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Touch screens may be a tech staple, but not every laptop has one—and not every laptop that does fits every user's needs. That's where we come in. Since PCMag established PC Labs more than 40 years ago, we've reviewed many thousands of laptops. Our expert analysts and editors, with collective centuries of experience, apply rigorous, repeatable tests to every model we review. We use industry-standard software to assess CPU and graphics performance, display quality, and battery life. In our reviews, we also evaluate key aspects such as design, ruggedness, usability, bundled software, and value. Our current pick for the best touch-screen laptop for most people is the Dell XPS 13, but we stand behind our other recommendations for narrower use cases and different budgets. Read on for all our tested, vetted picks, plus advice on how to shop for the best touch-screen laptop.
Our Top Tested Picks
Dell XPS 13 (2026)
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
At $699, Dell's 2026 XPS 13 serves up flagship-grade metalcraft, a 120Hz touch display, and marathon battery life. Mind the 8GB of memory, but this is today's budget Windows ultraportable to beat.
Pros
- All-metal build is attractive for the price
- Capable performance for its price class
- 120Hz 1600p touch screen
- Comfortable, backlit keyboard
Cons
- 8GB RAM insufficient for some applications
- Only two USB-C ports, and no headphone jack
Acer Swift 16 AI (2026)
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Packing standout everyday performance, long battery life, and a rich 16-inch OLED display, Acer's Swift 16 AI offers tremendous value for creators who don't need discrete graphics. Just make sure you can come to grips with its gigantic touchpad.
Pros
- Muscular "Panther Lake" processor performance
- Color-rich OLED touch display
- Long battery life
- Huge touchpad is also a drafting surface
- Active pen stylus included
Cons
- Giant touchpad can be hard to type around
- Stylus works only on touchpad, not on the screen
- Screen is glossy and glare-prone
Asus ProArt PZ13
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
We wish it included a stylus pen alongside its keyboard, but Asus' ProArt PZ13 should top the list of anyone looking for a Windows 11 detachable 2-in-1.
Pros
- Gorgeous OLED touch screen
- Kickstand cover and above-average keyboard included
- Dual high-quality cameras
- SD card slot
- Affordable price
Cons
- Pen not included
- Scanty port selection and no headphone jack
- Arm software compatibility concerns
- No WWAN option
Dell XPS 14 (2026)
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Dell’s revived XPS 14 ultraportable laptop dazzles with sublime build quality, a crisp and colorful OLED screen, and fiery productivity and graphics performance. XPS is back and ready to tussle with the top laptops of 2026.
Pros
- Vivid OLED screen
- Potent flagship Intel chip
- Class-leading battery life
- Premium metal build
- Standout 4K webcam and high-fidelity speakers
- Warranty includes a year of onsite coverage
Cons
- Pricey configurations
- All ports are Thunderbolt/USB Type-C
Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
A polished, lean 16-incher with big MacBook Pro vibes, Samsung's spendy Galaxy Book6 Ultra nails design and display while delivering potent—if not class-leading—content-creation muscle.
Pros
- Speedy processing and graphics
- Brilliant AMOLED touch display
- Long battery life for a big-screen power laptop
- Broad connectivity options
- Slick, all-metal build
Cons
- Limited configuration options
- All configurations are pricey
Asus Zenbook Duo (2026)
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Asus' 2026 Zenbook Duo somehow meets its lofty ambitions: This is a brilliantly executed two-screen convertible laptop with little compromise, gorgeous OLED displays, fast performance, and ultra-long battery life to enhance your productivity.
Pros
- Elegant convertible dual-screen design
- Stellar twin 3K OLED touch displays
- Intel "Panther Lake" chip delivers capable integrated graphics
- Prodigious uptime with two-battery layout
- Removable wireless keyboard works seamlessly
Cons
- Expensive, though justifiably so
- Integrated graphics still can’t match powerful discrete options
Asus ExpertBook Ultra
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
A hard-to-resist laptop for business leadership, the Asus ExpertBook Ultra merges breathtaking design, class-leading Windows performance, and an exceptional OLED display. It's pricey, but it's also one of the finest business ultralights we've ever tested.
Pros
- Super-sleek, portable design
- Outstanding performance
- Gorgeous OLED touch screen
- Long battery life
Cons
- Single configuration only, with steep individual unit pricing
- Middling webcam for the price
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
The Chromebook Plus Spin 514 pairs MediaTek’s speedy Kompanio Ultra silicon with a polished, efficient design, making it a strong premium option—despite stiff competition from Acer’s own lineup.
Pros
- Potent CPU and GPU speeds via Kompanio Ultra chip
- Lengthy battery life
- Sturdy build
Cons
- Light on ports
- A little heavy for extended tablet use
- Pen support not as sophisticated in ChromeOS as in Windows
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 8
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Lenovo’s well-rounded ThinkPad P1 Gen 8 blends performance and mobility with ease, capped by a brilliant OLED display, making for an entry-level mobile workstation at a respectable price.
Pros
- Dazzling OLED display
- Long battery life
- Well-designed keyboard and touchpad
- Impressive build quality
- Decent speakers and webcam
Cons
- Tops out with RTX Pro 2000
MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+
Bottom Line
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+
Longest Battery Life: Laptops
Read More About MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Read More About How We TestAn absolute battery-life monster, MSI's Prestige 14 Flip AI+ is a top-notch 2-in-1 laptop with lots of ports, an included stylus, and a powerful, efficient Intel "Panther Lake" processor.
Pros
- Record-setting battery life in rundown testing
- Speedy overall performance for a compact 2-in-1
- Generous mix of ports for its size
- Nano Pen stylus with in-chassis storage
Cons
- Dim display (even for an OLED)
- Can run hot under heavy processor load
- So-so webcam quality
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EDITORS' NOTE
September 5, 2026: With this update, we added the Dell XPS 13 (2026) as the Best Touch-Screen Laptop for Most Buyers, replacing the Acer Aspire 16 AI. We also added the Acer Swift 16 AI (2026) as the Best Big (16-Inch) Touch-Screen Laptop, replacing the previous Acer Swift 16 AI. Other changes: We added the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra as our Best Touch-Screen Laptop for Content Creators, and the Asus Zenbook Duo (2026) as our Best Overall Touch-Screen Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop, replacing two older Asus ProArt models. Finally, we added the Asus ExpertBook Ultra as our Best Touch-Screen Business Laptop, replacing Lenovo's ThinkPad X9 15 Aura Edition. Our remaining picks have been vetted for currency and availability. We currently have more than a dozen new laptops in PC Labs for evaluation, from makers including Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo.
- All-metal build is attractive for the price
- Capable performance for its price class
- 120Hz 1600p touch screen
- Comfortable, backlit keyboard
- 8GB RAM insufficient for some applications
- Only two USB-C ports, and no headphone jack
In the current laptop landscape, it's hard to look past Dell's XPS 13 as the best affordable solution for the broadest range of shoppers. This laptop's aggressive $699 price is a sweet deal for a solid metal laptop with a sharp touch screen, a backlit keyboard, and other welcome high-end features. Its Intel "Wildcat Lake" processor won't set any records, and the 8GB of memory in the base model comes with caveats for more-demanding users. Still, it's absolutely up to the task of bringing you online for web browsing, communication, and entertainment. The fact that it's a well-built, portable system with long battery life makes it even more appealing.
Everyday PC shoppers: This is the best touch-screen laptop if you're an average computer user. The everyday buyer seeking a laptop with touch technology just wants a well-built, portable system to get them online, and this can comfortably fill that gap, as long as you don't need an especially fast one.
Budget shoppers: Dell's super-affordable touch-screen laptop is an especially lucrative deal if you're cash-strapped. If you're looking to spend as little as possible on a capable laptop that punches above its weight on design and features, the XPS 13 is it.
- Muscular "Panther Lake" processor performance
- Color-rich OLED touch display
- Long battery life
- Huge touchpad is also a drafting surface
- Active pen stylus included
- Giant touchpad can be hard to type around
- Stylus works only on touchpad, not on the screen
- Screen is glossy and glare-prone
Larger laptops often forgo touch capability, but the Acer Swift 16 AI incorporates it into one of the most stunning displays around. This 16-inch OLED display features an 1800p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, making for a gorgeous desktop replacement. The Intel Core Ultra X7 "Panther Lake" CPU performs well, though this model is overall pricier than last year's entry. Still, this is a quick, thin, long-lasting laptop with a roomy display and a large touchpad compatible with a stylus for versatile use.
Single-PC shoppers: If you can own only one computer, the Acer Swift 16 AI is a smart upgrade choice, offering numerous features and a quality build. The base model is reasonable but not cheap, so budget shoppers likely want a cheaper option. However, everyone else will find an attractive do-it-all laptop.
Desktop replacers: This touchscreen laptop is excellent for replacing your desktop with a mobile PC. The Swift's large, sharp OLED screen provides a monitor-like experience, while the laptop is also fast and mobile. You'll also enjoy the long battery life, which underscores its advantage over traditional desktop towers.
- Gorgeous OLED touch screen
- Kickstand cover and above-average keyboard included
- Dual high-quality cameras
- SD card slot
- Affordable price
- Pen not included
- Scanty port selection and no headphone jack
- Arm software compatibility concerns
- No WWAN option
Microsoft should make way for Asus at the summit of Windows Tablet Mountain, thanks to the ProArt PZ13. It outclasses the Surface Pro in many ways, notably in terms of value, given that the keyboard cover is included in its $1,100 list price.
This tablet also has Qualcomm Snapdragon processing, an efficient compute solution that contributes to its good battery life. The slate also features an SD card slot and two high-end cameras. At long last, the Surface Pro is no longer the Windows-tablet default, which boils down here primarily to dollars and cents.
Mobile creative professionals: This is the touch-screen Windows tablet to beat for creative pros and digital drafters. Users with a creative impulse or professional digital drafters will enjoy the ProArt PZ13. If you need a powerful, portable solution when away from the workstation, you can easily draw and sketch on this device before packing it up.
Budget-conscious Surface Pro admirers: This touch-screen tablet is the leading Microsoft Surface Pro alternative for maximum value. The PZ13 is a smart choice for shoppers who want to save money on a Surface Pro-like device. The Surface device set the standard in this category, but its "optional" (read: essential but expensive) peripherals may leave you frustrated. This is a worthy alternative.
- Vivid OLED screen
- Potent flagship Intel chip
- Class-leading battery life
- Premium metal build
- Standout 4K webcam and high-fidelity speakers
- Warranty includes a year of onsite coverage
- Pricey configurations
- All ports are Thunderbolt/USB Type-C
The return of the "XPS" name, following Dell's ill-fated 2025 rebranding, coincides with an excellent laptop redesign. The latest XPS 14 is a sleek, light, and fast ultraportable that delivers a MacBook-like experience. No, it's not the affordable choice—this is a premium laptop for higher-end users, and it feels like it. An all-metal build, a vivid OLED touch screen, potent Intel "Panther Lake" performance, and ultra-long battery life are just some of the features to love on this laptop.
Frequent travelers: Dell's top-end touch-screen laptop is excellent for people who travel or commute frequently. Workers on the go will appreciate the XPS 14, and it's a treat as a personal daily driver. The design is satisfying to carry around, while the laptop boasts extended battery life, top-notch build quality, and the speed to support your workflow.
Stylish shoppers: This touch-screen laptop works well for fashion-forward computer users. People seeking a touch-screen ultraportable with a premium look and feel will love the XPS 14; it parallels the envy-inducing feel of Apple laptops, not to mention much of their performance.
- Speedy processing and graphics
- Brilliant AMOLED touch display
- Long battery life for a big-screen power laptop
- Broad connectivity options
- Slick, all-metal build
- Limited configuration options
- All configurations are pricey
For non-Windows users, the MacBook Pro is the obvious solution for demanding creative professionals. For Windows shoppers, Samsung's Galaxy Book6 Ultra is the best option right now. It delivers a sleek, thin metal build, a gorgeous 1800p AMOLED touch screen, long battery life, and wide connectivity. Crucially for these types of users, it packs a performance punch too: Our review model includes an Intel Core Ultra 7 356H processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU. This laptop is ready to take on demanding professional workloads, and look sharp while doing it.
Media professionals: This is a leading choice for mobile content creation and other professional media work you might partake in. The laptop features a premium build, advanced features, and enough performance to power demanding creative workloads. Many thin and portable laptops don't include a discrete GPU, making the Book6 Ultra really stand out.
- Elegant convertible dual-screen design
- Stellar twin 3K OLED touch displays
- Intel "Panther Lake" chip delivers capable integrated graphics
- Prodigious uptime with two-battery layout
- Removable wireless keyboard works seamlessly
- Expensive, though justifiably so
- Integrated graphics still can’t match powerful discrete options
Why We Picked It
If you're after a touch screen, how does two of them sound? The Asus Zenbook Duo is our favorite two-screen laptop available, touting twin 3K OLED touch panels in a clever convertible format. You can switch the system between a standard laptop layout and a layout with the magnetic keyboard removed from the bottom panel to reveal a full second panel. Use the keyboard wirelessly and prop the laptop up on its kickstand for a dual-monitor-like experience, and then pack it up within seconds to hit the road. It's fast, elegantly designed, and useful for a wide range of shoppers.
Who It's For
Mobile professionals: Whether you're working from home daily or frequently logging in from the road, you'll find the Duo uniquely up to the task. The dual OLED displays double your digital real estate in seconds, giving you an extra screen for reference material, spreadsheets, or communication apps. At the same time, you can still leave your main work on the other display.
Dual-screen fanatics: If you feel positively penned in by a single display, this is the laptop for you. Portable external displays are always an option, but this is an all-in-one device that can be used with one or two screens as you see fit, and it packs up incredibly easily.
- Super-sleek, portable design
- Outstanding performance
- Gorgeous OLED touch screen
- Long battery life
- Single configuration only, with steep individual unit pricing
- Middling webcam for the price
Many business laptops skip the touch screen, but Asus' ExpertBook Ultra aims to give you a bit of everything as a professional user. Intel's "Panther Lake" processors provide quick performance with capable integrated graphics and long battery life. This is a sleek and portable system with a more attractive build than many business machines, and it even offers a 120Hz OLED display. Configurations are limited for the category, but if the specs of this system fit your needs, it's an exceptional work laptop.
Mobile professionals: This laptop is an excellent fit if you're a worker who prefers a touch screen and wants a portable machine. The ExpertBook Ultra's attractive screen and slick design are a pleasure to use, while its long battery life will support your work on the road. And it's faster than many in its category.
Pros seeking high style: This touch-screen laptop is a smart choice if you're an independent contractor or entrepreneur seeking to make a professional impression on-site. This laptop's slick design looks and feels better than most business laptops; the OLED screen is brilliant; and the speed from such a trim system will make others jealous.
- Potent CPU and GPU speeds via Kompanio Ultra chip
- Lengthy battery life
- Sturdy build
- Light on ports
- A little heavy for extended tablet use
- Pen support not as sophisticated in ChromeOS as in Windows
Acer's Chromebook Plus take is a fully featured and well-designed convertible. The Spin 514 has a sturdy and attractive design with a foldable screen and long battery life to support mobile workloads. Inside, it provides more pep than usual from a Chromebook, thanks to its Mediatek Kompanio Ultra chip. That, plus 12GB of memory, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth, will keep you working productively at home or on the road. It's not one of the cheapest Chromebooks around, but if we're looking at the best options, you'll find a lot to enjoy here.
The Google faithful: For people who already enjoy Google apps and services, this is a leading touch-screen laptop choice. Google users seeking a new laptop with the apps and services they recognize will find an impressive package here. For those already accustomed to a Windows-free life, this Chromebook's high-quality build, fast performance, and helpful connectivity should suit mainstream students and more serious workers.
Budget-strapped shoppers: This touch-screen laptop is ideal for savers; this model isn't as cheap as some other Chromebooks, but it will still save you money compared with most Windows options. As long as ChromeOS is a valid option for your workflow, this should prove to be a pleasant and capable laptop.
- Dazzling OLED display
- Long battery life
- Well-designed keyboard and touchpad
- Impressive build quality
- Decent speakers and webcam
- Tops out with RTX Pro 2000
Many mobile workstations forego touch screens because they're all about performance, and many users don't seek out the technology. The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 8 asks, why not both? Its brilliant OLED touch display, powerful parts, long battery life, and quality build ensure touch capability and performance on the go. Its Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor and Nvidia RTX Pro 2000 GPU are hardly top-tier. Still, if you're looking for a particularly portable workstation and touch technology, this is the option for you.
Mobile power users: Some workstations are realistically only semi-portable, but the ThinkPad P1 Gen 8 delivers power and mobility. It's not much larger or heavier than your average 16-inch laptop, but it's capable of professional speeds and has the business-ready feature set you're likely looking for.
Best Touch-Screen Laptop for Pen-Based Input
MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+
MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+
Longest Battery Life: Laptops
Read More About MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Read More About How We Test- Record-setting battery life in rundown testing
- Speedy overall performance for a compact 2-in-1
- Generous mix of ports for its size
- Nano Pen stylus with in-chassis storage
- Dim display (even for an OLED)
- Can run hot under heavy processor load
- So-so webcam quality
If you're looking for a laptop that can flip into tablet format and work with a stylus, this Prestige 2-in-1 from MSI is a top choice. Its touch-ready OLED screen is paired with Intel Core Ultra "Panther Lake" processing and graphics to make it a worthy productivity machine for professionals and editors. It is a bit more business-centric than a pure content-creation device for creators and editors, but realistically, it can do both well. What's more, this laptop set our battery life record at the time of review, running for more than 42 hours on our test. It can keep you productive for dozens of hours.
Business users on the go: This laptop is best for professionals who often work on the road. They will love the touch screen, the stylus, the CPU's fast performance, and the incredibly long battery life. You can flip and fold this system into tablet mode to work with the included Nano Pen as needed, but it still provides the speed and connectivity of a standard laptop at all times.
Digital artists and content creators: The Prestige 14 Flip AI+ is a well-suited touch-screen laptop for creators of all stripes. The included stylus stores easily inside the chassis for safekeeping. It's a genuinely versatile productivity device, and its Panther Lake Arc B390 graphics are more powerful than those of other integrated graphics solutions. However, if you need more graphics horsepower, you'll want a laptop with a discrete GPU.
The Best Touch-Screen Laptops for 2026 Compare Specs
At PCMag, we test hundreds of computers a year—many with touch screens, many without. Based on our in-labs testing and deep-dive reviews, we've compiled the best touch-equipped machines that have passed through our hands. Let's run through the basics of laptop touch screens and why you might (or might not) want one.
Touch Screens 101: The Basics
First of all, some terminology. In most cases, a touch-screen-equipped laptop has a conductive digitizing layer, overlaid on the panel element, that allows for tap, pinch, or swipe input. Most modern laptops make use of what's known as capacitive touch input, in which the over-screen layer detects where you've touched with one or more fingers using the conductivity of your skin. This layer is typically a grid of ultra-fine wires or a film; it needs to be subtle or translucent enough not to interfere with viewability.
That electrical aspect explains why touch screens don't work if you're wearing gloves. This is in contrast to the resistive touch technology you might see in other implementations of touch screens, in which the upper layer covering the screen flexes. When you write or tap on a resistive screen, that upper layer closes a circuit with another layer beneath it. (Having to press a little to, say, sign your name on a screen is an earmark of resistive touch.)
Back to capacitive, though. The capacitive touch layer maps your finger or pen input to coordinates on the screen that determine the position of your touch. Also detected are parameters such as tap speed, whether you've tapped versus swiped, or if you've executed a multi-finger touch gesture. Note that tap pressure sensitivity is not a parameter that is typically detected through simple finger touch, though certain touch implementations and stylus pens might transmit that. More on those later.
A few panels use infrared X/Y axis-mapping technology, in which sensors in the bezel cross-reference an interruption of their beams at a specific intersecting screen location, but this tech is rare in laptops. It's usually seen only in cases where the panel is very large or uses a display technology that is not available in a variant that can accept capacitive touch (or is cost-prohibitive).
Note that the screens in a given laptop family may come in touch and non-touch versions. This is the case with some mainstream and business-oriented clamshell laptops, especially ones in model lines that sell in many subtly different retail configurations or that have many tweakable configuration options when sold directly. When looking at one of these machines, be aware whether the specific screen or screen option you are considering supports touch.
For example, a laptop might offer a choice of a 1080p (1,920-by-1,080-pixel) touch screen or a 4K (3,840-by-2,160-pixel) display without touch support. Or you might find both touch and non-touch options available at 1080p. Attention to detail matters here.
Which Laptops Have Touch Screens?
The tendency toward touch support will vary depending on the specific kind of laptop you're looking at. Let's examine the major types.
BUDGET CLAMSHELLS. Most low-cost machines that are straight-up laptops (that is, models that do not have 2-in-1-type hinges or tablet modes) will not have touch screens, but you'll run across the occasional exception. In under-$500 machines, a touch screen should be seen as a pleasant surprise, not a given. Exception: 2-in-1s, more about which in a moment. (For more, see our picks for the best budget laptops.)
MAINSTREAM AND BUSINESS CLAMSHELLS. You'll see the widest range of touch and non-touch models here. This is the category most likely to be fraught with touch versus non-touch models in the same system family. You may be able to specify one or the other screen type at the time of purchase, or different configurations within the same line may feature different screen types. Look for this, especially in product lines like Lenovo's ThinkPad or Dell's Premium laptops. (For more, see our picks for the best business laptops.)
2-IN-1 CONVERTIBLES AND DETACHABLES. By their very nature, all 2-in-1 machines will have touch screens. When you're using a 360-degree rotating 2-in-1 in tent or tablet mode, you don't have access to the keyboard, so touch input is essential in those modes. Likewise, in a detachable 2-in-1, remove the keyboard, and all you're left with for input is your tapping fingers or a stylus. Indeed, a key differentiator here is whether the 2-in-1 also supports stylus input and, if so, whether the stylus is included or sold separately. A high-profile example of the latter is the Microsoft Surface device family, which requires a $100-or-more Surface Pen stylus. (For more, see our picks for the best convertible laptops.)
GAMING LAPTOPS. Most gaming laptops have 14-inch, 16-inch, or 18-inch screens, and very few of these offer touch input. PC gamers don't have much use for touch input (PC games aren't written to support it), and implementing a touch screen would put even greater strain on an already-challenged battery. (For more, see our picks for the best gaming laptops.)
BIG-SCREEN MACHINES. It's uncommon to see a laptop with a 17- or 18-inch display that supports touch input, but they are out there (though 18-inch models are starting to replace 17-inch systems). Touch-panel implementations at that size are pricey and simply not cost-effective. They're also not practical: Many touch-screen laptops are 2-in-1s, and a 16-inch (or bigger) tablet can be mighty unwieldy. But 16-inch creative professional laptops, such as the Asus ProArt P16 (H7606), support touch. (See our favorite big-screen laptops.)
CHROMEBOOKS. Touch screens did not feature in early Chromebook models, but we're seeing them in more and more new ones. With the emergence of 2-in-1 convertible Chromebooks (most are 360-degree-rotating designs, though a few feature detachable displays), touch is becoming more common in this class, especially as support for Android apps has become the norm on these machines. (For more, see our picks for the best Chromebooks.)
APPLE MACBOOKS. Sorry! No Mac desktop or MacBook laptop supports touch-screen input unless you count the thin Touch Bar touch strip above the keyboard on a few now-discontinued MacBook Pro models. (The Touch Bar is merely a contextual shortcut strip that adapts to the program at hand.) The macOS operating system isn't optimized for touch. In the Apple sphere, full-touch displays are reserved for the company's iPhones and iPads.
What Are the Disadvantages of Touch-Screen Laptops?
You might think it's a given that having a touch screen is a good thing if you can get one. But you'll want to consider a few factors before making the purchase.
CONSIDER BATTERY DRAIN. All else being equal, a touch screen will reduce your battery life versus an identical non-touch screen in the same system. That's because the system has to keep a trickle of power fed to the digitizing layer, which will always be on, waiting for your fingertip or stylus tip to tap. That said, we emphasize "all else being equal": The battery factor is seldom an apples-to-apples comparison, because touch screens in a given laptop line that also provides non-touch options also tend to be higher-end, higher-resolution, or higher-brightness screens that, by their nature, consume more power to start with—the touch aspect, regardless.
The MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ is an exception to this rule, it seems, lasting more than 42 hours in our battery rundown test and earning our first laptop PCMag Lab Award, for longest battery life. Thanks to recent silicon-efficiency innovations, expect to see more touch-screen laptops last longer on a charge.
WILL YOU ACTUALLY USE IT? Think about how you work or play, day to day, before insisting on a touch panel. If your main PC activity is mincing through fine-celled spreadsheets, jabbing a touch-screen with a finger might not provide the precision or utility you need for operations. If you spend most of your time tapping through YouTube videos, on the other hand, touch can be a delight.
Also, consider the ergonomic aspects. If you use a touch panel a lot, you'll be reaching from the keyboard to the screen, which can clash with your workflow on a clamshell machine. So make sure that kind of reaching jibes with your day-to-day usage. Alternatively, if you'll often be tapping music- and movie-playback controls on the screen or poking frenetically at YouTube thumbnails, consider a 2-in-1 that you can prop up in A-frame or tent mode, where tapping the screen makes more sense and requires less reaching.
ARE YOU GOOD WITH GLOSSY? Most touch screens have a glossy finish that extends across both the screen and its bezels (the borders surrounding the screen). Matte-finish touch screens are uncommon. The seamless bezel coverage allows side-in swipes and prevents interruptions to your tap-and-swipe activity near the screen's periphery. That's fine if you like glossy screens; they can enhance the panel's perceived vividness. But know that screens of this kind are more prone to smudging and tend to be affected by glare outdoors or under harsh indoor lighting more than matte panels are. Keep a lens cleaning cloth handy.
THICKNESS AND WEIGHT. Implementing a touch layer on the screen's face means a bit of additional material and circuitry. It's minimal, but know that a touch versus a non-touch laptop will levy a slight penalty on both fronts—again, all things being equal.
Can You Use a Stylus on Your Touch Screen?
Pen support requires a touch-capable screen that can handle more than just simple tap, swipe, and pinch fingertip actions. If sketching or handwritten note-taking is part of your work, you'll want to investigate the pen options available in a given touch-screen laptop.
Usually, only the 2-in-1s include them. Stylus types range from a simple passive stick, which is essentially a more precise surrogate for your fingertip, to an active pen, which has a built-in battery, click buttons on the pen, and possibly pressure-sensitivity support.
Top-of-the-line are true digital pens, which are active—meaning they are powered by their internal batteries. Pens of this kind will include click buttons, pressure-sensitivity detection, angle detection, and possibly a digital "eraser" on top. A prime example of the latter is Microsoft's Surface Pen, mentioned earlier, which works with the company's line of detachable laptops.
If you go this route, also investigate the pen storage scheme. A laptop or convertible stylus is easy to lose in your bag or leave behind if it doesn't have a niche to tuck into. Some laptop and 2-in-1 makers employ a magnetic virtual "clip" that sticks the pen to the side of the unit (the Surfaces are known for that), or, in a few cases, provide a plastic bracket that can be inserted into a USB port. (Fortunately, we haven't seen one of those in a new model in a while.)
Windows Ink, introduced in a 2016 update to Windows 10, can also be a compelling reason to explore a given touch-enabled laptop's stylus capabilities. With the introduction of Ink, the OS added support for Sticky Notes, Sketchpad, and Screen Sketch. With Sticky Notes, you can scrawl on virtual Post-It notes and have Cortana interpret relevant information from your scribbles, such as email addresses and phone numbers, and make them actionable. Sketchpad lets you do freeform drawing with basic tools. In contrast, Screen Sketch lets you annotate on-screen images freehand, which is great for UI designers, developers, or others who work with graphical elements that need feedback. Other pen-enabled apps appear in the Windows Ink Workspace, a pen-centric panel that you can pop up with an icon in your taskbar.
Which Brand Is Best for a Touch-Screen Laptop?
There's no single answer to that question, as the "best" machine for you depends on your specific needs and budget. That said, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo, among other PC OEMs, have touch-screen models, but sometimes touch-screen panels and non-touch ones are offered in different configurations of the same machine, in the same family. Make sure you know what you're getting (or not getting) when you buy. Also, as mentioned, Apple is the one brand not to expect a touch screen from; all of its MacBooks use non-touch panels.
Ready to Buy the Right Touch-Screen Laptop for You?
That's where our reviews come in. Our rankings here line up our current-favorite clamshells, detachables, rotating 2-in-1s, and Chromebooks that support touch. Note that if you find one you like and decide to order from an e-tailer, we strongly recommend double-checking that the specific model you're looking at (especially if it's a configurable clamshell) includes the touch-screen option.
For a few models in our ranking, the specific model may support a touch-screen option, but we may have reviewed a non-touch version, and our online pricing links may point to that version. Bear that in mind if you click through to an e-tailer: Be sure to check specifically for a touch panel in the model you are considering.
