microsoft Surface Pro 4. The ATIV Book 9 Spin is first and foremost a laptop (it almost weighs as much as one at 2.87 pounds). On the other hand, the Surface Pro 4 is not quite a complete laptop either — as good as its keyboard is, it's still not the real deal.
Regardless, two-in-one's are supposed to be a deal since consumers are essentially getting both a laptop and tablet for the price of one. The ATIV Book 9 Spin can be bought for $1,399 while the base model Surface Pro 4 comes much cheaper at $899 (the top of the line version costs a whopping $3,399).
For the price of the Samsung, buyers would essentially be getting any other Samsung laptop — it looks and feels just like its "pro" counterpart, the ATIV Book 9 Pro — with the exception of its larger hinge. It's on that hinge that the 3,200 x 1.800 resolution display "spins" 360 degrees to transform from a laptop to a tablet.
The Surface Pro 4 is a tablet that tries to become a laptop once its keyboard (which is still sold separately for as much as an additional $159.99) is snapped in. The device does come with a hinge too just like Samsung's Spin but serves a different purpose. The hinge on the Surface supports the kickstand that keeps it upright when it's on a flat surface or even on the lap. In practice, however, the Surface sits too unreliably on the lap to be seriously considered a "laptop."
Internally, both devices come in varying specifications. Samsung's laptop-cum-tablet runs on an Intel Core i7 processor, 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB SSD, and ships with Windows 10 Home. Microsoft's more portable offering include Intel's latest Skylake m3, i5, and i7 processors, up to 16 GB of RAM, 256 GB SSD, and Windows 10 Pro.
As with any purchasing decision, consumers have to ask themselves what they want. In this case, do they want a laptop that can also function as a tablet, too? Or, a tablet that can double duty as a laptop once in a while? Between the ATIV Book 9 Spin and the Surface Pro 4, its Microsoft's two-in-one that comes closest to offering the best of both worlds.
