Key takeaways
- Best touchscreen laptop: Microsoft Surface Laptop 8 ($1,599 – $2,199).
- Best budget touchscreen laptop: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x ($449 – $739).
- A touchscreen helps with scrolling, signing and quick taps; pen support matters only if you write or draw.
In this article
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The best touchscreen laptops let you scroll, zoom, tap and sign documents directly on the screen, and some support pens for notes and sketches. In 2026 touchscreens are available at almost every price, from $450 budget laptops to premium OLED convertibles. Here are our picks.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price on Amazon.
Quick answer
- Best touchscreen laptop: Microsoft Surface Laptop 8 ($1,599 – $2,199)
- Best touchscreen 2-in-1: HP Spectre x360 14 ($1,449 – $1,799)
- Best touchscreen for battery: Dell 14S ($1,279 – $1,469)
- Best compact touchscreen: Dell XPS 13 (2026) ($599 – $899)
- Best budget touchscreen laptop: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (Snapdragon X) ($449 – $739)
- Best touchscreen Chromebook: Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 ($649 – $749)
Touchscreen laptops compared
| Product | Best for | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 8 | Best touchscreen laptop | Buy | 8.8/10 | $1,599 – $2,199 |
| HP Spectre x360 14 | Best touchscreen 2-in-1 | Buy | 8.9/10 | $1,449 – $1,799 |
| Dell 14S | Best touchscreen for battery | Buy | 8.8/10 | $1,279 – $1,469 |
| Dell XPS 13 (2026) | Best compact touchscreen | Buy | 8.7/10 | $599 – $899 |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (Snapdragon X) | Best budget touchscreen laptop | Buy | 8.6/10 | $449 – $739 |
| Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 | Best touchscreen Chromebook | Buy | 8.8/10 | $649 – $749 |
Our picks in detail
Microsoft Surface Laptop 8
Best touchscreen laptop · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.8/10 · Typical price: $1,599 – $2,199
Key specs: Snapdragon X2 Plus or X2 Elite, 16GB–64GB memory, 13.8-inch or 15-inch 120Hz touchscreen, up to 20 hours claimed battery
Why we picked it: A 120Hz PixelSense touchscreen, sharp 3:2 aspect ratio and Snapdragon X2 efficiency make the Surface Laptop 8 a joy to use with fingers or keyboard.
Pros: Excellent battery life · Fast Snapdragon X2 chips with 80 TOPS NPU · Great keyboard and haptic touchpad · Premium, simple design
Cons: Much pricier than the Surface Laptop 7 · Arm emulation for some older apps · Limited ports
Buy it if you want a premium Copilot+ PC with long battery life and a clean Windows experience.
Skip it if you rely on niche x86 software, anti-cheat games or a tight budget.
HP Spectre x360 14
Best touchscreen 2-in-1 · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.9/10 · Typical price: $1,449 – $1,799
Key specs: Intel Core Ultra 7, 16GB–32GB memory, 14-inch 2.8K OLED 120Hz touchscreen, pen included, about 3.2 lb
Why we picked it: The Spectre x360 14 combines an OLED touchscreen with a 360-degree hinge and an included pen.
Pros: Beautiful OLED 2-in-1 design · Pen included · Excellent keyboard and haptic touchpad · Plenty of ports for a 2-in-1
Cons: Heavier than clamshell ultraportables · Pricey · Average battery with OLED
Buy it if you want a premium convertible for notes, sketching and presenting.
Skip it if you never use touch or a pen.
Dell 14S
Best touchscreen for battery · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.8/10 · Typical price: $1,279 – $1,469
Key specs: Intel Core Ultra 7 355, 16GB LPDDR5X, 14-inch OLED touchscreen, about 3.3 lb
Why we picked it: The Dell 14S includes an OLED touchscreen and exceptional battery life.
Pros: Exceptional battery life in testing · OLED touchscreen · Solid everyday performance · Face sign-in
Cons: No fingerprint reader · Heavier than ultraportables · Windows 11 Home on many configurations
Buy it if you want a dependable 14-inch Windows laptop that lasts more than a working day.
Skip it if you want the lightest possible machine.
Dell XPS 13 (2026)
Best compact touchscreen · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.7/10 · Typical price: $599 – $899
Key specs: Intel Core 5 320, up to 32GB memory, 13.4-inch 2560×1600 touchscreen with 30–120Hz refresh, about 2.2 lb
Why we picked it: The 2026 XPS 13’s 2.5K 120Hz touchscreen and premium build come at a surprisingly low price.
Pros: Premium XPS design at a budget price · Light and compact · Sharp 120Hz touchscreen · Strong battery life
Cons: Entry chip is modest for heavy work · Only two USB-C ports · No headphone jack on some configurations
Buy it if you want a light, well-built Windows laptop for everyday work under $900.
Skip it if you need strong graphics or legacy ports.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (Snapdragon X)
Best budget touchscreen laptop · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.6/10 · Typical price: $449 – $739
Key specs: Qualcomm Snapdragon X, 16GB memory, 256GB–1TB SSD, 15.3-inch Full HD+ touchscreen, 16-plus hours tested battery
Why we picked it: A 15.3-inch touchscreen, 16GB of memory and long battery life for under $600 on sale.
Pros: Huge battery life for the price · 16GB memory standard · Touchscreen · Frequently on sale under $500
Cons: Arm emulation for some apps · Plain design · Not for games
Buy it if you want the best budget laptop for students and home use.
Skip it if you need specialist Windows software or games.
Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14
Best touchscreen Chromebook · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.8/10 · Typical price: $649 – $749
Key specs: MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910, 16GB memory, 14-inch OLED touchscreen, 13-plus hours tested battery
Why we picked it: An OLED touchscreen makes Android apps and ChromeOS feel more natural.
Pros: Best Chromebook display with OLED · 16GB memory · Long battery life · Premium build
Cons: Expensive for a Chromebook · No stylus included · Glossy screen
Buy it if you want the best premium Chromebook available.
Skip it if you only need web and email on a budget.
When a touchscreen is useful
- Scrolling long documents and web pages
- Zooming photos and maps
- Signing PDFs and contracts
- Drawing and note-taking with a pen
- Presenting in tent or tablet mode
If you never touch your screen, a non-touch laptop may offer a matte display with less glare and slightly better battery life.
Which touchscreen laptop should you buy?
For a premium clamshell, choose the Surface Laptop 8. If you want a 2-in-1 with a pen, buy the Spectre x360 14. For battery life, choose the Dell 14S. Compact-laptop fans should look at the XPS 13, and budget buyers should choose the IdeaPad Slim 3x. Chromebook fans will enjoy the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14. See our best 2-in-1 convertible laptops for more pen-focused options.
Keep your touchscreen clean
Fingerprints are inevitable. Use a microfiber cloth and a screen-safe spray such as the WHOOSH! Screen Cleaner. Our guide on cleaning a laptop screen safely explains what to avoid.
What to check before you buy
- Check whether the screen is glossy or anti-glare.
- Confirm pen support and whether the pen is included.
- Compare battery tests between touch and non-touch versions.
What to skip
Common mistake: buying a touchscreen laptop with a dim, low-resolution panel just for touch. Screen quality matters more than touch for most people.
When to buy
Touchscreen laptops see their best deals during back-to-school sales and Black Friday.
Compare more options
Search touchscreen laptop on Amazon See top-rated touchscreen laptop on Amazon
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What is the best touchscreen laptop?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 8 offers a responsive 120Hz touchscreen, premium design and excellent battery life. The HP Spectre x360 14 is the best touchscreen 2-in-1.
Do MacBooks have touchscreens?
No. Apple does not offer touchscreen MacBooks; the iPad Pro is Apple's touch-first option.
Do touchscreens drain more battery?
Slightly, mainly due to the extra glass layer and digitizer. The difference is small on modern laptops.
Are touchscreen laptops worth it?
Many people use touch for scrolling, zooming and quick actions once they have it. It is most valuable on 2-in-1s with pens.