Inexpensive station wagons — TOP 5 laptops-transformers and hybrids under $1200

This entry-level transformer is equipped with a fairly convenient 11.6-inch touch screen with a resolution of 1366x768 pixels. But the TN matrix and the glossy surface of the screen do not provide the best viewing angles and colour reproduction, and the screen glares in the sun.

The laptop can easily cope with basic tasks like typing and media content consumption — but the rest of the Intel Pentium N3710 processor (4 streams, frequencies up to 2.56 GHz) with an Intel HD Graphics 405 video core is unlikely to be enough. RAM is 4 GB, but it can be expanded up to 8 GB. The SSD with a capacity of 128 GB is pleasantly pleasing, its speeds easily compensate for a weak processor. The keyboard is also quite decent and suitable for typing. The quality of the speakers, which are aimed at the user, is surprising, so watching a movie on a laptop will be pleasant. The only thing upsetting is the touchpad, which works intermittently.

Connecting a pair of flash drives to a laptop will not be a problem either — it is equipped with a pair of classic USB 2.0, one USB 3.0, a full-size HDMI, a card reader (albeit microSD format) and a combined 3.5 mm headset jack. Wi-Fi of the b/g/n standard (not high-speed, unfortunately) and Bluetooth 4.0 are supported. The device's operating time is pleasing — it will last for three hours in games and up to seven hours when watching movies.

Rather than even a laptop, but a tablet with a non-removable keyboard, the ZenBook Flip is a very attractive accessory (especially in beige), which, however, was not without compromises. It is equipped with a 13.3-inch IPS touch screen with a glossy surface and decent brightness and contrast indicators (300 cd/m2 and 1430:1, respectively), and the form factor implies the ability to rotate the display 360 degrees. In addition, thanks to the coverage of 93% of the sRGB gamut on ZenBook Flip, you can work with light colour correction.

Despite the solid price, the transformer is equipped with a low-power Intel M3-7Y30 processor with two cores and frequencies up to 2.6 GHz, as well as an HD Graphics 615 video core and 4 GB of RAM. The kit is suitable for simple work and watching movies, but it does not show itself in the best way in games, and there may not be enough RAM when processing graphics. But the SSD with a capacity of 128 GB is pleasantly pleasing. It is a pleasure to work on the transformer keyboard — the buttons are pressed deeply and clearly, only the lack of illumination is sad. The touchpad is nice, large and precise. A pair of speakers is located at the bottom of the case and provides adequate sound.

The laptop's peripherals are very rich — there is a pair of USB 3.0, and one USB type C, and a combined 3.5 mm headphone jack, but instead of a full-size HDMI there is a microHDMI, an adapter for which it is difficult to get. But we are pleased with the support of not only Bluetooth 4.1 and high-speed Wi-Fi ac, but also Wi-Di technology, which allows you to receive an image from a smartphone on the screen. The 54 Wh battery can easily withstand four hours under heavy loads, even games.

Not claiming a special premium, Inspiron 13 5378 nevertheless will easily become a faithful assistant in work and not only. It is equipped with a touch IPS display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and a glossy coating that can be rotated 360 degrees, turning the laptop into a hefty tablet. However, due to poor colour rendering (only 62% by sRGB), you can't work on graphics on it.

The filling of the laptop is quite adequate and will fit for basic tasks. This is a four-threaded Intel Core i3-7100U processor (2.4 GHz frequency), and an Intel HD Graphics 620 video core. Such a set is quite enough for undemanding games, but 4 GB of RAM may not be enough — fortunately, there is a second slot and the maximum memory can be as much as 16 GB. There is also a 256 GB SSD. The quality of the audio system is at an acceptable level, but the quality of the keyboard and touchpad is frankly pleasing, so typing on a laptop is a pleasure. There is also a backlight of the keys.

The Inspiron 13 has an almost standard set of connectors — these are two USB 3.0, one USB 2.0, a full-size HDMI, one combined 3.5 mm connector for a headset, and there is also a card reader (SD format). Wireless means of data transmission — Wi-Fi of high-speed standard ac and Bluetooth 4.2. And a sufficiently capacious battery (42 W * h) is enough for seven hours of watching movies and up to two hours in games.

This transformer is a surprisingly stylish and functional device for both business and entertainment. Its touch-sensitive 14-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels has not only decent brightness (250 cd/m2) and contrast (1215:1), but also has an anti-glare coating, and there is support for a stylus. But for working with photos and colour correction, it will not work — the coverage of the sRGB colour gamut is only 59%.

But the laptop is suitable for many other activities. It is equipped with an eight-threaded Intel Core i5-8250U processor with frequencies up to 3.4 GHz (in turbo mode), a UHD Graphics 620 video core and 8 GB of RAM. The main advantage of the laptop in terms of capacity is a super-fast NVMe SSD with a capacity of 256 GB. It's nice to work on the device thanks to a decent keyboard and touchpad, and the audio system is not bad, although it would not hurt to have more bass. Plus — a fingerprint scanner.

The laptop's peripherals are not redundant, but they are quite modern. A pair of USB 3.0, one USB type C, a 3.5mm audio jack for the headset, a full-size HDMI and a card reader (SD format). There is also support for Wi-Fi high-speed ac format and Bluetooth 4.1. The laptop is also not deprived of Kensington lock. The battery with a capacity of 54 W * h is enough for an hour and a half of games and up to ten hours of watching movies.

This laptop with a rotary screen is aimed at the business audience not only with its appearance, but also with the filling. It is equipped with a 15.6-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and an IPS matrix, whose colour coverage, however, is only 77% of the sRGB gamut. This is enough to use a laptop in work tasks, but not enough to work with graphics — models like {are recommended for it!!! block='price' idgood='1302935' !!!}. In addition, the glossy screen of the device can and will glare against the sun.

The transformer is equipped with an eight-threaded Intel Core i5-8250U processor (frequency up to 3.4 GHz in turbo mode) and a UHD Graphics 620 video core. The laptop has 8 GB of RAM, but there is one free slot, so as much as 20 GB can be installed as much as possible. In addition, the laptop is equipped with a high-speed NVMe SSD with a capacity of 256 GB. The laptop's keyboard is noticeably loud, but pleasant to print, there is both a NumPad and a backlit keys. The touchpad is high-quality and accurate. A pair of Bang&Olufsen speakers is also decent.

The laptop's peripherals are impressive — there are two high-speed USB 3.1, one USB type C, a full-size HDMI, a combined audio jack for headphones (3.5 mm) and an SD card reader. High-speed Wi-Fi in ac format and Bluetooth 4.2 are responsible for wireless data transmission. The laptop is equipped not only with a Kensington lock, but also with a fingerprint scanner and a webcam with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, which supports face recognition. The battery with a capacity of 56 W * h lasts for a short time — up to six hours even of an average load, although there is support for fast charging, up to 90% in 90 minutes.